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Singers and actors cherish their voice. They will spend much of their time keeping their voice strong and toned.
What about you?
Speakers, just like singers and actors, need to keep their voice in shape too! Many presenters often worry about their voice giving out in the middle of an important presentation.
Could that happen to you?
Did you know that 7 million Americans have some type of voice disorder, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology? Problems with your voice during a presentation can have a long lasting impact on your business and your life.
If your voice has ever given out during a presentation, even slightly, you know the tremendous impact it can have on your confidence and the power of your presentation message.
Whether you are presenting for an hour or during a multi-day workshop, I put together tips to help you keep the power of your voice shining through.
# 1 – Keep your voice warmed up! Your vocal cords vibrate very fast, and having a proper warm up will help them function at their best throughout the day. Perform gentle humming and cooing to warm up your voice in the morning to give your voice a great start!
# 2 – Allow your voice to take a siesta aka “vocal naps” every day, especially during periods of extended use. For instance, speakers should avoid speaking just before a speech and during presentation breaks. Remember, if you are presenting all day to give your voice a break during lunch too!
# 3 – Avoid yelling or screaming during your presentation, even if it helps to create an emotional impact. Yelling or screaming will strain your voice and it may result in your voice become hoarse. The hoarseness is a warning sign that your vocal cords are irritated. Listen to what your voice is telling you.
# 4 – Stay away from clearing your throat too often. When you clear your throat, it’s literally like slamming your vocal cords together. If you do that too often, you can injure them and it will make your voice hoarse. Instead a sip of room temperature water can quench the urge to clear. Or consider moving to a more humid location, like sunny Florida. It really does help 🙂
Remember, as a speaker, your ability to speak is truly a gift that needs to be cherished!
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