Women-Find your Voice and Be Heard — Women’s Voices in the Indian Corporate & Business Environment

Location: The conference room of a large financial organization.

Agenda: To brainstorm ideas for a new service…… As the discussion gains momentum, one of the women vice presidents has an incredibly good idea shaping up in her head. After some hesitation, she clears her throat and tries to speak. But her soft, apologetic voice is lost among the high decibel male voices in the room.

The number of women in the corporate & business environment in India is on the rise. And yet, women have a hard time being heard. They feel that their voice often undermines their message in a male dominated setup. Women have to contend with unique challenges related to vocal communication in getting their point across. According to Caroline Turner, an expert on gender differences and a former corporate executive & business attorney, women’s voices are not fully heard in the business & corporate environment in the U.S.A. She says that “the feminine style of speaking sounds less confident as a woman speaks more humbly, often posing her point as a question. While a man speaks in declarative sentences, sounding confident, regardless of whether he has the facts or the expertise. In the business world, where the masculine style is the norm, the feminine style of speaking is perceived as lacking in confidence”.

In Asian countries like India, cultural & social factors often influence the way women use their body and voice to express themselves. As a result, free & full vocal expression is restricted. Women’s voices are often not heard in the corporate & business world.

Dr. Sadhana Nayak M.S [Otolaryngology], D.O.R.L 

Many professional women do just about everything they can, to ‘disempower’ their voices. Some of the physical & vocal habits and factors that restrict effective & powerful vocal communication in women are:

1. Women often slouch, allowing the spine & chest to collapse and shoulders to slump forward. Apart from squeezing the voice, a collapsed spine & body convey diffidence

2. Women have a naturally higher pitch, compared to men, as they have shorter & thinner vocal folds, and a smaller larynx (voice-box). The pitch of the voice tends to rise further whenever a woman is nervous or under pressure. As a result, they end up sounding shrill, squeaky or immature – vocal qualities that undermine their professional ability.

3. Upspeak or uptalk is a trend among young urban professional women. It is a rising inflection at the end of a sentence, making every sentence sound like a question. The end result is that they sound unsure and diffident.

4. Women tend to speak with a breathy voice- a vocal habit where the vocal folds are held apart, allowing more air to escape. A breathy voice is soft & therefore not heard, and the speaker comes across as immature.

5. Women often develop breathing patterns & habits like taking in quick shallow breaths using the upper chest or holding the breath, to avoid expressing their point of view fully. This disempowers the voice, as the breath is the source of power for the voice.

6. Women tend to use an apologetic tone more than men as they have traditionally played a nurturing role in society.

Apart from physical & vocal patterns that women develop, the demands of fashion and use of modern technology have created additional problems for the woman’ s voice. Working on computers for long hours encourages women to slump. Clothes fitting snugly at the waist and on the chest do not

allow them to breathe deeply. High heels misalign the body and spine. Put together, it is a combination that restricts the voice.

Voice coaching starts with changing physical, breathing and vocal patterns to allow organic and free vocal expression. The coaching initially focuses on allowing a full flow of the voice through a relaxed & aligned body and spine, developing an empowered & supported breath, an open throat & a relaxed jaw. It progresses to clear speech and intonation- learning pitch inflections & volume variations, the power of pausing & pacing, and projecting the voice. The coaching is designed to help women in the corporate and business world find their voice and express themselves fully. A clear, smooth & modulated voice projected from a relaxed body conveys confidence and increases your credibility in any communication situation – whether it is a presentation, meeting, conference or a client interaction.

When you enhance the tone, flexibility, modulation and power of your voice, you project yourself and your ideas clearly, with all the energy and passion you feel. Every communication whether on the telephone, in a meeting or before an audience becomes an empowering experience.

About Dr. Sadhana Nayak

She is a Mumbai based vocal medicine specialist and voice coach for professional and artistic voice users. She has trained business leaders, corporate speakers, actors, news anchors and singers in India and the U.S.A

Website: www.drsadhananayak.com

Email: drnayakvoice@gmail.com

Mobile: +919819752312

Timing: 11 a.m- 5 p.m

Power Speaking for Presentations

For most speakers, preparing for a presentation involves working on the content and power point slides. ‘What you say’ is important. But ‘How you say it’, is what transforms a good presentation into an excellent one. If you want to be perceived as a charismatic and memorable speaker, learn to prepare ‘Your- Self’ - your voice, breath, body and vocal delivery for presentations , so that you exude confidence & presence while speaking.

Preparing Your Voice, Breath, Body and Vocal Delivery for Presentations

• Tap into the full potential of your breath. Learn thoracoabdominal breathing – how to use the lower chest and abdomen (belly) effectively, to power your voice

• Develop healthy posture. Learn to keep your spine and body aligned.

