Practice Videos, Advice & Educational Resources !

LISTEN: Kathy explains

BREATHING TECHNIQUE

How Well Do You Know Your Voice?

The answers to the questions below will get you on the road to

better communication by raising your awareness.

Could you work or support your family if you lost your voice? ___________

Do you warm up your voice at all before you get to work? _____

Are you a habitual ‘throat-clearer’?______________

Are you an expert and know all you can about your voice? _____________

Is your diction crystal clear, yet natural-sounding? _____________

Do you need a healthy sounding voice every day?______________

Do you tend to mumble, slur or mispronounce words?_____________

Do people often ask you to repeat yourself? ______________________

Do you take quick, shallow, frequent breaths when you talk?____________

Do you force air through your voice in order to to talk louder?_______________

Do others find your foreign accent difficult to understand?_____________

Do you tend to speak monotone or sound ‘boring’? _____________________

Do you speak too quietly?_______________

Do you speak too loudly?_____________________

Do you have a lot of phlegm and mucous build-up in your throat?_______

Do you ever speak too quickly? _____________

Does your voice sound too nasal or have a ‘shrill’ quality?__________________

Have you ever lost your voice or become hoarse from over-using your voice?_________________________

Do you use ‘crutch’ words such as “um”… “like”…or ”ya know"? ______________

What might you want to improve about your voice or how you talk? ____________

Do you have superior listening skills?_______________

Do people always listen when you talk?____________________________

If not, can you identify why they don't listen?____________________________

Do you tend to interrupt people when they talk? _________________

Does public speaking make you anxious, nervous or uncomfortable?___________
If it does, has this been an obstacle to your career success?_________________

Don’t take your main instrument of communication for granted or ignore

one of your greatest assets: your voice!

Our Awesome Intercultural Community - The use of Facial Expression across cultures

Facial Expression Differences Between Chinese and European Americans. This is an interesting article which discusses some basic differences between European American facial expression and the less facially expressive style of Chinese culture.

Read this story

Vocal Branding: How Your Voice Shapes Your Communication Image

Posted July 18, 2019 / Recorded May 2018

In this TED Talk, Wendy LeBorgne explains why and how your voice is your MOST important tool when communicating. In business, your voice and the manner in which you speak is your BRAND. Starting in the 1990's I would begin many seminars and voice workshops speaking with a poor voice just to demonstrate how important it is. I wonder if she stole my opening! LOL This video is an informative talk which clearly demonstrates the importance of having a professional sounding voice and style of speaking. I highly recommend you watch this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_ylzGfHKOs

Are Leaders Born or Made?

Nov. 21, 2012

LEADERSHIP | FORBES MAGAZINE

Some people are, indeed, born leaders. These folks at the top of the leadership bell curve start out very good, and tend to get even better as they go along...

In Public Speaking, Less Is More

Aug. 1, 2013

LEADERSHIP | FORBES MAGAZINE

Less is more. That's the single most important public speaking rule of thumb. When speakers make mistakes, it's most often because they try to cram too much data into.....

Manage Your Personal Leadership Image

May 20, 2012

CAREER COACH | WASHINGTON POST

How mindful are you of your personal leadership image? How do you come across to recruiters or busness professionals? Building an authentic leadership image is critical for your personal brand and professional success...

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IT'S HOW YOU SAY IT

WHEN WE TALK FACE-TO-FACE:

8% of your communication is received through your words alone

37% of your communication is received through the sound of your voice (not content)

55% of your communication is received by the body language you send.

WHEN WE TALK ON THE PHONE:

8% of your communication is received through your words alone

92% of your communication is received by the sound of your voice (not content)*

You and your company need every competitive edge possible in today’s fast-paced business arena. A timid or poorly developed voice may unfairly hinder how others perceive you.

FACT: Sloppy speech will not build trust with clients or co-workers. The majority of people mutter or slur, ignore consonants, corrupt vowels and lazily group words together. We still understand what they’re saying because of the context. You only need to hear a few key words and then you ‘fill in the blanks’.

A great voice & good diction makes your professional image sparkle.Voices can be instantly identifiable, distinguishing you as unique and easy-to-remember.Your voice may be – and often is - the first impression your client has of you. These first few seconds will be major factor in the success of business presentations. Unfortunately, a new listener makes snap judgements about many things about you very quickly: your upbringing, your income, your I.Q., your mood, and much more. Be sensitive to how others react to what you say. You may be overloading them with information, which might cause them to “back off”. Do people tend to gravitate away from you at social gatherings due to lack of conversation? Do people look away when you’re saying something directly to them? They could want a reason to end the conversation.

If you find others asking you to repeat yourself, then that clearly means they have a problem understanding your words.If people don’t listen when you talk, there is a reason.Rest assured that something can be done about it.

Practice Videos, Advice & Educational Resources !

LISTEN: Kathy explains

BREATHING TECHNIQUE

How Well Do You Know Your Voice?

Recommended Reading ...more to come

IT'S HOW YOU SAY IT