A friendly tone of voice will make you seem more approachable
and kind and might even win you some friends. You can easily attain
this quality with just a little experimentation and practice.
Steps
- Record yourself speaking as normally as you
possibly can. Find a paragraph in a book or newspaper you are
reading, and speak as naturally as possible into some recording
device. You can often find these in cell phones and computers, or
you can buy a tape recorder at your local electronics store.
- Watch yourself speak by standing in front of a
mirror while reading the same paragraph. Watch your face carefully,
paying special attention to how your mouth moves and your facial
expressions.
- Identify where you need to improve by
listening as objectively as you can to your recording and observing
yourself in the mirror. What were your first impressions of your
speaking voice?
- Pay attention to common problems. Most people
have a similar idea as to what the ideal speaking voice is. These
qualities vary only slightly.
- Varying pitch. Avoid the dreaded monotone by raising
and lowering your voice to emphasize or de-emphasize certain points
of what you are saying. This often varies by region, so pay
attention to your friends and neighbors as they speak.
- Soft volume. Nobody wants to be yelled at, so speak
just a little softer than you normally would, especially when
talking to someone who is physically close to you.
- Relaxed tone. If there is tension in your throat or
chest, your voice will sound hoarse and forced, almost as if you
have laryngitis. Relax your upper body, including your shoulders,
neck and abdominal muscles, and your voice will sound more gentle
and pleasant.
- Practice your new speaking voice. Record
and listen to yourself again, and decide whether you did
an adequate job at correcting the problems you identified earlier.
Be careful not to over do it; your voice will sound obviously fake.
Once you have struck a balance that you like to listen to, practice
reading out loud or even talking on the phone with close
friends.
Tips
- Try asking a close friend or mentor their candid opinion on
your voice, both before and after you try to change it. A more
objective opinion can be offered by them, and it will prove itself
invaluable.
Warnings
- Speaking too much or too often will hurt your vocal chords and
could land you with a permanently damaged voice. Don't overdo the
practice, and take breaks often. If your throat ever starts to
hurt, immediately stop and try to stay as silent as possible for as
long as necessary.
Things You'll Need
