Lecture Notes: The Power of the Human Voice

Introduction

• The human voice is an incredibly powerful tool that can influence the world.
• Many people struggle with being listened to.
• The lecture discusses habits to avoid and principles to adopt for effective speaking.

Seven Deadly Sins of Speaking

1. Gossip
   • Speaking ill of someone who is not present.
   • Detrimental to trust and relationships.
2. Judging
   • People feel judged and are unlikely to listen.
3. Negativity
   • Constant negativity makes it hard for others to listen.
   • Includes complaining, which spreads misery.
4. Excuses
   • Avoid taking responsibility.
   • Hard to listen to someone who always blames others.
5. Exaggeration / Embroidery
   • Demeans language and can lead to lying.
   • Undermines trust.
6. Dogmatism
   • Confusing facts with opinions.
   • Makes listening difficult.

The Four Cornerstones of Powerful Speaking (HAIL)

1. Honesty
   • Being true, clear, and straightforward.
2. Authenticity
   • Being yourself and standing in your truth.
3. Integrity
   • Being reliable and trustworthy.
4. Love
   • Wishing people well, which tempers honesty.
   • Prevents judgment.

Tools for Effective Speaking

• Register
  • Locate your voice; deeper voices convey authority.
• Timbre
  • The quality of your voice, which can be improved with training.
• Prosody
  • The rhythm and pattern of speech; avoid monotony.
• Pace
  • Vary speed to emphasize points.
• Silence
  • Use pauses effectively.
• Pitch
  • Use changes in pitch to convey meaning.
• Volume
  • Use volume to emphasize or draw attention.

Vocal Warm-Up Exercises

1. Deep breath with a sigh.
2. Lip warm-up: "Ba, Ba, Ba..."
3. Tongue warm-up: "La, La, La..."
4. Rolling R's: "Rrrrrr"
5. The Siren: "Weeeaawww"

Conclusion

• Current communication is often ineffective due to noise and poor listening.
• The vision is to create environments and habits that foster conscious communication and sound design.
• This approach promises a more beautiful and understanding world.
• The idea of conscious sound creation and consumption is worth spreading.