Good Vibrations
Putting Your Best Voice Forward

Is your voice attracting others or pushing them away? Is it promoting you, or is it an invisible barrier to your success? Your voice can be a powerful asset, or a frustrating handicap.

Several months ago, I received a call from a stranger. The voice that greeted me was strong, friendly and confident. It sounded successful. Instantly, everything inside me seemed to say, “Wow! You sound like a great person. I want to work with you!” We had a pleasant conversation, and after hanging up the phone, I wondered why my response was so immediate and powerful. After all, I’m a vocal coach. I’m supposed to listen objectively, not emotionally, right?

Sometime later, I received a voicemail that, within seconds, created the very opposite reaction. It had nothing to do with what was said. It was just a simple request for information. But the sound of this voice instantly put me on guard, at a gut level. It seemed immature, suspicious and defensive. I actually shivered and muttered to myself, “Ugh. Stay away from me!”

If a vocal coach, someone who listens very carefully, even analytically, can be affected so immediately and deeply by the sound of another’s voice, how much more must the average person be affected at unconscious levels by the voices they encounter?

Quite a bit, it turns out. New research from a company in Austin, Texas, shows that the sound of your voice matters twice as much as the content of your message. And research from Duke University and UC San Diego, shows that CEO’s with deeper voices earn more money and lead larger companies than their higher-pitched peers. Your voice matters.

You’ve been speaking since infancy, giving very little thought to the process, and you’ve probably never worked with a vocal coach. So it’s quite likely you’re using only a fraction of your potential voice. Furthermore, your voice is probably distorted by tension, bad habits and lack of technique. To make matters worse, you assume your voice is natural, that it can’t be changed, like your height or the color of your eyes. Fortunately, that’s not true.

I’m happy to say that everyone has the potential for a good voice, a voice that’s clear, rich, expressive and effective. It doesn’t just sound good, it feels good and communicates well. Your best voice makes others want to connect with you. Training with a vocal coach will help you discover that voice.

Finding a voice that is powerfully attractive to others is a very straightforward process. First, you must get comfortable in your body.  Tension is the enemy of your voice. Then you must learn to breathe and speak with your whole body, not just with your mouth.  You have to engage the entire instrument. And finally, you must learn to be generous with your whole being.  You must give yourself permission to come out and play, to really put something out there for others when you speak.

When you master these three principles, your body becomes relaxed and energized. Your voice becomes strong and powerful. Even your thinking becomes confident and creative. You begin to express who you really are, have a heightened impact on others and start creating the life you’re destined to live. You find so much more than just your voice.