Have you noticed other leaders’ voices on recorded books? On podcasts? On Clubhouse? Then assume your voice is being noticed as well. Your voice is one of your most important and effective tools as a leader. And, yes, your voice is fine as is. You get to be who you are and show up as your unique self. But do you want to step it up a notch? Or two? Voice work will help you get there.
For centuries, performing artists have trained the speaking voice as an essential skill to connect authentically and powerfully. The corporate and professional worlds often seem to miss its importance in communication and leadership development. And it’s understandable — it is a risk to open up and show your full self. But leading authentically by sharing your voice is an incredibly worthwhile risk.
Seize the invitation to explore and expand your speaking voice through voice work and you will reap the benefits many times over. Ask yourself: What’s your communication goal? To move people to action? To connect more fully to your audience? To be sure your team understands you and what’s expected? To share your ideas clearly to your boss or client? To lead a robust discussion in a podcast interview or in a Clubhouse room?
Then your voice matters.
The Importance of Voice in Communication
When we can see one another, the visual information informs the message received. When we can’t see each other — on phone calls with no video, on podcasts, or recording your own book — your voice carries far more sway in creating clarity and reality for the listener than you may realize. Speaking in monotone rarely inspires trust or connection. And yet, many of us use that less effective vocal choice.
Pause to consider how you’re using your voice. Are you aware that it may be helpful to use more vocal variety and color to convey your information when you aren’t in the picture, so to speak? Are you aware of the tension that sometimes interferes and the importance of your breath? Speaking is an athletic endeavor and treating the training of it as such opens whole worlds of opportunity.
Sharing your voice can be vulnerable and uncomfortable, so that turns some folks away from the training and exploration of voice work. But sharing your voice fully, openly and with intention can be joyous and powerful for both you as a leader and those who are listening. We encourage you to take the risk to move past the awkwardness, so you can truly show up connected and authentic for your audience.
Being Self-aware vs Self-conscious
We’ve noticed that we, as professionals, leaders and fellow humans, are encouraged to be more self-aware. We are guided to notice our presence and the details of how we communicate or miscommunicate. Yet, without proper information, our self-awareness can quickly turn into self- consciousness and then we shut down.
With self-awareness, we are able to simultaneously receive tools or techniques and adjust whenever we may see a lagging or less than acceptable performance or connection – without shutting down. When we are self-aware, we notice and note our own communication and can adjust as needed. For instance, if our message is landing poorly and being misunderstood, we are flexible enough to adjust our tone and word choice to connect. If we are self-aware of the miscommunication, but don’t have access to what tools to use, self-awareness devolves into self-consciousness. When self-conscious, we most often shut out our audience as we become internally focused and less able to connect.
As leaders, we know that we’re capable of being present, and we can also become self-aware that our presence isn’t as effective as it could be. When this happens, we need to know what to adjust. Without tools available, leaders can spin in place and think, “Whatever. That’s just the way it is.” Without the opportunity for adjustment, our self-awareness becomes undermining self-consciousness, and we shut out or dismiss what is available to us in the moment.
Our voice is one of the most commonly dismissed tools of communication. We either ignore what may not be the most effective tone or, when others suggest an adjustment, we loudly defend how we speak and use our voice. “This is how I speak. This is me.” It can be like claiming ownership of a familiar posture: a slouch of the shoulders or a hand over the mouth. Yes, it’s what you’re doing right now, and you also can sit up and remain open. You can remove your hand and speak your opinion or observation. You’re not less yourself for opening your chest or aligning your head. You might even be more of yourself. You can always slouch when you want, and you do have another option for how you show up. Are you less yourself when you have good posture? Are you less yourself when you allow your voice to flow freely?
Your Voice Is Connected to and Protected by Your Body
We’re accustomed to how our voice feels from within. Yes, we actually physically feel the production of sound through the vibration in our body. We feel our voice in our body through breath and vibrations. Singers use both breath and vibration for placement of sounds. They can feel what is called “the ping.”
