This document summarizes a presentation about developing strong vocal presence. The presentation discusses how vocal qualities like volume, tonality, accents, word choice, and style impact how people are perceived. It provides tips for improving areas like reducing uptalk and filler words, clearly pronouncing challenging sounds, and emphasizing the right syllables in multisyllabic words. The goal is for attendees to leave with an understanding of their vocal habits and a plan to establish a clear, confident vocal presence through mindfulness, observation, practice and coaching.

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