• Use your own accent . Trying to fake a voice that is not yours, or to alter your natural voice, is unnecessary. Be proud of your voice: it is a vital component of your identity. If your accent is distinct or strong, people may have to work a little harder to adjust to your voice. So: • Speak clearly . Make sure all the consonants are clear when you are speaking (all the letters that are not A, E, I, O or U). Use your lips and tongue well. As with our other resources, we need to prepare our voice to
perform well. Practise in friendly situations; check how you are
doing with colleagues and friends whose opinion you trust.
Verbal resources Among your verbal resources are your self-introduction and the
rapport-building remarks and questions. Listen, also, for the
words the other person is using and adjust your vocabulary to
theirs. Echoing the actual words a person uses can help to build
rapport very quickly, if done subtly.
Do you have a card? Your business card is the trace you leave behind you. Its job is to
represent you in someone’s memory after you have finished
talking. If they want to meet you again, your card is the means by
which they do it. Your card will – hopefully – be a permanent
reminder of you; it makes sense to get it right.
• The card should reflect your ‘brand’ . Does the design say what you want it to say? Do the colours and typefaces ( c) 2011 Kogan Page L imited, All Rights Reserved.
177 Networking: The New Conversation suggest your values and style? Are they compatible with your website or blog, if you have one? • Essential information should be easy to see
