Improve Your Voice
Step1
Breathe from your diaphragm. Practice long and controlled exhales. When you speak, use breath to punctuate your point. For example, take a breath at the end of each phrase whether you need to or not. Use that opportunity to pause and let the listeners absorb what you say.
Step2
Moderate your volume. Find out if you speak too loudly or too softly. When you begin speaking, ask your audience how your volume is (each situation is different). Try to stay at the appropriate volume throughout your speech.
Step3
Moderate your pace. This one is also closely related to breath. If you speak too quickly, people can’t keep up. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest. Record your speech to determine if you need to change your pace. Get feedback from others.
Step4
Use pitch. Lower pitches generally are more soothing to hear. However, modulating your pitch for emphasis will keep your listeners engaged. Develop your pitch by practicing humming.
Step5
Articulate. Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling. Practice articulating tongue twisters and extending and exaggerating vowel sounds. Become an expert at articulating tongue twisters as quickly and crisply as possible. Focus on the ones you find difficult.
When Giving a Speech
Step1
Follow the instructions above on improving your speaking voice.
Step2
Practice your speech in advance and determine where you want to pause for a breath. For more emphasis, pause for more than one breath. Mark your breathing points in your notes.
Step3
Loosen up before you begin. Look side to side. Roll your head in half-circles and roll your shoulders back. Shift your rib cage from side to side. Yawn. Stretch. Touch your toes while completely relaxing your upper body, then slowly stand up, one vertebra at a time, raising your head last. Repeat as needed.
Step4
Release tension in your face. Blow through your lips. Move your face through various expressions. Stick out your tongue. Yawn. Stretch your jaw.
Step5
Notice your breathing before you begin. Make sure it’s even and natural.
Step6
Hum before you begin.
Step7
Drink plenty of water. Have water or herbal tea available during your speech. Punctuate your message by pausing for a drink of water at key points. Avoid milk and caffeinated drinks when giving a speech.
Step8
Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity and airflow.
Comments
toviluv said
on 7/3/2008 i have a wounderful voice so everybody say but,i talk to fast it could be so anying what do i do to learn how to talk slow and shew my worda?thanks
ckosanke said
on 1/16/2008 Often times when people hear me on the phone they think I'm a little girl. What can I do to "mature" my voice on the phone so I'm not asked, "Is your mother available?"
Itza said
on 9/29/2007 It's not necessarily intonation and inflection with me. My voice sounds nasal and therefore I assume I don't sound very intelligent. Goodness knows what other people think. How can I change what might be nasalness?
Diablo2 said
on 9/15/2007 I need help with this myself. Thanks ;)
corruptthesane said
on 2/11/2007 The best advice about proper breathing I've ever recieved was to practice holding your breath in with your diaphram, not your throat. It may suprise you, but you don't have to clench up your throat to keep the air in. Your lungs work like a vaccuum, and the only thing needed to keep air in there is your diaphram. Keep your diaphrapm down to keep air in, exhale using only your diaphrapm, and keep your throat relaxed. It does wonders for your speaking abilities.