The Sound of Smart: Science-Based Voice Hacks to Project Intelligence and Authority
Our brains are wired to make snap judgments about people's attitudes based on vocal tones alone - before we even process the actual words.
That voice in your head telling you that what you say is more important than how to say it? Ignore it. Turns out, people decide whether you’re smart or slow-witted by the sound of your voice. Just how do hiring managers (and others!) draw conclusions from your tone? Neuroscience says seven vocal qualities combine to create an IQ indicator when you speak: Vocal fry, pitch, tone, respiratory support, articulation, and pace.
Vocal Fry: The Crispy Croak Making You Seem Half-Baked
First up in the lineup of linguistic IQ indicators: vocal fry. This gravelly, creaky growl has become ubiquitous among hip millennial voices—especially women. (Think Elizabeth Holmes’ fake deep voice, which came back to bite her.) Researchers postulate that the vocal fry fad caught on because Millennials think a deep voice is seen as more dominant and that could lead to workplace success. But does affecting this sultry speech slump actually make you sound brainy? Science says...not so much.
Researchers found that prolonged vocal fry typically signals deficiencies in confidence, competence, and even cognition. When you relax those vocal cords without amping up the airflow, you get slower, weaker vibrations that sizzle like bacon hitting a hot pan (mmm, bacon).
Listeners associate those lazy, breathy croaks with sluggishness of speech and mind. In effect, your perceived intellect potential literally fries out when you drop your voice too low. So much for sounding hip, chic, and smart.
But why does vocal fry equate to an IQ dip? It comes down to physiology. Fry emerges from inefficient vocal cord tension and airflow. When you lower your voice but don’t increase the airflow through your vocal cords, your tone deflates like a sad balloon. And just as flabby muscles signal physical weakness, a flabby voice suggests an equally flabby intellect. As the researchers discovered, subjects judged fry-ers as less intelligent, educated, competent, and hireable overall. Yikes.
Luckily, you can prevent vocal fry without hiking up your pitch. Here is an exercise to help you avoid vocal fry:
Vocal Fry Exercise: Practice the “glottal strike” exercise. Say “uh-oh” slowly and clearly, focusing on the “uh” sound. This helps to engage your vocal cords properly.
Pitch Perfect: Finding Your Optimal Frequency
Of course pitch plays a starring role in perceptions too. Dropping into baritone Barry White territory - or soaring up with Minnie Mouse - sends bold messages about your intelligence. But what's the brainy sweet spot?
Well, science indicates ideal pitches differ for guys and gals. Vocal frequencies provide clues about more than just moods; we also infer physical traits from pitch, which biases intellectual judgments.
For men, studies show lower is perceived as smarter. A deep masculine rumble apparently signals brawn and dominance, so we assume superior intellect. Researchers suggest a basso profundo tone inherently connotes greater size and strength.
But ladies, that sultry voice can misfire. Researchers discovered higher pitches in women imply a petite stature, and therefore greater youth and fertility, so they get rated as more intelligent. Who said science isn't sexist?
The key is finding your natural pitch sweet spot. Forced frequencies sound disingenuous and turn off listeners. Note to Barry White copycats: just be your brilliant selves, guys.
So just how do you find your optimal speaking pitch? It starts with becoming aware of your natural pitch, and then finding your unique vocal range. Try these exercises:
Pitch Awareness Exericse: Start by saying “Hello, how are you?” after blowing out all the air in your lungs. Then, take a deep breath and repeat the phrase. The breath immediately pumps up your volume and power.
Vocal Range Exercise: Do simple vocal exercises to increase awareness of your vocal range. This could involve humming at different pitches or singing scales. Once you find your range, aim for the middle area of that range when you speak.
Monotone Mumbling: A Bore or a Brain?
Of course, vocal variety also matters. Monotone mumbling hardly enhances your Einstein image.
A lack of pitch fluctuations and emphasis makes speakers sound listless and unengaged. And if you seem bored by your own words, others will likely assume you're bored because your brain power is limited.
So demonstrate your mental tenacity by adding pep and pivoting your pitches! Vary your tone, pitch, volume, and rate of speech throughout your presentation or conversation.
Breathy Voice: When You’re Literally Full of Hot Air
A breathy voice is when too much air flows before, during and after pronunciation of a word. It’s caused by the vocal folds opening too widely and often not closing with each speaking cycle.
The ultimate breathy voice that led to the “dumb blonde” image? Marilyn Monroe. Her voice may have made her sound sexy, but it also portrayed her as not so bright. Why does a breathy voice send this impression? It’s because with a whisper-like voice, your words are often unintelligible.
