By Marjorie Brody, MA, CSP, CMC

If you don't take the time to acknowledge people, chances are that others will be much less likely to acknowledge you. This applies to both the daily aspects of your work life as well as to your potential for career advancement.

A person we know once asked, "How many times do you have to say 'Hello' or 'Hi' to someone you are continually seeing in the hallway or office?" It isn't something you count—it's something you do. People want to be acknowledged—it's a sign of respect. If you see someone over and over again in a day, you can start the day with "Good morning," "Hi" or "Hello." The second time you see the person, you can use one of these greetings again. As you continually see this person, you don't have to speak, but you do have to nod, smile or make eye contact in recognition of his or her presence.

When you leave a meeting, or at the end of the day, you also need to let people know you are going by saying "Goodbye."

Remember, however, that in most professional environments, it's not appropriate to say "Whazzzzup," "S'up," "Word" or "Yo."

I Like the Way You Talk
If you ever watched "Friends" during the time when Chandler was dating Janice (the woman with the high, nasally voice and laugh that could make anyone's skin crawl) then you've already had a taste of the negative impact someone's voice quality can have. Janice may have been bright, capable and a wonderful person, but it was hard to notice any of those redeeming qualities while wincing every time she spoke.

If you have no idea who Janice is, or don't watch "Friends," then think for a moment about someone whose voice turned you off. Was the person's voice too high, or too soft? Was the person mumbling or speaking so slowly that you wondered whether he or she really understood what you were saying or was capable of taking care of your problem?

People make judgments about you just by listening to your voice. It isn't only the words you use, but how you say them that can make a difference.

When people see you (face-to-face communication), the impact of your voice is approximately 38% of the overall impression you make—the "picture." Over the phone, it jumps to 85%—since there are no visual cues.

There are certain things you can do to have a more pleasing voice:

• Have an appropriate expression. Sound enthusiastic, or, when appropriate, alter your tone to fit the conversation (sounding sympathetic when talking about sad news, etc.).
• Speak slowly enough that people understand you easily, yet not so slowly that you are taking too long to complete a thought. This rate will vary throughout the country.
• Pause. By pausing, you give people enough time to take in what you are saying. When you finish a thought, think of adding a period (.) by counting to three in your mind. If it would be a colon (:) , count to two, and if it is a comma (,) , count to one. In other words, don't run your words together.
• Eliminate fillers—"uh," "um," "OK" and "you know."
• Speak loud enough to be easily heard. Speaking in a whisper is non-assertive and annoying. If people ask you to speak up or to repeat yourself, this is a clue that you need help in this area.
• Speak soft enough to avoid shouting and screaming. If people are asking you to "shh" or lower your tone, that's a clue, too.
• When on the phone, have a mirror that you can see nearby and keep a smile on your face when you talk. Your voice also will reflect the smile.
• Watch your diction. Completing words makes you sound smarter. Things like saying the "ing" ending can make a difference ("going" not "gonna," "doing," not "doin'"). Another problem is dropping the beginning of words ("them," not "'em").
• Control your breathing when you get nervous or excited. It helps to lower your pitch, making you sound more credible. Learn how to breathe from the diaphragm, not your chest. It helps you project your voice more easily.

The best way to assess your own voice is to tape-record yourself or listen to your voice-mail messages. Decide what you need to practice so you sound better—in face-to-face encounters and electronically.

Additional distracting speaking styles we've coached people to improve include mumbling and covering their mouths with hands while talking. This tends to happen particularly when a person is nervous or defensive. Keep your hands away from your mouth when speaking and don't swallow words or let your voice trail off with any thoughts. Seek the help of a trusted friend or co-worker who is willing to signal you when you start doing any of these bad habits.

The power of your voice is the sum of its vocal quality and the words you choose. You must not take either for granted to ensure that your speaking formula is a winning combination.