It takes time and effort to be an effective communicator who commands respect and is well-liked.

One of the most fundamental tools people possess is their voice. This God-given instrument can create the most amazing sounds that can sell, persuade, anger, sweet-talk, and even soothe the soul. It’s a powerful tool that can reveal thoughts, emotions, intentions and individuality.

Let’s face it – people are judged by the sound of their voice and the way they speak. They are respected when they express themselves well; their listeners think they must be intelligent and well educated.

There are people who just fail to make an impression whenever they speak. When they talk, others lose interest. At meetings, they have trouble getting their point across, and often get interrupted by others.

Some speak too fast, some too slowly. Some have an authoritative voice, while others are just too soft to even be heard. And some sound monotonous, because they do not vary their pitch.

Most people are born with a perfectly working “voice production instrument”, but over time and through bad habits, they hinder voice production. Eventually, frozen by fear and filled with doubts, they settle for a flawed voice, thinking they have to live with it because they were born with it.

You may not be able to change your voice, but you can change the way you use it. Knowledge and simple everyday exercises can make a world of difference. Here are some basics to get you started.

Posture
Bad posture can result in shallow breathing, and hinder voice production. Observe yourself in the mirror, or in the glass window when you’re out shopping. Do you lean your body forward or tilt your head back too far? Take note of your posture, and try to keep to the alignment of your air passage. Also, never slouch while you are sitting, as this can shift the alignment of the air passage and block the flow of air.

Warming up
You know that you have to warm up your muscles before an exercise session to prevent injury. Warming up your vocal instrument is just as important.

Warm-ups can be as simple as humming a happy tune. Feel the quiver and the ticklish sensation in your lips.

A few, simple exercises at your desk can help, too. Voice production is hindered by tension, and you may not realise the amount of tension that exists in your face, neck, shoulders and back.

First, sit tall in your chair without any strain on your lower back, and inhale. Then massage your temples in a circular motion while exhaling. Repeat three times.

Next, massage the hinge of your jaw while inhaling and exhaling three times. The hinge can be found by opening your jaw slightly.

Gently rotate your head from left to right to make sure the head-neck relationship is loose and comfortable.

Rotate your shoulders backwards, one at a time, while exhaling.

Yawning is another good way to release tension.