We are not born professional speakers. We are accustomed to thinking about what we are saying, not the manner in which we are saying it. We pay no attention to the sound of our own voices. The voice is such a powerful tool. Whether you wish to improve your voice on the phone, for work activities, or for public speaking, the following steps will bring out the best speaker in you:
Step 1 – You have to listen to yourself talk even if you are one of the many people who says, “I hate the way I sound.” (Remember how shocked you were the first time you heard a tape recording of yourself? You probably kept saying, “That’s really me? No, it can’t be.”) Use whatever technical tools you have handy, but listen to yourself in a recorded version. Whether it’s a simple recording on a voicemail or answering machine, or something more advanced, do it. You must hear yourself before you can learn to improve your speaking voice. Here’s a trick: Record yourself speaking, but do not listen to it that same day. Wait one day. Then go ahead and listen to your voice.
Step 2 – Start improving on the weaknesses you hear. One of the major hurdles is probably learning to get away from a monotone delivery. This can happen on the phone and when speaking to groups. For some reason we shy away from using inflection except when with one or two other people, as though we are being too dramatic or something in larger groups. Or the monotone might be from trying to sound “professional.” Watch how you work at this. Your speaking voice will end up sounding flat when you try too hard at this. Use inflection naturally like when you tell a joke or a funny story. Imagine that you are sitting around your dinner table talking to your family. Let your voice rise up a little during the more exciting parts of the story, like you do in normal conversation. This will keep people attentive when they listen.
Step 3 – Learn to warm up your mouth and jaw just like you warm up your muscles before working out. Open your jaw very wide and stretch it. Then close it. Open and repeat. This also helps relax you. Another really good exercise is to loosen up your tongue and vocal chords by using a few little tools taught by well-trained talent coaches. If you are driving somewhere to give a public speech, repeat this phrase: “Over the lips, the teeth, the tongue.” It sounds funny, doesn’t it. Try it. You will feel how it loosens up your mouth. Another exercise is to stand in front of a mirror and open your mouth nice and wide. Then say, “Woo, Whoa, War, Wow.” This will also stretch out your mouth and jaw. You never want to speak when you are all clenched up.
Step 4 – Speak from your gut. You probably have heard that you are supposed to “push from the diaphragm.” It’s the same thing. The idea is to pull that voice up from the center of your body instead of speaking out of only your throat. You will find this easier than you may think. All you have to do is breathe and relax and speak naturally. You should be able to feel your stomach moving a little just below your ribs if you press down on it when you do this. This will give your voice a nice, resonant sound. It will also keep you from getting a sore throat, which is what happens when you push directly from the vocal chords.
Step 5 – Sing. Even if you believe you are a terrible singer, sing anyway. If you do think you’re bad, just be sure to do it when you’re alone so you are comfortable. This will help your inflection and your control more than you can imagine. Public speakers, news anchors, and actors often take singing lessons to help them learn to control their voices. You don’t have to go that far if you’re not interested. Just sing for yourself. And don’t hold back. Really belt it out.
How You Sound Is Important
It’s funny, isn’t it? We pay attention to our hygiene, grooming, what we wear, diet and weight, and every aspect of how others perceive us except for how we sound.
In business and social situations the first impression you make is often largely determined by how you sound. Your voice may leave a more lasting impression than your appearance if it is squeaky, nasal, high-pitched, indistinct or otherwise flawed. According to experts, billions of dollars are lost each year in missed opportunities and squandered sales because of the ineffective way that people speak.
The Internet, e-mail,voice mail, faxes and modems have all had a huge impact on communication. Technology that was beyond our comprehension a few years ago, now allows us to communicate easily anywhere in the world. But despite these advances, nothing will ever take the place of the human voice. The spoken word is the most important means of interpersonal communication. Just ask anyone who ever got a “Dear John” e-mail.
Whether you are speaking one-on-one, giving a presentation before a group, chairing a committee or selling over the telephone, the way you use your voice is critical.
We all know that Ronald Reagan was called the “Great Communicator.” He was trained to speak well and use his voice to move, persuade and inspire others when he trained as an actor. Then when he was in public office, he was able to use this skill to get his message across.
Other candidates, on the other hand, may have lost their bids for the presidency simply because of the way they spoke. They were boring to listen to. Their voices lacked vitality and energy, giving the impression that they weren’t particularly interested in, nor committed to, what they were saying.
To speak well, you first need to have an interest in what you are saying, and then say it with interest. How you hear yourself is not necessarily how others hear you.
How much thought and attention have you given to your voice? How you speak permeates everything you do and reveals so many things about you-your educational level, professional competence, personality, mood, attitude toward others and feelings about yourself.