The Vocal Fry imitates the popping and sizzling of bacon while the Braise imitates the long, slow form of cooking.  

Alec Baldwin and Will Arnett in a Braise off

The habit of speaking in low, husky tones, as if everything is a secret or profound or must not be repeated outside the conference room. Barring medical issues that could generate this tone, such as cancer of the throat, chemotherapy that leaves the vocal cords raw, or those nasty benign vocal nodes, the hushed male gravel is as detrimental to long-term vocal health as the Vocal Fry.

Similar to the female celebrities who model the Vocal Fry, there are male celebrities who model this vocal tone; Clint Eastwood, Will Arnett, Alec Baldwin, are just a few celebrities who live in this range. Clint Eastwood braised his way through Million Dollar Baby a few years back. I’d say it was a character choice, but the fact is, Eastwood’s voice is carrying the burden of years of professional whispering.

Will Arnett and Alec Baldwin are another pair who choose to whisper their way through their respective shows; when Arnett guest stars on 30 Rock it becomes something of a Whisper Off, with both men acting through their whispering.  (Here’s a video  that parodies their voices: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=1fHG-oGdoto )

Again – I would say this is merely an acting choice but I have seen enough of Baldwin’s other work to know that it’s less of a choice than a pattern or habit. It is something he seems to have adopted late in his career. Perhaps we could delve into the psychology of his choice as we examine the last time we heard his full voice which was on those nasty voice messages he left for his teenage daughter a few years ago. Perhaps the oublic backlash shamed him into the Vocal Braise.  Or perhaps his 30 Rock character, Jack Donaghy, is so popular that he now feels trapped in that vocal realm.

Relying on the Vocal Braise to give words and thoughts the illusion of weight is vocal trickery. You might think it adds to your speaking when, in fact, it diminishes it. It’s all style and no substance.

It may work for the characters these men play, but for men in the real world the whisper is neither desirable nor effective. Imagine Clint Eastwood trying to project on a daily basis through meetings, presentations, conference calls and networking events. A voice that lives where it does in Eastwood has very little flexibility, very little room for inflection or nuance. I read this article recently on some of the ways Eastwood directs. What this article says to me is that he has found ways to cope with his vocal limitations.

Real life demands a full vocal range whatever comes down the pike. Just as reality demands a whole spectrum of physical movement it requires a whole spectrum of vocal movement.

The cure for the Vocal Braise is akin to that of the Vocal Fry – better breath support. Speaking requires energy; speaking well requires more energy – much in the same way that doing anything well requires a mindfulness and a desire to do better. Sure, you may be able to ‘get by’ on bad vocal habits, but then be aware that at the times when you want to step up and do better than just ‘get by,’ your voice may not answer the call.

Read More:

Classical Theatre for a Modern Businessperson
Sparkling or Flat?
Phoning it in?

According to reports, Grammy-nominated singer Adele is heading for basic vocal training at a medical vocal clinic in Seoul. She recently had surgery to remove benign polyps on her vocal cords – benign polyps that are the result of vocal abuse.

She isn’t the first and she won’t be the last.

There is a disturbing trend into today’s music world (well, there are several distrubing trends, but I’m not here to talk about the Beiberization of American pop music). I’m referring to Steve Tyler, Keith Urban, John Mayer and Adele – just to name a few performers who have undergone vocal surgery for the purpose of removing benign vocal nodes and repairing vocal cords.

Vocal nodes or polyps often develop as a result of poor or destructive vocal habits – improper use of breath, pushing the voice too hard or too low, fatigue and overuse are just a few of the things that can cause damage to the voice. There is one unhealthy trend however, that stands out – speaking in a “vocal fry.”

In vocal sense, the fry zone is the lower end of the register, where, as breath runs out, the voice starts sounding crackly or raspy. It’s also referred to as a “Glottal Fry.”

There has been a lot of speculation about the reasons behind this trend; many current female celebrities speak in the Vocal Fry range – Kim Kardashian, Ke$ha, Lauren Conrad, Lindsay Lohan – you can read more about it here, as well as hear some examples. (Or, if PopSugar isn’t your preferred source for news, you can read about it here ) This trend has actually been prevalent for a bit now, with  Brittany Spears being one of the first of many young pop singers to employ it on a regular basis.

