What Your Voice Reveals

I once had a client who said, "The moment you open up your mouth to speak, all of your business is out in the street." What he meant is that our voices, as well as the way we speak, reveal volumes and create strong and immediate perceptions in the minds of our listeners. Signals are transmitted regarding... our background, education, health, sexual orientation, trustability, confidence level, intelligence, leadership potential... the list goes on. We are sending messages with each sound and every word that comes out of our mouths.

I had a 35 year old female client who complained about a lack of respect, recognition, and opportunity for advancement at her place of work. It was no wonder--when she opened up her mouth, it was like she was literally announcing to the world with her voice, "I'm not sure; I'm holding back; I'm don't even know if I trust myself." Her voice sounded like it was stuck in her throat. There was seemingly little connection between her voice, her body, her breath, and the connection to her message; it was as if a trickle of strained sound poured out of her mouth when she went to say something. Of course it didn't elicit the kind of response she wanted.

Was she capable of changing her way of speaking and sounding? Absolutely. And when she realized how easy it was, she was astounded. It was strange, at first, to hear herself sound different from what she was used to, and it's not to say it was easy for her to change to a fuller, more connected voice and way of speaking in her everyday life. After all, she had probably been speaking this way for a very long time. We worked at it. And she, as many of my other clients realized, that when you sound different, you feel different; and when you feel different, you think and carry yourself differently; and these things all act on a feedback loop.

Voice and speech "therapy" is a highly under-utilized tool for developing the self. Discovering and cultivating different parts of your personality for expression can be highly fulfilling and rewarding work. I've said it a thousand times, and I'll say it again: When you change the way you speak and sound, you change your whole life. No one speaks like you at your best; don't keep that from the world. And yourself!

If you would like to learn more about ways to cultivate your self-expression and communication skills, get in touch! We can set up a free consultation via phone or online. What have you got to lose? Nothing;) And a whole lot to gain.