Karin has an important appointment today and doesn't want to show her stress. She will present an important concept to the CEO of her company. She has been working on it for weeks. Now she sits in the car on the day of the presentation and drives to work.
Often everything starts with time pressure
Actually, it doesn't drive, it stands. In traffic jams. And just today, her five-year-old daughter dawdled particularly hard, didn't want to get up at all and drastically delayed the entire morning routine ... So Karin was already very close anyway and is now temporarily immobilized by the traffic jam. Nervously, she keeps looking at her watch. Finally it goes on.
She parks with screeching brakes. She has exactly two minutes left to appear in the conference room. "Good morning," she calls to a colleague in a fluttering, high-pitched voice. He looks after her in amazement. It doesn't usually sound like that, he thinks to himself ...
Stress makes the voice tighter and higher
Not a good omen. So Karin's stress is already audible. Her gallop towards the meeting room has not really improved this situation. She is clearly late, the CEO, COO and other high-ranking employees are already waiting. Stressed, nervous and very clearly out of breath, she begins her presentation after a hasty apology.
In stress, the pauses in speech are shortened
In terms of content, she is perfectly prepared and can also call up everything she has prepared. Unfortunately, her voice remains high, thin and uncertain throughout the speaking time. Karin hardly pauses to speak this morning, it seems as if she is being torn at the front by an inner ligament to eradicate the unpunctual beginning. Persuasion looks different. The CEO then leaves the meeting room with a vague "I'll think about it". Karin is left confused and very dissatisfied with herself ... What could I have done differently, she thinks again and again.
How to reduce voice stress
Well, first of all she could have relaxed, quite consciously. Already in the car, in traffic jams. She would have arrived more relaxed and would not have unconsciously transferred her own tension to the others present.
As a second measure, she could have consciously concentrated on her voice. Because our voice betrays our feelings, fears and moods much more strongly than we realize. Voice is audible body language. Unfortunately, we don't notice tension in our own voice so easily. However, our audience perceives them very sensitively immediately.
Relieve tension with Sense Focusing
For cases like Karin's situation, I recommend using "Sense Focusing" to solve this audible stress in good time. This allows you to escape the influence of the outside in every situation in life, to get out of the eternal reaction, to switch off the unconscious inner "autopilot" and to take over the helm yourself.
- "Sense Focusing" is based on the biological interrelationship between active, conscious body perception ("sensing") and
- the release of tense muscles.
If you know how to use this, you will be able to get any stress under control in a short time, even under difficult performance conditions.
Sense Focusing in practice
Pause for a few seconds. Good opportunities are: in the elevator when you are waiting for something, etc.
- Stand upright and load both feet evenly (or sit without leaning, straighten up and keep both feet in good contact with the ground).
- Now consciously feel how much weight is on your left and right feet (when sitting: on your feet and buttocks).
- Experience how your shoulders now let go of your shoulders as if by themselves - and also noticeably release muscles somewhere in your face.
Thus, Karin using this technique, they had a quickly functioning tool at their disposal to release vocal tension and thus actively exert a positive influence on their voice.
Adopt self-leadership
Stress it will be for all of us always. We can't change that. But whether we want to make it audible or not, that is entirely our decision. Practice "Sense Focusing" whenever you can, especially when you are not stressed, get used to it!
Take good care of your voice!
You
Arno Fischbacher
P.S.: I'm happy if you like this post. If so, please share it on one of your networks! Do you have a question or would you like to discuss my thoughts with me? Write a comment! I look forward to hearing your opinion!
Read also:
- The pressure, the infinite pressure – and how to avoid it
-
How to get your stage fright under control – Part 1
The author:
Arno Fischbacher is a business voice coach and rhetoric expert, speaker and author. He prepares executives and employees of the top companies in Germany and Austria for negotiations, presentations and media appearances. Fischbacher is the author of several books, past president of the German Speakers Association (GSA) Austria, chairman of the European Network of Voice Experts, stimme.at.
If you would like to learn more about specific training opportunities with Arno Fischbacher, make an appointment here free information talk.
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