• Practise exercises to keep your jaw and throat relaxed so that your voice sounds resonant and richer

• Find and use your optimal vocal pitch, which is usually in the lower half of your pitch range

• Practise speaking at the right pace so that you are not too fast or too slow. Learn to vary the pace at which you speak, so that you sound interesting

• Learn to use the right tone of voice so that you sound authoritative, credible and confident

• Practise articulation or speech exercises so that your words are clear & precise, and your audience receives your message

• Learn to stress on the right words, using pitch & volume variations and effective pauses, so that your audience can make meaning of what you are saying

                                      Dr. Sadhana Nayak M.S [Otolaryngology], D.O.R.L

• Practise effective intonation or voice modulation by using a combination of variations in pitch, volume, pauses, & the pace or speed at which you speak, to hold the attention of your audience

• Learn how to project your voice. Projection is a healthy and effective way of making yourself heard.

• Practise your vocal delivery regularly for a few days before the presentation. Your vocal delivery should empower your message & effectively convey your professional image

• Record your presentation and listen to it objectively. Check if you are sounding monotonous, unclear, shrill, breathy, nasal, too fast or slow, too soft or loud, and work on it

• Practise your presentation in front of a mirror. You will get to see & understand how you use your body and breathing for speaking

• Improvise every time you practise, so that you sound spontaneous. Develop a conversational and natural style of speaking.

• Take a few relaxed breaths, align your spine, center your body, before you start your presentation.

• Avoid holding your breath when you are planning what to say next.

• Learn to make effective use of pauses. Don’t use vocal fillers like ‘Uhm, Uh’. Breathe whenever you pause.

• Avoid using long sentences that will strain your breathing. Your audience will also find it difficult to understand you.

• Speak at a pace that is not too fast or slow. Vary your pace depending on your content.

• Make yourself interesting with vocal variations, often referred to as voice modulation.

• Warm up your voice regularly before every presentation.

• Avoid wearing high heels and waist hugging clothes, that squeeze your body & breath, and affect the alignment of your spine & body.

About Dr. Sadhana Nayak

She is a Mumbai based vocal medicine specialist and voice coach for professional and artistic voice users. She has trained business leaders, corporate speakers, actors, news anchors and singers in India and the U.S.A


Website : www.drsadhananayak.com

Email : drnayakvoice@gmail.com

Mobile : +919819752312

Timing : 11 a.m- 5 p.m

Effects of Acid Reflux on the Voice and how to Prevent It

Have you ever woken up in the morning, after a late-night dinner with a hoarse voice or pain in the throat? Do you often feel the need to clear your throat? You will be surprised to know that acid reflux or acidity, as it is commonly known, could be one of the reasons for these symptoms. Most people are familiar with common symptoms of acid reflux such as heart burn, burping or a sour taste in the mouth. What they are not aware of, is that acid reflux or laryngopharyngeal reflux often presents with symptoms related to the voice, throat and breathing.

What is Reflux Laryngitis or Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)? What causes it?

Laryngopharyngeal reflux or reflux laryngitis is swelling or inflammation of the lining of the throat and larynx (voice box). It occurs in those who suffer from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), commonly referred to as acid reflux or acidity. Reflux laryngitis or LPR is caused by acid in the stomach backing up the esophagus (food pipe) into the throat. Since the larynx is located in the throat, at the junction of the windpipe (trachea)and food pipe (esophagus), reflux laryngitis usually produces symptoms related to the throat, voice and breathing which most people are not aware of.

There is scientific data, that shows that almost 60% of people, who suffer from GERD/acid reflux have laryngopharyngeal symptoms i.e symptoms in the voice and throat. In addition, some studies have pointed out that acid reflux, combined with smoking and alcohol use, increase the risk of cancers of the larynx and throat.

Dr. Sadhana Nayak M.S [Otolaryngology], D.O.R.L

Common symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux

The following are some of the common symptoms of reflux laryngitis

• Burning sensation in the throat
• Coughing
• Heartburn or burning sensation in the upper chest
• Sore throat or pain in the throat
• Need to clear the throat frequently
• Increase in the time taken to warm up the voice, usually noticed by singers
• Hoarse or rough voice, especially in the morning
• Sensation of lump in the throat or discomfort while swallowing
• Excessive mucus in the throat
• Bitter or acid taste in the mouth
• Bad breath
• Coated tongue
• Breathing problems sometimes resembling an asthmatic attack


How can laryngopharyngeal reflux be prevented or managed through dietary and lifestyle changes?

Considering the negative effects of acid reflux on the voice, throat and breathing, professional vocalists and vocal artistes including speakers, actors, singers and others are advised to follow a few simple measures, dietary and lifestyle changes, listed below, to conserve their voice. Diet and lifestyle modifications are usually effective in managing reflux laryngitis. However, if you continue to have symptoms suggestive of acid reflux, in spite of diet and lifestyle modification or use of over-the-counter antacids, seek medical advice.

• Eat small and frequent meals
• Increase fiber intake
• Reduce your intake of fats, spicy, oily and fried foods
• Avoid highly seasoned & processed foods
• Reduce the intake of caffeine containing products including coffee, cocoa and chocolates
• Avoid or reduce the intake of alcohol
• Stop consuming tobacco in any form including chewing gutkha and smoking
• Avoid strongly flavored candies, lozenges, breath fresheners
• Chew food properly.
• Avoid large dinners. Do not lie down for 2 to 3 hours after dinner.
• Elevate the head end of your bed at night, around 6 – 12 inches by placing pillows or a foam wedge under the mattress or bricks under the legs of the head end.
• Wear loose clothing. Avoid clothes that fit tightly across the middle of the body viz. girdles, belts
• Minimize activities that require heavy lifting or bending.
• Lose weight if you are overweight
• Stress can increase acid production. Learn strategies to manage stress. Maintain a relaxed attitude in your activities.

