Voice Tone in Communication
As far as the world is concerned, you are your voice tone. And if you've studied the basics of communication, you know that WHAT you say doesn't carry nearly as much meaning as HOW you say what you say.
Experts say that something like 55% of your message is communicated through your body language, 38% is communicated through the tone of your voice, while ONLY 7% is communicated through the actual content.
When you're aware of this, it becomes pretty obvious.
What does this mean?
Quite simply that what you say has next to no impact on the meaning behind your communication. The message is really transferred in the tone of voice you use.
So if you're receiving unfavorable responses from others -- instead of blaming them -- examine your voice tone and you will discover the real reasons why!
A Lesson from the Animal Kingdom
My observations have revealed that there is little difference between us humans and animals. I think the ONLY difference is that animals don't have the ability to become self-aware and translate or record their experience into language (or knowledge) as we do.
Yet, them not having the ability for self-awareness... I wonder about.
But animals certainly have the exact same receptivity to communication that us humans do -- mammals, that is.
And if 93% of communication isn't carried in language but through body language and voice tone, what does that say?
There are universal laws of sound.
Meaning, all mammals instinctively respond (or have the tendency to respond) the same way to distinct variances of voice pitch and tone. For example, we'll all be moved to similar degrees hearing a low tone of voice -- just as the next person will, along with animals.
And we'll all be affected similarly by a high tone.
Now, perhaps animals can't understand what we say, but they certainly know how we say what we do say just by the tone of voice used...
They understand the intention underneath what we say loud and clear.
And after all, what is communication, really? Exchanging facts and ideas? Arguing points? Compromising on plans?
Not really. That's only the 'civilized' man's definition.
Really, it's making others aware of our intentions, both what we want and how we feel. This starts in our thoughts or attitude, but it's naturally translated through our body language and tone of voice as an effect.
Self Awareness is the
Bridge to
Powerful Communication
Have you ever noticed that animals respond and listen to certain people as if they fully understand what was said just by the tone of voice?
In fact, you'll likely notice that all powerful communicators -- those who can effectively read and send intentions through their voice tone and body language -- realize there is little difference between us and the animals.
They realize we're still in the 'wild', despite our civilized way of life.
For we STILL operate on our mating and survival responses just as much today as we did when we lived in tribes 'in the wild' -- just as animals do -- despite domestication.
Powerful communicators are effective because they're in touch with their 'primitive' natures.
So if you want to become a great communicator, practice on animals.
Start giving your attention to what you're REALLY communicating by the tone of your voice.
Animals are honest as they don't need to mask their true inner responses as us humans do, where the social etiquette of civilized life 'demands' it so.
Animals will respond to your voice tone on instinct. You'll get instant feedback on what your true intentions are. And you can bet people are responding the same way, no matter how effectively they mask their response.
Your Voice Tone and Your Inner State
The tone of your voice is a reflection of your inner state.
But if you don't pursue self awareness -- the recognition of your own inner state -- you'll be oblivious to what your voice tone communicates to the world.
Voices broadcast our inner state, and we all pick it up unconsciously.
Since all of us (or most, anyway) model our parent's speech habits, which is really an attitude or inner state, we tend to write-off the way we speak as just 'who we are' or just the 'way we talk'.
But the truth is, we learn to talk and walk the way we do. It's simply a life-long habit. And so, it becomes a part of us only because we come to identify these qualities with who we are.
And once we accept something as 'just the way it is', we close ourselves off to self discovery and self awareness.
For what if we speak the way we do not because it's who we are, but because the way we talk has been fused with anger or worry?
... because we've adopted a certain attitude towards Life?
Oh! how easy it is to acknowledge these things in others whom we've just met; to hear the anger or worry in others voices -- except when it's become so familiar that we wrap it into someone's... even ourselves unchangeable identities.
Then our intentions become so habitual that we stop being aware of what we're really communicating with our voice tones.
And our tones will transmit our inner state into the person who receives it and, in the case of those who haven't yet mastered themselves which is the bulk of the population, will take on our inner state.
So truly, self awareness and powerful communication are next to synonymous.
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