As a speaker and presenter, you’re asked to adjust your breath and voice in ways you may not be accustomed to. It can feel overwhelmingly vulnerable. When we compare adjusting your posture to adjusting your voice, rolling your shoulders back can feel a bit revealing, but it doesn’t seem to be as revealing as emphasizing your breath and sharing your voice.
Your voice is connected to the body that protects you. You hold your breath when you feel threatened — no matter how minor the threat. It’s your body’s attempt to keep you safe. You may also close off, round your shoulders to protect yourself. These all affect your voice.
Your body’s attempt to keep you safe is instinctual. Meetings, speaking publicly, having tough conversations, etc. aren’t often perceived by our bodies as “safe” even when we enjoy them. The evidence is found through the holding of your breath, the tensing of your shoulders and jaw, and your tongue rising to the roof of your mouth.
Tight breath and muscles greatly impact your communication because your voice rides on the exhale of breath and requires flow. Tight muscles directly correlate to tighter voices. Less breath is flowing. Often, your voice will become tired when this is happening. This is why voice work can help you improve your communication.
Three Tips to Relax Your Body and Free Your Voice
Connect to your breath, release your tension and allow your voice to be a bit messy.
- Yes, your breath. Your voice is vibration carried on your exhale. When you hold your breath, you hold back your voice. When you breathe shallowly, your voice doesn’t get fully powered. So, exhale. Yup, exhale or sigh out and then allow your breath back in. We’re essentially a vacuum, so mastering the exhale increases the fullness of the following inhale.
- Release the tension in your shoulders and neck. The breath carrying the voice needs the freedom to flow out. Be careful not to cut off the sound or flow with a tightness in the neck or throat. Roll those shoulders, allow your neck to be easy and your voice to ride on the exhale.
- Sharing your voice can feel a bit messy. Sometimes you want to organize your sound and words and it feels tight — as if it’s all happening inside your mouth and throat. Instead, let your voice be shared out and freely. Some clients have said that it feels messy to let it go!
Why Wouldn’t You Work on Your Voice?
People avoid voice work for so many reasons. The first is that it takes work and it’s super vulnerable. There’s so much misinformation out there about breath and tension and pitch and placement and upspeak and vocal fry… and we could go on and on. Because people have visceral reactions to voices — their own and others — it can be tricky territory to allow others in to give feedback and suggestions.
Isn’t It Manipulative to Change My Voice?
By opening your voice, you’ll have less vocal strain and more longevity. It impacts how people perceive and receive you and your message. We most often refer to this kind of voice work as freeing your voice. And yes, the sound will most likely shift a bit, but it’s no more manipulative than opening your shoulders to adjust your posture. We want you to show up at your best for a client or an audience. Your voice is an integral part of that.
As human beings we have a whole set of vocal colors and variations available to us. You can liken it to having a box of 64 crayons. There is not one perfect voice for all situations. We shift our tone and words and prosody depending on intention. You aren’t being fake when you speak differently in different situations, instead it’s a testament to your knowledge and awareness of your own vocal instrument. For example, you speak differently to a lost child than you do congratulating another person on a job well done. Both are truly you. Each is quite a different use of the amazing vocal instrument.
Step into the Discomfort.
Stop equating comfort with excellence and confidence. We are often uncomfortable when really connecting. From leadership communication to rocking the virtual stage, owning your voice is one of the best investments you can make.
Let’s commit to using your voice to make greater and more authentic connections. Voice coaching, when done well, is a super powerful revealer of your amazing self. You are guided to reveal your unique and authentic voice. Coaching will heighten your self-awareness and provide tools to move beyond and create a connection to insights that hold you back.
It’s your choice. Communication, in all its forms, is essential for human connection. Let your voice lead you forward. Exhale, release tension, permit the music to play and share your voice!
Yes, we are passionate about freeing voices literally and figuratively. We are a team of coaches with careers in the performing arts dedicated to helping individuals and teams find, free and activate their unique voices wherever they need to be heard.
Hilary Blair is a leadership keynote speaker based out of Denver, CO, and is the co-founder of ARTiculate: Real & Clear. She is also a highly regarded, actor, improviser, facilitator, voice-over artist, and voice expert coach. Contact us today to learn more.
