- Control your volume to protect your vocal cords. Screaming, cheering, conversing over noise, and other excessive uses of your voice can damage your vocal cords. Try to keep your volume at a comfortable level during the day to ensure a clear vocal quality.
- Keep yourself hydrated. Drink plenty of water during the day to help keep your vocal cords moist. Avoid drinking caffeinated drinks since caffeine has a tendency to dehydrate you and leave your vocal cords dry.
- Do vocal warm-ups. Tension can distract more than anything from a speech; learn to recognize and release that tension before a presentation. Do some simple head rolls and produce a few vowels at different pitch levels to warm-up your voice.
- Watch your posture. Good posture is critical for adequate breath support! Whether you are sitting or standing, make sure you are upright and not slouching. Your shoulders should be back with no hunching over. If you work in front of a computer, check to see if you are jutting your head forward. If so, realign your head with your neck and shoulders.
- Make sure you have adequate breath support. Avoid expanding or lifting your upper chest during speaking. Use your abdominal muscles and take deep breaths from the diaphragm.
- Maintain a healthy voice. If you have allergies, try to keep them under control. Daily exercise can help open your nasal passages. Practice frequent hand washing, especially during the winter, to avoid illness.
For personalized vocal skills training, contact Confident Speech, (www.ConfidentSpeech.com), or call (212) 929-0384 now to make an appointment!
We’re a member of the Corporate Speech Pathology Network, whom we gratefully acknowledge for sharing these tips.