Amy came to VoicePro® feeling like an invisible person. She was a professional woman with a strong track record and solid credentials. In spite of all that, she felt as though she "had no voice." When we observed Amy, we understood her concerns. She spoke tentatively and softly. Her stance was narrow, her feet close together; and she stood with her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Her gestures were limp. Everything about her screamed, "Don't listen to me; I'm not important." We taught Amy to:
Picture herself as the strong, confident and knowledgeable woman she actually was. The subtle impact her internal thoughts had on her presence changed the way other people responded to her. She became more credible in their eyes, and they began to listen.
Use the power of her voice to command people's attention. When she found her natural voice and let go of the soft, little girl voice she'd been using for years, the reaction from her audience was astonishing. "I never knew you had such good ideas," someone told her.
Maintain a physical posture that communicated power, strength and authority. Audience feedback was positive; she looked like she was "in charge."
Use more definitive gestures to emphasize the strong points in her arguments. This increased her audience's perception of her knowledge and expertise. At last, they saw her for who she really was.
By adopting new skills that changed how Amy communicates, she believed for the first time she had a voice. With wholehearted approval, her audience agreed.