You have to give a speech. How can you make your voice work for you?

PREPARATION is key ... - Know your material - Know your Audience - Warm up your voice with: -- Breathing from your diaphragm, humming etc -- Vary your volume and pace - avoid monotony by emphasizing key points with louder volume and slowing down for dramatic effect. -- Articulate clearly opening your mouth and enunciate each word clearly I find the best way to warm up your voice and be ready for the BIG Day is to PRACTICE, record yourself and make the necessary changes to get the message across more effectively using your voice modulation, tone and pitch. It's important to note that there are many aspects to delivering a speech and Voice is one aspect. Focus on body language, content and of course enjoying your moment on the stage!

Currently, I'm focusing on refining my voice by working on breathing techniques, posture and alignment, and articulation. Though I still have a journey ahead, I find it encouraging to have identified the specific areas for practice and improvement. Another crucial aspect I'm targeting is volume control. Given my tendency towards a louder voice, I recognize the importance of honing skills in pitch, tone variation, pacing, and rhythm. A helpful approach to enhancing my voice is recording the same speech multiple times, while considering both internal and external feedback, and fine-tuning areas that require improvement.

Hydration is Key: Avoid consuming cold drinks and foods at least 3-4 days before your speech. Cold items can have a negative impact on your vocal cords. Opt for warm water to soothe and prepare your voice. 2. Exercise for Vocal Strength: Engage in exercises designed to enhance the strength and volume of your voice. You can find useful tutorials on platforms like YouTube. Focus on techniques that promote a louder and more resonant voice. 3. Daily Practice: Consistency is key. Make it a habit to practice daily. Regular practice helps your voice become accustomed to speaking, reducing any potential struggles during your speech.

Para que tu voz trabaje a tu favor al dar un discurso, es fundamental practicar técnicas de respiración profunda para controlar el ritmo y la intensidad de tu voz. Además, modula tu tono para enfatizar puntos clave y mantener la atención de la audiencia. Variar el volumen y la entonación ayuda a transmitir emociones y mantener el interés. También cuida tu postura, manteniéndote erguido para mejorar la proyección vocal y la confianza. Finalmente, practica la articulación y la pronunciación para garantizar que tu mensaje se transmita claramente y con impacto.

Para fazer sua voz trabalhar a seu favor em um discurso, pratique técnicas de projeção vocal, varie o tom e o ritmo para manter o interesse do público, utilize pausas estratégicas para enfatizar pontos importantes, e mantenha uma postura ereta para facilitar a respiração e a ressonância vocal.

"Effective public speaking involves not only warming up your voice but also mastering proper breathing techniques. Incorporate daily breathing exercises or yoga to improve breath control, promoting overall health and mental well-being. This not only enhances your composure during speeches but also serves as a powerful tool for stress management, ensuring a confident and composed delivery

As a member of Toastmasters, I've learned the importance of proper breathing to enhance my speaking voice. Before delivering a speech, I practice deep diaphragmatic breathing, filling my lungs with air to support my voice. For instance, during a recent Toastmasters speech about overcoming challenges, I focused on controlled breathing to project confidence and authority. Additionally, I maintained good posture and relaxed facial muscles to ensure smooth delivery. By incorporating proper breathing techniques into my speeches, I've noticed a significant improvement in my vocal clarity and overall impact as a speaker.

If you want to become a more confident and impactful presenter, remember to breathe deeply if you don't want to forget your lines or stumble on your words. Those deep breaths power your words, pacing, and pauses. Here are 3 key moments of impact where breathing deeply makes your presentation more persuasive. Try breathing deeply: 💡 in between key phrases, 💡 before you deliver your key message, or 💡 transition to a new point. 🔑 Breathing is your key to communicating with influence and impact. By embracing breathing with intention, you not only control your voice, you own your voice.

To deliver an engaging and dynamic speech, it's crucial to understand the content thoroughly. Analyze your speech content to identify points where you can vary your pitch, pace, and volume. Consider your daily interactions as a reference – notice how your pitch naturally changes when sharing exciting news with friends or conveying more subdued information to your parents. Reflect on instances where surprising or challenging news alters your pitch. Applying these natural variations to your speech will enhance its overall impact, making it more captivating and authentic for your audience."

Uma boa oratória requer uma boa entonação da voz. A ênfase na fala envolve o espectador e faz toda a diferença ao dividir conhecimento e experiências.

When talking about vocal variety.. it's important to know why its important: 1. It makes your speech entertaining. The vocal modulations create "flavor" to your content, thus drives the attention of the audience, making the audience intrigued to know what's coming next. 2. Elevate your content: when you slow down before important bits of your speech, you're preparing the audience that you're gonna say something that is of high value. You're inviting them to listen, and thus contribute to achieving your desired output. 3. Win the audience: using variety in your speech evokes different emotions (low tones with a slow pace.. empathy, high pitch with a faster pace.. enthusiasm) and this emotional resonance helps you connect with the audience.

Look into the eyes of your audience when you pause. Let them know you’re still there — and that you know they’re there with you.

