Mastering Communication at Work, Second Edition: How to Lead, Manage, and Influence, 2nd Edition

CHAPTER 6

ADD COLOR

Adding color changes the sound of a word to draw attention to its meaning. Too many leaders and managers send mixed messages with the way they speak. They say something important and don’t sound sincere, or they sound too excited about a topic that’s not a big deal. In this chapter you will learn how to match what you say with how you say it.

How Do You Yell at a Three-Year-Old?

Your three-year-old son is chasing a ball into the street. You have to yell at him to stop. How will you say it? Try this first. In your normal conversational voice, say, “Stop.”

Seriously. Unless you’re in a car that someone else is driving, say it out loud. You need to feel how it sounds. Say it one more time.

Listen to your voice. Hear your natural ...