My dear friend, colleague and voice mentor Arthur Joseph celebrated his 60th birthday this year in Los Angeles. He's been teaching his Vocal Awareness empowerment system for an amazing 40 of those 60 years!

I have personally benefited from Arthurs wisdom since 1990 and am happy to share his 10 vocal presence tips below.

1. Identify how you want to be perceived (create a “persona” statement – “persona” means through the sound.) This will help you choose the best way to reflect an idealized you.
2. Don’t “present” who you are – “Be” who you are. In other words, be less concerned of what others think of you and more concerned with what you believe about your Self.
3. Remember the adage, “breath is fuel”. You have to put gas in the tank of your car before driving anywhere; you have to breathe efficiently if you want to speak effectively.
4. To find your optimal pitch level (“the hub of your voice,” your core sound,) – gently descend on the sound of hmm. Where hmm ends is where you speak from.
5. Sing a lot. Singing is freeing. It is also an emotionally and spiritually healthy thing to do. Singing is a creative way to enhance your vocal range, power, and color.
6. Realize that any professional encounter – from the casual in-office meeting to a business call to a prepared talk should all be considered “performances.” They are opportunities to put your best foot forward, so whenever possible, rehearse them.
7. Take conscious ownership of every verbal encounter. Don’t feel as though someone is not interested in what you have to say or that someone is too busy which would then make you hurry the conversation. Take your time.
8. Only 8% of all verbal communication is retained be the listener’s unconscious mind through the words themselves; 37% is conveyed through the sound of the voice; 55% is body language. Be aware of eye contact, monitor nervous habits, use good posture (stand in stature.)
9. Whenever possible, tape record yourself and listen “without judgment.” A great deal can be learned from objective listening.
10. Create rituals. A daily structure to help you achieve your desired professional and communication goals. Begin your day by thoughtfully practicing them and strategizing how to integrate them into your personal and professional life.

Copyright 2006 ~ Arthur Joseph

Arthur and I are working together on several exciting vocal training products. I will share more about them with you in the coming months. In the meantime, to visit Arthur's Vocal Awareness website click here.

Here you can see my husband Mark (the tall, dark, handsome guy in the England football shirt) at the World Cup in Germany. I have to admit, I was very happy to get him back after 2 months of football at all hours.

The inconveniences were worth it because Mark was able to have some fun with the guys and a enjoy a well deserved break. Don't forget to make time for yourself this month!

"It is a happy talent to know how to play." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Most of us are about as happy as we make our minds up to be." ~ Abraham Lincoln