Speaking with a strong, dynamic voice is one of the keys to projecting professionalism and leadership in the workplace. Whether speaking to an audience of two or 2000, the ability to speak with a clear, confident voice is essential to commanding the attention of your listener and letting them know your message is worth hearing. Take a look at the three strategies below and learn how to develop a voice that will make your audience sit up and take notice.
Keep It Consistent: Even people who typically speak with a strong voice sometimes drop their volume at the end of a sentence. This habit can be extremely detrimental; it makes you sound unprofessional and overly relaxed, and risks your listener missing important information. I refer to that as “falling into the abyss!” Stay out of the abyss. Keep your volume strong throughout each of your sentences to make your speech sound more energized, confident, and clear.
Breathe the Right Way: The number one key to a strong, dynamic speaking voice is breath support. In order to achieve a strong, clear voice without straining, you should be breathing from your abdomen, not your chest. Take a moment to take a deep breath. As you inhale, focus on relaxing your abdomen, and letting your stomach and lower ribs expand outward. This type of breathing (diaphragmatic breathing) gives you the best support and the ability to control your breathing. Want to learn more? Listen to Jayne talk about diaphragmatic breathing on the Today Show.
Know Your Limits: Even with a strong voice and good vocal habits, there are some situations in which your natural voice just isn’t enough. If you find that you’re straining to be heard despite your best efforts, modify your environment so you don’t strain and damage your vocal cords. Minimize environmental noise (for example, by shutting the door or windows), and request a microphone. Be sure to do a sound check beforehand so you know how far to stand from your microphone so that you can still be clearly heard, but don’t overpower the audience.
If your communication skills are holding you back from professional success and you want to make your communication skills your most powerful professional tool, make sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. In this free resource, I break down the myriad factors that contribute to confident communication and guide you through how to use each aspect to your advantage.
Give us a call and see how Corporate Speech Solutions can improve your professional life! Call us at 212-308-7725 or send us an e-mail at jayne@corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!
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