Voice 'off kilter?'

Have you noticed how your voice can often feel 'off' in stressful situations?

That final meeting to secure a big contract.

All key stakeholders in attendance.

You've rehearsed it over and over in your head.

But the reality is very different.

The CMO throws a curveball question into the mix.

You weren't expecting it.

You freeze.

You quickly respond, but it's a knee-jerk reaction.

You're fire fighting.

Your self-assured voice has left you.

You sound like a shadow of your former self.

- Your tone is feeble...it's meek.

- It lacks authority & credibility.

- It almost sounds desperate.

I suffered from this when training as an actor.

Once, during a Shakespeare production, rehearsals had gone relatively smooth.

Up and down as expected, but on the whole things were slotting into place.

Then it came to the first public show on the Friday night.

Curtains up.

My scene.

I went to pieces.

I froze.

I forgot my lines.

I had to be prompted.

I was mortified.

When I did speak my voice was not my own.

It had no power or impact.

A big moment for me.

One of those times that something clicks.

I became obsessed with managing my emotions...

- to gain control over my amygdala.

- and finding a way of preventing future fight / flight / freeze mode from hijacking me.

I found a way of tuning out of self-consciousness and into something greater than myself.

It took a lot of practice...but I got there.

And needless to say, this stood me in good stead for the future.

That meeting with six C-Level directors?

Fine.

That presentation to a room of 50.

No problem.

I now coach salespeople - a key component of which being how to cope in highly stressful situations.

How to stay in control of your emotions, your voice, your responses & your behaviour.

So if you ever feel like a rabbit in the headlights...

Drop me a message.