In response to Voice Mail Speaking (June 4), Marketing Director Sharon Grazioso of Boston, Massachusetts, writes in with a great point. She reminds us all to smile when we record our voice mail messages. I do tell my presentation clients to physically portray the verbal message they want to send. So guidance with portraying confidence is a natural part of my trainings. Thanks Sharon for reminding me and my readers how part of this portrayal comes through if we just smile.
When you do anything with your voice, your facial behavior and body movements inform nonverbally. How does this work with the specific smile idea? You don’t need to be freakishly grinning as you record. Just keep the natural positive look on your face you might have when speaking with a client face-to-face. I have a friend whose business voice mail is rather sad. It’s just not indicative of who she is as a business professional or as a talented, fun person. Why? She sounds rather tired and serious. She’s probably thinking she needs to be serious because this is, after all, her business voice mail. But what it conveys is someone other than the person I know her to be. It doesn’t really make me want to do business with her. Luckily, I don’t’ have to make that decision.
And forgive me, but I haven’t actually made the decision to suggest a re-recording. But I do suggest this: call yourself at work sometime and listen to your voice mail message. Do the same with your cell or home phones. Do you like the person you hear on the other end? Do you want to do business with her or let him into your social circle? Your answers will help you decide whether you need to smile, tone it down, or even stand up in order to project better.
