Your voice: what are the characteristics of your voice?
Find your voice type/characteristic
What is your voice like? Is it boring,lazy or mumbling? Is it perhaps squeaky, nasal or whining? Is it interesting, clear and warm?
The following are some of the most common voice/vocal characteristics and the perceptions/impressions they create on your audience:
*Hard and edgy: gives an 'impression' that you are irritable, & tense.
*Breathy & thin: this voice type sounds unreliable & weak to the ear - though it could just be that you are not using your resonator (your vocal cavity/the exhaust) effectively.
*Fast: You may sound inconsiderate if your voice is just running through the speech.
*Mumble: Certain racial groups/language groups tend to mumble a lot more than others; swallowing words and not really opening their mouths when they speak. They often don't come out strongly as a result. These people may give an impression that they are apathetic & slovenly. They need to learn to practice words that come out strongly - for example, words beginning with the 'p'& 'b' sound.
How to use body language in public speaking and presentations
If you are selling something, pay particular attention to what the customer is saying/asking. Let them know, through your body language that you are listening and that their point or question is more important than anything else at that moment. The person/customer is therefore encouraged to say more. They get to state all their thoughts or questions. You have better chances of making a sale that way.
What your body movements are saying
These are what your body movements and actions are saying
An anxious person touches their face often when they speak. A sincere person can move closer to you whe they speak with you, an affectionate person touches, for example.
Eye contact makes people feel attended to; head nodding makes them feel they are listened to and confirms or assures them that they are not talking nonsense. A smile warms