The Vocal Fry, when used frequently, is more than a good way to ruin your vocal cords, it’s also a great way to deflect credibility and send a signal that you are not to be taken seriously.  We all use vocal fry occasionally but generally don’t make a habit of it. The Fry can drain words and thoughts of any vitality and weight. It’s a vocal ‘shrug of the shoulders’, if you will, and the newest way for women to express their opinion without being threatening.  It has replaced “Valley Girl” (Ending every statement as if it were a question?) as the vocal trend du jour.

While the young women employing this effect may not require vocal surgery down the line, the Vocal Fry can still be damaging. As with any habit, overcoming it when you do want to be taken seriously or want your opinion heard – such as in the workplace or a relationship – will be difficult. These same women will begin to complain about not being taken seriously, being passed over for promotions or hitting the glass ceiling. Your voice is very much a part of how people percieve you.

How can you help your daughter avoid the Fry?

If you have a teen-age girl in your home the best thing you can do as a parent is demonstrate a strong, healthy voice. Your voice is part of the vocal environment your child is growing up in. Set an example of speaking in an appropriate manner in different situations.

Encourage your child to speak with their full voice. If you yourself have a habit of speaking in the Fry zone, be aware of it and began to change your vocal habits. Speak with a well supported voice, using your breath and the full range of the voice. Most likely, as you begin to speak in a stronger, more healthful manner you will notice a change in how people treat and preceive you. You may even get that promotion you’re after!

And don’t worry men – you’re not off the hook. Next week we take a look at Professional Whisperer, Alec Baldwin!

To the author’s list I would add:
The Mumbler – Folks who mumble along expecting the listener to decipher directives.

Mouth Guards - Those who choose to hold a pencil, a hand or whatever is in arm’s length over or near the mouth in such a way that it muffles the words as they come out.

Also,  any of the following (as seen on Seinfeld): The Low Talker (similar to the Mumbler),  the Close Talker, the Loud Talker, The High Talker (not a loud talker but rather one generally a man – who has a high register leading to confusion regarding gender on the phone.)

What’s your Vocal Pet Peeve? Who do you have trouble understanding?  Leave a comment below and let us commiserate with you!

It’s an oft quoted fact that more people have a fear of public speaking than of death or spiders. Which means, as a trainer from the Leader’s Institute pointed out in a presentation I attended recently, when it comes to funerals more people would rather be in the coffin than giving the eulogy!

Anxiety symptoms run the gamut from sweaty palms and knots in the stomach to the fear of being boring. Extreme fear of public speaking, known as Glossophobia, can and should be treated with cognitive behavioral therapy. But for the millions of others who suffer from more mild anxiety, here are a few tips to help you manage that fear and have a successful speaking engagement.

 1. Ask questions.  As the speaker you have the right and responsibility to understand the event. Ask the event organizer who will be in attendence and what the goal of the event is. Other details to know are how many people will be attending, what sort of room the event will be in and what sort of A/V capabilities will be available (and if so – who is responsible for running any A/V). Knowing what sort of situation you are walking into will help alleviate the anxiety that comes with the unknown.

2. Be prepared to do without your PowerPoint.  Adding PowerPoint or other A/V always ups the anxiety quotient for fear that something may go wrong with the technology. To prevent such worries from increasing your stress, have a printed copy of the PowerPoint with you and practice the presentation a few times without the PowerPoint. If something does go wrong, you’ll be prepared.

3.  Change the Chatter.  Many people who suffer from Speaking Anxiety are feeding themselves negative self-messaging along the lines of “I’m going to be terrible” “No one is going to listen to me” “Everyone will know how nervous I am.” I do a simple exercise with my clients who send themselves this mental noise – I have them write down a positive reinforcement for every negative message. Professional athletes envision themselves crossing the finish line or shooting the game winning shot – why not visualize yourself succeeding too!

4.  Remember the Audience is on YOUR side.    Know who really doesn’t like to see a speaker fail – the audience. More often than not, the audience is on your side  and is rooting for you. We understand that most people are not professional speakers and we don’t expect them tobe. We do expect you to be enthusiastic about your topic and we expect to hear you. Other than that, we’re pretty much happy that it’s not us up there!

5.  Practice, practice, practice!  If anxiety about public speaking is something you want to put to rest once and for all, then try some aversion therapy. Ask to speak to small groups – whether they are industry, volunteer, networking or church groups – most are always looking for folks willing to share their expertise and experience. Joining a group like Toastmasters is also an excellent way to hone your skill as a public speaker in a safe and encouraging environment.

