New Exercises

Most of our clients are too busy to do regular speaking exercises and many of them feel self-conscious about Voice work; so I'm always trying to come up with exercises that make the greatest difference in the shortest and simplest way.

Here is an exercise I recently developed. It's a wonderful way to relax your voice and gradually re-acquire the habit of totally Relaxed speaking.

Preparation:

This exercise can be done while you are lying, face up, in bed, on a sofa - or on the floor ( I think that's why clients like it) You will need a book close by -- or some text that you like. (Most usefully, your next presentation). Since you are lying down, there will be no tension in your neck and shoulders. Once you have experienced relaxed speaking, you will want to speak this way all the time.

Step one: Get in touch with your Breath. Notice that when you're lying down, your breathing is a little deeper, and your stomach will rise and fall gently. Observe this for a few moments, without trying to control anything - and then placed one hand on your stomach, round about your navel. Relax your arm completely; and notice how your hand rises and falls gently with each breath.

Step one option A: If you have the time, you might want to exhale completely a few times -- and notice how effortlessly the breath "replaces". This is very relaxing. I use it myself before speaking.

Step two option B: Try humming gently - enjoy the vibrations around your lips and your face - and feel the vibrations spreading throughout your chest and shoulders as you relax even more.

Step two: Hold your book above your face; make sure your arm is relaxed, and begin to read, using a new breath for each new phrase. (breathe in the through your mouth -- not your nose)

Do this for 5 minutes - and make sure you allow a new breath for each new phrase.

Step two option: To explore the experiences of using a new breath for each thought, try counting from 1 to 12, taking a new breath after 3, 6, and 9. Let all the breath out each time you speak. Do this three times, and then increase the length of your phrases by counting in groups of 5, 10, and even 20. As you do this your voice will become more relaxed, warmer, and resonant.

Step three: Now that you've experiencing speaking while completely relaxed, and supporting each thought with a full breath, move to a comfortable sitting position and continue. If you feel your voice losing some of that relaxed and open feeling, simply lie down again and reconnect with the experience. When you can speak with a relaxed voice in a sitting position, try moving to a standing position, returning to sitting if you experience any tension.

Advanced work

Once you have experienced this relaxed way of speaking you will want to do it all the time. Try increasing the volume or the speed of your speech while you are lying down.

Persevere, until you can speak quite loudly and quickly with no physical or vocal tension whatsoever. Again, move to the sitting and then the standing positions whenever you're ready.

Coaching tips;

The better the text, the better the results. Do you have a favorite novel, poem or speech?

Read to your favorite person. Some clients have discovered the pleasure of reading novels with their partners. (On our recent honeymoon, my wife and I read “Huckleberry Finn” and “Pride and Prejudice” - it was a unique and enriching experience)

Try this technique with phrases that you most commonly use at work - and especially to rehearse your presentations.

Experiment by reading with different emotions; as if you were excited, astonished, angry, amazed etc. You will be building a resource - an accumulation of experiences of self expression - which will gradually become part of your every day speaking.

Participants in our Commanding Presence Advanced Communication and Presentation Skills Two-Day workshop are recorded 4 times with feedback from the other participants and personal coaching from the workshop coach. Each receive a USB of their video clips along with a letter of analysis from the workshop coach.

The workshop is designed to improve every aspect of personal communication skills, from strategy and text preparation to establishing rapport and overcoming speaking anxiety.

Participants will learn how to:

Master Eloquent Speaking

Think on their feet and respond persuasively and eloquently in one-on-one situations, meetings and large audience situationsEffectively use the Focus Method to communicate complex ideas and thoughtsManage their fear of speaking

Become a Charismatic Communicator

Master charismatic communication skills, such as how to "be in the moment"Make sincere eye contactSpeak effectively from notesUtilize effective platform and meetings skillsLearn powerful gestures and movement while communicatingEffectively deliver financial and complex data and powerful PowerPoint

Rediscover the Power of their Natural Voice

Assess and evaluate their voice qualityPerform a wide range of exercises and simple practices to improve the warmth, resonance, and richness of their voiceUtilize exercises to improve their voice on a daily basisImprove their diction with simple techniquesManage their speaking anxiety with relaxation techniques

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