Who has confidence in himself will gain the confidence of others. - Leib Lazarow
Mastering the secret to sounding confident will prepare you to speak on the spot when needed! It's a two part strategy. Part 1 is all about getting your self-talk right, and Part 2 is all about finding your voice. If you haven't already read Part 1, make sure to click through and check it out! Then read on for Part 2 below...
38% of communication effectiveness is governed by voice quality.
We are all born with a particular tone of voice, which we can learn to improve. The goal is to sound upbeat, warm, under control and clear. To improve your overall voice message delivery, try the following strategies:
Breathe from your diaphragm
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated
Posture affects breathing, and also tone of voice, so be sure to stand/sit up straight.
Remember to smile! Smiling instantly warms up the one of your voice.
If you have a voice that is particularly high or low. exercise by practicing speaking on a sliding scale. You can also sing to expand the range of your voice.
Record your voice and listen to the playback
Deeper voices are more credible than higher pitched voices. Try speaking in a slightly lower octave.
Enlist a colleague or family member to get feedback about the tone of your voice. Have fun with it and don't be afraid to laugh at yourself!
Pitch, Volume and Quality
Pitch, volume and quality of voice all make a difference in how confident you sound when you communicate.
Pitch refers to how high or low your voice is. Try avoiding high pitched sounds by speaking from your stomach, the location of your diaphragm.
Volume or the loudness of your voice is controlled by your diaphragm, so remember to keep relaxed and breathe from your diaphragm rather than from a tight throat.
Quality of voice refers to colour, warmth and meaning given to your voice. Add emotion of your voice and smile as much as possible when you are speaking.
Speaking Like a STAR
Remember how challenging it can be to speak on the spot? Whether it’s an unexpected question in your IG post comments, or a last minute call to talk at an event, there’s nothing quite like the sinking feeling of knowing you have to speak up without preparation.
The STAR Method helps you deal with recurring problem situations such as mental blocks or anxieties around speaking on the spot in public. STAR is an acronym. It stands for:
Situation
Thoughts or Feelings
Action
Result
The key to this strategy is harnessing the power of your positive self-talk from Part 1. Then bring those thoughts to the forefront to inspire action and deliver a great result!
Here's an example of the STAR method in action:
You're Invited
Join us at an upcoming workshop to learn more about this strategy! We would love to help you apply this skill to improve your personal and professional communication. We have a breakfast, lunch and a sundowner coming up over the next couple weeks, register below!
Breakfast Event
Lunch Event
Sundowner Event
I hope to see you there!
Trinity
