Booher BanterBusiness Communication Consultant

Fox’s top-ranked reality show, American Idol, runs the gamut of contestants—from Wall Street “suits” to hicks from the sticks.  And a big part of their popularity comes from how much their viewing audience identifies with them.  But when it comes to those sitting in the boardrooms making decisions on hiring, promotions, budgets, they’re looking for polish.  Polish often boils down to perception.

Here’s the perception:  If you have a deep twang, talk slower than molasses, make a grammatical error every second sentence, then people think you’re not too bright. 

Don’t believe it?  Think Forest Gump.  Think about every movie you’ve ever seen when the director wanted to portray someone who was mentally challenged without actually writing that information into the dialogue.

Consider the opposite:  What stereotypical personality traits are assigned to the fast-talking, loudmouth from the Bronx?  Aggressive, overbearing, impatient, sly.

True or untrue in either case—it doesn’t matter.  Perception rules.  Whether a positive or a negative, our speech categorizes us faster than almost anything else.

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