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Having worked with the speaking voice for more than 25 years, I have heard them all. What does your voice say about you? Does it say you are weak or strong? Does it say that you are soft-spoken or too loud? Does it say that you speak in a monotone or does it exude color, life and emotion? Do you speed through your sentences at a 100 mph or dawdle at 50? If you are curious as to the image your voice projects, record yourself during a normal conversation by means of a camcorder or some other type of recording equipment. Then play it back and listen to it. Is your recorded voice what you expected or is it something you would rather not believe? If you found it to be embarrassing or shocking, you might consider working on that part of your image because you are judged not only by how you look and what you say, but how you sound when you say it. If you sound like a child and are over 21, then you are giving the wrong impression; and, the possibility of furthering your career, for example, might not be quite as likely as it would be for the person who sounds mature – not too old, not too young – ageless. If you speak in a monotone, then you may be giving the impression that you are boring or that you are not interested in your topic. Speaking at 100 mph means that others are missing some of your words. Speaking too slowly, on the other hand, is putting your audience to sleep. In addition, if you do speak slowly, it is much more likely that you will lose control of the conversation. Do you speak distinctly or are you a mumbler and difficult to understand? I cannot tell you how many of my clients have heard themselves on a recording and did not realize how fast they spoke or how boring their delivery or how difficult they were to understand or how wimpy they sounded. The list goes on and on because we hear ourselves differently than how others recognize us. That is one of the reasons you may find your recorded voice appalling. You do not recognize it. Unfortunately, everyone else does! If the sound of your voice is saying one thing and your words and physical being are saying something else, you might consider a course in voice improvement to better match the image that you project. The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. If you would like to see and hear a dramatic change, from childlike to mature, watch Trish's 'Before & After' video clip.
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