Four Ways To Tell What Your Voice Is Saying About You

FROM STRESS LEVELS TO CONFIDENCE, OUR VOICES COMMUNICATE AS MUCH ABOUT US AS THE WORDS WE SPEAK. HERE’S HOW TO TAKE A QUICK VOCAL AUDIT.
BY ANETT GRANT

A big multinational company recently sent me a speaking client who “lacked leadership presence.” Looking at her resume, that seemed odd. She was accomplished. She was energetic. She was focused. What was she missing?

When we met, I quickly realized that her voice sounded rather nasally. So I asked her a question: “Do you have a hearing problem?”

“Yes!” she replied. “How did you know?” I suspected that might be the case because her voice had a particular quality to it that I’d heard before in clients with hearing difficulties. Her voice told me something about her that I wouldn’t otherwise have known.

You may not have a hearing problem, but your voice conveys all kinds of information about you to listeners—perhaps more than you realize. It’s true that our voices and speech patterns are fraught terrain, especially for women, who often face gender bias in and outside the workplace based on how others believe they sound. Still, there are a few characteristics of our voices that affect how we’re perceived regardless of gender. Here are four ways to tell what your voice might be revealing about you every time you speak.

1. Test For Resonance

We tend to interpret a strong voice as a sign of confidence. But what’s a “strong voice”? It’s one that’s resonant—the sound is full and rich. That isn’t a question of pitch or volume. It all depends on where the sound is coming from in your body.

Put your fingers on your throat and make an “ohh” sound. If your regular speaking voice feels the same way, it may be too gravelly. Now pinch the bridge of your nose and make an “eee” sound. If your regular voice feels this way, your voice may be too nasally. Finally, make a “mahh” sound and note what your lips feel like. If your ordinary speaking voice sounds like this, you’re in the sweet spot of resonance. It may take practice, but that’s where you want your voice to be if you want to project confidence.

2. Loosen Up

Your voice also reveals your stress level. Typically our voices get crackly when we’ve got a lot of tightness in our throats—often as a result of stress. The muscles around your vocal chords are constricting, limiting your air flow. Your audience will assume you’re as high-strung or uptight as you sound. But if your voice is smooth, you won’t speak with this tightness. The muscles around your vocal chords can relax, and your sound flows. Listeners will feel that you’re at ease and see you as strong.

3. Monitor Your Pace

The speed at which you speak also communicates important information. Speaking too quickly can make you seem nervous or uncertain, while speaking too slowly might come across as condescending or unsure. The key is finding a natural, conversational pace that allows your listeners to absorb your message while maintaining their engagement.

4. Pay Attention To Volume

Your volume level speaks volumes about your confidence and command of a situation. Speaking too softly can undermine your authority and make you seem hesitant, while speaking too loudly can be perceived as aggressive or overbearing. The ideal volume is one that can be easily heard without strain, adapting naturally to the size of your audience and the acoustics of the room.

By becoming aware of these four vocal qualities—resonance, tension, pace, and volume—you can better understand what your voice is communicating beyond your words. With practice and attention, you can adjust these elements to project the confidence and authority you want to convey.