The Human Voice: An Instrument of Power

Introduction

• The human voice is a powerful instrument capable of starting wars or expressing love.
• Many experience being ignored when speaking.
• The lecture explores how to speak powerfully to effect change.

Seven Deadly Sins of Speaking

1. Gossip
   • Speaking ill of someone who isn't present.
   • Those who gossip about others will likely gossip about you.
2. Judging
   • Difficult to listen if feeling judged.
3. Negativity
   • Focus on the negative diminishes the listener's interest.
   • Complaining spreads misery instead of positivity.
4. Excuses
   • Blaming others and not taking responsibility.
   • Hard to listen to excuse-makers.
5. Exaggeration (Embroidery)
   • Demeans language.
   • Leads to lying.
6. Dogmatism
   • Confusing facts with opinions.
   • Makes it hard to differentiate true information.

The Four Cornerstones of Powerful Speaking: HAIL

• H for Honesty
  • Being true, straight, and clear.
• A for Authenticity
  • Being oneself, standing in one's truth.
• I for Integrity
  • Being your word, trustworthy.
• L for Love
  • Wishing people well.
  • Tempering honesty with kindness.

Tools for Powerful Speaking

• Register
  • Using different vocal registers for effect.
  • Depth implies power and authority.
• Timbre
  • Preferred are rich, smooth, warm voices.
  • Can be improved with coaching.
• Prosody
  • The sing-song quality of speech.
  • Avoiding monotony and repetitive prosody.
• Pace
  • Varying speed for emphasis or excitement.
  • Silence can be powerful.
• Pitch
  • Alters meaning and emotion.
• Volume
  • Adjusting for emphasis, caution against "sodcasting."

Vocal Warm-up Exercises

• Suggested exercises to enhance vocal performance:
  1. Deep breath with a sigh.
  2. Lip warm-up with "Ba, Ba, Ba."
  3. Lip vibration with "brrrr."
  4. Tongue exercise with "la, la, la."
  5. Tongue roll with "Rrrrr."
  6. The "siren" exercise starting with high "we" to low "aw."

Conclusion

• Aim for conscious speaking and listening in acoustically sound environments.
• Envision a world where sound creation and consumption are done with intent, enhancing understanding and making sound beautiful.
• An idea worth spreading for a better communicative world.