PARAVERBAL COMMUNICATION: THE VOICE IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE MESSAGE
When we develop a corporate communications strategy, we spend a great deal of time choosing the right words. We review headlines, refine key messages and consider how to explain an idea so that it comes across clearly to journalists, customers or employees. However, when the time comes to convey that message out loud, another very important factor comes into play: paraverbal communication. Tone, rhythm, volume or even pauses can completely change the perception of the very same words. How something is said can be just as important, if not more so, than what is said. To begin with, what is paraverbal communication? Paraverbal communication encompasses all those elements of the voice that accompany verbal language. It does not refer to words or gestures – which would form part of verbal and non-verbal communication, respectively – but to the way in which we use our voice. Among its main elements are: The same sentence can inspire trust, indifference or even rejection depending on these factors. Why does this matter in corporate communication? A television interview, a conversation with a journalist, a presentation of results or a CEO’s speech at an event are situations in which the written message is only part of the communication. Imagine a spokesperson announcing positive business results in an excessively low tone, at a rapid pace and with hardly any variation in their voice. The figures remain positive, but their speech is likely to convey less confidence and enthusiasm than the company intends to project. The opposite is also true. Good paraverbal communication can make a complex message more accessible, help convey calm during a crisis, or ensure that a corporate presentation connects better with its audience. This is even more important at a time when companies are seeking to humanise their communication. Audiences expect people who can deliver a corporate message in a natural and credible way. The role of communications agencies Communications agencies can work on paraverbal communication as part of spokesperson training. It is not just a matter of providing a document with key messages and potential questions; it is also important to practise how to convey them. Media training sessions, mock interviews or rehearsals prior to a presentation enable us to identify aspects that often go unnoticed. Speaking too quickly due to nerves, using a monotonous tone, failing to pause, or raising one’s voice excessively are habits that can be corrected through preparation. Furthermore, each situation requires a different approach to communication. An interview about innovation does not call for the same tone as an appearance during a reputational crisis. The agency can help the spokesperson adapt their manner of expression to the context, the channel and the audience without losing their naturalness. The most effective corporate communication, as well as finding the right messages, involves ensuring that those messages come across as credible and human when they reach their audience. Working on paraverbal communication helps to align words with the intention behind them. Nowadays, trust and authenticity carry increasing weight in an organisation’s reputation, and paying attention to how a message sounds can be just as important as deciding what we want to say.



















