Press Release: "Uptalk" Speech Pattern May Be Sabotaging the Careers of Women Nationwide
For immediate release
"Uptalk" Invading the Workplace
Speech Pattern May Be Sabotaging the Careers of Women Nationwide
New York, NY: January 11, 2011 – Diane DiResta, top speaking strategist and founder and CEO of DiResta Communications, a communication skills consulting company, has released a video explaining an alarming trend in interpersonal communication: Uptalk. [video link] Uptalk is destroying the credibility of millions of professionals who are unknowingly falling victim to this increasingly common form of speech, in particular women. DiResta, author of Knockout Presentations: How to Deliver Your Message With Power, Punch, and Pizzazz, an Amazon.com category best-seller and text book for communications courses across the nation, says, “The ability to express oneself with conviction is what separates the good from the great - whether defending a thesis, interviewing for a job, or pitching an idea.”
Everyone's heard it. Uptalk is the singsong speech pattern characterized by a rising inflection at the end of the sentence, making it seem as if the speaker is asking a question. "Speaking in 'Uptalk' makes speakers seem weak and tentative, making them appear to lack conviction and authority," says speech coach Diane DiResta. "When women sound unsure of themselves through this type of speech, it makes it impossible for them to be viewed as people who can influence others, lead or command respect in the workplace."
According to DiResta, people asking for a raise using Uptalk won't get one. Similarly, people trying to sell a product won't get the sale if they fall victim to Uptalk. And it will be next to impossible for a person speaking in Uptalk to get his or her staff to follow directions. “The reason,” says DiResta, “is that this simple voice inflection makes it sound to others like you are not being definitive - and that there are other options for them to take.”
The good news, according to DiResta, is that once it's identified, Uptalk can be easily eliminated. DiResta stresses the importance of practice, where people say a sentence in Uptalk, and then say the same sentence with a downward inflection at the end. In addition, she suggests that people enlist the help of friends and/or co-workers to help them monitor their speech, and to let them know when they fall back into Uptalk. She also notes that introspection is perhaps the most important key to recognizing -- and beating -- Uptalk.
"It's crucial that people tune into their feelings before they speak, and identify if they are feeling unsure or insecure about the situation, the audience, or the words they'll be saying," says DiResta. "By simply practicing what to say, and bringing their voice down at the end of a sentence, people will be amazed at how much more authoritative and confident they sound, and how much more persuasive they will be in the workplace."
There are a number of different reasons that people may be using Uptalk in the workplace, ranging from habit, peer identity, and, most often, insecurity. Since the voice is the greatest barometer of emotions, when a person lacks confidence, it will show up in the voice. In particular, a fear of rejection may surface as Uptalk, which is seen a great deal in sales professionals. And for those people who are often afraid to "take a stand" in today's politically correct environment, speaking in Uptalk provides them with a way to back pedal or soften their messages. Unfortunately, communicating in Uptalk for any of these reasons can be ineffective - and disastrous to a person's career.