One of my biggest pet peeves is when speakers let their voice trail off at the ends of sentences. Their last few words are spoken in a low, creaky voice.
That creaky voice is called “vocal fry” and it’s what happens when we constrict the air flow through our vocal cords.
What’s wrong with vocal fry?
There are two reasons why vocal fry is so damaging:
- It reduces the power and presence of your words. If your voice and energy engage an audience, then vocal fry deflates the energy in the room—especially when the last few words of a sentence should be the most powerful.
- It can physically harm your voice. The grating of your vocal cords that is produced by vocal fry can cause long-term physical damage such as nodes, which could require risky surgery. I’ve dealt with this in the past and it was debilitating.
When I work with leaders to harness the power of their voice, we practice breathing techniques that help them tap into a deep, resonant voice which commands the room. That voice is something each one of us has, barring any physical damage to your voice over the years.
To counteract vocal fry, try this:
- When you speak, exhale while speaking instead of holding your breath. It might feel funny, but that is technically how you produce sound. Make sure your breath continues through the ends of your sentences.
- Put a finger to your lips while speaking. You should feel the air tickle your finger while you speak, signifying that breath is coming out to support your words.
These breathing techniques take practice and guidance. Practice them a few minutes at a time, in the morning or evening, before you start integrating them into a work conversation.
(Here’s a video that can help you harness your breathing.)
The Future of AI Voices
I’m concerned to hear AI voices using vocal fry more and more—especially the female-sounding AI voices. I’m deeply concerned that generations of children will grow up emulating these voices and it will cause long-term damage. We are weakening the voices of the future. Please watch this video to learn more—I’ll discuss this as well in my forthcoming book, AI for the Authentic Leader: How to Communicate More Effectively Without Losing Your Humanity.
As a leader, your voice is one of your most powerful tools. Learn how to harness its power to speak with impact.