Like vocal fry, a breathy voice seems to be a trend now, thanks to some popular singers. There’s even a word for it: whisper pop. But there are dangers (beyond sounding like you have a less-than-stellar IQ) of using a breathy voice: vocal cord damage. So, even if this whisper pop thing is trendy now, don’t do it. Friends don’t let friends use Sexy Babe voice.
On the contrary, a tense voice—where the sound is louder, cleaner, and crisper than a breathy voice—sends the impression that the speaker is intelligent and quick-witted. The vocal cords here are operating more efficiently; they’re not opening and closing over a wide space.
Here are some ways to correct a breathy voice:
Breathy Voice Exercises: Try the “neck and shoulder rolls” exercise. Start by doing gentle neck and shoulder rolls to loosen up the muscles around your vocal cords. For another exercise on eliminating a breathy voice, place your hand directly in front of your face—I mean, literally, within an inch of your face-- with your palm facing your mouth. Speak a few sentences. If you have a breathy voice, you’ll feel the air hit your palm. Next, try speaking the same words while trying to prevent your breath from hitting your palm.
Smart-Sounding Articulation: A Tale of Two Tongues
Now let’s dive into the world of speech articulation.
First up, we have Frontal Articulation. Imagine you’re at the front of your mouth, hosting a party for sounds. The tongue is the life of the party, so it’s forward to just behind your front teeth as sounds are produced. And the lips? They’re the bouncers, moving a lot to keep the sound from escaping too soon. The stereotype here is librarian-like. Think of the Church Lady from SNL, all prim and proper.
Then there is Throaty Articulation. This is like the after-party, happening at the back of the oral cavity. The tongue, tired from the earlier party, decides to pull back and chill, which means sounds are produced near the back of the mouth—near the throat. But the lips are still at it, moving around a lot. Now, the stereotype here isn’t as flattering. It’s like someone who’s had one too many at the party and their words are just a mushy mess. Picture Jimmy Stewart, with his distinctive, throaty drawl.
Here are some exercises to correct a throaty articulation:
Tongue Twisters: These are great for improving pronunciation. They involve hard-to-pronounce combinations of words. If you can handle them with ease, standard sentences will be easy as well.
Humming: This exercise helps to remove nasal qualities from the voice and adds some articulation and warmth to it. It’s also a great warm-up exercise before starting to speak.
Yawning: Yawning is excellent for relaxing all the tiny muscles in the mouth and face regions. Your voice could sound inarticulate because your muscles are not relaxed and limit your mouth movements. Try yawning to solve the issue.
Vowel Sounds: Saying different vowel sounds involves the muscles in your throat, so deliberately repeating these sounds can help tone those muscles. Repeat the vowel sounds a-e-i-o-u.
Fast Talkers, Slow Speakers, and the IQ Olympics: Who Wins?
Finally, I often get questions about rate of speech and intelligence. My answer: It’s a coin toss. Some studies say a faster rate of speech conveys intelligence; other studies say just the opposite—that speaking more slowly shows you have an IQ-impression edge.
My advice in light of the conflicting studies? It’s twofold:
(1) Speak at a rate which portrays your true personality and energy levels. Me? I often speak as if I’m trying to best a fast-forward button. That has served me well in the types of jobs and projects I’ve been involved, as most of those are fast-paced and require myriad last-minute pivots. People have commented on my quick-wittedness and high energy. But I have a friend who is a college professor, and she speaks slowly. Clearly, because she was able to achieve a PhD., she’s a smart cookie. And she always does sound smart and receives rave reviews from her students on her intellect.
So how can these two diverse approaches be reconciled? My personal opinion is that if you speak quickly in a fast-paced industry or environment, then you might be considered “quick witted” enough to keep up. On the other hand, if you are discussing complex topics or information, then speaking more slowly makes it seem as if your words are better thought-out, and that you have confidence in what you are saying. In other words: context matters.
(2) Speaking of context, another study, says you should adapt your rate of speech to haters or supporters:
· If you have haters on hand and your audience is likely to disagree with you, then speak faster. (This gives your audience less time to form their own counter arguments and ups your chances of changing their minds.)
· If your audience is on your side and likely to agree with what you have to say, then speak slower. (This gives the audience time to hang on your every word, and add a few thoughts of their own which are likely to further boost your ideas.)
In Summary: Let Your Voice Reflect Your Beautiful Mind
The next time you wonder if your voice matches your intellect, remember: we all have special vocal gifts. Avoid unnatural gimmicks like vocal fry or whisper popping that strain your vocal cords. The key behind these suggestions is to adapt your tone, articulation, pitch, and articulation to project intelligence without pretense. A little vocal finesse goes a long way in making sure first impressions reflect your inner brilliance accurately. You don’t have to –and shouldn’t—attempt a complete vocal overhaul.