Speaking in public establishes you as authority in your field. It’s a simple way to gain credibility and visibility for your company and to highlight your position within your company. Not everyone is destined to be a magnificent public speaker, but everyone has the right to be heard.

Related Blogs:

Speaking of Speaking

Tension Tattlers

Mind Your P’s and Q’s 

Filed under: Business, Nerves, Public Speaking, Voice ]]> http://katebringardner.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/fear-not/feed/ 0 KateB http://katebringardner.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/classical-theatre-for-a-modern-businessperson/ http://katebringardner.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/classical-theatre-for-a-modern-businessperson/#comments Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:51:35 +0000 KateB http://katebringardner.wordpress.com/?p=662 ]]>

The Changeling by Savage Rose Classical Theatre

Currently I’m in rehearsal for the classical theatre show, The Changeling (with Savage Rose Classical Theatre – more about that here).

Doing a classical show with its unfamiliar language and dense verse, is a challenge.

In order to tell the story to a modern audience, there is a strong focus on clarity of movement, intention and language; movement needs to be clean, direct and minimal so as not to confuse the audience or distract from the language or story. Language must be used appropriately – neither underseverving the words or overworking them. Intention must be used to color the different moments, to bring tone and color to the language so as to make the story more clear and concise.

Being in rehearsal is rejuvenating – it reaffirms my commitment to my clients and my coaching. These ideas; cleanliness in movement, strength in intention and appropriate use of language aren’t ideas  restricted to an actor’s stage. They hold up just as well in a president’s boardroom, an entrepreneur’s investor meeting or a teacher’s classroom.

Strip away the things that distract – unnecessary movement or wandering, ineffective vocal habits, sloppy Powerpoint slides or muddy objectives – in order to allow you and your content stand out. Your outcomes will be better for it!

Positive Thinking before a presentation

“It makes my stomach hurt”

“It’s terrifying”

“It makes me want to crawl in a hole”

“Just thinking about it makes me want to throw-up”

“Who wants to listen to me? I’m boring.”

Pretty strong reactions!

And a perfect time to employ the power of positive thinking.

If you suffer from a lack of POP, then we need to change the chatter in your head. Most of our experiences are a direct result of our perception and behavior in any given situation—if you go into an event already convinced that you’ll be unsuccessful, then most likely you will live down to those expectations.  So, we need to change the negative perception into positive, affirming behavior.

How to POP!

On one side of a folded sheet of paper write down what negative thoughts fly around in your head when you are asked to speak in public or when you are about to go on stage or begin a presentation.

In the opposite column, write down affirming thoughts you could tell yourself instead.  Here are a few examples.

“What a great opportunity to talk about my business.”

“No one has had the experiences I’ve had.”

“I’m so excited about doing this!”

“I’m going to be great!”

Carry this sheet with you to your next engagement. Repeat these thoughts, not the negative ones that usually fill your head. Begin to replace the dread of public speaking with the excitement of being able to share your experience and expertise. Much like an athlete visualizes him or herself being successful on the field, you can visualize yourself being successful in the boardroom or the ballroom. Use the power of positive thinking to POP off the page and impress your peers and your boss!

At the end of September, I delivered a keynote address on Storytelling for a statewide conference of a large non-profit. I arrived the day before, (I was also doing a workshop the afternoon before) and was able to catch some of that day’s keynote presentation. 

I was disturbed by what I saw.

No, no, it wasn’t the speaker. The problem was in the arrangement of the room. More specifically, it was the priority given to the PowerPoint that irked me.

There was a massive screen in the center of the wall at one end of the divided ballroom. It was the type that unfurled from the ceiling — considered state of the art these days, I suppose. The speaker was relegated to a small, poorly lit stage off to the side of the screen.  The lighting, of course, was set to provide the best view of the screen; this prevented the best view of the speaker. The sound, too, was an issue —  undoubtedly, they’d done a quick technical check of the PowerPoint was operating and could be heard.

The PowerPoint was fine – it was the speaker I couldn’t hear!

In almost every Speaker ROI workshop I do, I ask the attendees to reflect on the last great presentation they saw.

Then I ask, “What made that presentation so wonderful?”

Responses range from “engaging” to “humorous.”  Other responses include “authentic,” “relate-able,” “relevant” and “inspiring.”

