Learn How to Use Your Voice like an Instrument

 

 

As I write this blog, my dad is laughing hysterically at the fact that I have the unmitigated gall to author an article titled ‘Learn How to Use Your Voice like an Instrument.’  According to him, I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. That’s his affectionate way of telling me that singing is not one of my strongest attributes. I’ll happily concede his point since singing has nothing to do with the reason why we’re here. My purpose is to share a few tips about using your voice as an instrument to enhance your conversations and presentations. The rhythmic vacillation from high to low tones, mixed with long and short sounds, can be one of the most effective tools for grabbing and holding audience attention. 

Because the word “voice” has so many meanings in today’s lexicon, let’s begin by stepping back and defining that word to ensure we’re starting on the same note. For our purposes, let’s restrict the definition to its traditional meaning, sound uttered through the mouth that is distinctive to one person. Although 100% of speakers use their voices to speak, only a fraction of them fully capitalize on the true power that lies dormant in their voices. 

Our goal here is to make sure you’re not one of them. If you were to ignore a speaker’s appearance, gestures and movements and only focus on their voice, it would not take you long to uncover two major faux pas that clearly compete with every speaker’s goal of delivering a clear and compelling message.

Faux pas #1: Monotone 

Monotone speakers don’t vary the tone of their voices so that their listeners are able to discriminate between sounds. This is detrimental because, once you’re locked into that pattern, their attention starts to wane. Think of your voice like a wave of energy, with highs and lows serving as a sign of life. The absence of highs and lows, on the other hand, is a flat line, signaling death. I wonder if this is where the phrase “bored to death” came from?

Faux pas #2: Brashness

Some speakers are unintentionally brash because they trick themselves into believing that volume equates with clarity. Listening to brash speakers is like reading a page full of bold type and trying to quickly decipher what’s important. When your entire message is delivered loudly, your audience is likely to give up on following you because they’re mentally exhausted.   

The audience’s reaction to pitches and presentations from the previously described speakers is usually one in which the gut convinces the brain not to buy what the speaker is selling, be it a product or an idea. This is largely because of the incongruence between the speaker’s intent and the energy (voice) behind their message.

The natural question here is, how can you identify specific points in your speech where voice inflection can enhance your message? I’m glad you asked! I recommend that you scan the script of an upcoming or previous speech and highlight all the verbs and adjectives. These are natural indicators of specific points where you may want to change the tone or pitch of your voice to match your message. Done properly, your speech will begin to feel like it has more rhythm and more energy.

The perfect place to practice voice modulation is in conversations. Push yourself beyond the comfort zone of your normal speech patterns. Not only will this make you an infinitely more interesting conversationalist, it will make you a better speaker.

Here’s a quick practice exercise that will allow you to immediately experience how changing your voice can enhance or even change the meaning of what you’re saying. Read each statement out loud, placing the emphasis on the word in bold.  

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

I LOVE YOU VERY MUCH!

Now, imagine how these variations will be heard by your presumably audience of one. In the first, the emphasis is on yourself . . . sounds like a competition. The second instance sounds like a comparison, while the third makes it appear that the person you’re addressing is part of a group, members of which you love in varying degrees . . . not good. The fourth iteration is perfect because you’re articulating a strong, positive emotion. The final instance is a bit too much, much.  

Dez Thornton is a communications coach who helps you say the right words in the right way when they matter most! For more information, see www.dezthornton.com.