What is tone of voice? And how to choose your tone in 4 steps.

Has anyone ever said this to you?

"I heard you in that email!"

OR

"Did you write that memo? Because I could totally hear you in it!"

Well this happens to me - a lot.

So please allow me to share with you a few of my secrets to choose your tone, stick to it, and have your voice heard through your writing style.

step 1: How can you hear writing?

Good question! You're probably hearing your voice say my words in your head at this very moment. Or maybe someone is reading it aloud to you and you hear their voice instead. Or maybe it's a robot reading in your ear, which is my preferred method to listen to writing.

In any event, the words I choose to express myself here have meaning, tone, weight and contribute to an overall cadence of the sentence, paragraph and document as a whole.

Examples of passive writing

• Derive meaning from looking up definitions and comparing similar words and opposite words
• Develop tone by choosing words that compliment the other vocabulary you choose to use
• Add weight to some words by selecting the precise word for that context
• Contribute cadence by paying attention to word length, syllable count, rhyme and how it sounds between the words immediately before and after it

Examples of active writing

• Look up definitions and compare similar words and opposite words to derive meaning
• Choose words that compliment the other vocabulary you choose to use to develop tone
• Select the precise word for that context to add weight to some words
• Pay attention to word length, syllable count, rhyme and how it sounds between the words immediately before and after it to contribute cadence

step 2: Hear me roar!

Would a lion whisper this?

"Hey, I think I could probably maybe take you in a fight, I hope. Yea, no, I believe it."

No. The lion roars! And there's no discussion, because this lion means business!

Now pretend you're the lion. Are you whispering?

Where's your roar? Let's hear it!

When you can be as concise as a roaring lion, then you've got a winning document because everyone will understand your communication style!

step 3: Have you heard yourself?

If you skip this step, then I can tell. And some of my clients have never tried it before I suggest it :)

After you finish writing your document, even if it's an email, a post or a Slack chat message, read it out loud! Mutter it quietly under your breath, have someone else read it aloud for you, or get Siri on it. Because you will hear where your writing is clunky and not flowing.

In my mind, it's not silly, it's polite. Because someone else is going to spend their time consuming what I've written; so I can do them the favour of reading it aloud first, so I know it's digestible.

step 4: And the fourth step? Well, that's the secret sauce!

Why don't you set up a strategy session with me, because then we can discuss it in more detail. How's that sound?

B OOK YOUR 15 MINUTE FREE STRATEGY SESSION NOW - CLICK THIS LINK TO VISIT HILARY'S APPOINTMENT PAGE