I have asked Kate Peters, voice coach and speaker, to share her favorite tips on developing a dynamic voice

A monotone voice is an audience’s nightmare. Too often, however, the speaker doesn’t know that their voice is boring. Perhaps worse yet, they know it’s boring, but they don’t know what to do about it. For example, what if you are in the 20% of the population that has trouble distinguishing one pitch from another, and your presentations coach keeps telling you to vary the pitch (which is a good idea if you can hear it!)?Here are three techniques to vary your sound without varying your pitch, that can take your voice from boring to soaring.

1. Vary the pace. When you want people to respond with energy, pick up the pace. When you want them to take in what you say and digest it completely, slow down. Create contrast for interest.
2. Vary the volume. Emphasize key phrases by either speaking more loudly or more softly. Create drama for interest.
3. Accentuate important words or ideas by elongating them, or clipping them short. Use consonants percussively and draw out your vowels from time to time for added interest. Create rhythm for interest.

Even if your kid does tell you not to sing when everyone else joins in with Happy Birthday, your voice is multi-dimensional. With awareness and practice, it can sound as interesting as you really are!

Bio: Kate Peters is a singer/actor, voice coach, and speaker, and the author of Can You Hear Me Now? Harnessing the power of your vocal impact in 31 days http://www.amazon.com/Can-You-Hear-Me-Now/dp/0977640701/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263322232&sr=1-1 Through her presentations, seminars, workshops and private coaching, Kate helps hundreds of executives, speakers, and performers find the strengths in their voices to better express themselves in their professional and personal lives. For more information, please visit Kates blog at www.katepeters.com/blog

Subscribe to “No-Choke Zone” Blog by Speech Coach & Successworks CEO, Sue Gaulke by Email