Deeper voice means more salary: True or False?

Does your boss have a deeper voice than you?  Could lowering your voice increase your annual income?

Even to pose the question seems ridiculous… particularly in light of all those years spent in MBA programs.   But that’s what a recent study may suggest.

“…researchers found that executives with voices on the deeper (that is, lower-frequency) end of the scale earned, on average, $187,000 more in pay…”

…from the finding published in the Wall Street Journal.

We may believe that our ideas are the most important element of being effective, successful and trusted….but the very sound of our voice may impact the outcome in a very real way.

So…if you buy the research…how do you deepen your voice?

Ways to get a deeper voice:

1. Get to the GYM.  Exercise your range with the “vocal elevator”.  Think of an elevator that starts at the top follow and descends to the basement quickly and smoothly.  Take a breath and start with a high pitch and drop it to your lower pitch as you visualize the elevator descending.  Now imagine the elevator going from the basement to the top foor.   Be gentle with your voice and allow it to stretch.
2. Deeper voices come from relaxed vocal cords.  Reduce stress in your life or just imagine yourself relaxed and stress free.  A warm beverage will also relax your vocal cords.
3. Water.  Drink plenty of water.  As your exercise and ask more from your voice keep it lubricated. 
4. Experiment in neutral territory.  Use your newer lower pitch voice when you are away from friends or work colleagues.  Try it when you order coffee or shopping.  It may sound unnatural to you but it may not sound that way to others.  Test it.  Incorporate it.  Learn to trust it.    

This is not to say that there is no place in the world for higher pitched voices.  On the contrary, higher pitches carry excitement and empathy.  We don’t play with a puppy using our lowest pitch!  But it may be helpful to use the lower pitches when we want to instill trust and confidence.

Experiment with this and you may increase your income.  If you do….I’ll expect a check.

 

 

One last word of caution….the way a message is delivered (for example a deeper voice) may add to the effectiveness of your message (content)…but it will never replace content.   There is no substitute for your ideas.

Read More:  the full blog post from WSJ here: