Workshop presentation to improve verbal communication skills in the workplace.

1. Your Voice is
Your Vocal Image
Presented by:
Sharlene Vichness
Language Directions, LLC

2. Language Directions
• Sharlene Vichness, President/Founder
• Language/Cultural Skills Training
Founded 2005
• Accent Reduction/Pronunciation Improvement-MAPS
• Bilingual Training
• Cultural Competence- “Intercultural Interaction”
• Supervisory and Compliance
• Translation, Interpretation, Facilitation
• Vocal Presence (When All You Have is Your Voice)
“The Aspirin for your Language Headache”

3. • “I’m not confident when I’m speaking English.”
• “I’m tired of having to repeat myself because I’m not
understood.”
• “I’ve been told I need to improve my communication
skills.”
• “I’m not taken seriously in a leadership role.”
• “I want to establish a stronger professional image.”
WHY ARE WE HERE?

4.  Define Vocal Presence
 Deconstruct and Analyze
 Mindfully Improve
WHAT WILL WE
ACCOMPLISH TODAY?

5. What is Vocal Presence?
 Volume
 Tonality
 Accents and Regionalisms
 Style
 Word Choice
VISUAL AND VOCAL DISCONNECTS

6. It’s not just about the way you look…..
It’s also about the way you SOUND…

7. Would you hire this person?
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkp7wsJc8M

8. VOLUME
Projection
 What is it?
 Mindfulness of Surroundings and Purpose
 Techniques to Practice

9. • Avoid distracting body language!
• Relax! – deep breaths, shoulder rolls, “loosen up”
• Open your mouth – practice vocal variety – read
children’s books or screenplays
• Improve your posture – stand or sit “tall” to allow the
full flow of air
• Focus your voice – target different distances to
communicate appropriate volume for each
MANAGING YOUR BODY

10.  Up-Speak
 Vocal Fry (Creaky Voice)
 Nervous Laughter
 Fillers, “Tics”
 Pitch
TONALITY

11. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPZMy_JWsOU
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQWej-hMiZI
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEqVgtLQ7qM
Upspeak/Uptalk/Vocal Fry

12. • Team up with a trusted friend to help one
another.
• Choose a trusted native/articulate speaker
for feedback (Vocal Mentor).
• Record yourself and Listen!
HOW DO I (REALLY) SOUND?

13. Understand And Be Understood!!
Everybody Has an Accent!
Word Completion
 Speed
 Space Between Words
 Pronunciation
 Syllable Stress
 Idioms, Contractions, Jargon
ACCENTS AND REGIONALISMS

14. Accents, Accents Everywhere!
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UgpfSp2t6k

15. THE TWO-MINUTE “TH”
• Use a mirror
• Try these words
– Thank
– Thought
– Think
– Nothing
– Healthy
– North
– Month
– Strength
– Thirteen
– Ethical
– Thesis
– Thing
– Oath
– Wealth

16. GAINING CONTROL
• Use a rubber band
• Practice your
challenging words
and sounds
• SLOW DOWN
• Dictionary.com
• Thesaurus.com
• Anticipate

17. MULTI-SYLLABLE DEMYSTIFICATION
• Which to stress?
– Photographer
– Electricity
– Organize
– Indispensable
– Development
– Presentation
– Demonstrate
– Pronunciation
Don’t Guess!!

18. • How does emphasis
change meaning?
– He came to the meeting
yesterday.
– He came to the meeting
yesterday.
– He came to
the meeting yesterday.
– He came to the
meeting yesterday.
WORD STRESS & MEANING

19.  Look Me in the Eye
 Gestures Matter
 Posture
 Power Pauses
 Handshakes
 Own the Room
The Magic of Presence!
STYLE

20.  Words that demean or devalue:
 “Just”
 “I’m sorry…”
 “So…”
 “In my opinion…”
 “I think…”
 “I feel…”
WORD CHOICE

21. • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKPOeYZR_xo
• See and Hear the Difference….
– “I’m just calling to schedule a time to talk about the proposal.”
– “I’m calling to schedule a time to talk about the proposal.”
– “In my opinion, I think we should take this direction.”
– “I think we should take this direction and this is why.”
– “I’m sorry I don’t understand.”
– “Please clarify that point a bit more.”
STOP APOLOGIZING!!
Be Mindful of the Strength of your Phrasing!

22. • Watch US network news
• Select vocal Models and
Mentors
• Be mindful of speed and
nervousness
• Think in English - Avoid
translating in your head
• Listen, listen, listen…
• Practice, practice, practice
HELPFUL ADVICE

23.  Establish strong speaking practices through
 Mindfulness and Awareness
 Observation and Practice
 Coaching and Mentoring
POLISH YOUR VOCAL PRESENCE

24. YOUR VOCAL FOOTPRINT
CLEAR
CONFIDENT
CONVEY
AUTHORITY

25. Identify Areas for Improvement…
 Form a Plan
 Locate Resources
 Practice, Practice!
 Develop Your
VOCAL PRESENCE!
Your voice should reflect everything you
want people to believe about you!
NEXT STEPS…

26. QUESTIONS?
COMMENTS?
Sharlene Vichness
President
Language Directions, LLC
www.languagedirections.com
973-228-8848