There’s nothing more confidence-busting than a hoarse or nervous voice when you’re representing your company at an industry conference, or worse still, when giving a critical shortlistee presentation.
Here are some tips from my a voice coach I had a few sessions with, some years back, to get me through a whopping case of laryngitis after I facilitated a vigorous two-day strategy session for an overseas client using a speaker phone..
- Focus on proper diaphragmatic breathing. This provides the best support for your voice and provides the most leverage in terms of its projection.
- To get your vocal cords nice and relaxed when they’re feeling strained, fill a basin with boiling water, put a towel over your head and inhale the steam (like you probably did when you had a cold as a kid).
- Lots of fluids all day. Drink constantly throughout meeting.
- Never have dairy before a presentation, interview or workshop. It clogs you up.
- Resist that nervous need to constantly clear your throat. It produces more need to do it, and also degrades your vocal cords over time. Instead have a big drink and very hard swallows.
