Nothing is more humiliating then answering the phone and having the caller ask to speak to your mom or your dad and you are 20 or 40 or 60-years-old! While this problem is generally more common among women than men, it is demoralizing to have others think you are a child over the phone.
In person, you obviously don’t look like a child, but the image you are projecting if you sound like an 8-year-old is definitely not an image that lends credibility to you or instills confidence in your listeners. If you sound like a child, you will be treated as such.
I once worked with a woman who sounded like a 6-year-old and even resorted to ‘baby talk’ amongst her colleagues. In charge of mortgages at her bank, she did not instill confidence when she spoke. Once she worked with me and we found her ‘real’ voice, she not only sounded mature but she even walked differently. Her posture and her stance changed for the better – and I don’t teach posture!
It is amazing how your life can change when you find your ‘real’ voice. It will be deeper in pitch (pitch is the highness or lowness of sound – not the volume which is the loudness or softness of sound) and resonant, vibrating in your chest much like the voices of Diane Sawyer, Ashley Judd, Demi Moore, Cher and Kate Beckinsale.
In addition, you will be able to increase your volume without shouting, which is known as projection. You will also discover the best means of controlling your nervousness in any form of public speaking. And, as you age, you will find your voice continuing to improve because you have taken the strain off your vocal folds by allowing your chest to power and amplify your sound. So you will never sound too young or too old. A resonant speaking voice is ageless.
You will probably sleep better and longer; your physical endurance will be greater; and, your stress will be lessened considerably. All of these marvelous benefits are possible once you discover your ‘real’ voice. It is truly an amazing process. You will sound better; you will probably look better; and, you most definitely will feel better about yourself.
If you care about the image you project and how others perceive you, find your ‘real’ voice, and never be mistaken for an 8-year-old again!
The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit Voice Dynamic and discover the best means of sounding more mature.
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