MAKE IT YOURS

3 Steps to a More Compelling Voice

Your compelling voice isn’t a voice you need to create. It’s the voice you already have when you’re present, connected and free enough to let it out.

1. PURPOSE

Get out of your head

Goal: Connect to why you’re speaking so you can focus less on yourself and more on what you have to say.

Why me, why now, why this? Find one word or phrase that connects you to your purpose. It doesn’t have to be profound. It might simply be: I want to help. I want to practice. I want to move this idea forward.

2. PRESENCE

Get into the room

Goal: Bring your attention out of autopilot and back to the people, place and moment in front of you.

Notice what’s competing for your attention: your to-do list, your nerves, your inner critic, thoughts about how you sound or what comes next.

Check-in
How are you feeling? Acknowledge and then leave your day behind. Get focused on the work.

Breathe
Three deeps breaths, long exhale with puffed cheeks

Release tension
Tense your whole body. Hold. Then release with a long, audible “Hahhhh.”

NOTICE – DISENGAGE – COME BACK

You don’t need to eliminate nerves or distraction. Presence is the ability to notice when you’ve left the moment and choose to return.

3. PROJECTION

LET YOUR VOICE CARRY IT

Follow along with this warmup to get your voice ready for the gig.

Introduction

Exercise 1 – Inhale / Exhale

Exercise 2 – Breath / Speech

Exercise 3 – Vocal Cords

Exercise 4 – Breath To Face

Exercise 5 – Putting It All Together

PRACTICE

Goal: Take the technique into speech work without overthinking it.

Once you’ve warmed up, let go of the technique and trust your body to carry it forward. Record yourself speaking as if you’re talking to a friend over coffee. Listen back and notice what’s working and where your voice gets stuck. Isolate those sections and return to the relevant exercise.

At first, technique can feel like too many things to think about—and that can actually jam your voice. With practice, the technique becomes autopilot, freeing you to focus on your message.

Happy practicing!