1. Presentation Inspiration
KineticFuture: Leadership Communications Coaching
Making Yourself Heard
Do you ever worry that people at the back of the room can't hear you? Are you concerned about
your ability to 'project' your voice?
Whether it's a chat in the bar after a conference or a formal presentation in the plenary session,
you want your audience to focus on the content of your speech, not having to strain to hear you.
Perhaps you're not making effective use of your breath. Breathy speech is inefficient and can
show a lack of support from the rest of your body (as well as betraying a lack of belief in your
content). By gently engaging your abdominal muscles when you're speaking and gently releasing
them when you’re breathing in, you'll help to maintain breath pressure and produce a clearer
sound.
Consider how much breath is required to reach your furthest audience member. Hold your hand
in front of your face and exhale gently so you can feel the breath on your hand. Notice what
happens in your tummy. Notice how your lower abdomen contracts, gently 'pushing' the breath
out of your body. Using the same amount of breath and the same amount of abdominal pressure,
gently say, "Hey". It's almost a whisper isn't it?
Now repeat, with your hand at arms length; you need a little more breath, a little more work in the
tummy and your gentle "Hey" will be a little louder. Now picture someone opposite you at the
boardroom table, now at the other end of the room, now at the back of a lecture theatre; for each
position send the breath, notice the work in the tummy and replicate that work with your voiced,
"Hey".
You might be surprised by the amount of breath and work in the tummy that's needed to make
yourself audible over those different distances. But, don't be tempted to use too much breath and
abdominal pressure as this can make your voice sound 'forced' and lead to strain.
Allow the size of the room to inform the volume of air you take in and the effort engaged to make
your sound; you'll always be audible and you won't be hoarse.
(Written by Liz Balmford, Performance Director)