Taking Care of Your Public Speaking Voice

C. asks:

How do you train your voice for speech-making if you are not used to speaking to groups?

Like most questions I receive, vocal training is not a small subject. In fact beyond public speaking it is not one that I have any expertise – especially in relation to vocal training/awareness for singing. The closest I get to any kind of musical skill is the ability to turn on my car radio and selecting a station. Keeping this in mind, someone who has had formal vocal training may find my comments overly simplistic – however they will be effective for those starting in public speaking.

First:
Do you know what your voice sounds like? You can’t start training and changing your voice until you have a clear idea of what it sounds like. Start by recording yourself. You may be surprised by what you hear.

Most of us are aware that our voice sounds different on a tape than what we hear. Why – because of the way our jaw is an integral part of our hearing. We have the benefit of having the vibrations of our speech travel directly through the jaw to ear rather than having to listen to it through air. We hear our voice more clearly because of this, but we also have the disadvantage of hearing it differently than others.

Tape yourself so you can hear what you sound like to others.

In addition, you might be surprised by other aspects of your speech – these include an accent, frequently used words and other mannerisms. Try recording yourself in several settings: while making a speech, while talking with friends, while talking on the phone, etc. Listen critically and try to determine where you can make changes to improve. Are you slurring your words? Do you use jargon or regional words? Do you have an accent that would make it difficult for individuals from other locations to understand you? Are you making your points as clearly as you think you are?

I was shocked at one point when I conducted this exercise and discovered that during conversations I had a nervous laugh that I was completely unaware of.

The next two points are less about training and more about taking care of your voice. They may seem trivial but remember, if your voice starts to falter during a presentation it is going to increase your level of nervousness. Take care of your voice so you know that you will come across clearly.

Second:
Take care of your voice –especially before you are going to speak. This means no yelling, clearing your throat gently, and watching what you drink. If at all possible refrain from caffeine and alcohol (they both will affect the vocal chords). In addition don’t drink liquids that are either extremely cold or extremely hot. Do however drink lots of water – especially while speaking. A supply of cool water during a speech will help you vocal chords cool and lubricated which in turn will help keep your speech clear.

Third:
There are some vocal exercises that although somewhat obscure do help you loosen up your vocal chords.

Try repeating the following line slowly three times. Each time lower your voice a bit.

Bing Bong, King Kong, Ping Pong, Ding Dong.

As silly as you might feel while doing it your vocal chords will appreciate it. It’s kind of like a warm up or stretching for the voice.

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Copyright © 2007 David Mudie All Rights Reserved

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