Voice Power

About the Author

Renee Grant-Williams is a renowned voice coach, president of Music Services based in Nashville, TN, and a member of the National Speakers Association. She has worked with a diverse range of individuals including U.S. senators, business executives, sales professionals, and numerous pop recording stars. Her expertise has been featured on network, syndicated, and cable television programs, as well as in numerous national publications. Grant-Williams is dedicated to helping individuals harness the power of their voices to captivate, persuade, and command attention in any setting.

Main Idea

The central premise of "Voice Power: Using Your Voice to Captivate, Persuade, and Command Attention" is that while everyone has a voice, not everyone uses it to its full potential. Renee Grant-Williams emphasizes that the voice accounts for a significant portion of the impression one makes on others, alongside appearance and message. By mastering techniques to improve the tone, resonance, and overall quality of your voice, you can greatly enhance your effectiveness in various forms of communication, from speeches and sales presentations to everyday conversations.

Table of Contents

1. How to Make the Most of Your Natural Voice
   • The First Step: Learning to Breathe
   • Use Your Entire Body to Support Your Voice
2. Voice Delivery Techniques
   • How to Create Drama, Command Attention, and Make an Impact
3. Applications of Voice Power
   • Preparing Speeches That Make People Listen
   • When Your Speech is a Sales Call
   • Using Your Voice on the Job

How to Make the Most of Your Natural Voice

The First Step: Learning to Breathe

Learning to breathe correctly is fundamental to improving the quality of your voice. Proper breathing techniques are essential for athletes and opera singers, and the same principles apply to anyone looking to enhance their vocal presence. The goal is to achieve passive breathing—a natural, unlabored method of breathing that allows your voice to resonate fully and richly.

"With each intake of breath, the diaphragm, the large, thin muscle that rests beneath our lungs, relaxes and flattens, creating a vacuum. Air flows into our lungs, thus filling the space. When we speak, we use the diaphragm to push the air back out of our lungs. It passes over the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate and produce a tone." — Renee Grant-Williams

To achieve passive breathing, you must avoid shallow breaths that only fill the chest. Instead, focus on breathing into your lower abdomen, just below your waist. This technique allows the vocal cords to relax, reducing tension and producing a more powerful and pleasant sound. Practicing this form of breathing can be done using simple exercises with a mirror and a tape recorder to observe and refine your technique.