Even if you know your stuff, speaking in public can be terrifying. There are, however, some simple tricks to help you make a positive impression on your audience, according to Collette Murray of The Voice Company
Most vocal problems stem from physical tension and the fact that women tend to hide themselves, physically and vocally. We do this to avoid being seen as pushy or needy. Historically, women have been required to be unassuming, 'nice' and polite. Physical confidence was not a good attribute and, sadly, the remnants of this taboo still remain.
- Centre yourself: Practise standing with your feet directly under your hips - this is the most stable position for public speaking. Women frequently have a distorted image of their hip width. This can either lead to taking a wide stance that will make you feel as though your feet are cemented in one place, or taking a narrow stance, creating an unstable base.
To do: Your weight should be distributed 40 per cent through your heels and 60 per cent throughout the ball of your foot and your toes. Rehearse this posture in front of a mirror and you may be surprised at what you see. - Relax your shoulders: The muscles in your shoulders directly support the larynx, so tension here has an immediate effect on the voice.
To do: Roll out your shoulders. Imagine warm water pouring onto them, draining tensions down your arms, into your hands and out of your fingers. Imagine lengthening the back of your neck by tipping your nose slightly downwards. - Warm up your voice: Treat your presentation like a performance and prepare by rehearsing.
To do: Breathe deeply into the bottom of your lungs. You should feel an expansion in your rib cage just slightly higher than your navel. Sigh out three times. A sigh is a signal to your body that all is well and it's OK to relax. Make a siren sound, descending from a comfortably high note down to a lower one at the bottom of your range. With practise, you will soon find that your low note will connect to that place you located just above your navel. This is your natural voice pitch. - Keyword your speech: What are the most important words that you want to leave with your client?
To do: Rehearse these words. Experiment with different pitches. What happens if you use a breathy tone or a more strident one? How does this change the impact of your message? Rehearsing these words will satisfy you that you're communicating in the way you really want to. - Don't learn the whole presentation: It won't help you. In fact, it's more likely to come across as staged and contrived. You may become distracted by the fear of forgetting your words and, as a result, not communicate your enthusiasm or expertise to your audience effectively.
To do: Take notes summarising the key points of your speech. Ensure they're simple, to-the-point and in large text so they're legible and don't confuse you.
Managing your meeting skills
- Direct your voice: When you speak, try to imagine that each time you say a word a laser beam travels from your mouth to the client. With practice, you can change the speed at which you make the 'laser beam' travel. In a conference setting, choose specific people at whom to direct the beam. With confidence you can develop this reach to a larger target.
- Direct your thoughts: The most common vocal habit of women is 'de-voicing'. This is when we try not to make too big an intrusion on the world, to make us appear caring and sensitive. This manifests itself as trailing off or quietening down when explaining a more intangible concept. In fact, what comes across is lack of focus and dynamism. Combat this by paying attention to the beginnings and the endings of your thoughts. Make use of keywords and try to find that pitch just above your navel. You will then communicate rounded, full thought processes.
- Diction and articulation: Remember their importance in conveying your message. Perform it at 10 per cent above your normal energy level. This may seem awkward at first, but you must remember that most people believe themselves to be more animated than they really are.
- Give yourself space to breathe:
Your breath is the beginning of your expression of a thought. If you feel lost, breathe out to the end of your thought. You will find that on the next in-breath you have found your thoughts again. Actors who forget their lines use this technique and it works! - Breathe out slightly before you answer:
When nervous or flustered, we often take in far more breath than we need, and then hold onto it while we try to think. This survival instinct inhibits free-flowing thoughts and leads to panic - a vicious circle. The air gets trapped in the top third of the lungs, the voice is pushed out by the pressure of air, we make an unintentional sound or comment and panic sets in. Eliminate this pattern by breathing some of the air out. You don't need it, and the release of air will kickstart the new expression of your thought.