COMMUNICATION
IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Assertiveness skills
Body language
Communicating with
your children
Conversation skills
Difficult People
Emotional Maturity
Enhancing your marriage
Family Life
Interpersonal relationships
Speaking skills
Writing skills
BUSINESS
COMMUNICATION
Business ethics
Business etiquette
Business writing
Communication in
the workplace
Cross-cultural communication
Conflict resolution
Creative thinking
Crisis management
Customer relations
Effective meetings
Job-hunting skills
Management strategies
Marketing communication
Negotiating skills
Networking in business
Presentation skills
Team building
Technology and communication
Telephone marketing
|
UPDATES Sign up to receive updates by email of new articles added to this site. To subscribe, click on the button below:  We're proud of our ethical standards and take your privacy seriously SEE SAMPLE ISSUE |
and tired of it? |
Shaky Voice? Here's Help!
by Susan Berkley
A subscriber writes: "Whenever I get nervous my voice gets shaky. Its embarrassing. How can I fix it without medication?"
Susan replies:
When we become nervous our body secretes adrenaline, known as the stress hormone. The purpose of adrenaline is to help us fight or flee when danger looms. However, the quivery-voiced, teary speaker is rarely in physical danger, but usually suffering from psychological stress.
An overabundance of adrenaline in the bloodstream has many physical effects, one of which is a rapid heartbeat and rapid shallow breathing. This tense breathing directly affects the sound of the voice causing it to "quiver" when tension restricts the breath.
In stressful speaking situations, the root of voice tension is often a desire to appear perfect and error free The most effective cure for a quivery voice is to address the root of the tension. In stressful speaking situations, such as giving a talk in public for example, the root of voice tension is often a desire to appear perfect and error free in front of others.
If the speaker is well prepared for her talk, she should try to take the focus off of herself and how she is feeling or looking and focus instead on what she intends to give to or share with the audience. She will calm down immediately and her voice will sound 80% calmer and better as a result.
For the other 20%, burn off some of that excess adrenaline by getting a little bit of exercise before a talk--walk briskly up and down the hallway or do some isometic exercises, tensing and releasing your muscles while waiting to speak. Singing or speaking out loud is another great way to burn adrenaline and relax the breathing so the quivers will disappear.
Believe it or not, a little anxiety while speaking is perfectly normal and even useful because it keeps us alert and on our toes, ready to respond and react in the moment.
For more information on how to be a more confident speaker and get to the root of speaking stress, see my Magnetic Speaking Power program, with a special offer for subscribers to the Voice Coach.
From The VoiceCoach Newsletter by Susan Berkley. Reprinted with permission. Copyright 2008 All Rights reserved.
Susan Berkley is the author of Speak To Influence:How To Unlock The Hidden Power of Your Voice. available from your favorite bookseller. For a free subscription to The Voice Coach Newsletter visit www.speaktoinfluence.com.
Some Related Articles:
Can a Happy Voice Be a Liability?
Help for an Excessively Loud Voice
Guidelines for Gesturing When You Speak in Public
Voice Too High? How to Safely Lower Your Pitch
Voice Power: The Care and Feeding of the Professional Voice --
Vocal Cosmetics: A New trend in Voice Improvement