Some of our most important decisions are based on intuitions. Can I trust this guy? Did he do it on purpose or not? Shall I hire this chap or the other one? A study was conducted to understand the extent to which voice and way of speaking condition an audience, over and above what is actually said. Four experiments were run where professionals from a recruitment agency had to decide whether to hire candidates looking for work. In the first case they saw and heard the presentation a candidate gave. In the second experiment they heard, without seeing, the candidate. In the third case they neither saw nor heard the candidate but they read a transcript of a presentation the candidate gave orally. In the fourth case they listened to a professional actor (not the candidate) reading the transcript of the presentation. In the four cases the words used were identical. Listening only or listening and seeing had a similar effect on the recruiters and this effect was markedly greater than reading or hearing the presentation read by an actor. The researchers conclude that the human voice with its pauses, tones and imperfections allows listeners to have intuitions about mental or behavioral issues that written words do not allow. Only if the words are said by the person to whom they refer (and not referred by intermediaries) do they contain info that a listener will immediately recognize subconsciously. This is a language that travels on its own, parallel to the one made up of words. It is noteworthy that the candidates when asked did not know which presentation was the best and had no preferences. Speakers do not realize what a potent tool they have to convince those present; yet, as listeners, they immediately recognize this as a tool.