Master Your Voice Today

There is a very particular kind of frustration that a lot of people carry around for years, and they often do it quietly. It sounds like this: “I know I can speak.”“I know what I’m talking about.”“I’m absolutely fine in a normal conversation.”“But put me in a meeting, a panel, a group call, a boardroom, or any room where it matters, and suddenly I’m different.”

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just need more confidence,” I want to suggest that you may have been aiming at the wrong target. Because most people do not struggle because they lack talent. They do not struggle because they have nothing valuable to say. And they do not struggle because they are fundamentally incapable of becoming strong communicators. They struggle because pressure changes them.

There’s something slightly uncomfortable about what we’re going to look at today. Because once you notice it, you won’t be able to un-hear it. And more importantly, you may start to recognise it in yourself. In the last episode, we talked about the pressure gap. The difference between who you are at your best and how you come across when the stakes rise. Today, we’re going one level deeper. We’re...

There’s a moment that happens in meetings that almost nobody talks about. You’re prepared. You know your material. You’re not junior. You’re not inexperienced. And yet, when the attention turns towards you, something changes. Not dramatically. Just slightly. Your breathing shifts. Your thoughts speed up. You begin speaking a fraction faster than you intended. You added a little more explanation th...

Hey, welcome back to the show. I’m Jimmy Cannon—and whether you’re out on a walk, driving to work, or elbow-deep in the washing up, thanks for bringing me along. Today we’re talking about a skill that most people think they should be good at… but secretly dread: thinking on your feet. You know, those moments when you’re put on the spot and your brain decides to take a coffee break. But here’s the...

Ever feel like no one’s really listening when you speak—no matter how polished your slides or steady your voice? In this episode of Public Presentation Tips , we’re digging into why most professionals lose the room... and how to win it back with presence, contrast, and confidence. 🎤 Want to know how well you come across when you speak? Take our free quiz to discover how to speak with confidence,...

Struggling to make your voice heard in the crowded world of online meetings and webinars? In this episode, we dive into practical voice projection exercises that will help you cut through the noise, speak with clarity, and project your message to a larger audience with confidence. Whether you're presenting to a small team or addressing a virtual auditorium, these techniques will ensure your voice...

5 ways to change how you speak  We use our voice every day, but more importantly, you need it in your business. Talking to clients and colleagues, in meetings and presentations, your voice is your number one communicator and is key to your influence and impact, whatever industry you’re in. Here are 5 things you can do to change the way you speak and more importantly, how you’re perceived...

Or, do you or know someone that does? It can sound grating, and generally lacks tone and dynamics.  One thing I see and hear often with clients, is that they speak from the Larynx, which can be tiring and sound strained.  What you might not realise is that there are a lot more areas of resonance that you can tap into (literally), which will give you more projection and colour to your voi...

Our voice is sometimes the first thing that people notice and is key to our influence and communication. Most people are unaware that with the right tools, they can speak with more variety of tone, dynamics and project their voice so that they sound more authoritative, and engaging to colleagues and clients.

Knowing how to warm up your voice quietly, is key when preparing to speak online in these times of remote culture.  There are plenty of vocal warm-up exercises for the voice, such as my own, but in this episode, I've focused on ones that you can do straight away and without anyone listening in. Find Jimmy on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmycannonsinger/ https://www.facebook.com...

Practising voice projection exercises will help your voice cut through the crowd in meetings, and speak with more clarity and projection to a larger audience.

Most of us, including me before I became a professional singer, take a shallow breath into the top of our chest, so when we speak it can sound tight and thin.  Using correct diaphragmatic breathing, we can let a lot more air into the lungs and therefore use this air to create more resonance.  Exploring different areas of resonance will give you more projection and variety of tone in your...

In this podcast, I talk about how to develop stage presence for public speaking.  This could be a metre square piece of carpet in your office, behind a podium in a large conference centre, or even in the bar after work.  By changing the way you stand and hold yourself when speaking will affect how you sound and come across to your audience.

Speaking anxiety is a very real thing, in fact, it has a name; ‘Glossophobia’ Individuals who have fear of speaking publicly suffer from strong fear in social performance situations and social sphere. (Stein, Walker, & Forde, 1996).   Causes of stage fright: The experience we have when asked to make a presentation or before speaking at a conference is primal, and comes from our ‘fight or...

5 ways to change how you speak   We use our voice every day, but more importantly, you need it in your business. Talking to clients and colleagues, in meetings and presentations, your voice is your number one communicator and is key to your influence and impact, whatever industry you’re in.   My work as a voice and presentation coach has led me to believe that anyone can improve their vo...

Here's a sample of an interview I did recently with champion 'Speaker Coach' Bob Ferguson where we talked about his concept called 'Sprints and drags' to keep the listener on the edge of their seats, which I would have been if my seat wasn't so comfortable...

Or, do you or know someone that does? It can sound grating, and generally lacks tone and dynamics.  One thing I see and hear often with students or just speakers in general, is that they speak from the Larynx, which can be tiring and sound strained.  What you might not realise is that there are a lot more areas of resonance that you can tap into (literally), which will give you more proj...

Are you someone that can't be heard in meetings, on the phone, or even in the pub?  You're probably not connecting the sound to the words!  This exercise will open up your voice and help you communicate more effectively with others, and give you more confidence when speaking in public.  Sing part of your presentation on one note (intoning), then speak it. The sustained breathing you...

Do you find that you are short of breath when you speak, or perhaps you run out of breath too quickly?  Controlling your breath when you speak is key to creating an engaging and credible voice!  This vocal exercise will help you to lengthen your phrases, vary those phrases and create more resonance and dynamics in your voice, thus engaging with your audience.  

A difference in speech pattern will change the intention behind your words.   Conversational speech is different to giving a presentation, speaking on the phone or recording a pitch to video What things might you consider when speaking at a conference for instance?   Intonation  Your intonation (your pitch pattern) will keep your audience engaged. There’s nothing worse than listenin...

“I never thought about my voice as an instrument before…”  One of my recent delegates said when I asked her for some feedback on a recent training session.  When musicians perform, we Interpret the music on the score, which outlines the composer's intentions and vision for the piece. What is your, or your company's vision, and can you communicate this to your clients and colleagues? &nbs...

We all hate listening to the sound of our own voice (or perhaps some of us), but don’t forget that we have a very different perception of what we sound like in comparison to what others hear, so when listening back to our own voice, it can sound alien and non recognisable as our true voice.  It’s worth remembering this and not to be too self critical.

Try this simple exercise to open your oral cavity and relax your jaw, allowing more resonance in the 'mask' area giving you a more direct projection to your sound.

Do you feel nervous or self conscious when speaking in public? Does your breath feel shallow or tight? Then you’re probably not breathing correctly!! Correct Diaphragmatic breathing will produce a deeper more resonant sound, giving you more projection to your voice and overall the authority and presence you need to become a better speaker. I’m Jimmy Cannon, and in this podcast, I’m going to show y...