In the experiment, participants were divided into two groups.<\/p>\n

First, all of the participants established a baseline of acoustics (pitch, loudness, and resonance) as they read aloud. You know what pitch and loudness are. \u00a0The resonance of a voice varies depending on where the sound is principally vibrating–the chest, the head, or the nose.<\/p>\n

Next, one group was asked to remember a time when they were powerful, and to think of themselves as high-ranking people in the workplace. Conversely, the other group was asked to remember a time when they lacked power, and to think of a time when they held little status.<\/p>\n

The two groups then read a second passage, and a sophisticated software program measured changes in everyone\u2019s voice patterns.<\/p>\n

Your self-perception changes your speech<\/h3>\n

The people who thought of themselves as higher ranking had a steadier pitch and varied volume. The people who thought of themselves as having little status sounded strained and less stable.<\/p>\n

When a third group of students listened to the recordings, they correctly identified the voices of \u201chigher ranking people\u201d and \u00a0\u201cpeople with little status.\u201d So, listeners are definitely picking up on these auditory clues–clues we\u2019re not even aware that we are sending.<\/p>\n

Dr. Galinsky adds that he doesn\u2019t know if it\u2019s possible to \u201cfake it till you make it.\u201d In other words, if you work with a voice coach to sound more powerful, it\u2019s not certain that you will, in fact, gain power. But he does think it\u2019s possible.<\/p>\n