Your Voice Is Telling On You... Even If You Don't Know It I @TomBilyeu

Key Concepts:

• Gut feeling/Intuition in communication
• Vocal tension as an indicator of fatigue or insecurity
• Vocal fry (definition and causes)
• Breath control and its impact on vocal delivery
• Addressing the underlying emotion vs. the vocal cue

I. Listening to Your Gut and Intuition

The speaker emphasizes the importance of trusting one's gut feeling when listening to someone speak. We instinctively know when something feels off, but often ignore it. Actively listening to your intuition allows you to recognize subtle cues in someone's voice. The speaker suggests that by paying attention to your gut feeling, you can become more attuned to these cues and recognize when something is amiss. "If you're listening to your gut and your intuition more and you know what you're hearing I think you're like 'Ah I just heard that.'"

II. Vocal Tension as a Sign of Fatigue or Insecurity

Research has shown that people hold tension in their vocal cords. Listening for this tension can reveal fatigue or a feeling of playing small. The speaker suggests that vocal tension can be a giveaway that someone is feeling fatigued, insecure, or diminished.

III. Vocal Fry: Definition, Causes, and Remedies

• Definition: Vocal fry is described as a rattling sound in the voice caused by the vocal cords coming together due to insufficient airflow. "Vocal fry is when it sounds gross but when our vocal cords rattle together because there isn't enough air that is coming through them."
• Causes: Nervousness, burnout, tiredness, or feeling dismissed can lead to a loss of volume and the onset of vocal fry. The speaker explains that when feeling these emotions, individuals may not have enough breath to support their voice.
• Remedies: The speaker suggests that if you want to get rid of vocal fry, simply ask the person to speak up. This encourages them to use more breath and improve their vocal delivery.

IV. Addressing Emotion vs. Cue: Gifting Breath

The speaker poses the question of whether to address the underlying emotion or the vocal cue (vocal fry). The speaker suggests that if you hear someone giving away their power through their voice, you can "gift them the breath" by encouraging them to speak up. This can help them regain control of their voice and project more confidence.

V. Synthesis/Conclusion

The speaker advocates for paying attention to subtle vocal cues, such as tension and vocal fry, as indicators of underlying emotions or states. While addressing the root cause of these issues is important, providing immediate support by encouraging better breath control can be a helpful intervention. The main takeaway is to trust your intuition and use your awareness of vocal cues to better understand and support others.