Last week, I set my students a unique task: to draw their voice. Not their larynx, pharynx and phalanges, but their voice—capturing it visually. The aim was to reflect on the elements that shape their voice: its history, accent, language, education, tone, texture, volume, likes and dislikes, and how others might perceive it. This exercise is a fascinating way to begin understanding how your voice represents you to the world. As we discussed their pictures, three key themes consistently emerged:
1. Failing to Connect Voice with Breath
This is particularly common among Generation Z, though not exclusive to them. If breath is the fuel that powers the voice, failing to connect the two is like trying to drive a car with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. The result is often a voice that sounds hesitant, as though you’re holding back, lacking belief in what you’re saying. This is particularly prominent at the ends of sentences where the voice drops into vocal fry (I’m looking at you Kim Kardashian), as if you don’t believe or care in what you are saying, so you abandon it before you reach the end.
And if you don’t sound like you believe or care about what you are saying, why should a listener trust it? A voice that is not fully supported by breath tends to lack conviction, leading to communication that feels unsure, even if the message is sound. Remember, breath fuels expression; without it, your voice risks diminishing your message.
2. Not Speaking at Your Optimal Pitch
This behaviour isn’t just found in humans—many animals do the same. They lower their pitch to bluff size, trying to make themselves seem bigger, or raise it to sound more appealing when seeking a mate. Humans, of course, are no different.
I find that those who habitually raise the pitch of their voice (particularly women) are often people-pleasers. I call this the ‘customer service’ voice—it’s the same tone your waiters speaks to you at your table, or we might use when speaking to small children (though not usually your own terrors!). It is a voice that sounds non-threatening, but unfortunately, a higher pitch can lead to others taking you less seriously. It’s the reason why people such as Liz Truss, Margaret Thatcher or Elizabeth Holmes lowered their tone. However, in a world where we desperately need more strong female voices, it seems a shame to shrink in order to accommodate others.
On the other hand, those who lower their pitch (typically men) often do so to appear more ‘masculine’. But this can strip their voice of its richness and expressiveness. So much energy is spent lowering the larynx that the voice and working at the bottom of their pitch range that their voice becomes monotone and dull, limiting the ability to engage listeners or convey complex ideas.
Finding your true, optimal pitch allows for a fuller, more vibrant voice that is capable of conveying a wide range of emotions and ideas in a strong and confident manner.
3. A Voice That Feels Out of Control
The third recurring issue was the feeling of not being in control of their voice—blurting out words as if their voice had a mind of its own. In these cases, I reminded students that the purpose of speaking is to communicate with others. You already know what’s in your head, so speaking is done solely for the benefit of the listener.
If you want your words to have impact, it’s crucial to make the listener feel valued. This might mean slowing down or taking care to ensure our listener has time to digest what we are saying. When we carelessly toss words into a conversation, we risk devaluing them. But if we take the time to craft our speech thoughtfully, making it clear and enjoyable for our audience, it creates a more meaningful and engaging interaction. Think of it like a performance: you wouldn’t step on stage without considering how the audience might react, so why approach conversation any differently? Take the spotlight off yourself and put all of your energy on making the conversation pleasant for the listener. The less work they have to do to decipher your words and meaning, the clearer the message will be received.
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This exercise offers a valuable opportunity to reflect on your own voice and how it shapes how you are perceived. It’s not just about improving your voice for the sake of communication but understanding that your voice broadcasts ‘you’ to the world.
So, grab some crayons and have a go—what does your voice say about you?
