Did you know your voice can make it or break it in a meeting or during a presentation?
How do you speak?
- Do you articulate your thoughts in a simple and concise manner?
- Do people look at you when you speak? Are they even paying attention to what you have to say?
- Does your voice reflect your intent and delivery?
Have you felt that your voice has not been heard in a company or a meeting? Is it because what you have to say is not as important, or you have not given yourself permission to speak up?
Speaking clearly helps you be more conscious of what you say, and helps others understand your message better. When you speak softly, your voice and vocals do not exude the power it needs to vibrate and carry the message past the first few people in the room.
From the sound of your voice, your listeners will make judgments about your attitude toward them and the ideas you’re presenting. They’ll judge your sincerity and credibility in part by your voice. And in turn that will affect how they respond to you and your message.
We all have multiple facets.
You have to realize that how you talk to your kids and talk in a conference room is still you – you just have to shift and allow different aspects of you to come through at the right time and the right place. To be a good presenter, you must take care of your voice and learn to use it well.
What is tonality?
There is quite a difference between power voice and being loud. One comes from within you – your gut, and the other is forced only to be over heard. Perhaps you are one of very few women in the executive room – so how do you project and express your ideas – is your voice strong and commanding – high pitched or soft and girly?
Take this test:
If you were to ask a group of colleagues, how will they describe your tone of voice?
You sound like _______?
Is your voice: Calm, competent, confident, disheartened, harsh, timid, too soft or borderline boring?
Everyone wants to be heard. Your voice can be authoritative, and have a positive and emotional affect. Others’ reaction to what you have to say and who you are is very much in your control – the way you present yourself, the way you dress (for the occasion), your body language and the use of your voice and tonality.
Learning how to be soft and gentle yet speak with your inner power and clear voice will help your voice carry, give life and energy to what you have to say. Coupled with the body and essence of your message, you are guaranteed achieving the result you wish.
Make power and lasting impressions. It’s in how you introduce yourself, your title, your company. Your tone of your voice can clearly make an impression on one person or in a group.
- Speak in chunks.
- Create better tonality.
- Pause on key points.
When it comes to presenting, does practice make perfect? Not always.
Practice makes permanent. The more you do something, the more comfortable it feels.
You have a voice – You Matter.
Liza Bobuari is a Certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, Stress Management Consultant, Speaker and Founder of The 3E Events for empowering and transforming the lives of women. You may reach her at www.HealWithin.com 818-551-1501
