It often goes unnoticed, but your voice may be one of your most powerful allies in today's workplace. Would you rather collaborate with someone who sounds enthusiastic and confident  or someone who sounds nervous or grating? Just as your appearance reveals the type of person you are, the way you use your voice can be instrumental in making that critical connection with peers, superiors and clients.

For instance, keeping your voice in low, resonant tones generally sounds more pleasant than if your voice is a high-pitched or nasal. Mumbling or speaking too quietly makes it difficult for people to follow your message, so be sure to project your voice  particularly when speaking to groups.

Talking too fast makes speech sound cluttered and often results in mispronounced words, which can be a real turn-off. It's important to slow down so you can identify and correct bad speech habits like "ums, and "errs or overuse of words such as "like. They make you sound less professional and make those around you cringe.

What you say and how you say it are both equally important. You can instantly create an engaging rapport with someone by speaking in a way that balances formality and informality. For instance, small talk for the first few minutes of a meeting gives you the chance to warm-up to the situation  not to mention gain valuable insight into the person you're dealing with.

You can even make technical information or product attributes sound more engaging and interesting by keeping your intonation dynamic and avoiding getting caught up in too much jargon and terminology.

When you're presenting an idea, the primary question on the minds of the people you're speaking to is, "What can this do for me? So speak to the highlights. If they want to know more, you can elaborate. Speaking to the benefits of your product or service and using tools like PowerPoint or demonstrations to cover off more detailed features can be helpful because it is visual - and makes the data more understandable and relatable.

Asking questions is always a great way to get to know your clients and colleagues, show your interest in their needs and keep the conversation flowing. The trick is allow enough time for a thoughtful response. Give them the chance to respond, don't interrupt or cut them off. You might miss some important information.

However, when you need to stay in control of your message, it is important to finish a comment with a "down vocal pitch - instead of an "up or questioning tone - which signals questioning or asking for permission to speak.

At the end of the day, people enjoy working with people who make them feel comfortable. A clear, compelling and confident voice not only puts those around you at ease, it helps convince them that you are the person they need to succeed.