Not once has anyone said “The speaker had a really great PowerPoint.”

So why is so much emphasis, indeed, the place of honour and focus,  given to PowerPoint while the Speaker is given sideshow status?  Why pay, in some cases, thousands of dollars to have your speaker play second fiddle to a slideshow?  (As to the speakers who are overly reliant on videos and slides shows for your Keynotes – shame on you! I’ll deal with you later!)

And it’s not just large events that are making this mistake.

Last week, I was at a monthly lunch hosted by a local networking group. Each month they ask someone from the business community to address the gathering.

It is the same set up — the Speaker is relegated to the side, is poorly lit and has poor sight lines;  meanwhile the PowerPoint screen occupies center stage. I spent the 15-20 minute talk craning my neck for a better view of the Speaker. I was interested in seeing the Speaker’s expressions, his face, his body — not the (rather boring) slides that were being shuffled through on the screen. I noticed that several of my table-mates were having the same issue.

So here is a call to action for local organizations, conference organizers and event planners: Give your speakers center stage! Provide your speaker with good lighting and decent sound. Help them to be better! They’ll be more engaging and engaged with your audience leading to a more enjoyable and impactful experience for all!

Memorized speeches are not inherently bad, but they are often badly delivered.

The Pledge of Allegiance comes to mind. Most of us have that passage memorized. And most of the time, when we say it, we are simply saying the words without connecting those words to any emotion or thought. Yet recall the first time you said the pledge in the days after 9/11. Or think of immigrants pledging for the first time as citizens – that passage takes on a new life. The words mean something.

Too often memorization lacks the meaning behind the words. It is the meaning that makes a speech take flight. Meaning will effect your voice, your rhythm, your tone, your pace, your physicality. 

Everyday we watch movies and television shows that have been memorized by actors. We listen to music and song that have been memorized by singers.

Likewise, we have all ‘committed things to memory; ‘ a quote, poem or passage that we ‘know by heart.’  These are pieces that speak to us, resonate with us, and reflect our own experience. And generally, when we recite them to someone else, the words don’t come out wooden or monotone. No, we speak them with the full intent of impacting someone with the words. We speak the words with meaning and that’s where the disconnect lies for many speakers.

The process can be  distilled like this:

Meaning – Memorization – Meaning

Knowing the words and being able to repeat them is not enough. You must connect the original emotion to the words you are speaking. Writing down your thoughts preserves them and distills their power. The act of committing a speech to memory does not make your ideas any less authentic or genuine.  There is no rule written that says that something that is memorized must be  monotone, robotic or boring.

Yet most people stop the process at the point when the words are juuuuust barely committed to their memory – so that when they get up to deliver what they ‘memorized’ they are so busy trying to remember the words, they don’t even think about conveying  meaning. This is where folks tense up, breathe shallowly as they worry whether they’re going to forget what comes next- which they often do.  You must go one step beyond bare memorization.

I am here to say that words devoid of emotion, thought or inspiration fall flat.

Now, I know that some speaking engagements don’t leave time for that much preparation. (Also, reading prepared text follows the same rules –  there is no reason reading  text has to sound wooden and boring –  as evidenced by any book ever read to a three year old).  The amount of lead  time you have will effect how you prepare – but whether you have 12 hours as I did when asked to step in to give a commencement speech – or 3 month,s there is room to move beyond reading and or memorizing.

So here are some practice tips on how to move beyond the mere memorization to a place of impact:

1. Write down what you want to say.  Speak the passage outloud.  Become very familiar with the words. This is the beginning of memorization.

2. Recite the words several times while engaging in a physical activity – walking your dog, doing laundry, doing the dishes. This takes the focus off the words and puts it on the ideas!

3. Following on that – memorize arcs or passages, not individual words. We don’t think in words. We think  thoughts. So memorize thoughts. Now sometimes a single word contains an entire thought – but it is still a thought!

4. Connect those thoughts to breath. Inhale as you prepare to speak each thought and then speak as you exhale. More often than not forgetting words is connected to freezing your breath. Keep your breath going to keep your thoughts flowing.

5. Before your speaking engagement recall the emotion you felt when you first encountered the thoughts you put to paper. Let that emotion boil up in you again. Use your imagination to explore how these words will impact others. See the audience responding positively and with enthusiasm.

