In my travels through corporate America, I meet many people with voice and speech issues that undermine their credibility.<\/p>\n

Here are 3 common issues that can be corrected with voice and speech training.<\/p>\n

Not projecting<\/strong><\/p>\n

A soft voice, one that is hard to hear, is a\u00a0liability for any speaker.\u00a0 First, you speak to get others to think or do something, and if they can’t hear you, you’re wasting your time and theirs.<\/p>\n

Second, emotions are contagious, and a soft voice can signal a lack of conviction or belief in one’s point of view.\u00a0 Greater volume is not always the answer, but a greater degree of intention<\/a>\u00a0<\/em>is necessary.\u00a0 You can even whisper and be heard at the back of the room if you have enough intention<\/em>.<\/p>\n

This brings us to the nexus of voice and psychology.\u00a0 If you are accustomed to speaking with a lower degree of intention, you will need to practice speaking with a greater degree of intention.\u00a0 Speaking voice trainingcan help you do this.<\/p>\n

Talking too fast<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking fast (say, faster than 180 words per minute) is not bad in itself because listeners<\/a> can often understand you at that speed.\u00a0 But if you speak at that rate continuously, and fail to pause<\/a> <\/em>between phrases to create some silence around your words, you will cause your audience<\/a> to tune out.<\/p>\n

There is also evidence that speaking fast creates the impression of intelligence.\u00a0 However, it also causes listeners to be critical of you.\u00a0 Actually, studies suggest listeners are more likely to derograte<\/em> fast talkers.\u00a0 That means they will actually make derogatory remarks about you, criticize<\/em>, or find fault<\/em> with you.<\/p>\n

Not good.\u00a0 You can learn a new habit through voice and speech training.\u00a0 Instruction will not change who you are, or take away your beautiful fast talking.\u00a0 It will only help you develop a new, slower way to speak so you can sound more credible.<\/p>\n

Not using a full voice<\/strong><\/p>\n

This problem is more complicated.\u00a0 The voice has three basic resonating surfaces: the chest, the head, and the bones in the front of the face (most of us call this the nasal<\/em> sound).\u00a0 An attractive and effective voice is a blend of all three.<\/p>\n

However, when you use only one of the resonating surfaces, you put yourself at a disadvantage.<\/p>\n

If you are stuck in the chest resonance (which very few people do) you sound like Raymond’s brother on Everyone Loves Raymond<\/em>, kind of stupid and oafish.<\/p>\n

If you speak predominately from your head, you may have a bright sound, but it will lack body and gravitas if you fail to dip into the chest tones now and then.<\/p>\n

Finally, everybody may love Raymond, but they hate nasality.\u00a0 To have a nasal voice, an exclusively<\/em> nasal voice, is hard on listeners and hard on the speaker, since he or she will no doubt pick up the subtle and not so subtle clues that their voice is despleasing to others.<\/p>\n

All of these difficulties can be addressed in voice and speech training, using simple, repeatable exercises.<\/p>\n

The voice is a plastic instrument, meaning that it can be molded by practice and exercise, just like your muscles.\u00a0 Voice and speech training will open up your sound, increase its range and expressiveness, and make your speech more clear.\u00a0 These qualities will make people give you the benefit of the doubt.<\/p>\n

And best of all, you will be heard!<\/p>\n

\n<\/em><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In my travels through corporate America, I meet many people with voice and speech issues that undermine their credibility. Here are 3 common issues that can be corrected with voice and speech training. Not projecting A soft voice, one that is hard to hear, is a\u00a0liability for any speaker.\u00a0 First, you speak to get others… Read More »Speaking Voice Training: 3 ways your voice and speech can keep you from being heard<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"","neve_meta_content_width":0,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","_ti_tpc_template_sync":false,"_ti_tpc_template_id":""},"categories":[615],"tags":[906,622],"yoast_head":"\n