CHAPTER 12Speak with confidence
I explain in chapter 9 that the quality of your voice reflects your emotional state, your belief in yourself and your overall health and ability to manage stress. We often think of people who have a rich, resonant tonality as powerful, authoritative and credible.
Think about how much more credible you find the presenter with a strong radio voice, compared to the one with the Elmer Fudd–style high-pitched, unconfident voice. (‘Watch the woad, wabbit!') You also no doubt know how difficult it is to listen to a presenter with a flat, boring monotonous voice. And it's just as difficult to listen to someone who is trying too hard to sound interesting. Someone who is trying too hard will sound inauthentic (like they are trying to trick their audience), resulting in the audience looking for the next trick.
In this chapter, I take you through ways to ensure you speak with confidence and use your voice effectively — whether presenting online or in person — to embed your credibility and message with your audience.
Using your voice effectively when you present
If you want to be engaging and convincing when you speak, it's important that you strive for a natural variety of pitch, speed and volume. Pitch is the highs and lows in your voice. Speed is all the different tempos between fast and slow. And volume is the variety between loud and soft.
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