CEO of The Voice Clinic, Monique Harrisberg
Companies are demanding more from their employees than ever before. Higher client expectations, increased globalisation, more sophisticated technology these are a few of the conditions at work. “Employees need to take initiative, become creative and to accept responsibility for their actions,” says Monique Harrisberg, voice and communication expert and CEO of The Voice Clinic.
You need to communicate in a way that inspires confidence, credibility and conviction. The way in which you deliver your message rather than the actual content determines how people receive you and your spoken ideas. Voice, image and body language all combine to create credibility in the form of trustworthiness and expertise. Your voice effects how serious you are taken, how respected you are, as well as the results you achieve with your clients, colleagues and in business. “It’s a powerful tool that you can use deliberately to influence or persuade people,” says Harrisberg.” “Learning how to use your voice to its best advantage can make an immeasurable difference to how you are perceived by others,” she explains.
Excellent communication, however, depends not only on your voice but also on your levels of confidence and self-esteem. To project well and to make an incredible impact on your listener, you need to be truly empowered. If you do not feel empowered you need to develop skills to act empowered. Being self-empowered means having the strength within you to move forward. It involves learning how to listen, motivate, influence, encourage, fact-find, counsel and manage time and interpersonal relationships more effectively. “It also involves developing a verbal and non-verbal communication style that will ensure that you are heard and that people take you seriously,” says Harrisberg.
Just as a speech is a vital ingredient of good communication, so too is listening to others and allowing them the space, to express themselves and communicate their thoughts and ideas. “It’s often the great listeners who are also the great communicators. You learn an enormous amount by listening to others, especially if you are selling something or managing. Listening is a way of getting to know your audience and of understanding their agenda, motivation and emotions,” explains Harrisberg.
“Good communication is the number one ability that employers look for in an employee. It is the skill that improves productivity through the abilitiy to convey goals and instructions clearly. It is the skill that motivates and drives staff and co-workers, sells ideas and products and instils confidence in company stakeholders," Harrisberg concludes.
