Voice Confident's Triple Take - your fortnightly trio of tips!
Let's dive into the non-verbals of the voice, hand signals, and a powerful breathing exercise.
Voice: the non-verbal signals of your voice tone
If you’re giving a presentation, there’s something super important you should be aware of.
And that is, that the non-verbal signals contained within the voice are processed in the brains of the people you are speaking to at a deeper level than the words are.
Because of this, although clearly we need to choose our words carefully and in some cases craft them (particularly if we are looking to inspire or persuade), we also need to think about how our voice tone, the way we shape our phrases, our pace, our vocal variety or lack of it, comes across.
You can’t vocally design a whole presentation. (Well, you can… but it takes a while.)
What you can do quickly and easily is look at the first and last things you are going to say for each slide or section, and design that (pace, pitch, pauses, emphasis, articulation) so that those key messages come across and are memorable.
In between, a conversational tone works really well.
Presence: what do I do with my hands???
Ever get suddenly conscious of your hands when speaking?
Most of the time we just let our hands reflect how we’re feeling, but sometimes we get super aware of them.
It’s good to know, so that our gestures can be intentional, and also so that we can interpret the body language of others, that:
OPEN PALMS, usually with elbows bent at waist height, says – I am open and approachable; I’m looking to be friends with you.
TOPS OF HANDS showing, either on top of a table, held together in front of the body or via crossed arms, says - I have made up my mind; I am not willing to negotiate; I am wary of you; I’m anxious.
Confidence: box breathing
Box breathing (or circular breathing) is a really good way to check in with the breath and begin to work with your diaphragm.
It’s also a powerful way to reset your nervous system for calm.
In a relaxed posture, seated or standing (knees soft if you are standing), breath in deeply through your nose (feels like – into your belly or into the soles of your feet if standing), allowing the belly to expand, ribs and lungs to expand, but without raising the shoulders at all, to 4 counts.
Hold at the top of the breath for 4 counts.
Breath out steadily (you can use a sssss or shh or just blow out the air through your mouth) for 4 counts.
Hold at the end of the breath (all air released) for 4 counts.
And repeat.
Find a comfortable pace that works for you so you don’t feel out of breath at any point.
If you doing the exercise to bring calm, once you have a comfortable pace, very slightly slow down your counting each cycle/box.
You can visualise the box – pick a corner to start and follow along the four sides in your mind – if this helps your focus.
4 counts in – 4 hold – 4 counts out – 4 hold.