***When the Caller Asks to Speak to Your Mother

I hear it time and time again. Women emailing me or phoning to ask me what they can do about their childlike voice, wondering if it is possible to change that sound. Absolutely. You have a voice inside of you that sounds more mature and can even improve with age no matter how old you are. The problem is you don’t know where it is – but it is in there. I guarantee it. I can’t tell you the hundreds of women with whom I have worked who have found their ‘real’ voice and then seen their life improve dramatically. By using your chest cavity to power your voice, your childlike sound will be gone immediately. It is truly amazing to see how this works. Your next step is to make it a habit. I suggest to my clients that every time they answer the phone, they use their ‘real’ voice. That essentially is the homework I give. Yes, you can set aside time to practice, but that is not nearly as effective as using it throughout your day when you speak. In the beginning, you will not remember to do it every time you open your mouth to speak. However, the more it happens, the sooner your real voice will take over. Another suggestion is to place a sign by your phone with the words Think Voice – New Voice – Mature Voice within your line of vision. Use whichever phrase toggles works and do it as often as possible when you answer your phone at work for instance. Place a sign on your refrigerator or on your bathroom mirror. We are so conce ed with the image we project; yet, we fail to recognize that the sound of our voice is part of that image. You can look fantastic; but, if you sound like a child, then it doesn’t really matter what your visual image is saying because your vocal image is making a statement of its own. There are 2 things you should look for if you are interested in discovering your real voice.

1. You will need to learn to breathe with the support of your diaphragm so that you can use your chest cavity as your primary sounding board. 2. You will need to find the optimum pitch of your speaking voice – pitch refers to the highness or lowness of sound – not the volume.

These two techniques are the prerequisites and the only way you will find your richer, warmer, more mature-sounding voice. If you are tired of having the caller ask to speak to your mother, consider voice training. You will be amazed at the difference in your life.