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The Sound of Your Voice
By Dr. Carol Fleming

Of course you want a lower voice! Have you ever heard your own voice shoot up in pitch just when you most wanted to sound assured and in control? When you were asking for a raise or when you had to make a presentation in front of the senior staff? On the other hand, do you find that you tend to deepen your voice when you answer you office phone? Have you figured out just why you do that?

The great American love affair with the low pitched voice is deeply rooted in our psyches. You might think that only men have this preoccupation, but you'd be wrong. Business and professional women are also pushing their voices down to the bottom of their pitch range. I think the "Law of the Jungle" explains why we do this.

Big animals have low voices

The pitch of your voice depends upon the length of your vocal cords - these are two muscular folds inside your larynx that vibrate to produce voice. Longer vocal folds produce a lower pitched vibration.

You'll notice that this principle holds true for all kinds of creatures. Compare the roar of the mighty lion, for example, to the squeak of a smallish monkey. The sounds alone describe the predator-prey relationship. As you will recall, big creatures eat little creatures with remarkable consistency.

Even within any given species, you notice that the "sound" of the (relatively large) parent animal is lower in pitch than that of the (relatively small) offspring. I'm sure you've noticed this with your own families, or you've observed this fact in the animal kingdom.

Within the family, this higher voice is actually very effective in eliciting caretaker behavior from the parent. It works to bring out more tolerant and nurturing responses from the adult. Some people have made good use of this fact.

Lower voices imply physical power

Since the lower pitched voice so often describes the large animal as well as the adult animal, it will not astonish you if I suggest that this is why many of us try for the lowest possible voice we can muster. This is seldom a conscious choice but you may recall the circumstances of your first efforts to deepen your voice. It probably happened during puberty, when you had to give a speech, when it was important to impress 'her'. The need to give off the radiance of the "big, strong man" is acutely felt during adolescence and forcing the voice down is something you can do to cope with the dreadful anxiety of this transitional period.

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Higher voices and childlike speech styles

The voices of some people seem to just ask for a subordinate role. Usually you will find that these people are speaking with their pitch in the upper part of their range. They sound more like children this way. In addition, an adult can keep some of the "singsong" or whine patterns from childhood and these patterns creep out when that person becomes stressed or threatened. Some of this is quite normal. You may sound like a big, strong man at work, but your voice may become placating or appeasing when you are pleading your case in front of the judge.

But some people use these childlike intonations on the job, creating an impression of immaturity. This person is not likely to be perceived as eligible for promotion or as the kind of person you want to represent your company.

In addition, this is the voice of the victim which, unfortunately, can bring out domineering behaviors in others.

So, what do I do?

In your effort to make your voice as rich and low as possible, it is not unusual for you to end up speaking at the very bottom of your pitch range - courting very real voice problems from the strain. Check yourself:

Is it difficult for people to hear you clearly?
Is your voice tired at the end of the day?
Has your vice become strained and monotone?

If you've answered 'yes' to any of these questions, I recommend that you consult a professional to make sure that you know the pitch level that is appropriate for you. It is lovely to have an impressive voice, but it is more important that speaking be comfortable to you. Most business people depend upon their verbal abilities to make a living. They have to be heard and understood or what's the point of saying anything at all?

Contact us today to discuss how our workshops, coaching and training products can improve your Personal Professionalism and Communication Impact.

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