Tips To Help You Sound Less Robotic

“Stop sounding like you just memorized a script. It’s annoying! Just talk like a normal human.”

Dozens of student quotes similar to that one continue to appear in surveys when I ask students to give advice about communicating with Gen Z during the college search process.

Not sounding completely scripted and robotic will also help you increase engagement and cultivate deeper, more personal relationships – this applies to emails, phone calls, text messages, letters, college fairs, high school visits, and your campus visit/event experience.

Here are 10 tips if want to sound more genuine and authentic:

• Use more conversational, less formal language. When you’re overly formal or use admissions jargon it can be intimidating or even confusing. Too many people want to sound ‘perfect.’ That’s unrealistic and putting way too much pressure on yourself. Remember, the other person has no idea what you’re going to say. Focus more on sounding relaxed, relatable, and helpful. We all sound a little wordy from time to time and that’s okay.

• Make it a two-way conversation. It should always sound like you’re talking with the other person, not at them. Incorporate direct questions and then take the feedback you receive and share details and information (or ask follow-up questions) based on the other person’s response.

• Practice beforehand. I’m often asked how I’m able to get up and talk to a large group for hours or give a keynote in front of hundreds and not constantly be looking down at notes. I’ve not only written down talking points ahead of time, but I’ve rehearsed out loud and in my head – usually multiple times. I also review frequently asked questions I get (and how I will respond), as well as questions I may pose to the audience based on the topic(s) I’m discussing.

• Maintain eye contact when you’re in person (or on video chat). Looking the person directly in the eye conveys that you are engaged and listening intently. This is a skill that for many needs practice.

• Your pace matters. Slow down, pronounce things clearly, and take pauses between thoughts or before you answer a question.

• Your tone and emotion matter. Tone in particular involves the level and type of emotion you use (or don’t), as well as your volume. Match your facial expressions to your tone. Think about the words you emphasize. Are you speaking too softly or in monotone? Are you too excited and over the top where it feels fake? Also, one of the best ways to connect with your audience is by using emotion in your content. This can be done by sharing stories, using images and videos, or even just writing in a way that evokes emotion.

• Speak with confidence. When you speak confidently, it completely changes your tone of voice. A confident person is almost always more believable. Conversely, a lack of confidence in your voice can make others question whether or not you believe what you’re saying, or if you completely understand it. Perception matters.

• Use the other person’s first or preferred name… more than once. If you’re speaking to a group, try and use as many first or preferred names as possible when answering questions or engaging. When you’re writing emails, don’t just include their first or preferred name at the start. Find ways to repeat it again in the body of your message.

• Be an active listener. Focus 100% of your energy on what the other person is saying, not how you’re going to respond. It’s okay if it takes you a few seconds to put together your thoughts once they finish. Nodding and making affirming sounds also shows you’re truly engaged.

• Show gratitude. Thank the other person for sharing, especially when it’s a tough or heavy topic, or you can clearly tell it wasn’t easy for them to share specific details.

  
  

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