Your Next Cup Of Tea Could Be the Start Of A Calmer, More Productive And More Successful Life

The fifth blog about the new communication skills mini course, Speaking Persuasively.

Your Next Cup Of Tea Could Be the Start Of A Calmer, More Productive And More Successful Life

Imagine a tea break where you can quickly and easily go through an exercise or two so you are ready to step up to the challenge of whatever persuasive talking you are about to do - delivering a presentation to an audience at work or as an assessment for a qualification, talking to your neighbour about getting his fence mended, or doing a job interview. These are all examples of when people need to be able to communicate effectively and influence other people.

Try to weave your new mindset and exercises into everyday moments. The exercises you have been given in these blogs all provide ways of improving the way you speak, and they can all be done wherever you are - standing at the sink washing up, sitting at your work desk, driving your car, or in the kitchen making a cup of tea.

Another simple, quick exercise

The last exercise in this series is humming. Again, it’s quick and simple. All you need to do is hum.

Start gently and quietly, and then get louder. Stay on the same note.
Once you are as loud as you think you can go, change direction and start getting quieter. Stay on the same note.
Repeat three times.
Next try to move the humming forward in your mouth so that is happening just behind your teeth. You may find that your lips tingle, and that is good as it means you are placing the sound forward, rather than in your throat. Keep humming and it will warm up your voice so that it becomes more resonant. The sound will become easier for you to make and the tone will be pleasanter to hear. Try to then use a lower note on the scale. Again, you are trying to create a sound which is pleasant to hear.
Repeat the exercise getting louder and softer.

Some people have a very pleasant tone to their voice - some people do not. I’m sure you have heard some people who speak with a grating or screechy voice. Cultivating the right tone is a part of voice production that can be worked on. (Mrs. Thatcher famously had her voice lowered with vocal coaching so that she would come across better when giving speeches).

Remember that good communication does not just concern what you are saying, it is also linked to the way you are saying it. And it is often the case that problems in life and at work come about due to poor communication. The ability to communicate skilfully is a great asset. It is something that can be changed, developed and improved.

More?

This blog (and the previous ones) are just a taste of what’s possible. The Speaking Persuasively mini course will help you build the change you want to make into your life - effortlessly. Just follow the links and enrol now to learn more easy, guided exercises and activities which will help you be more successful when communicating.

💻 Explore the course and get started here →

You deserve this.

Categories: : Speaking Persuasively