W is for . . . Working your Voice

Your voice is you. How you use it impacts on how you are perceived. Your voice is versatile, adaptable and flexible. It needs care, attention and regular exercise. It flourishes from living in a clean environment and falters if not kept fit. It benefits from regular workouts, particularly in the bath/shower, on a mountain top or by the sea. Cultivate your voice by following this simple advice:

• Breathing. The foundation of your voice is your breathing. Breathing from your core centres you and provides a platform from which your voice can spring. Core breathing opens your resonating chambers providing space in which air can flow freely, empowering your voice. By breathing from your core you are able to speak with authenticity and authority. Click here for some breathing exercises.
• Resonance. Stand up and inhale slowly through your nose feeling your lower rib cage expand as the air fills your lungs. Keep your upper chest still. Hold the air for a count of four then slowly release. Do this 3 times. Now inhale as before, this time releasing the air on a ‘ffffffff' sound, placing your upper teeth lightly over your lower lip. Do this 3 times. Finally, inhale as before, this time releasing the air through closed lips on an ‘mmmmm' sound. Feel where you experience vibration throughout the vocal mechanism. A voice that is rich in resonance is a voice that commands respect, demonstrates authority, and is taken seriously.
• Articulation. Articulate sounds are those in which the consonants are clearly enunciated. While vowels elongate the sound, consonants create definition through the action of your tongue, lips and teeth. Your voice craves vowels and consonants so exercise your articulators: to strengthen the tip of your tongue use it like a hammer, say Ta Ta Ta Ta. . . Da Da Da Da. . . Na Na Na Na; lift your lips off your teeth to produce a brighter sound; and keep your lips relaxed to create a pathway for your voice to come through with all its overtones.

Remember: Breathe from your core.

Tip: Loosening the vocal mechanism allows the sound to resonate. Locked jaws and tense necks lead to tight and constrained sounds.

Technical: The voice is the product of a complex physical process involving your abdominal and pelvic diaphragms, vocal cords, jaw, chest, larynx, head, naso-pharynx, tongue, lips and teeth. Nurture and exercise all these elements of your vocal mechanism regularly to ensure they work in harmony and stay in top condition.

Caution: Speaking at full volume requires care and attention. Your voice can be easily strained if it is used improperly, and requires time to rest and recuperate.

Finally: Your voice is like a musical instrument, which when played properly, produces a range of feelings and emotions. Cherish and exercise your voice; it is an integral part of who you are.

Comments: What are your experiences of working with your voice? If you have any tips to share with our readers we will publish them next month. Send them to ideas@kuhnkecommunication.com. 
 

Readers Tips

Many thanks to Michele for this valuable tip on voice:

I think that a voice's pitch also influences how your message comes across. Women whose speech is high-pitched can gain gravitas by dropping their pitch. You can naturally lower your pitch by saying "ding dong ping pong", particularly if you repeat the phrase, starting each time at the level you just dropped to.

Michele Gorgodian (www.integra-uk.com)

News

Watch this space!

Kuhnke Communication is busy working on some fun and informative programmes for 2010 focussing on Attitude, Behaviour and Confidence. And, as always, we'll be running sessions on Voice and Body Language. If there's a particular subject you'd like us to address, click here.

Recommendation

This month take a look at Enterprise Nation. It's a fabulous free resource to help you start and grow your business at home.

Would you like more hints and tips on how to create powerful impact by coordinating your voice with your body language?

Click here for an autographed copy of my international bestseller Body Language for Dummies –the ultimate guide to body language, or go to www.amazon.com.