02 Aug TUNING FORK
A tone poem is orchestral music that illustrates a story, mood, or painting. Tone in speaking is similar, using words and feelings to elucidate your topic.
For example, former NBC anchor Brian Williams now headlines We’re Back! With Brian Williams. It’s a podcast, and his first guest was actor Tom Hanks. For this new show, Williams departed from his gravitas-heavy, journalistic tone to one that was warm and conversational. It was a perfect match.
Another example is the actor Tom Hiddleston who narrates a documentary series on Pompeii. The show is described as having cinematic scripted drama. Hiddleston affects an overly dramatic tone and shares with the audience his study of Latin to establish his credibility. The academics who Hiddleston interviews aren’t trained actors, so their banter often falls flat.
When constructing your next presentation, identify and rehearse your tone. It’s a subtle tool that produces a profound effect. Do you want your delivery to be warm and friendly, or serious and formal? Is your product, service, or idea exciting which will be reflected in your delivery? Or do you want your pitch to reflect how critical your services are to your client’s success? Audiences are affected by tone, so decide how you want them to feel. Then rehearse your material with different tones and when it’s right, you’ll know.
No Comments