Voice notes have become a part of everyday digital communication. They are increasingly used to avoid a call or a message and have crossed the barriers of the social and family to reach the workplace. For Paola Chocano, CEO at Career Partners Peru, voice messages generate trust and closeness, especially in a hybrid work environment, but this type of communication also has many details to observe.

“It is very important that this type of communication considers the recipient of the message. Considering the generational issue, the precision of the message or the tone to be used are just some of the points to be considered,” adds Chocano. In addition, Ana María Pajuelo, associate consultant at LHH DBM Peru, argues that since the pandemic, the boundaries between work and personal spaces have been erased and Whatsapp has become the most important communication tool.

Etiquette guide

According to professionals, the main tips for sending effective voice messages are:

Time is money. It is recommended that their duration be less than one minute and avoid making colloquial preambles that diminish the effectiveness of the message. This also prevents recipients from increasing the speed of the messages, which impersonalizes the communication.

Intonation matters. Effective communication brings together more elements than just the message itself: intonation, rhythm, volume, diction. It is important to take into account the intention we want to impress on our message before sending it.

The medium is the message. If the information you want to tell is extensive and consists of several steps or stages, it is best to write it through a text (which can be a mail) to prevent the receiver from listening to the message more than once.

Multicontents. It is key not to saturate the communication with voice messages. If they are to be used, they should be accompanied by written messages or, if necessary, phone calls.

Trial and error. As effective as the message may be, there are those who find it invasive. Sending it does not require that the response be given in the same format.

Types of communication

While audios have gained ground, there are communications that warrant a call, such as conversations involving sensitive information or the first contact with a person in the organization.

For Pajuelo, these have to happen in case you want to relate and develop a better bond with the listener, as well as when you need to persuade your listener to achieve a goal. “Voice memos are used to communicate a specific topic, while calls generate the recipient to take action and develop an exchange of ideas or information,” adds Chocano.

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