I was deep in discussion about fashion and movie icons with a friend of mine who is a personal stylist when I told her that in my Facebook group, I talk a lot about the need for voice role models. She gave me a look that said, “Well, that’s a little out there.” I just smiled and shook my head. This happens whenever I talk about voice role models.
Most people think of role models as someone from history who has achieved great things or a current superstar in the world of sports or entertainment. Why would someone need a voice role model?
Whenever you want to make changes in your life, you need to look at what touches you personally on an emotional level then do a bit of internal soul searching as to why it touches you. Once you know that, investigate further to identify how you can employ that quality in your own personal and professional presence.
In order to illustrate what I was talking about, I explained to her that when I was a young girl I didn’t like to smile. I did not like having my picture taken. I was frozen in front of the camera. Whenever someone asked me to smile, I’d end up having this awkward expression on my face that showed a little teeth.
In my teen years, I had braces. I have wonderful looking teeth now, but back then, having a mouth full of metal made me very self-conscious. So, I didn’t smile. I also knew I wouldn’t have braces forever and I wanted to have a great smile for when my braces came off! How to manage that was my quandary. Being theatrical, I watched people on TV and on stage until I identified who I thought had a great smile.
My winner for best smile was Lynda Carter, TV’s Wonder Woman. She has a fantastic smile. I watched Lynda Carter and analyzed how she smiled.
“How does she do that?”, I thought. Her face just lights up!
I watched and watched until I was able to break down the steps of having a great smile! It works the same way with dancing, teaching, singing, speaking or any other skill you wish to learn. Investigate, identify and practice.
Women are great observers of others. We naturally identify our role models with ease. In this case, my learning to smile was modeling Lynda Carter. I watched how she smiled, then sat in front of a mirror for a long time practicing smiling until it felt normal.
I didn’t like that I saw the braces in my mirror but I began to feel better about myself. I knew eventually the braces would come off. Once they did, there was no holding me back! I felt free! I was ready to go because I had been practicing my smiling. I’ve been told many times that I have a beautiful smile. Quite honestly, I owe it to Lynda Carter for being my role model.
I suggest that if you wish to improve your voice and how you communicate find some voice role models. Think of people in your life. Think of people that you like from television, radio or movies. People you admire for how they express themselves. Really think about why it is that you enjoy listening to them.
Is it the resonance, clarity, emotion, body language or word choices?
How does their voice make you feel?
Once you figure those things out, practice until you embody those expressive qualities yourself.
