Have you ever had a chance to see voice over actors or singers in a recording booth? Arms, legs, heads, hips – everything is moving in connection to the message. Their bodies are fully involved even though only their voice will be heard in the end.
In years of teaching voice over, one of the first things I work on is giving permission to the actors to move, groove and get their bodies into voicing the text. Once the body is connected, the authenticity, sincerity, and real feel of the message or musicality is more clearly expressed with breath and prosody.
It’s tough to communicate with only our heads. Calling people “talking heads” points to the lack of human connection. Studies have shown that the use of hands facilitates getting our thoughts organized and ready to share. They help us think!
The most effective leaders are able to connect with their teams because they are aligned and engaged both physically and emotionally. They get it: communication involves their whole being showing up and being present.
That kind of commitment to full body involvement in our communication has huge benefits for our clarity of message from running a meeting to sharing a keynote, whether we are one-on-one or with an audience of 100’s.
Yes, some of this is about non-verbal communication, and is also an element of a bigger more engaging picture.
When we speak, our voice, breath, thoughts, message, heart, spirit, and body are all interconnected and interdependent. When we edit or segment ourselves, we interrupt the energy flow and lessen our effectiveness.
Studies on the connection between voice and movement have shown that each and every time the two elements are significantly interdependent.
The greater the freedom in movement with the body, the easier it was for the full use of the voice with projection and resonance.
Actors study movement as part of the whole body training to be a performer. It’s far beyond being able to dance. It’s an understanding of where we are in space. Of being able to embody our whole physical being. Of connecting fully to our breath and then to the release of our voices. Of showing up and being fully in our bodies and present in order to connect with our audience.
Public speaking and presentation are whole body experiences. Even when sitting. Even when virtual. Even when only the voice is involved. A full, healthy, engaging voice is a full body experience as well – aligning and engaging your whole physical and emotional self to show up fully for the most impact.
Accept the invitation to move and get your groove on!
Body Befriended and Engaged Preparation Tips:
- Roll shoulders back and exhale – allowing the air to flow back in with ease.
- Feel your legs under you fully supporting you.
- Wiggle, sway, swing, jump, and let the breath flow and be easy, and smile.
- Do a little dance while speaking, sharing your message, in the privacy of your own space. Feel the freedom and release.
- Acknowledge the ease of voice and breath with full body engagement.
- Be brave and step out fully present – all of your fabulous humanness connected and expressing!!
Now, hold your space, knowing you’re aligned and fully engaged, and share your message.
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.
