It's Not Just What You Say, But How You Say It

Back when Ty Boyd was the morning host for WBT-AM (1110) in Charlotte, he spent hundreds of hours working on diction and the depth of his voice. He considered his voice to be his primary tool. "My voice was my pitching arm, I wanted it finely tuned, so I worked with all the dedication that the boys of summer devote to spring training, " says Boyd, who worked as the morning host, then went on to host the midday show on WBTV before founding Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching. 

It wasn't until Boyd was teaching executives the tools of effective communication that he realized the importance of connecting with the audience, of listening, of passion for the message, and the importance of voice was knocked way down on his list of vital tools. "I learned that the swing away from voice was simply the shift in priorities necessary to come back to balance. Voice is not the only tool we need, it is one of many. At this stage in my life, I try to remember that a good balance of all my skills makes me most effective," says Boyd.

A stunning voice is not necessary to make a stellar performance. But those born with it, like Tom Brokaw, Meryl Street and James Earl Jones, certainly have an advantage. A commanding, versatile, rich voice is a powerful tool, but you can learn techniques - breath, projection, enunciation and vocal variety - that can turn your natural voice, even one that is perceived as weak or ineffective, into a valuable tool. Take for instance Barbara Walters. She has a bit of a lisp and a certain nasal quality, but that less-than-perfect voice has made her famous. She's learned how to use it very effectively in combination with some of the other tools that are taught in Ty Boyd, Inc.'s Excellence in Speaking course.

As you consider putting your voice to better use, there are four key areas to focus on:

1. Breath
2. Projection
3. Diction
4. Vocal Variety

All four are important and must be used together. Your goal is to keep the audience a little off balance by not becoming predictable. At Ty Boyd Executive Communications & Coaching we talk about using your voice as if it were an orchestra. We coach you to use the different instruments in your orchestra - the power of a lilting note, a whisper, a pause or a shout. Don't limit yourself to only those notes and instruments that are familiar and comfortable. There are new notes to learn and we'd like to help.