Buffer

How do you get your voice back when it’s been awhile since you’ve used it? If you haven’t been “on” for awhile, you may find yourself at a loss for voice, let alone words. Never fear, however. Here are some simple steps you can take to revive your voice, perhaps getting it in better shape than ever.

1. Renew your sense of purpose. You’ve got an opportunity to start fresh, not just pick up where you left off. Use that opportunity to get centered on your purpose for using your voice publicly. When your intention is clear, your voice will follow that path. Here is a related post on intention. The Power of Intention: The secrets your voice reveals.

2. Reacquaint yourself with your voice. How does it feel? Familiar? Different from what you remember? If you’ve never used vocal warm-ups, this is a great time to start. If you have used them before, pull them out, dust them off and start making those funny sounds again. Connect with a voice trainer. For starters, here are some related posts with vocal exercises:

• How to Create a Strong Voice, Part 1: Resonate
• How to Create a Strong Voice, Part 4: Practice
• What Babies Can Teach Us About Better Speaking

3. Reinvigorate your voice/body connection.  Your voice is part of your body.  When your body is in shape, your voice will respond better.  Get some exercise that stretches you to breathe more deeply.  And while you are at it, build breathing into your presentation. Here’s a related post:
Pause: Create a Powerful Presence through Silence

4. Reconnect by practicing out loud. You can’t just think about your voice and expect it to be there. Spend time each day going over your presentation out loud. Find a place to practice where you can speak at full volume. This will also help you evaluate and memorize your presentation. This post on The Eloquent Woman tells you why and gives some great tips for how to do this. Boost your memory by talking out loud.

5. Refine your vocal image by making sure that it aligns with your intention and your content. Re-imagine how you want others to perceive of you and make sure your sound reflects that. Use color words, cadence, pace and pitch. Here are some related posts.

• The Ear-Voice Connection
• Investing in Your Vocal Image: A Tale of Two Strategies

How do you regenerate your voice after a vacation or when you haven’t used it in public for a while?  Share your ideas, tips and concerns.

For more ideas on getting back in the limelight after a hiatus, this post is part of a blog carnival hosted by The Eloquent Woman.  Follow this link to take a look at the wide array of advice from the experts!

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Connect with the author on LinkedIn

Photo 54342808 © Alen Dobric – Dreamstime.com