Your Story. Your Uniqueness. Your Presence.

"Celebration of the Human Voice --- When it is genuine, when it is born of the need to speak, no one can stop the human voice. When denied a mouth, it speaks with the hands or the eyes, or the pores, or anything at all. Because every single one of us has something to say to the others, something that deserves to be celebrated or forgiven by others." ― Eduardo Galeano

Your story. Your uniqueness. Your presence.

We all know that the lines between professional and personal life are ever more fine. We can hold the most important business meetings in the comfort of our homes.

Now the pressure is less about finding parking and more about finding a tone that is not too informal and not too formal.

It’s a Goldilocks situation?- not too hot, not too cold - and to get it right can feel like finding an invisible line.

It’s stressful when the expectations feel like they are shifting and particularly for younger colleagues taking first steps in establishing their knowledge and skill.

Recognising this need and also the opportunities for new voices to emerge, I’ve gone back to my very first jobs after studying theatre at Exeter University, which were all about voice including teaching at the Junior Department of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a module for broadcast journalists at Cardiff University.

Whilst we often might put physical appearance to the fore, we won’t get far without good vocal skills.

One of the first steps to developing a good voice is also to listen better so you begin to really notice and hear other voices - accent, tone, pitch, clarity, speed, and so on, as well as choices of words.

When you pay consideration to these aspects it will support your branding and make it easier for you to spread your message with ease and flow.

There are many exercises to warm up the voice - here are a few very simple ones to get started with:-

Warm-up Exercises for Stronger Vocal Presence

? Count to 10 on an audible clear whisper?

? Stretch out your tongue & then make circles?

? Put your fingers in between your front teeth & sigh out on an “AAAHH” like at the dentist

? Put your hands on your belly & feel how it rises as you breathe in

? Put your fingers on your lips & feel the vibrations as you hum Huff like a horse so your lips vibrate together?

? Press your lips together to make a sound like a motorboat

On-stage Tips

Three points to start you off more confidently

1) Find the smiling faces

Conquer those nerves - it is so easy when you are nervous to home in on any face in the audience that looks like they are not enjoying your talk. It is natural as we are animals and need to watch out for danger! However noticing this will easily steer you off road. Make sure you balance your gaze by also noticing who is nodding their heads. Concentrate on those that are responding to your talk. You will feel more enthused and therefore the rest of the audience will find you more easy to listen to. The person with the serious face might well have their own reasons for looking that way so you help no-one by concentrating on them.

2) Beginnings and Endings

You might think your talk starts with your first word but actually is starts before then.

It starts the minute you put your foot on the stage. You are treading the boards. You are part of a line of history of the sacred space of the theatre.

For the audience the minute you step onto that stage you are part of their world. Therefore make your actions clean and clear. If you need to arrange your papers do it calmly. This is not the moment to wander about or shuffle - the audience are already drawing their conclusions about whether they will like you and your talk. Be at home whilst at the same time have the awareness that you are in a special place and something special is about to happen.

If you have to prepare papers try to do it to the side of the stage or in a discrete way so that when you “take the stage” and begin your talk there is a sense of occasion.

Feel the responsibility of the stage and at the same time be response-able - this comes from the preparation you have put in.

Be decisive in your movements and don’t paddle around aimlessly.

Winning focus is from being focused and knowing that you and your public are there for a reason.

3) First words are not your first words

Make sure your first word on stage is not the first word you have uttered all day.

The voice is an instrument that needs to be warmed up just like any sports person would warm up. So whether it is singing in the shower before you leave, or humming in the car on the way - find a way to get your voice moving before you get up on stage. Some warm up exercises at the side of the stage will help.

Deep breathing even whilst sat listening to other speakers will help.

If you are traveling by public transport you can hum along to the background sounds without worrying that someone will hear you

That's it. Some small steps to get you being more memorable.

Make voice a part of your brand so you stand our coolly and clearly.

"Branding is what they say about you when you are not there...it is your promise."? SAMANTHA BENNETT - CREATIVITY COACH

See you next month or so for some more idea and reflections on communications and relationship building.

Keep raising your voice and reaching out.

#ittakesavillage

Deborah Claire Procter FRSA Multimedia Artist & Communication Skills Specialist

P.S. All these things are better learnt in person - 23rd June 2023, RSA Building, Central London "Impact Leadership: Finding & Nurturing the Voice of the Changemaker." More information here. The price includes a three session group online workshop about Linkedin for audience building, plus a follow up session and access to ask questions via an app called Voxer for 3 months after the workshop to make sure you keep on the path to developing a strong leadership and presentation presence. Masterclass is co-hosted with leading innovation and business strategist Richard Freeman (always possible).

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