A Voice for Every Occasion (or Don't Keep it Under your Hat)

Owning a business usually means wearing several different hats - often at the same time. Employer, manager, marketer, diplomat, business strategist, spin doctor, counsellor, coach, just to name a few. (Are we tired yet?) And each hat needs its own voice. Voice? Talking hats? What the...?

Let me explain.

Every role you play in the running of your business requires that you communicate with someone. The way that you communicate depends on which hat you're wearing at the time. And, the audience with whom you're communicating determines which hat you wear. Did you get that?

The audience with whom you're communicating determines which hat you wear.

This is a very important point to grasp as it will affect the outcome of everything you say, write or do.

For example: Let's say you sell bicycles. You employ sales people and back up staff in the shop as well as a website guru for your online sales. The hat you wear as an Employer has a different voice than your Marketer's hat which is different again from your Business Strategist's hat.

The need arises for you to speak to one of your sales folk about his performance. His character, education level, attitude and experience will tell you whether to don your Coach's hat or Manager's hat. As a coach you will communicate differently - through choice of words, demeanour, tone, body language and facial expression - than a manager.Getting the hat right will ensure the meeting achieves its best possible result.

Think about all the hats you wear in your business. Perhaps you're an independent professional with no employees. Who do you communicate with and what hat must you wear to do it?

- Clients: diplomat, counsellor, spin doctor...?

- Prospective clients: marketer, authority figure...?

- Suppliers: manager, customer (for an "other side of the table" look)

Now, think about the differences between each voice. How do you speak to a supplier? How does that differ from your conversation with a client? And how does that contrast with the language you use in your marketing materials? If there is no difference, your business' bottom line is most probably not living up to its full potential.

In future issues, I'll examine further for you, different voices in business and how to use them. For now, though, embrace the hats - they're much more than just a fashion statement!

© Carol Dorman 2006

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Copywriter and editor, Carol Dorman owns Quill Writing Services and publishes 'Communicate', the ezine for business owners who want to harness the power of words for increased success. To sign up and receive her free report: 'How to Convince your Target Market to Buy from You', visit www.quillwritingservices.com.au