Why professionals are turning to voice coaching for a competitive edge

London’s street are once again bustling with workers heading into the office. Professionals from various industries are seeking to distinguish themselves by speaking with confidence in competitive - and possibly at times intimidating - in-person environments. Whether you're a corporate executive, a creative, a teacher, or a performer, a commanding and clear speaking voice is crucial. Voice coaching has emerged as an invaluable resource for enhancing vocal abilities, offering numerous benefits that can significantly impact one's professional life.

Enhanced Clarity and Articulation

One of the main benefits of voice coaching is improved clarity and articulation. Many professionals struggle with mumbling or unclear speech, which can hinder effective communication. Voice coaches work on enunciation and diction, ensuring that every word is delivered with precision. This clarity is particularly vital in international cities like London, where diverse accents, nationalities and backgrounds converge, making clear communication a top priority.

Increased Confidence

Confidence is key in any professional setting. A strong, engaging voice can significantly boost self-assurance. Voice coaching helps individuals discover their natural voice, one that feels authentic and powerful. This newfound confidence can translate into more cohesive presentations, persuasive pitches, and impactful meetings. In a competitive job market, like London, standing out with a confident voice can be a game-changer.

Improved Vocal and Physical wellbeing

Many professionals use their voices extensively, often without realising the strain they place on it and also the amount of tension they might carry. Voice coaching includes techniques to maintain physical wellbeing, such as centred breathing, posture and vocal warm-ups. These practices help prevent common issues like hoarseness, vocal fatigue, headaces and even long-term damage. By learning to use their voice efficiently, professionals can ensure longevity and sustainability in their careers.

Enhanced Public Speaking Skills

Public speaking is a common requirement for many professionals, yet it remains a daunting task for many. Voice coaching equips individuals with the skills needed to captivate an audience. Coaches provide training on use of pauses, pace and intonation, allowing speakers to convey their message effectively and engage their listeners. For city professionals, where networking events, conferences and presentations are frequent, mastering public speaking is invaluable.

Personalised Feedback and Development

Every voice is unique, and voice coaching offers personalised feedback tailored to individual needs. Unlike generic online tutorials or group classes, one-to-one coaching sessions address specific issues and goals. Whether it's overcoming a lack of clarity, reducing hesitancy or developing a more authoritative tone, personalised coaching ensures focused and effective progress.

Enhanced Persuasiveness and Influence

In roles that require negotiation and persuasion, such as sales, law, or leadership positions, the ability to influence others is paramount. Voice coaching enhances persuasive abilities by teaching techniques to vary pitch, volume, and pace, making arguments more compelling. A well-trained voice can convey confidence, empathy, and authority, essential traits for influencing others effectively.

Stress Reduction

Effective voice use is often linked to effective breathing techniques, which are also beneficial for stress management. Voice coaches teach diaphragmatic breathing, which promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. For city and media professionals who often face high-pressure situations, incorporating these techniques can lead to better stress management and overall well-being.

Voice coaching offers a multitude of benefits for professionals in London and beyond, from improved clarity and confidence to enhanced public speaking skills and wellbeing. In a world where communication is key to professional success, investing in voice coaching can provide a significant advantage. Whether you're looking to excel in your current role or advance your career, an adaptive and engaging voice is an asset that will serve you well in a dynamic and competitive landscape.

Has tech taken away our ability to speak with strangers?

These days I spend much of my time communicating via some kind of electronic device. Not social media, funnily enough - I’m mindfully not much of a social media cat - but all the same through some kind of app or another. Texting, What’sApping, emails. When it is face to face so much of it is via Zoom. Of course Zoom is a fantastic tool for work - I have sessions daily with clients from all over the world via Zoom or Teams and its marvellous. It was an absolute life saver during the pandemic and all that’s great. But it got me thinking in terms of social interaction, have we lost the art of striking up a conversation in person - especially with a stranger?

I live in London, a city notorious for its lack of ‘friendliness’. Everyone is always in a rush - or so my friends tell me when they come to visit from out of town. When I was growing up, up north, you couldn’t stand at a bus stop for more than a few minutes without someone exchanging words with you. I don’t know if that is the same now, but somehow it all feels a little different. After two years of actively being told to keep our distance, I’m wondering if we might have lost the art of striking up a conversation with a stranger altogether. In a Guardian article written by Adrian Chiles that I was recently asked to comment on for a BBC Radio 4 programme last week, he pretty much suggests as much. Is he right?

A few years ago I wrote an article about an experiment I’d done. I had quite a few clients who were finding it hard to meet people, especially in London. Now, I’m quite a chatty person by nature. Even during my cripplingly shy acne filled teenage years, I always seemed to end up talking to someone. I wanted to see what happened though if I wasn’t the one to start a conversation. How long would it be before somebody spoke to me?

I had my day planned out. I was going to get out there in the world and surround myself with people. I reckoned in a city of 9 million people it couldn’t take more than a couple of hours to make some kind of connection. I took the bus into town. I walked around the shops. Ate my lunch on a bench in a busy park… and nothing. Okay, I thought. I guess people are… busy. After visiting a museum in the afternoon, I took myself off to the theatre thinking surely in a social setting I’d have better luck. Picked up my tickets. Watched the show. In the interval went to the bar, had a drink (that I’d pre-ordered, as prompted to do when I’d booked my ticket). Still nothing. In fact I made it all the way home and not even a whisper had come my way.

In the coming days, I pondered over how in such busy places nobody thought to speak. The following week I decided to repeat my experiment with one key difference. I decided rather than simply be polite and keep myself to myself, this time I would look up, make eye contact and smile. I’d arranged a very similar day - town, shops, park theatre. I didn’t have to wait very long, from the moment I walked out the door I had two ‘Good morning’s’ and one ‘Excuse me’. In fact, the day was full of conversations and interestingly I didn’t verbally start a single one! So what was the difference, can a smile really be the answer and if so, why?

It’s kind of common knowledge that conversations can be difficult if we are feeling under-confident or don’t know many people. It’s also no secret that when we are worried that our advances, however platonic, may be rejected we might keep shtum. What my cheery day out made realise however, is that it isn’t just about us fearing a poor reception that stops the conversation before it’s started. It may actually how the other person feels in response to us. How likely they think we’ll be to accept their attempt at a conversation. In short if we look friendly, genuine and open, rather than defensive or even indecipherably neutral, people will want to talk.

What then is the secret to striking up a conversation? Firstly, invite it in. Open body language, making relaxed eye contact and a genuine, warm smile will usually illicit a positive response. Secondly, generosity. Everyone is to some extent in their own world, focussing on themselves and how they’ll come across. Being generous is about allowing them to feel comfortable and making it as easy as possible for them to share their thoughts and words. Thirdly, find common ground. The situation you are in is often a good place to start. Asking a question about something within your shared experience - what they think of the play you just watched, how they know the host of the party you are at or (if you are British) how they are finding the weather! Then following up with a question about them - where they are from, what they do. Soon enough you will find you are deep in conversation without even breaking a sweat.

The truth is, it may seem a little harder to break the silence these days, but it may be that we are all just a little out of practice, short of time and perhaps even a little too focussed on how we are feeling rather than how others are feeling around us. Conversation is the corner stone of our society. Friendships begin with them, business deals are made from them, conflicts can be resolved by them and good marriages thrive on them. So I have a challenge for you; for each day in the next month look at someone openly and smile. For each day in the next month have a conversation with someone you wouldn’t normally speak to. You might be surprised by the opportunities that arise, One thing I can promise you, by the end of it you will be much better at the art of conversation!