About Dr. Sadhana Nayak

She is a Mumbai based vocal medicine specialist and voice coach for professional and artistic voice users. She has trained business leaders, corporate speakers, actors, news anchors and singers in India and the U.S.A


Website: www.drsadhananayak.com
Email: drnayakvoice@gmail.com
Mobile: +919819752312
Timing: 11 a.m- 5 p.m

Tips to Improve Your Voice for Public Speaking

While speaking, your most important tool is your voice. The impact your speech will have on people is very much influenced by your voice, and it can make its success or break it. Fortunately, with voice training for public speaking, you can train your voice and enhance the power of your voice. Similar to playing musical instruments, you can train your voice to improve your persuasiveness and power in any given speech or during conversations. All that is needed is some guidance. Even singers can benefit from voice coaching for singers.

Here are a few tips to improve your voice for public speaking:

1. Slow down. If you want your voice to have more authority and power, then speak more slowly. This way the listeners will have sufficient opportunity to contemplate and reflect on the things that you are saying. Speaking rapidly lowers the impacts of the words you say.

2. Use voice exercises. Human voice can be considered a type of muscle in our body. With proper exercise, it can be developed to be stronger. Many people who had weak voices have reached great heights and become powerful and confident speakers by focusing on voice training for public speaking and voice exercises.

3. Record phone conversations. Record your side of the conversations you have had and listen to them later. This practice can improve your mastery over your voice, as each time you listen to your conversations, will notice various ways in which you can improve your articulation and delivery for next time. 

Training your Voice, Speech and Body for Confident and Effective Communication

All the preparation in the world can go into a presentation. You can have an impressive PowerPoint, excellent content and wear your best suit. However, the words of your presentation or communication count for next to nothing if your voice squeaks, cracks, sounds monotonous, is tremulous or weak and it looks like you want to run from the room.

Training Your Self- your voice, speech and body, so that you can communicate fully and confidently, even when you are nervous or under pressure, is essential if you are a corporate or business speaker, professional or entrepreneur making a presentation, selling an idea or a product. Working on the quality, expressiveness, modulation, power, projection and tone of your voice, clarity of speech, and physical presence is a vital aspect of communication skills training. Vocal communication training is about tapping into who you are and seeing what you can bring to the communication moment. As a voice specialist and coach, I stress on the importance of consistency in the messages conveyed by the body, voice, words and language.

Dr Sadhana Nayak

For example, if your shaky, inaudible voice is saying ‘I’m terrified and I don’t want to be here’, or your monotonous voice fails to convey your message effectively while you are trying to sell a business strategy or get your dream job, your credibility is shot. To make matters worse, an audience or listener will take most of their information from your body and your voice, rather than the words or language you use. So even though the content of your presentation might be excellent, your body language and voice will attract a lot of unwanted attention, if they aren’t equally well prepared. Within the first few seconds of speaking, the audience decides whether they are going to continue to listen to you.

An increasing number of corporate leaders, business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs find that their voices let them down at meetings, presentations, media interviews, and are taking lessons to improve the way they sound. An authentic, free and flexible voice emanating from a relaxed body conveys confidence, increases your credibility, brings out your uniqueness and is essential to a good presentation or interview.

Prior to the 1950s globally and 1980s in India, voice training emphasized on developing an elocution based style of speaking which was very different from the integrated and organictechniques of voice training today. The style of training in the past imposed a system of speech that sounded artificial. The approach to voice training today is to develop an individualistic style of speaking that sounds credible, authoritative and conversational.

Voice training teaches you to look at the way you use your body and breathing when you speak. Your voice is your breath turned into vibrations. When you are anxious or nervous before a presentation, the resultant stress tenses up the muscles of your body and vocal system, squeezes your throat and makes your breath shallow. As a result you fail to effectively express your ideas and your uniqueness as an individual. Voice coaching initially involves an organic process to help iron out all the tensions, to release the breath, to find freedom and flexibility in the voice and to allow the full resonant flow of the voice. On achieving this, the focus of voice training shifts to learning how to highlight key words, develop the right rhythm and pace of speaking, vocal tone, modulation and projection to make an impact on the listener.

Most corporate and business speakers, I work with, say they don’t like the sound of their voice or they dislike listening to their voice on a recording or an answering machine, and yet did not seek help. Many believed that speaking well is a skill that just came naturally to some, who are leader material. Until recent years, people presumed that they were born with their voice and could do nothing to improve it. But it is not. There are skills involved, just as there are for actors, media professionals and singers. And it is possible for every individual to maximize the potential of their voice and speech for communication through effective vocal training.

   Website: www.drsadhananayak.com

   Email: drnayakvoice@gmail.com

   Mobile: +919819752312

   Timing: 11 a.m- 5 p.m