Kate's Voice

What is the fifth thing you would like to change about your voice?  Pay attention to your voice today and write your observations in your voice journal or your copy of my book, p.128.

By taking an inventory of the vocal patterns you hear in your own voice, and by studying those of speakers whose voices you find interesting or even annoying, you can begin to discern productive and unproductive patterns of speech. This is how you make the changes you want to create the voice you want.  But listening by itself doesn’t make the change stick. You have to practice doing things differently, and practice them enough to change the habit you’ve been living.  That’s why you do this three times a day if you can.  It helps you make the change more completely.

Observation:

I spent some time yesterday listening to others present.  I decided to count the “ums.”  Actually it was pretty entertaining.  I’ve heard that people who go to technology presentation will play acronym bingo, which is a similar sport!  Counting verbal fillers is something I do with my clients.  But what do you do once you have discovered how often you use verbal fillers?  Well, just as with this journal, merely having someone count your fillers…”ums,” “uhs,” “you knows,” “likes,” etc…will make you aware of your habits. Then it is surprising how much more easily you can change them.  I believe that the biggest reason for using verbal fillers is a fear of silence.  What I do when I hear myself saying, or wanting to say “um” is to stop myself and say nothing.  It works well to clean up my speech and remind me that every word is a conscious choice so I must choose wisely!

And now, CONGRATULATIONS!  You have made it through your first week of your practical application journal.  Take a break or keep going over the weekend. I’ll be back on Monday!

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