Jamie Smart’s NLP tip #23

 How to Build Voice Flexibility, 11 June 2003

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This Week’s Tip

As I promised in tip #21, “How to Get Rapport on the Phone” , we’re going to play with some exercises to build your vocal flexibility.   

A few weeks ago, I was meeting a potential client for the first time, & I noticed that he spoke more quickly than anyone I’d ever met.  I smiled inside, because I knew one thing for sure: this person spends quite a lot of their time frustrated because they’re listening to people who talk way too slow.  How did I know that?  Because people tend to talk at the rate they think, & tend to want others to talk at that rate too.  Almost no-one could talk at the rate he did, so I knew he would often feel others were talking too slow.  So why was I smiling?  Because I knew that I could give this person a much more enjoyable experience than they are used to having.  I immediately set my voice speed to super-fast, & the session proceeded fantastically.

1)      Start talking at a rate that is comfortable for you.  Start to speed up the rate, until you are talking very fast.  Then speed it up until you’re speaking way too fast.  Then speed it up further until you’re speaking so fast it’s coming out faster than you can think.  Then gradually slow it all the way down until you’re speaking way too slow.

NB: As with any physical exercise, warm up to these slowly & have a rest if you feel any strain.

Going to the extremes can help you develop the flexibility you will need to start matching people’s speed.  Matching someone’s speaking speed is one very quick way to start establishing rapport.  Tip for doing this: listen to them.  You will find that before long you can pick up someone’s speed in the first few seconds of a conversation. 

2)      Conduct similar exercises for the following vocal qualities: pitch (how high or low your voice is), tone, & volume.  Once again, take it to the limits, then go beyond them.

At first, as with any new skill, you may find these exercises seem a bit unnatural.  Most people are not familiar with talking outside their usual range.  But you will start to see the benefits as you begin to develop more flexibility.  On my trainings, I like to create an environment where you feel comfortable to go outside of your comfort zone, so allow yourself to have that experience with these exercises.

3)      Start to find opportunities to match other peoples’ vocal qualities.  Once you’re in rapport, vary your speed & listen to them follow you!

Summary

Exercises for building vocal flexibility:

1)      Start talking at a rate that is comfortable for you.  Start to speed up the rate, until you are talking very fast.  Then speed it up until you’re speaking way too fast.  Then speed it up further until you’re speaking so fast it’s coming out faster than you can think.  Then gradually slow it all the way down until you’re speaking way too slow.  (NB: As with any physical exercise, warm up to these slowly & have a rest if you feel any strain.)

2)      Conduct similar exercises for the following vocal qualities: pitch (how high or low your voice is), tone, & volume.  Once again, take it to the limits, then go beyond them.

3)      Start to find opportunities to match other peoples’ vocal qualities.  Once you’re in rapport, vary your speed & listen to them follow you!

Until next time

Enjoy becoming aware of the many different vocal qualities that different people have.  Practice, have fun & explore more J

best wishes,

jamie

jamie smart

director

info@saladltd.co.uk

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