There are many articles and reels about finding your voice, which usually refers to an inner voice or confidence that comes out through your actual vocal cords. While I always valued the importance of this inner voice, I took for granted my voice projected through my vocal cords and voice box. I did not realise this until the day I lost my voice.

I am grateful that I naturally developed good diaphragm and voice projection techniques over my career. I think most of that was learned from the big family gatherings I grew up in where everyone enjoyed sharing a chat and a joke, usually over each other. The voices were loud, the laughs were also. Love those moments, anyway.

The day I lost my voice began as an early start to what would become a long day, where I was part of the customer welcoming party for a shopping centre’s grand opening day. All day I was chatting to customers coming in, encouraging them to be part of the newsletter community, giving away balloons to kids and kids at heart. I loved the buzz and energy created and generally, everyone had a good time. I only stopped talking when I left that opening, and was in my car driving to my next event. I arrived and said hello but nothing came out. Absolutely no sound.

It was such a strange sensation for me. I was doing all the things I need to do for my voice to come out and speak, yet nothing came. Then I was welcomed to my friend’s disbelief and jokeful joys (was it?) that I couldn’t speak.

I learned two things from this:

1. Don’t ever take your voice, that is your vocal cord and voice box for granted. Always spend at least a few moments to warm them up and aim to not strain or over use it.
2. You can still communicate without a voice. Yes, this I knew was possible, but to experience this was interesting. It brought a higher level of awareness to the power non-verbal communication has.

There are many exercises to warm up your voice and look after it when speaking over long stretches of time. Today I will share with you one that I feel is foundational and in my experience, delivers the most impact in everyday settings in a short amount of time.

Exercise:

You can sit or stand, but the important thing is to do this exercise with good posture. A reminder that good posture increases your airflow and allows better access to your diaphragm breathing which helps your voice control, depth, projection, and tonality.

1. Take deep, and slow breaths in and out. Feel free to implement a round of box breathing here if you feel the need to further relax any stress levels.
2. Hum. Start low, then go high, and then alternate between low and high at least five times. Please do not force the exhale of your hum, but let the air pass through gently. If you need help with this, imagine keeping a feather in the air as you hum. Also if you want, you may continue a little longer by humming a tune or song that helps you be in the zone of the atmosphere you want to create when you speak.
3. When you have finished humming, gently stretch and move the muscles around your neck, face, and lung regions. This is to warm up your muscles to help your muscles relax and prepare for you to speak. Please remember, to seek medical advice on exercises that may suit you in these regions and do not over-exert yourself.

Please don’t take your voice for granted like I once did. Look after it and I encourage you to try and do this vocal exercise daily to help your voice be ready for when you speak.

All the best, Susan.

Episode 015: Three Ways to K... Aug 29 · Blossoming Speaker Podca... 3:44   ​