4 ways presenters can improve their vocal techniques

Try these approaches next time you’re speaking at a meeting with colleagues or in a lecture hall brimming with industry peers.

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A voice that is both easy to hear and pleasing to listen to immediately grabs your attention.

How many times have you found yourself tuning out a speaker with a nasal or whiny voice, or one that’s too loud and aggressive, because it’s torture on your ears? On the other hand, a strong, confident voice is hard to ignore.

No matter how enticing your content, it’s difficult to accomplish your goals as a speaker without gaining and keeping your audience’s attention. Hands down, that’s the biggest benefit to developing great vocal delivery skills.

Beyond merely getting the audience to listen, your voice also projects an image about you that can enhance your credibility and persuasiveness—or not. A high-pitched or timid-sounding tone can make listeners doubt your expertise. A bland voice with no vocal variety or lack of volume can convey laziness.

What do you want your voice to communicate about you?

The 4 P’s of vocal expression

Improving the basic qualities of vocal expression: Power, pace, pitch and use of pause can enhance your image and credibility, and help listeners to focus on your message. Here’s how:

Power

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