The voice is a powerful speaking tool. Too many speakers deaden their voices while giving presentations.

Why?

Because the speaker is focusing on the exact words he or she is trying to communicate. Words do matter, but if you flatten your voice to the point where it is dull, lifeless, monotone, and dry, no one will be able to stay awake long enough to hear your words.

If you are looking for vocal role models, I would highly recommend listening to the talk radio show host known simply as Lionel. (You can hear him for free at iTunes.com)

When you listen to Lionels voice, the first thing you notice is how natural it comes across. His voice is expressive to the extreme and yet he always sounds real and non-contrived. There is a playful quality to Lionels voice that makes him seem like fun, no matter the gravity of the topic under discussion.

Lionels vocal range is wide. When he is gets excited his voice goes high, high, high. He will never be confused with former CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite (and neither should you).

Listening to Lionels voice is like watching a balloon being batted around by children at a partythere is constant variety in tone, speed, volume, everything. This guy could read a phone book on the air and be more interesting than the average person reading the best material ever written by Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock.

Would you like another great vocal role model?

Try listening to yourself. The trick is to capture audio of yourself when you arent reading or giving a prepared speech. Try leaving a video or audio recorder on in your office or home for an extended period (dont record anyone else without informing them in advance). Then sift through the audio until you found yourself deeply engaged in a conversation while you had forgotten you were being recorded. Listen to the full richness and variety to your voice. If your voice doesnt sound just as good during your prepared speeches, then you need to make changes.

You need to showcase your best voice in every speech, not bury it underneath a glum monotone.