--- description: Avoid emotional variability in how you carry yourself when presenting title: This Simple Thing Can Make You Much More Convincing, According to Research image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4cdd4e4e40288445/698784b52dce0137369de282/142022485-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Ideas](/section/ideas/) ## Ideas Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Psychology](/tag/psychology/) ## Psychology Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # This Simple Thing Can Make You Much More Convincing, According to Research by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 27, 2015 4:01 AM CUT  Caucasian businessman practicing speech in empty auditorium Caucasian businessman practicing speech in empty auditoriumGetty Images by [Eric Barker](/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Mar 27, 2015 4:01 AM CUT Research shows that _consistency_ in tone is extremely persuasive. People who don’t get shaken up and maintain a smooth approach have a natural advantage. Stuttering, long pauses, pitch of the voice going up and down… none of these inspire confidence. Avoid emotional variability in how you carry yourself when presenting. A narrow tonal range conveys a high degree of control and certainty. Via [Honest Signals: How They Shape Our World](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262515121/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0262515121&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0262515121 "undefined"): --- > “” --- That said, this is not the best approach for all scenarios. If the spotlight is not on you and you need to be open to the ideas of others, it can backfire. In those situations a softer, more open attitude wins the day. Here, a less consistent, less focused approach shows you are open to the ideas of others. Via [Honest Signals: How They Shape Our World](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262515121/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0262515121&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0262515121 "undefined"): --- > “” --- **Join over 161,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD "undefined")**.** Related posts: [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/ "undefined") [The 8 Things The Happiest People Do Every Day](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/06/happiest-people/ "undefined") [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/ "undefined") ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3754210/simple-thing-more-convincing/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3754210/simple-thing-more-convincing/"},"headline":"This Simple Thing Can Make You Much More Convincing, According to Research","datePublished":"2015-03-27T04:01:10.000Z","dateModified":"2026-03-31T08:17:21.808Z","description":"Avoid emotional variability in how you carry yourself when presenting","url":"https://time.com/3754210/simple-thing-more-convincing/","keywords":["Psychology"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4cdd4e4e40288445/698784b52dce0137369de282/142022485-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4cdd4e4e40288445/698784b52dce0137369de282/142022485-copy.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"businessman-practicing-speech","caption":"businessman-practicing-speech","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3754210/simple-thing-more-convincing/","name":"This Simple Thing Can Make You Much More Convincing, According to Research"}}]}] ```