What can we do to make our voices interesting?
It’s amazing how most of us spend time and effort to ensure that we look good- we go to the gym, we pay attention to our appearance and we check how we look in the mirror. How we present ourselves is critical BUT we rarely consider the impact we have on others when we open our mouths to speak. People make all sorts of judgements and jump to all sorts of conclusions about us- our credibility, expertise and confidence based on the sound of our voice. It must be one of the best kept secrets of all time.

If you want to make your voice more interesting, here are some strategies to consider:

1.BE PRESENT
When we speak we need to have the genuine desire to communicate. We must sincerely want to create understanding in the mind of our listener. And we do this by simply being present. Being alert and focussed in conversation builds rapport and makes emotional connections with colleagues, customers and clients.

2. REDUCE TENSION IN YOUR VOICE
The main cause of negative vocal quality is tension. Most of us unwittingly carry excessive tension in the body, particularly around the neck. So, relax the jaw and throat. How we do this is really simpler than you imagine. For example, allowing your tongue to lie on the floor of your mouth with the tip behind your lower front teeth releases the tension in the back of the tongue. When your tongue is tense and high it constricts your throat. Lowering the tongue creates space at the back of the mouth. Similarly, there are several really simple and practical exercises that you can learn to reduce tension in your voice and create a relaxed and engaging voice.

3. THE POWER OF THE BREATH
Just as petrol is fuel for your car, breath is the fuel for your voice. Breathing deeply provides the voice with much needed support from the muscles in the abdomen. This is the fuel that gives stamina for a strong, expressive and friendly voice. An adequate supply of breath allows you to project your voice without pushing from the throat. Simply place your hand over your belly button and breath deeply into your hand. Notice the rise and fall of your hand.

4. OPEN YOUR MOUTH
Some people have a habit of speaking without really opening their mouths. This strangles the tone, impacts on the clarity of their speech and makes listening with the best services processes by Maidsalamode.com and its hard work. Simply releasing the jaw and creating space in the mouth makes the voice bigger, richer and clearer. Try yawning and notice the space created in the back of your mouth. Feel your jaw release.

5. MAKE YOUR VOICE ENGAGING
Have you noticed how some people are naturally interesting to listen to? Their voices are friendly, they speak with clarity and they use a range of vocal tone and pitch to express themselves. Varying the pitch, changing the volume and controlling the pace of delivery gives the voice vitality and interest. Again, there are several simple exercises that will help you achieve this. For example, practise going up and down the scale i.e. “do, re, mi, fa, so…”