How do you sound on the telephone? What does your voicemail greeting say about you?

Believe it or not, the actual sound of your voice conveys information in addition to the content of your words. Does your voice sound pleasant, professional, and warm? Does it sound full and rich? Are you speaking too quickly?

The muscles around your vocal chords can be relaxed. They can also be tight and restricted. On the telephone, both pitch and volume of your voice can show whether you are in control of your emotions, including whether you sound confident or insecure. Most people have a tendency to breathe less when speaking on the phone, which can cause long term vocal problems. The good news is that if you want to improve the sound of your voice, it is relatively easy to do with vocal training and exercises. Working on your intonation, pitch, and breathing can increase your professionalism and appeal.

Conference calls have made an impact on the way businesses and nonprofits operate and keeping in touch with clients by telephone becomes ever more important. Listen to your voicemail greeting or record your voice and determine whether you might need to improve your personal sound.