Speaking with Calmfidence®
Pro tips to sound more Calm and Confident
1. Don’t’ clear your throat!
Throat clearing is perceived as a sign of nervousness. Even when we are calm and confident and clear our throat for reasons like allergies or colds, we can send the wrong message of uncertainty or stress. Before that meeting, phone call, or interview be sure to take measures that help you avoid the need to clear or cough.
2. Get in the Mood.
Warm-up your throat and voice with a technique used by vocal performers – repeat the word mood several times as you speak the word from deep in your diaphragm or belly. This trick helps to open up the throat, get your voice out of your nasal area, and brings a more appealing depth to the strength of your voice, which studies show is perceived as a sign of confidence.
3. Volume Up.
Studies show soft spoken people are perceived as shy, lacking confidence, unassertive, and uncertain. The single most important change you can make to come across more confident (even when you don’t feel it) is to speak loud and clear with strong volume. This is important in person, over the phone, virtually, and on stage. In addition when people feel they have to struggle to hear you, they will quickly tune out.
4. Use Punctuation.
In normal relaxed conversation, we all do something called “blending” when our words slide together instead of standing alone and sounding as….if…we…are…speaking too deliberately. When speed comes into play, it’s even harder for people to decipher this blending, and they can miss some of what we are saying. When we blend through punctuation, it will sound like a rapid-fire overload of words. Taking time to work in brief pauses for punctuation, not only makes us sound more confident and clear, the pauses even help us to eliminate the ahs and ums that can make us sound nervous or unprepared.
5. Avoid Caffeine.
Caffeine is notorious for making us speak faster. It is also known by voice-over performers to dehydrate the throat, causing crackling and the need to clear at inopportune times. If you like dairy with your caffeine, you’ll also end up with a coated tongue and phlegm around your vocal cords. Best to skip that cup of Joe just before an important communication situation.
Today’s “Hot” Calm-Tail:
Try a HLG Hottie to Improve Your Voice!
This Honey Lemon Ginger Hottie is a simple, warm and delicious soothing drink for your mind and spirit AND can improve your speaking voice before that meeting, speech or interview (or when you just want to sound more confident!)
- Honey has powerful soothing effects on vocal cords and antibacterial properties that fight bacteria in the throat. Honey also lubricates your vocal cords and can help you stay out of the unappealing “high c” range when you are stressed.
- Ginger is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and helps in reducing any inflammation in your throat.
- Lemon has alkalization properties that help alleviate symptoms of reflux.
Ingredients:
- 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
- 2 cups water
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 1 -2 Tbsp. Honey, or to taste
Preparation:
Step 1:
Cut the ginger into disks.
Step 2:
Bring the water and ginger to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and let steep for 5-10 minutes.
Step 3:
Remove ginger from water.
Step 4:
Add the lemon juice and honey to the water and stir to dissolve honey.
Step 5:
Serve in your favorite mug and enjoy.
