***Is Your Speaking Voice Everything That It Can Be?

By Nancy Daniels The Official Guide to Public Speaking
The official guide to Public Speaking

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When you hear yourself on your answering machine, chances are good that you not only don’t recognize the sound, but that you also don’t appreciate, like, or admire what you hear. So allow me to make you feel even worse. What you hear on your answering machine is the sound by which you are recognized. More specifically, the voice on your answering machine is how you sound to everyone else that listens to you.

While that may not be a very comforting thought, the good news is that you can improve your speaking voice and in some cases the change can be incredibly dramatic. The best change I have heard in the male voice, for instance, is Craig. This young man wanted to be a policeman in Canada, however, at the time, the Canadians were only hiring minorities and Craig’s chances of being accepted into the academy were slight.

He took every course conceivable in order to improve his odds: the last course he pursued was my voice improvement course. His father told him that voice training was a waste of time and money but Craig worked so hard at discovering and using his ‘real’ voice, that after his 3rd class, his dad told him it was the best investment he had made!

What did Craig do that most people are not doing?

1. He learned to breathe with the support of his diaphragm so that he could use his chest to power his sound instead of just his throat and voice box.

2. He learned to speak within his optimum range. Optimum range refers to an area within your vocal register in which the voice will vibrate the most in your chest.

Once Craig found his ‘real’ voice, he used it continually. At the time, his job entailed painting fences, so he would spend his work hours breathing with support and practicing within his optimum range. In doing so, he made his ‘real’ voice a habit very quickly.

The good news is that Craig was accepted into the academy and one thing is sure. When he says, “Stop! This is the police!” this young officer sounds authoritative, confident, assured.

Discovering your 'real' voice will improve your life, both professionally and personally, in ways you cannot imagine. Your voice will sound richer, warmer, deeper and more mature; you will be able to increase your volume without shouting; and, you will actually enjoy hearing yourself on your voicemail!