“The human voice is the organ of the soul.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The clips of female candidates giving speeches all over the country fills me with joy. Getting up in front of an audience takes guts; I know because I’ve had my own battles with stage fright.

The adage “it’s not what you say it’s how you say it” is true to a certain extent, though content also matters. Having control over your tone of voice is something to focus on if you haven’t already. 

There’s a natural tendency to be surprised when hearing our own voices, but don’t let that stop you from recording yourself rehearsing your speech and listening to playback. Compared to all the other hurdles we’ve all been through, this is easy-peasy. 

 If you’re not giving speeches but are speaking in public, then record yourself reading a favorite book or article. A more relaxed voice will have a lower register than a tense one. Vocal chords are muscles, and when they get cold or tense, they will constrict and tighten up. This sends your pitch up. 

 So here are some tips for keeping your tone rich and true to who you are:

1.   Keep yourself well-hydrated with water at room temp. Ice water will make your chords cold.

2.   Sip warm herbal tea or warm lemon water and your chords will relax, lowering your pitch.

3.   Limit your caffeine to avoid an energy spike when it reacts with your adrenaline.

4.   Try not to eat before speaking-say an hour before your start. Eating produces saliva and you don’t want too much of it when you’re speaking.

5.   The opposite, “sticky mouth” is likewise handled with water or tea.

 As women, we want to learn to own and enjoy our emerging voices. This is a profound time for us, and I am so proud of what we’re getting done.  #Vote #SpeakUp #OwnYourVoice