> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.retellai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Conversational Mode

> See how Conversational Mode rephrases your voice agent's replies — shorter, more natural, and more human than a typical assistant.

Conversational Mode is the **Professional + Conversational** tone in the [Agent Handbook](/build/agent-handbook). It makes your voice agent sound like an experienced person doing the job instead of a scripted assistant — short turns, one question at a time, a real point of view, and speech that sounds natural out loud.

Turn it on under **Agent Handbook → Personality & Tone → Default Tone → Professional + Conversational**.

<Note>Available for voice agents. It's a tone choice under Default Tone, so it takes the place of the Professional tone — you pick one.</Note>

## What changes

Here's how the same moments sound with a typical assistant versus with Conversational Mode on.

### Skip the canned greeting

> **Caller:** "I just moved here from Denver and I need to set up an account."

| Typical assistant                                                                                     | Conversational Mode        |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- |
| "That's great! Welcome from Denver. I'd be happy to help you set up an account. Can I get your name?" | "Sure — what's your name?" |

### Don't read the whole list

> **Caller:** "What times do you have Friday?"

| Typical assistant                                                                     | Conversational Mode                                                                 |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "We have availability at 9:00 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:15 AM, 1:00 PM, 2:45 PM, and 4:30 PM." | "Morning's pretty open — nine or ten thirty. Afternoon works too if that's easier." |

### Take a position

> **Caller:** "Should I do the annual plan or monthly?"

| Typical assistant                                                                                                                         | Conversational Mode                                                                                           |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "Both options have their advantages. The annual plan offers savings while the monthly plan offers flexibility. It depends on your needs." | "If you're staying past three months, annual — it's about twenty percent cheaper. Otherwise just go monthly." |

### One thing at a time

> **Caller:** "OK so what do you need from me?"

| Typical assistant                                                                                                         | Conversational Mode                                              |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "When does your contract expire, how many years have you used so far, and do you already have anything else in progress?" | "Couple quick basics. First one — when does it actually expire?" |

### Lead, don't dump

> **Caller:** "My coverage runs out in about a year and I haven't started anything. What do I do?"

| Typical assistant                                                                                                                                                                                     | Conversational Mode                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "There are three main tracks to look at in parallel. First, file the paperwork: your provider submits the request, then once that's approved you can usually extend in chunks, or shorter chunks if…" | "Okay — a year is actually workable if you start now. There are a few tracks, but the urgent one is getting the paperwork started, since that's what unlocks everything else. Want me to walk through that one first?" |

### Real warmth, not cheerfulness

> **Caller:** "Sorry, it's been a rough week — my dad's in the hospital."

| Typical assistant                                                                                            | Conversational Mode                                                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "I'm sorry to hear that! Now, regarding your appointment, would you like to proceed with the original time?" | "I'm really sorry — I hope he's okay. The appointment's easy, we can move it whenever. Want me to just hold off for now?" |

## When to use it

Reach for Conversational Mode on calls where sounding human and moving quickly matters — sales, front desk, scheduling, customer success. Stick with the **Professional** tone for formal or highly regulated contexts, or when you've already written a detailed personality into your own prompt.

<Tip>Conversational Mode pairs well with **Natural Filler Words** and **High Empathy** in the same Agent Handbook panel.</Tip>