Confidence is a funny thing. It can feel like an elusive quality at times, but then when you think about it for even more than just seconds in your life—you know what confidence really means? Trust! And not only does trust come from faith (which we often associate with religion), as the Latin root suggests; con meaning with and fidere which means trust. This word has many different facets to its meaning including dependability or reliability.
So, In this article, I’m thinking about the trust or faith you have in your voice, and yourself; i.e. How to trust your voice and stop holding yourself back.
Your Voice
Voice is not a single thing, it results from your brain and nervous system working in tandem with other organs to produce sound. Your thoughts, emotions, actions and beliefs can also contribute when you speak or sing i.e. there is the possibility of communicating something of your inner Self. The balance of the energies from all of these “parts” will determine how you communicate vocally.
Here’s how I see it:
Vocal Confidence
Why then is all of the above important? Well, consider this. To have confidence in another person you need to know them well first. You also need to bring something of yourself to that relationship. It’s the same with your voice. You need to know your voice and how it works for you, as well as know your Self so that you can bring the energy of your thoughts, emotions and beliefs to your speaking or singing.
What is your voice worth?
Is it just a mechanical thing or can you make it work for you to project feeling and create an impact on others? Your physicality matters, but so does what’s inside-the “Self.” The confidence comes from trusting oneself while relying heavily upon one’s authentic Self. This creates true trustworthiness because there will no longer be any hesitation or doubt about where those feelings come from.
Using your voice with trust.
1. Skills: Make friends with your voice. Get to know it and work to develop the voice skills that will enable you to get the best out of your speaking or singing in different situations.
2. Vocal health: Or I should say, your body and health generally. You can’t speak or sing well with a voice that is dehydrated, strained, tired or misused.
3. Prepare: Prepare your material, yes. Also, look after your thoughts and emotions ahead of using your voice. This applies to presentations, performances, meetings, client briefings, giving training – the list goes on. Knowing your Self can help you with this. e.g. if you are prone to stage fright, there are ways that you can work to make things easier.
4. Presentation: How you put your ideas forward. Your organisation, interaction with the other person/people and how you “show up” generally.
All of these contribute to vocal confidence. You will be able to trust your voice and really get your message across, making more impact. Of course, one success leads to another and that generates more confidence.
So, how do you project your confidence through voice?
First, start with a strong foundation of self-trust. Know who you are and what you stand for. Believe in yourself and your capabilities. This will give you the courage to be yourself when interacting with others. Next, use your voice to communicate honestly and authentically from the heart. Be aware of your tone, inflection, and volume. Use them to express emotion and connect with others on a deeper level. Finally, stay connected to your physicality. Use alignment and gesture to convey power and presence.
Projecting confidence is all about being authentic, honest, and present in every interaction. If you have questions or want help developing this essential skill set, don’t hesitate to get in touch, I”m happy to chat or arrange a free Discovery Session.
