The Art and Science of Effective Communication | 6 Vocal Fundamentals

Why it Matters?

The purpose of communication is to connect with others. Mastering vocal fundamentals enhances our ability to engage and impact our listeners, making it one of the most important skill sets anyone can possess. 

How Do I Apply These Vocal Fundamentals?

There are 6 core fundamentals when it comes to great communication. Mastery of these fundamentals will allow you to mix and match them as you see fit to convey your message effectively the first time. They are as follows:

1. Rate of speech - Vary your speech rate to hold attention. Slow down to emphasize important points and speed up for less critical information. This variation will keep listeners engaged.
2. Volume -  Use different volumes to emphasize key points and to help you come across with more confidence or authority. Volume is the foundation of every other core fundamental. For a more dramatic point, decrease your volume and rate of speech. For a big point, you can speak louder and a little faster. 
3. Articulation - When sharing information with others, it is your responsibility to speak clearly. By clearly articulating your words, you avoid the risk of miscommunication and disengagement. 
4. Pitch - Changing your pitch will add an additional layer of variety, prevent a monotone voice, and keep people engaged with what you are saying. Pitch refers to the highness or lowness of your voice (think of different notes on a piano) and should not be confused with volume, which is how loud or soft your voice is (think of turning the volume up or down on your TV). Pitch variations add emotional nuance and interest, while volume variations ensure clarity and highlight key points.
5. Pause - USe pauses strategically to emphasize specific points and give listeners time to process what you are saying. After saying something very important, pause for a second or two before you continue. In addition, and most importantly, the pause will help prevent you from using filler words such as “like”, “um”, “uh”, etc., which can distract from your message and make you seem less confident. Lastly, pausing allows you to breathe and invites others to ask questions for further clarity. 
6. Intensity - Watch that tone! Your tone or emotional intensity conveys context and builds personal connections. Match your facial expressions with the 6 core emotions (happy, sad, disgusted, angry, surprised, fearful) to enhance this effect.

When Should I Apply These Strategies?

Apply these fundamentals during communication to enhance clarity, engagement, and impact.

Action: 

Choose one fundamental and practice it for one week. Continue to add an additional fundamental every week and then combine different ones to see their impact.