One of the questions I am asked at workshops and talks is “I have a quiet voice. How do I make it louder”. We all know people who have quiet voices; there are times when it is difficult to concentrate on what they are saying because they speak so quietly. With the best will in the world, you switch off! In a busy business environment, you can find yourself dismissing that person’s contribution because it is ‘hard work’ listening to them.
But for people that have quiet speaking voices, it is very frustrating. People have told me how devalued they feel when they speak, because people sometimes ignore them or speak over them.
One of my clients, a gentleman working in a target driven accountancy company, received feedback that he was speaking too quietly. He was at boardroom level and people weren’t listening to what he said because he was inaudible. Other members of the board were not valuing his contribution and questioning why he was there. We worked at a number of skills including increasing the volume of the voice, body language, engaging with others and confidence. The client knew he’d nailed it when his immediate boss complained he was too noisy on the telephone!
In this week’s podcast, I share some top tips to making your voice louder to ensure you engage others in conversations.
The tips include:
A brief masterclass in finding your voice.
How to engage with others before you start speaking.
A brief explanation on how to throw the voice.
Being aware of any tension that could cause your voice to be quieter.
Do listen to the podcast and diplomatically share it with people who have quiet voices!
If you have any topics you would like me to cover, do contact me!
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