We are all concerned about public speaking: how to be more dynamic;
how to control nervousness; how to keep your audience interested (and
awake); etc. However, have you ever considered the sound of your
speaking voice? Did you know that 37% of the image you project , is your
voice? To make matters worse, I’m talking about the voice you hear on
your answering machine, not the sound you hear in your head. The former
is the truth; the latter a lie or not an accurate account of what people
actually hear.
In order to improve the sound of your speaking voice, you need to do
two things: breathe with the support of your diaphragm, and speak within
your optimum range. Most people are doing neither. Once you learn these
two techniques, you will discover a rich, warm, resonant speaking voice
as well as one that will improve with age because you have taken the
pressure off the vocal folds and throat. When I’m 85, I may look like an
old man, but I will not sound like one. Ever.
All mammals have a diaphragm; all mammals use that muscle to support
breathing. It is only the most intelligent of the mammals that stops
this practice sometime during our childhood development. What results
are voices that are being powered by the throat, vocal fold, mouth,
and/or nose.
We have five cavities in the body in which sound should resonate or
vibrate: the throat, the voice box, the mouth, the nose, and most
importantly, the chest. Because the majority of the population is using
only the upper portion of the chest to breathe (which is referred to as
lazy or shallow breathing), that majority of the population is unable to
capitalize on the fantastic sound that results when the chest becomes
the major sounding board, the major amplifier. James Earl Jones is
capitalizing on it, as well as many others today. Take for example the
movie “Shriek” all the stars involved Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy ( the
Donkey), Antonio Bandaras (Pussycat) etc all have learned to project and
need to do so as they spend hours in the recording studio.
In addition, breathing with the support of your diaphragm means that
you will be able to project your voice instead of shout. Projection is
only possible if you are speaking within your optimum range and
breathing properly — anything else is yelling. I try to never yell at my
son Zack; I project. It is more effective and better for my voice box
to do that. When you yell, you’re out of control; if you project, then
you’re in control. By the way, kids don’t listen if you yell, but they
do pay attention when you project.
More good news is that diaphragmatic breathing is the single most
important thing you should do to control nervousness in any form of
public speaking. Those who tell you differently are wrong. Sadly,
breathing is something we never consider when we stand to speak except
when it’s gone.
Breathlessness is a huge problem at the lectern. Let me
ask you a question. Do you ever wonder when to take a breath in normal
conversation? Probably not. So why is it such a concern in public
speaking? Because we don’t allow ourselves to take a breath before we
run out of air; we wait until we are totally spent and then we gasp for
the next breath which only increases out tension. When I give a
presentation, I am nervous, but my audience does not see or hear it
because I am breathing — I’m using my diaphragm to control that
nervousness. I like nervousness. Nervousness is good. It’s that extra
spurt of adrenaline that can help make your talk truly exhilarating.
If you’re not nervous, if your heart isn’t beating a little faster,
I’m concerned because your presentation or speech will be flat. The
secret, however, lies in this control. Nervousness doesn’t control me; I
control it.
Having control over your speaking voice and your breathing is a
fantastic asset. And, once you make diaphragmatic breathing a habit, you
will discover benefits that have nothing to do with the voice or
presentation skills.
In the meantime, “ let the power of your voice take their breath away, not yours! ” – Leslie Choudhury
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