Voice

Why 'self-help?'
Because no-one in the group is an 'expert', although there will be a mix of abilities. The group will be facilitated, but the facilitator is here to learn too. We should also rotate facilitation.

Our voices are a paradox: they're how we come across publicly, but are also one of our most personal aspects. Our voices can do a lot of different things. We talk quietly to close friends, argue loudly and in public, sing, shout, make speeches, tell stories...

To quote Cicely Berry:

“I know a great many people worry deeply about how they speak and how they sound, and that this anxiety often stops them expressing themselves as fully as they would wish. The aim, therefore, is to to enable you to speak clearly and with confidence in a public situation.

“When I say 'public', I do not necessarily mean getting up in front of an audience; I mean any saying anything in an open or formal situation – perhaps a meeting with colleagues, or between friends coming together to discuss an issue.

“And I believe this can be done quite simply – through a good understanding of how your voice works, and through quite straightforward and practical exercises.”

We will

 * Look at how we feelings about our own voices. When do you feel in control of it?  When do you feel powerless? When do you feel powerful? In what situations do you feel clunky, or stupid, or unable to say what you want? What behaviour in others makes speaking harder or easier for you?


 * Learn to understand your voice, how to strengthen it, and control it. This will include learning to see it as an instrument that we use - and so being able to objectively assess our progress. But we'll then come back to the fact that our voice is one of the most personal and intimate things about us.


 * Understanding fear and voice. Fear will always affect voice when starting e.g. in public speaking - that's a fact of life.  This is one reason why the sessions will get us to treat our voice - and our fear - objectively.  The only way to overcome that fear is lots and lots of practice, so you become familiar and comfortable with it: firstly in this supportive environment, and then when we're ready and willing, moving on to larger groups, including people we don't know! Other ways of dealing with fear - preparation beforehand, positive affirmation, possibly meditation if anyone wants to...


 * And, of course, practice! We'll do lots of different things, including: reading silly Monty Python sketches (maybe performing in MATILDA at some point!), making speeches / public speaking; working on presentation; dialogues - both silly and serious; and a little bit of devil's advocate and arguing / debate for anyone as wants to.

A sense of safety and mutual support will be vital to this group. It should be a place for both newbies and more experienced and confidence people, who can contribute, practice and support others.

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This one's close my heart, and to all my own worst fears. As I mentioned before, I have a (mostly now dormant) stammer, so if I'm willing to do this, anyone should be! Although I've discovered that all the fears I have about that are exactly the same as other people's fears about communication too...

I have no great skills in this area - just ideas, some books to work from, and a little experience of running sessions.

DanOlner 22:29, 9 November 2005 (GMT)