I hear this all the time. Many professionals tell me that they hate the way that they sound when they hear themselves on a recording (video or audio). Of course, there is a good reason for that…when you speak, you are hearing yourself from within your head, with all the amplification of sound waves bouncing off the bony structures of your head. When you are listening to yourself from “outside” of your head, it sounds completely different. However, the way you sound on the recording is the true you! Yikes. Does that make you cringe, too?
Many of you know how much I love to mountain bike. I started it a few years ago and have been hooked ever since. My biking friends taught me how to navigate rough terrain, climb steep hills, jump logs, and make difficult turns on switchbacks. It is challenging and fun and of course, being outdoors is a big plus!
I received a lot of great advice when I started that applies to the way in which we communicate. Let me share that advice with you. First, the piece of advice and what it means in the mountain biking world and then, how this guideline applies to the way in which you communicate.
It only takes seconds to make an impression. It seems the research varies from 1/10th of a second to 30 seconds (with an average of 7 seconds). The fact remains, we judge quickly and others are doing the same when we first meet. The question is, what can we do about it?
A lot of people take for granted the powerful tools they have to create lasting impressions that help them every day in their communications with business customers and colleagues and help them to achieve their goals and aspirations.
When I was first starting out as a professional, there were occasions that my employer wanted me to do some public speaking. I was absolutely mortified to have to consider this daunting task! First of all, it scared me to have to create a compelling presentation to a professional audience and secondly, I was afraid to speak and be in front of people who were judging me (as least, that’s what I thought). Because of my self-degrading thoughts, my voice sounded shaky and I didn’t project very well.
Do you love watching Ted Talks to learn something new from industry and topic experts? After I found this site many years ago, I now share specific talks with many of my clients so that they can learn and see from the experts on how to master specific communication skills that they are working on. Here are some questions that may help you listen differently if you are interested in sharpening your own presentation and delivery skills:
1. How does the speaker make the presentation interesting with his voice? Think about pitch and loudness changes that you hear.
2. Pay attention to rhythm and pacing. Is the speed fast or slow? Does the presentation sound choppy or conversational (smooth and natural like the speaker is having a conversation with you?)
With the upcoming American presidential election in November of 2020, you’ll be hearing more and more ads, speeches and debates from both presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It is fascinating to me, of course, that voters often consciously or subconsciously vote based on the way that the candidates sound. For example, years ago before the age of social media and television, voters would listen to the candidates on the radio. Back in the 1960’s, research predicted Nixon’s win based on his sound. But when people saw the two candidates side-by-side, the winner was Kennedy.
Did you know that your voice is changing as you age? Just like any other part of the body that changes (muscles atrophy, mucous membranes begin to thin and dry, coordination decreases), your larynx is subject to these changes, too. Voice symptoms you may notice include a vocal sound that is higher pitched in the male voice but a lower-pitched in the female voice, less volume and projection, more vocal fatigue, and even voice tremors. Additionally, if you are hard of hearing, your symptoms may be exacerbated.
If you need a well-functioning voice for work, here are some strategies you can use to keep up your strong voice:
Do you get nervous before you present? Did you know that stress often creates vocal symptoms? The most common voice symptoms associated with stress include: tight voice, voice breaks, weak voice, and a shrill, high pitch. If you experience these symptoms (or any others) in stressful situations try the following exercises before speaking:
Do you like the sound of your speech and voice? Are you aligned? By that I mean do you sound like the executive leader that you are? If not, let me tell you how great communicators benefit when they align and sound like leaders using their speech, language and voice skills:
I hear this all the time. Many professionals tell me that they hate the way that they sound when they hear themselves on a recording (video or audio). Of course, there is a good reason for that…when you speak, you are hearing yourself from within your head, with all the amplification of sound waves bouncing off the bony structures of your head. When you are listening to yourself from “outside” of your head, it sounds completely different. However, the way you sound on the recording is the true you! Yikes. Does that make you cringe, too? 
With the upcoming American presidential election in November of 2020, you’ll be hearing more and more ads, speeches and debates from both presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. It is fascinating to me, of course, that voters often consciously or subconsciously vote based on the way that the candidates sound. For example, years ago before the age of social media and television, voters would listen to the candidates on the radio. Back in the 1960’s, research predicted Nixon’s win based on his sound. But when people saw the 
