I am the first to admit there are times when I’m short-tempered. And it always shows up in my voice. My edgy tone can be off-putting to the person on the receiving end, having no idea what my problem is!
Our voices are powerful communicators. They telegraph emotion like nothing else. To Give Great Voice means being aware of this power and the impact it can have, both positively and negatively, on the listener.
This morning, I went to the grocery store to pick up some meat for a beef stew I was going to make. I was in a rush. I needed it to be high quality with no hormones. I didn’t see what I wanted and started to stress, but I stopped myself before I opened my mouth.
First, the butcher showed me their pre-packaged selection. That wasn’t what I wanted. Frustrated, I still watched my words and tone. To my surprise, the hormone-free meat was in the back and at an even lower price than the other options!
If I had showed and vocalized my stress and impatience when I asked about the meat, I don’t think he would’ve gone out of his way for me. Thinking back to times when I have been impatient, I’ve regretted it. In those instances, my version of “Giving Great Voice” was profuse apologies. Today, having that awareness stops me in my tracks so I don’t have to do damage control with my daily interactions. I remember my mother’s sage advice, “You get what you ask for.” If we can ask for it in a calm, kind, patience manner, we may always get what we want.
So today was a win! Take this lesson with you, when you want something, but are afraid to ask, go ahead and ask in your best, most gracious tone. You might be pleasantly surprised as well.
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