Do you speak with a high-pitched voice? If so, you may be perceived as nervous or lacking confidence. People with low-pitched voices sound more confident and competent. Compare your reaction to two people, each with a different pitch. What impression did each leave you with? Wouldn’t you rather report to the individual with the deeper, stronger voice?
Now tape your own voice. How do you sound? Does your pitch need to be lowered? If so, you may want to turn to a voice coach, a self-help tape, or book to tell you how to change. If you want to make it to the boardroom, practice the lower, hushed tones most often heard there.
On that tape, check also your vocal variety, speed, and volume. Ask yourself if you are speaking in a monotone. Learn to modulate your voice for greater effect. How about the speed with which you speak? Nerves can cause some people to hurry their words. If you do that on occasion, learn to pace your words to add credibility to your remarks. A slow rate of speech implies well-chosen words and underscores the importance of the message.
Needless to say, sometimes you will want to speak faster to convey excitement or enthusiasm. A faster rate also creates interest and will gain you more attention. Listeners will have to work harder at hearing what you are saying, but the faster pace will keep their minds from wandering.
If you think that you may have lost some of your audience, you may want to ask questions of the group to ensure that your message got through. Don’t try to regain their attention by speaking in a piercingly loud voice.
Loudness has come to be associated with unruliness and even vulgarity. Too soft a voice isn’t good either, being perceived as a sign of shyness, nervousness, and even incompetence. The ideal is somewhere between these two extremes.