Every generation is influenced by the popular culture icons of their youth and, inevitably, copy their styles. In the ‘50s it was James Dean’s worn jeans and T-shirt, the ‘60s the mop-top haircuts sported by the Beatles, the ‘80s were filled with Madonna look-alikes with bold see-through tops and exposed bra straps, and the ‘90s with Jennifer Aniston’s “Rachel” hairstyle from the TV show Friends was all the rage. It’s no surprise that the reality queens for the past nine years, The Kardashian, have influenced Millennials and Generation Y in how they dress, act and even speak; invoking an upward inflection at the end of sentences.
This vocal style makes the speaker sound like they are asking a question rather than making a statement. Public speaking professionals joking call this the “Kardashian Syndrome.” While popular, especially among young women, this vocal manipulation portrays the speaker as uncertain, unconfident and immature. The combination of these perceptions quickly lowers the speaker’s authoritative voice and seriously negates their credibility, regardless of how many J.D.s M.A.s, or MBAs, are after their name.
That is why this speech pattern is not just a harmless adoption of a pop culture vocal style. This vocal habit can result in a variety of repercussions, such as not getting called back for a second interview, being passed over for promotions, or even losing a sale.
The ability to communicate in a mature, clear, and confident voice during job interviews, business meetings and with customers will pay big dividends for employees. Managers want to feel confident that the people they hire will look and sound professional in their job, not sound like a clueless character from a TV show.
But, “the Kardashian Syndrome” is curable and the remedy is simple: Record yourself talking casually on the phone or talking in person to someone. After the conversation, listen to the playback objectively. Listen to how you sound when you end sentences. If most sentences rise up at the end and you sound like you are asking a question, make a conscious effort to practice using downward inflections at the end of sentences. Record yourself often and make adjustments to your speaking style. It is also helpful to enlist the help of a friend or co-worker and ask her to remind you when they hear the Kardashian speech pattern. Just remember, we never see – or hear – ourselves the way others do. Objective, outside feedback can be worth its weight in gold!