How to Improve Your Speaking Voice

One of the most important components of public speaking is the sound of your voice. It will influence the impact of your message, and possibly make or break the success of your speech. And, for many people, good voice quality can be learned.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Improve Your Voice

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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

1. Follow the instructions above on improving your speaking voice.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Release tension in your face. Blow through your lips. Move your face through various expressions. Stick out your tongue. Yawn. Stretch your jaw.

5. Notice your breathing before you begin. Make sure it's even and natural.

6. Hum before you begin.

7. 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.

8. Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity and airflow.

Tips & Warnings

• Record your voice repeatedly using different ways of speaking. Determine which one is most pleasing.

• Practice when you leave voicemail messages.

• Read out loud from the newspaper every day to cultivate the right sound and ease of speaking. Try reading letters to the editor and then alternate with giving your own opinion.

• Practice talking to yourself in complete sentences. Talk back to the television or the radio. Turn down the volume for a moment and express your opinion.

• Addressing a few key flaws in your voice can make a huge difference in the impression you make.

• Ask for feedback from friends and family members.

• Consider hiring a communication coach.

• Start a practice group or take a class.

• Observe your response to other people's voices. Develop the characteristics you find effective.

• Smile appropriately when speaking. It will make your voice sound more pleasant.

• Avoid extraneous words and sounds like "um" and "actually."

• Practice breath control. Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10 (or recite the months or days of the week). Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your abdominal muscles-not your throat-for volume. Don't let your larynx tense up.