The Voice/ Brain Connection: Smooth Talking Decreases Cortisol

It's not just an act to manipulate the people you are talking to when you inject smooth sweetness into your voice. Next time you find your mental temperature on the rise, try this:

Speak with a calm voice. This will trigger the avoidance of cortisol, that pesky little hormone that spikes when we get angry or fearful.

Dr. Ellen Weber, the wizardess over at Brain-Based Business blog gave a perfect example of how communications - or miscommunications - can occur even among trusted peers. Her blog post is worth the read.

Here's Ellen's post:

Cortisol Shuts Down Your Ability to Communicate

Take control of that “out of sorts feeling” and you’ll also help your team to avoid the kind of cortisol an angry customer might bring…. You’ll find consensus faster. Robyn and I recently held an exciting phone conference with a friend and fellow leader… Barry Burrnett and his Seattle team at BDR.  During the talk I focused on engaging Barry about part of the human brain as it can improve communication.

Robyn, the senior vice-president at the MITA Center , tried to cue me that I had left out one key fact about panic and fear that shuts down our thinking. As she attempted to get my attention, she held up a hand written note, “Avoid Cortisol.” Since my voice was already calm… I smoothed it out to a sorting of crooning in response to ensure no cortisol was leaking in…. 

Robyn intended to trigger a comment to Barry about how cortisol puts us in panic mode ... and shuts down the brain’s ability to communicate well. I thought Robyn was saying that my tone  appeared to be in cortisol … and that I should avoid this. Surprised while at Robyn’s suggestion, I decided to take no chances … and I calmed my voice more as I communicated. We laughed at the communication glitch we hit … in spite of the close working relationships we enjoy.

The key to escape cortisol though… is to change your voice… run from negative people… go for a walk… or find some tangible way to be good to you until cortisol stops surging in your brain and positive tone returns. What do you think?

Comments

[Ellen Weber]

Great post here Patsi and thanks for expanding on my own two-bits. I'd already decided there is another way past cortisol -- after your kind comment on my trademark thing! Thanks for the ethics you embody... while at the same ... the way you firmly support peers and colleagues with wisdom and wit. You rock, Patsi!