5 tips to improve your speaking voice

Strange things are happening to speakers’ voices.

Vocal ranges seem to be narrowing. Male voices are becoming less resonant, and female voices are infected with vocal fry. Most worrisome of all, too many voices use the infamous uptick at the end of declarative statements, making them sound like questions. The result is a narrowing of vocal skill and options.

Here’s the thing: A public speaker without a voice is a mime. As a presenter, you thrive—or are mute—because of your voice.

Beyond reaching an audience, a voice can convey quite a lot about its owner. For example, Boston Children’s Hospital is focusing on diagnosing a number of serious illnesses by analyzing vocal patterns. Heart disease, for example, may show up in your voice before it appears anywhere else.

Caring for your voice is essential for long-term success as a speaker (and as a healthy human). Here are five ways to maximize your precious instrument:

1. Develop a daily vocal warmup routine.