***Voice Training Can Do Wonders for Your Public Speaking Career

It fascinates me how many people are seeking help in public speaking and presentation skills yet how few realize that their speaking voice is the vehicle for their message. Voice training is not just for actors and politicians. It is something you should strongly consider if you are looking to get on the public speaking circuit. Not only will you sound better but you will discover a voice that has the ability to last throughout the day and not sap your energy in the process. There is no doubt that public speaking is tiring. The nervous energy it produces can be fatiguing; however, if you learn how to power your sound by means of your chest cavity instead of your throat and vocal folds, you will discover an immediate difference in that respect. You will also be able to increase your volume without shouting. This is known as projection and is only possible if you are powering your voice by means of your chest cavity. Anything else is called shouting or yelling. The real issue deals with how you sound. When you hear yourself on your answering machine or voicemail, are you disgusted, shocked, embarrassed. As much as you may wish to ignore what you hear on recording equipment, you should not because everyone else recognizes you that way. It is the truth. You may find your voice nasal, whiny, weak, wimpy, shrill, loud, too fast, too slow, too soft, or too loud. These are just a few of the adjectives that can describe a voice that is being powered primarily by the throat and/or vocal folds (cords.)

• Voice training means a voice that will probably be deeper in pitch, definitely warmer in quality and resonant. Rich, full, round, mature sounding. Not too old; not too young.

If image matters to you in your pursuit of the stage and the wonderful career of addressing audiences, then do not ignore what your voice on your voicemail is saying to the rest of the world. It is part of the image you project. In fact, it accounts for 37% of the image you are projecting. Imagine captivating your audience just by the sound of your speaking voice. It can happen to you if you choose to find your ‘real’ voice, the one that comes from your chest cavity. When that happens, you will not only have a better voice but you will discover the best means of controlling your nervousness, your speed, and every other aspect about your delivery.