Storytelling Bites 18: Conversational Tone of Voice
Oh the joy and delight of management speak and corporate language.
How is it possible (over two decades since The Office held a mirror up to us all) that words like 'operationalise' and 'going forward' and TLAs (three letter acronyms) are still peppered relentlessly in into how we speak and write in the workplace?
“Accounting for the continued optional offsite employee presence, current office configurations prohibit colleagues fully achieving all their competency framework goals vis a vis our value: We Work Collaboratively…”
I have an issue with overcomplicated sentences with odd, overly formal, over statusy language; like the one above. I imagine the speaker even loses the thread of what they want to say and why.
The problem with this style of work language is that it's a deterrent to connection. Using this language to build a status wall around us may feel like ‘the sort of thing that people do around here’, but it doesn’t directly or efficiently achieve what we need.
Another work communication bad habit is over using words, phrases and acronyms so they become jargon, and jargon (due to having been said and heard so many times) becomes vague and slightly meaningless. These words drift past us, losing precision and specificity. Proponents say they are a shortcut, but does this shortcut lead to understanding and remembering what we heard?
But we've noticed something magic happens when people talk to each other "normally", as they would in a conversation with a friend and how they do when they pass a colleague in the corridor and share the important stuff, what they really want to say.
Thinking about great conversations you’ve had, whether complex, deep or light-hearted; containing arguments, humour, learning; lasting all night, the length of a cuppa or just waiting for a bus: how many of them were jam packed with management speak or convoluted vocabulary?
I’m not suggesting that we should be effing and blinding our way through every conversation at work, although I have been known to swear outside of it. I'm not suggesting we patronise with too much simplification. The language we use should be appropriate to the setting and company we are in. We want people to feel comfortable listening to us and welcome to join the conversation and share their thoughts and insights.
A conversational tone of voice helps break down status and other barriers, making it a more inclusive and productive way to communicate. A conversational tone of voice uses vocabulary that is tangible, specific and is direct in its meaning. A conversational tone or attitude to communication allows the speaker to be themselves and make the most out of that - which makes them more believable, respected and memorable.
Our workshops and training will help you rediscover that conversational tone of voice whilst being professional, staying authentic and true to yourself, and most importantly connected to both what you are saying and who you are sharing it with.