His eyes lit up when I said this… “Leaders speak at their own speed” He smiled & nodded in agreement Then the switch flipped From that point it was like another person was speaking He now spoke slowly, with calm intention Before his self image as startup founder & a confident public speaker were not the same person He could speak to the team, he had spoken to rooms of 100s of people But when it came to “pitching” all of that experience evaporated Presenting he was more like a nervous teenager Why? He was too in his own head He felt he had to fill every second When he appreciated that silence is golden it all started to change We anchored his self image on a successful leader who goes at his own speed - that’s who he became

Pause for a purpose : take a breath and exchange eye contact with your audience, or even change your tone and posture . A pause has a strong impact when used in the right way.

To capture and maintain your audience's interest, strategically incorporate pauses in your speech. Pauses serve as hooks, allowing the audience to absorb and reflect on your words. Avoid the continuous flow of speech, as audiences may disengage. However, be mindful not to overuse pauses; instead, strategically place them at specific points aligned with your speech content. Strike a balance that enhances the overall delivery and ensures your audience stays engaged throughout your presentation

Pauses are powerful, not just empty space! Here are some ways to use them purposefully: -Dramatic pause, before/after important points for suspense and emphasis. -Transitional pause, signals a shift in topic, helping the audience follow along. -Emphatic pause, short pause to spotlight a KEY word or phrase. Do not forget, that silence is its own tool! Use it for reflection after a question or to let emotion sink in. It can also be effective in pulling audience members back in if they have become distracted or zoned out because the break forces them to determine what they missed.

Pronunciation and Articulation Guidelines: To ensure clear communication, focus on pronunciation and articulation. Even if your content is excellent, unclear pronunciation can hinder audience understanding, leading to the failure of your message. Consistent practice is essential. Allocate time daily to practice speaking. Engage in activities such as reading aloud from books, aiming for 1 to 3 pages per day. Reflect on your daily experiences and try to articulate them verbally. Additionally, recording your speech can aid in self-assessment and improvement.

More than being aware of your own feelings - genuinely feel and embody them. Few things create a sense of authenticity as much as a speaker that dares to be open enough to let the audience truly see how they feel, and few things are as commanding of people's attention as someone who can display their emotions while still staying on point with their message.

Pick phrases and words that make you feel the right way without coming off as fake or overly dramatic. Be true to yourself and your message. Do not try to act like someone else or fake emotions that are not there. Your authenticity will make your presentation more impactful.

I couldn’t agree more TJ, I was on stage in front of 285 people this past week and actually said, “ Sorry, I’m a bit nervous.” and someone came up to me after and said how much it impacted them. I wasn’t nervous or anything, was thrown on stage last minute and was able to navigate it thanks to the tools I’ve picked up from you this past year and a half.🙌

In my experience, it’s a key element to address your audience by directly looking in their eyes while changing direction for every point that’s needs to be expressed. This keeps the audience engaged and more interested in listening to what’s coming next.

Be passionate! Believe in what you're sharing, and your audience will be more likely to join you in your presentation. We all have mirror neurons that allow us to FEEL what we see in others.

Your voice can make or break your speech, so use it to your advantage. First up, breathe from the diaphragm. Deep breaths give your voice support. Next, mix things up vocally - volume, pitch, speed, tone - to add colour and keep people tuned in. No snooze-fest monotones! Articulate clearly and project confidence so everyone understands you. Use strategic pauses to let important stuff sink in. And inject some passion! Let your excitement for the topic shine through in your voice. Authenticity connects. Finally, relax. Nerves tighten vocal chords. Loosen up and your natural vocal power will amaze you and your audience. Remember, your voice is your instrument. Learn to play it and your speeches will rock the house. Own it!

Record yourself and watch and listen critically. Count the number of ums, you knows, etc Then record yourself again speaking slowly, deliberately with pauses. Do this a number of times. Then look at your body language. Are you closed off or open and engaging? Also watch out for any nervous traits and fix them.

There’s a physicality to public speaking that many underestimate. Understanding how you breathe is critical to being able to project and vary your voice… but so too is your posture. Any tensions in the upper part of the body - the shoulders in particular - will manifest as tension in the voice. Pay attention to your feet - are you fully ‘grounded’ and balanced, and able to stand up straight, not slumped to the side with your weight on one foot Are you shoulders relaxed, and your chest cavity open, so that you can take in the extra air you need in order to project and vary your voice? And is your jaw relaxed? Put your tongue between your teeth to automatically release tension in the jaw, and enable you to open your mouth and articulate

Lean into being vulnerable when it comes to giving a speech. Anxious? stressed? Let the audience know. I often struggling with my breathing when giving a speech or running a workshop because of my anxiety. When I first did this people used to comment and I was so embarrassed but now I tell everyone that may be why I may sound out of breath or may talk fast to begin with (The speed in which I talk can also be put down to being Scottish too haha)

To start; stop thinking of it as a speech. It's a conversation. Pace will help you to breathe, gather your thoughts and be back in control if nerves are present.