Helpful Tips

Public Voice

We've all experienced it – the important presentation which you hope will be interesting; but, the talk was tedious, the speaker rambling. No sale, interest lost, confusion created. In short, it was not effective.

Sometimes it surprises us when skilled professionals are not effective. But take heart – the skill of effective presentations can be learned. Even the application of simple advice can make all the difference towards an effective and worry free speech.

1. Consider what you want to achieve. What kind of talk is it? Is it a sales presentation, an educational talk, a speech?
2. Audience. Think about the degree of formality – who is listening and tailor your presentation accordingly.
3. Use stories. They add variety and make it memorable.
4. Start and finish with your important points. Psychologists call this 'Recency Effects' – the way we remember the first and last bits of information.
5. Smile and look at your audience! They really are more interested in what you say than how nervous you look.
6. Take your time and breathe. For a deep natural breath imagine you are smelling the full fragrance of a flower. You will also find you calm down.
7. Be grounded. Imagine you have roots grounding you to the earth. But be physically relaxed. Don't shift around – remember, you are in control.
8. Be nervous…your talk will have edge with the right nervous energy. Ask an actor.
9.  …but do not worry! Remind yourself that your audience wants to hear your speech. It is both positive and true. Visualise your approach and do it.
10. Practise and get third party feedback.

Healthy Voice

Sometimes we find ourselves waking up with a sore throat. Perhaps we had been rather noisy at last night's football match. However, if it is something which keeps on happening as a result of your job then it may be time to re-examine your vocal habits.

Those who use their voice a great deal, such as teachers or call centre staff, can easily suffer voice problems. These are a few tips to counteract this. However, if your sore throats persist, or your staff report problems, it is likely to be an indication that you need to seek further assistance.

1. Breath is key to good speech. Be sure to take a breath before speaking.
2. If you need to increase the volume, think deeper breath rather than "raising" your voice.
3. Avoid anything which gives a sense of strain in any part of the body. If you hold tension anywhere it can translates itself into the sensitive areas of speech.
4. Get into a regular habit of massaging your neck, shoulders and throat to remove unwanted and frankly damaging tension
5. Practise sticking out your tongue. Try touching your nose with the tip - out of view of others of course - and really stretch that muscle.
6. Take regular sips of water to lubricate the voice. Regard water as a friend to the voice.
7. Do not "clear your voice"- this clangs your vocal folds together and is damaging. Be alert to this.
8. Take regular rests between speaking but don't use rest periods to carry on talking!
9. Be careful not to compete against background noise too often. Sometimes this happens in some situations, like a noisy bar, but sometimes households have members bellowing at the tip of their voices!
10. Practise and get third party feedback.

Clear & Beautiful Voice

So much of others' opinions of us are formed from first impressions. Along with how we look, one of the ways we make an impression on others is through how we speak. We cannot control exactly what others will think, but it is possible to tip the odds in our favour.

These are some tips for making a more favourable vocal impression.

1. Your voice should always be your own. Whether we have a low or high voice will often be an accident of birth. Learn to love the sound of your voice.
2. Breath (and "breath support") is important in speaking. Be sure to take in a breath before any speaking no matter what the occasion. Lack of breath support will have an impact on how you sound.
3. Clear speech is not the same as a "posh accent". Think of the purpose of your speaking. The way you speak with your friends may be different to how you would speak at a job interview, in just the same way as you may not wear the same clothes in different situations.
4. Match your expression with your message. Saying you are delighted about something in a flat monotone sounds ridiculous!
5. Smile and look at the person you are speaking to. This "para-language" or non-verbal communication is important too.
6. Practise a few fun tongue twisters. This will give you more confidence in your articulation.
7. Be alert to voices and accents you like. What is it that makes them attractive?
8. Think your voice "forward" and be confident of your message.  Allow your words to be released into the world - do not swallow or hold them back.
9. Practise some gentle chanting to warm up your voice and experience that easy humming around your face and throat. Take this into your normal speaking voice.
10. Practise and get third party feedback.