How To Make Your Voice Exude Confidence & The Amazing Effect Animals Have on You

Authenticity

Jackie Gartner-Schmidt, a voice-specialized speech language pathologist, emphasizes the importance of authenticity in public speaking. She advises against trying to sound overly authoritative and instead recommends being genuine to appear more trustworthy and likable 1. Mike Carruthers notes that ending sentences with a rising intonation can make speakers sound unsure of themselves, which Jackie confirms can undermine credibility 1. She also explains that nervousness can cause vocal folds to tense up, leading to quivering voices, and suggests techniques like lip bubbles and finger phonation to alleviate this 2.

When you're just your authentic you, you come off better. In fact, I think you always come off better being your authentic you.

--- Jackie Gartner-Schmidt

Mike appreciates these fast, easy, and effective strategies for improving vocal confidence 2.

   

Breath Control

Jackie highlights the critical role of breath control in effective speech. Many people hold their breath while speaking, leading to vocal tension and fatigue 3. She advises speakers to feel the sounds of their speech, using techniques like holding out a 'z' sound to ensure proper airflow and reduce stress-induced vocal issues 3. Jackie also shares an anecdote about a patient who labeled her practiced voice as 'fake' because it felt more confident than her natural voice, illustrating the deep connection between voice and self-perception 4.

The first thing to go when we are stressed is our breath, faster breathing rate, and we get a little shallow in our breathing.

--- Jackie Gartner-Schmidt

Mike finds these insights fascinating, especially the idea that our emotions and personality significantly influence our vocal performance 4.

   

Effective Silence

Using silence effectively can greatly enhance speech delivery. Jackie explains that pausing instead of using filler words like 'um' and 'ah' can make speakers sound more confident and deliberate 5. She recounts her own experience of overusing filler words during presentations and how eliminating them strengthened her delivery 5. Mike adds that editing out these fillers in recordings can transform a speaker's perceived confidence and clarity 5.

When you're doing so's, ums, ers, aha's, just as you said, these filler words, they're really weak words. We don't need them when we present.

--- Jackie Gartner-Schmidt

Jackie also demonstrates how vocal cues can be more critical than facial cues in conveying emotions and personality, reinforcing the importance of mindful speech practices 6.