9/16/2025-Turn your tongue silver

Your mouth stops moving, your customer stares at you strangely, and you think, “Gosh, what did I just say?”

Your verbal communication skills are defined by numerous factors: your syntax, cadence, tone, and of course, the words you speak.

You don’t need to speak like an Elizabethan Shakespeare actor, but sounding like a punk off the street ain’t cool either. (That was harsh…apologies to punks everywhere.)

Buyers constantly judge your trustworthiness, and the way you speak shapes how they see you, including how well you translate features into benefits.

Today, use your mobile to record yourself during a pitch meeting.

Later – when feeling really secure – find a private place and hit the play button. (Don’t choke; you’ll be fine.)

How do you sound?

Are you too formal? …or too casual?

How’s the enthusiasm and confidence?

Most importantly, do you come off the way you intend?

Make brief notes on what you need to change about your speech, and post them on your laptop so they’re in plain view all day.

“If you ever doubt the sound of your voice, all you have to do is practice,” says voice coach Caroline Goyder in this compelling Ted Talk.

Accompanied by a very weird prop, Caroline teaches you to use your voice as an instrument while also offering tips on how to build confidence.