***Why the Trained Speaking Voice Inproves with Age While the Untrained Voice Does Not

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

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I liken my speaking voice to a bottle of fine red wine. It is improving with age. Having discovered my ‘real’ voice when I was in graduate school at the age of 24, I have found that my voice is getting better as I get older. I am also at that stage (and have been for several years now) where nothing on my body is improving with age!

The reason my voice is getting better is because I stopped the excessive wear and tear on my vocal folds as soon as I learned how to use my chest cavity to power my sound. It was truly an amazing discovery for me because it not only changed the direction of my career but it also meant that I sounded more mature than I was. And, with the discovery came my ability to get the jobs I wanted as well as those I wasn’t looking for.

Yes, I wish I could still look 20 but I don’t want to sound that age or even younger. I can’t tell you how many people, especially women, sound like teenagers or pre-teens and are well over 30. A young-sounding voice does not lend credibility no matter how good your visual image may be because a voice that sounds young or child-like leaves the impression of immaturity.

What is fascinating about discovering your ‘real’ voice is that you will not only have a voice that improves with age, but you will also enjoy your voice. Be honest with yourself. Do you like hearing yourself on your voicemail, answering machine, or other type of recording equipment? Probably not. It is important to understand (and accept) that your voice on any type of recording equipment is telling the truth. That is the sound by which everyone else recognizes you. What this means is that how you hear yourself in your own head is a lie.

Imagine discovering a richer, warmer speaking voice that sounds mature, improves with age, and sounds great on your answering machine! Yes, when I’m 85 I may look it, but I will never sound like an old woman because my voice will never give away my age. If you were to phone me and hadn’t seen my photo, you would not be able to tell if I was 25 or 65 because the voice that has had training is ageless.

You have a better voice inside. It is merely a matter of letting your chest do your talking and discovering the only part of your body that can get better with age.