Read Time: 2 minutes

Have you ever felt like people weren't fully engaged when you spoke? Like your words didn't quite have the impact or memorable presence you wanted?

The reason may be that your "vocal brand" needs some fine-tuning.

Your vocal brand is the overall impression your voice leaves on listeners. It's a combo of tone, pacing, pausing, power, and enunciation. Strengthening these elements can make you exponentially more compelling and captivating as a speaker.

After years of coaching and experimenting, I've developed 5 powerful vocal exercises that will rev up your vocal engine. With regular practice, you'll notice a boost in how engaging and memorable you sound.

Let's dive into each one:

Exercise #1: The Duchenne Smile (0:00 - 1:34)

Speaking with a genuine smile doesn't just make you more likable - it injects enthusiasm and positive emotion into your words. To practice, pull the corners of your mouth back with your fingers while speaking to exercise the muscles around your eyes and mouth. Getting used to this "Duchenne smile" will make your tone sound warm and expressive.

Exercise #2: The Narration Game (1:35 - 2:58) 

Having an ideal conversational pace is key for sounding articulate yet natural. Not too fast, not too slow. To calibrate this, describe random objects around you out loud for 60 seconds, saying exactly what you see like "This is a black pen with a white barrel and a gold clip on the end." You'll find your groove.

Exercise #3: The Intentional Pause (2:59 - 4:00) 

Pausing for 2-3 seconds before you speak packs more gravitas and thoughtfulness into your words. An easy way to practice is nodding slowly when someone asks you a question, then pausing before answering. You'll sound more composed and less like you're winging it.

Exercise #4: The E-I-E Breathing Technique (4:01 - 5:36)

To project confidence and power, you need to breathe from your diaphragm - not just your chest. Do this "E-I-E" cycle:

1. Exhale fully until you've expelled all air from your lungs

2. Inhale deeply through your nose for 3-5 seconds

3. Exhale slowly through your mouth

Repeat 2-3 times before speaking to fill your lungs and engage your core. You'll speak with more volume and resonance.

Exercise #5: The Pen Game (5:37 - end)

Mumbling and slurring your words detracts from your credibility. To give yourself a crisp, articulate sound, place a pen between your teeth horizontally. Then repeatedly recite tongue twisters like "She sells seashells by the seashore" and "Unique New York" - breaking up each syllable slowly at first, then running through them fluidly. Remove the pen and you'll sound clear.

Sprinkling these 5 drills into your day, whether in the shower, car, or right before an important speaking event, will pay huge dividends for your vocal gravitas.

If you found this helpful, the Impromptu Speakers Academy is my 3-week bootcamp to help you become a clear and confident speaker at work. Reserve your spot today while they're still available.

But for now, give these 5 drills your regular focus - your audience's ears will thank you!