For instance, in the U.S., there are many dialects spoken by people of different regions. Robert MacNeil traveled the country to study the speech patterns of people from various areas. His series, called "Do You Speak American?", recently ran on PBS. Think about the dialects--regional and foreign- -that you have heard in movies, in your friends, at work. Which dialect is correct? MacNeil observed that acceptance of various dialects has increased dramatically over the last few decades. Interesting, and far from simple right or wrong.

There are some people who try to be perfect in their speech. They may over-articulate in order to be clear -- perfectly clear. This way of speaking usually communicates tension, anger, and condescension.

Now consider voice quality. Think of some famous people who are known for their voices. Did James Earl Jones come to mind? How about Fran Drescher? Don't forget Rosanne Barr or Gilbert Gottfried. With the exception of the first individual, most people agree that these voices are not known for their beauty. However, their fame and fortune comes from their distinctive sound. Imagine if a voice coach had said to Fran Drescher, "You should really tone down that nasal sound. It's going to hold you back."

For most of us, a distinctive sound is not our goal. Career-oriented individuals usually want to sound confident, professional, mature, and trustworthy. If a sales executive from New Jersey suddenly has to work on a national level, it is possible her strong accent would get in the way. The significant speech distortion of a financial advisor may cause his prospects to question his competence. And a woman with a child-like voice may be overlooked for promotions, especially when the positions require reliability and maturity.

It may not be fair, but much of how we are perceived is based on how we sound.

There is nothing wrong with wanting to improve. In fact, most employers seek people who are driven to be better. Having more tools with which to communicate can make us feel more confident and act more assertively. But remember, it isn't about being perfect. Once again, the ultimate goal is communication.

Do you have a big presentation coming up this fall? Would you like to put a priority on polishing your presentation skills? This workshop allows you to pick your goal and content. If you're not sure what to address first, give us a call. We can help!