Recently, I read an article about improving your voice in 7 days. While I do not agree with the writer’s suggestions or methodology, the truth is that you can actually find your ‘real’ voice in about 1 hour. Admittedly, your ‘real’ voice will not be a habit in only 60 minutes, but one of the fascinating results about the correct approach to voice training is that you will begin your hour with your old or habitual voice and you will end that hour with your real one. In fact, in many cases, this discovery takes only a few minutes.

What is fascinating about good voice improvement techniques is that you have a better voice inside – no matter how bad you think it is presently. Everyone has a speaking voice that is richer, warmer, and resonant. It is only a matter of locating where it is and training yourself to use it. And, in the process, you may discover a speaking voice as good as, or even better than, that of James Earl Jones, Kathleen Turner, Kate Beckinsale, Sean Connery, Demi Moore, Vin Diesel, George Clooney, Cher, or Peter Coyote.

When I first started my business, I was at a meeting in which we had to stand and introduce ourselves. After the introductions, a woman approached me and told me that voice training was the icing on the cake. I beg to differ. Your voice is the fundamental; it is the cake. A wimpy, strident, harsh, soft, monotone, breathy, high-pitched, child-like, nasal, or loud voice will not make what you are saying nearly as interesting or dynamic as one that is rich, warm, and resonant. In fact, if any of the above characteristics are typical of your speaking voice, then it is safe to say that your voice will eventually turn your listeners off.

The process of discovering your ‘real’ voice involves using your chest to power and amplify your sound. Currently, you are using only 4 of your 5 resonators. These resonators or cavities include your voice box, your throat, your mouth and your nose. If you are not using your chest, the largest of those 5 cavities, then your voice will never be able to display its true pitch nor its true breadth and depth.

One of the many benefits of finding your voice is that you will notice a surprising difference with your singing voice as well if you have the ability to sing. (This training will not make you a singer, however, if you are unable to carry a tune!) You will have more power, greater range, and a broader sound. The reason is because the basic principles of improvement for the speaking voice are the same techniques you would learn if you were to study singing.

Imagine finding your ‘real’ voice in a matter of 60 minutes or less and discovering a sound that you never knew was in there. All it takes is correct placement and the desire to learn.

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The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. Visit Voice Dynamic or watch Nancy in a brief video as she describes The Power of Your Speaking Voice.

We talk a lot about organizing our content, main points, opening and closing, but we rarely talk about how to get from one segment to the next.

How do you handle the spaces in between your points, stories, examples, and exercises? These are your transitions.

It’s as important to plan your transitions as it is to plan the rest of your presentation. Clear transitions help the audience stay focused (and awake) and process your material. They’re like links in a chain that keep your presentation cohesive and organized.

Here are ten ways to transition from one idea to the next.

1. Repeat and recap the main point you just covered.

2. Use humor or tell a joke that closes your previous point.

3. Show a slide or give a handout that gets the audience thinking about your next segment.

4. Ask a question that previews the next segment and write the answers on a flip chart.

5. Ask a question that gets the audience to respond to or summarize their learning from the last segment and write the answers on a flip chart.

6. Have the audience stand up and stretch.

7. Share a quote or story that summarizes your previous point or leads to the next one.

8. Use a logical chronology of points, or numbered points, so that transitions are clear (your talk goes from biggest to smallest, longest to shortest, outside to inside, general to specific, 1960 to 1980, etc.).

9. Pause or take a drink of water before moving to the next point.

10. Physically move to a different part of the room or stage.

Incorporate clear transitions into your presentation and your audience will never be confused about what comes next or how you’re going to get there!

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Lisa Braithwaite works with individuals to uncover their challenges and build their strengths in presenting themselves confidently as speakers. Find your voice with public speaking coaching! Sign up for the Presentation Pointers newsletter or a free consultation at http://www.coachlisab.com. And check out the Speak Schmeak blog.