Following the above guidelines will bring life to any prepared text.  Again, you must move beyond mere familiarity and memorization to meaning!

It’s one of my favorite Will Ferrell comedies. And, it just so happens,  Ricky Bobby, Will Ferrell’s race car driving character,  deals with a problem that plagues many speakers and those asked to give presentations:

He doesn’t know what to do with his hands while speaking.

In the scene from the movie Ricky Bobby is giving a comically bad television interview after his first major race car win. Near the end of the interview his hands awkwardly float up in front of his face

“I – I don’t know what do with my hands” Ricky Bobby admits in an over-the-top country drawl.

Many of my clients have admitted the same. Somehow, our hands, otherwise incredibly useful appendages become, when giving presentation, awkward and alien.

They have found various solutions: gripping the side of a podium, holding notes and/or pens, burying them in their pockets. Perhaps this is why  PowerPoint is so popular -the clicker gives speakers something to do with at least one hand!

Luckily, William Shakespeare’s titular character, Hamlet has some advise for Ricky Bobby and other’s who don’t know what to do with their hands….

.”.. do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently, for in the very torrent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of your passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness.”

Translation – Use your hands and body judiciously – wild gestures are distracting. The audience stops listening to what you are saying and instead is merely watching you say it when you fling your hands all over the place. Give your speeches smoothness – temper your passion both in calm voice and calm body

Hamlet then continues: “Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor. Suit the action to the word, the word to the action,“

In other words – seek balance and congruency between your physicality and your words. There may be times when you need a big gesture. There may be times when stillness is needed.

Gesture, when used well, can underline what you are saying.  Hands are not the enemy, tension and anxiety is. My clients and others who don’t know what to do with their hands when speaking are worried that their hands are giving away the truth – that they are nervous and uncomfortable.  So the first step to figuring out what to do with your hands is to manage anxiety.

Easy, right?

After that,

Here are some tips to using your hands:

1. Practice your speech/presentation at home (NOT in front of a mirror). Make it a point to concentrate on keeping your body and hands relaxed.  Don’t let your shoulders creep up to your ears. Keep your arms released, your hands relaxed. Become used to speaking this way.

Keep in mind, this is PRACTICE. It doesn’t mean that you’ll give the presentation this way, but allowing your body to experience speaking without gesture will decrease the likelihood of unecessary gesture.

You may find yourself, as you get more ‘into’ what you are saying that you need your hands to help make your point. That’s fine. As long as you are invested in what you are saying, your hands keep well underline meaning and assist in making a point.

2. Pay attention to what you do with your hands when you’re not nervous. Do they sit quietly in your lap? Are they resting on the table? Do they hang at your sides, or is one casually tucked in your pocket while you gesture with the other?

This will give you an idea of your natural gesturing and hand usage – which in turn will help you understand what to do with your hands while presenting.  Mirroring your relaxed state of being during times of heightened pressure will help calm you.

3. Refocus on your intention. If you find yourself being distracted by your hands – then your audience is probably distracted as well. Refocus on why you are in the room and what it is you need to accomplish. Take the focus off yourself and put it back on the people in the room; your audience will follow.

To read more about Intention click here.

Apparently, at the first session some of the participants had trouble hearing the speaker  so this time he decided to use a hand held mic – and not a cordless one. He also had a PowerPoint – and not the ceiling mounted kind either – but one that sat on a rolling cart in the  middle of the room.

He was literaly boxed in, held by outside forces – the mic and the PowerPoint set up – to a small corner of the room. He was constantly fiddling with the cord as he talked, trying to keep from being entangled and tripped by it. He was distracted from what he was saying, not connecting with the audience, completely absorbed by these physical issues.

Untether Yourself!

Then the microphone started buzzing and crackling.

Finally, smartly, he did away with the microphone.  -

Immediately he was more engaged and more engaging. Vocally he became more dynamic, physically he was freer – able to move about the room, between the tables. He was more relaxed without having to worry about the mircophone – I felt the energy room shift as we all shifted our attention from his struggles with the mic to the content at hand.

In speaking, as in fashion - less is more!  Drop the handheld notes, put down the mic, step away from the podium. Flashy Powerpoints are meaningless without real communication. The most relavant material is rendered irrelevant by a distracted speaker. Focus less on the trappings of speaking and more on the meaning.

Disconnect from technology to connect with your audience.