Your Nasal Voice Could Be a Stumbling Block to Your Success

Posted: Jan 26, 2011 |Comments: 0 |

Some of the adjectives that come to mind when I hear someone who has excessive nasality are whiny, strident, shrill, and grating. And, given the right volume, tone, and duration, it can lead some listeners to develop a headache.

Don't laugh. It has been reported that the voice of Mary Hart, the former co-host of Entertainment Tonight, triggered a seizure in an epileptic woman. When the TV was turned off, the seizure stopped. In fact, this incident got such wide coverage that it is referred to as the Mary Hart Syndrome. Doctors have long-known that pulsating visual stimuli can cause seizures and now realize that a particular pitch and quality of a speaking voice can do the same.

While I am not saying that your nasal voice is going to cause seizures in your listeners, I will say that excessive nasality can be most uncomfortable and does not project a professional image. Can you honestly picture Fran Drescher – in her role as The Nanny – on the board of directors for a Fortune 500 company? I can not; however, in her nanny character, the New York nasal voice was perfect, lending itself to humor and wonderful comedic scenes.

Competition in today's business world is fierce. If your voice is characterized by a sound that is vibrating in your nose, then the image you are projecting is not one that exudes confidence. Instead, it labels you as the one with the annoying voice and that is not good for your success, especially if you, like so many others today, are doing business internationally.

It is also important to recognize that the nasal voice I am talking about is the one you hear on your voicemail or some form of recording equipment. While that is not a sound you hear throughout your day, it is the sound everyone else hears when you speak. That is the image with which you need to concern yourself.

While others' opinions about you and your abilities, based on how you sound, may not be a fair assessment, it is still a trait that labels you. A young man with whom I was working had excessive nasality which made him sound young and inexperienced. His boss told him to do something about his voice. Once he rid himself of his nasal tones, he discovered his real voice, which was deeper in pitch and sounded more mature. Not only did his boss immediately notice the difference; but, the young man got a promotion to boot!

Don't let your nasality limit your abilities to succeed in your business. Make the change and watch what happens to your career.

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    cynthiazhai

    Nasality can be very annoying. It projects an image that may not be you. Even worse, sometimes you may not realize you have a nasal sound. How to check whether you have nasality or not, as well as how to get rid of it and voice out the true you?

    By: cynthiazhail Self Improvement> Self Helpl Mar 16, 2011
    Nancy Daniels

    When you think of Fran Drescher in her role as The Nanny, what thought first comes to mind? Her beauty or her nasal voice? For many people, their first thought is her whiny voice which, over time, can be quite annoying, even nerve-wracking, for her listeners. While Drescher's infamous sound is typical of some who live in North Jersey or one of the five boroughs of New York City, nasality doesn't just affect those in the Big Apple or the Garden State!

    By: Nancy Danielsl Self Improvement> Public Speakingl Feb 26, 2010
    Nancy Daniels

    No matter how great your message or how powerful your delivery, have you ever considered the vehicle or instrument that is transporting your words? What does the sound of your speaking voice say about you?

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    Some people who are normally colorful in conversation find their delivery skills lacking in expression. And then there are those who lack color both in conversation and at the lectern. There is no doubt that one of the quickest ways to put your audience to sleep is to speak in a monotone and talk at a rate of 100 mph with no acknowledgement of your audience. Does this sound familiar?

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    I am ever amazed at the number of people in public speaking who never give any consideration to their speaking voice. Concerned about their physical image, their content, and their delivery skills, they have yet to realize that the vehicle for transmitting their message is the voice. And, it is not the one they hear inside their head; it is the one they hear on their voicemail.

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    That's a leading question, isn't it? With teleseminars there is definitely no visual and with webinars, there may be a picture of you, but more than likely, your listeners will be focusing on the visuals; i.e. slides, videos, or webpages as well as the sound of your speaking voice. And, the sound of your speaking voice is what you are hearing through your headphones and not the familiar voice you hear in your head.

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    Teleseminars and webinars, do you know the difference? Teleseminars are held over the phone and do not require the internet; whereas, webinars are held over the internet. In the case of the latter, your participants may either listen by means of the phone or the computer; however, since webinars usually display video, slides, or a wegpage, your listeners will still need to use their computers to watch what is being presented.

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