Discover the Hidden Power of Your Compelling Speaking Voice with John Henny.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as Peter and his guests discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income. Here's your host, the author of The Captivating Public Speaker, Peter George.

People often say they don't like their own voices. What about you? Do you — or, more importantly, do others — find your voice compelling? Does it enhance your presentations or distract from them? In this episode, John Henny provides techniques to help you strengthen your communication skills and gain more confidence in your speaking voice — so you can eliminate strain and bring out your best-sounding, most compelling voice.

John has decades of experience helping thousands of voices around the world become more effective communicators. He is a featured lecturer at top voice conferences and institutions, including the Osborne Head and Neck Institute, VIP Worldwide Voice Conference, the Paul McCartney Liverpool Institute, and USC. The author of three Amazon bestselling books and host of the popular podcast The Intelligent Vocalist, John coaches professional voice users at corporate businesses, the U.S. military, sports announcers, and voiceover artists. Here's my conversation with John Henny.

Why We Don't Like the Sound of Our Own Voices

Peter: John, why do most people not like the sound of their voice?

John: There are a couple of answers. First, your voice may simply not be operating at its best — though I believe everyone can have a fantastic-sounding voice that's uniquely theirs. But it also has to do with how we hear ourselves. Our voice is projected outward, so the sound waves are moving away from us. Nature compensates by conducting some sound through bone to the inner ear. Bone conduction is friendly to lower frequencies, so our voice tends to sound warmer and deeper to ourselves. Then we hear a recording and think, does that really sound like me? It does. That's what others hear. The good news is you can work with your voice to bring in that richer resonance so everyone hears it that way.

Peter: Does having a lower resonance actually make a difference?

John: It does. Lower voices tend to convey more authority — but the mistake people make is associating that with a lower speaking pitch. Speaking too low actually robs the voice of acoustic energy. The voice needs higher frequencies to carry in larger spaces and above ambient noise. What you can do is adjust your resonance — making the voice sound deeper and richer at the same pitch, which carries authority without sacrificing projection.

The Voice as the Carrier of Emotion

Peter: What might it cost someone if they neglect their voice?

John: It can cost you everything from influence to sales to promotions. There was a study at Yale with over 1,700 participants where they tested how well people could read another person's emotions — using sight, then voice only. Their ability to intuit what the other person was feeling actually went up when they could only hear the voice. The voice is the primary carrier of human emotion. Most decisions are emotional — we go back afterward and apply logic. If you can connect emotionally through your voice, you can move people.

Peter: Is that why people say I can hear it in your voice?

John: Absolutely. And when you use your voice in a more musical way — with variety, melody, and emotional intention — you can be really compelling. I encourage people to do what I call the World's Worst Musical: go somewhere private and sing your presentation. Have fun with it. Then, as you're singing, start to pull back the music — but keep some of it in the voice. You'll begin to feel melody, tone variation, accents. All of those devices re-engage your audience's attention.

Common Vocal Mistakes

John: The first is not speaking at your optimal pitch. Most people end up speaking too low — either in an attempt to sound more authoritative, or from fatigue. When the voice drops too low, people tend to over-muscle it, squeezing the vocal cords together with excessive effort. Over time, that can lead to irritation and even nodules — little calluses that affect the voice.

The second is neglecting vocal health. Your vocal folds open and close hundreds of times per second — they need to be properly hydrated. Drinking water right before you speak is too late; systemic hydration takes time. Drink consistently throughout the day. Avoid violent throat-clearing, get enough sleep, and be mindful of your voice in loud environments. What's good for your body is good for your voice.

Connecting Inner Passion with Your Listeners

Peter: How can speakers connect their inner passion with their listeners?

John: I use something from the acting world: emotional intentions. Rather than thinking I want to sound excited, ask yourself what you actually want to accomplish — to inspire, to challenge, to reassure. When you have that active goal, it infuses your voice with honest passion from a real place. People will hear it. There is a performance element to speaking — not theatrical, but a lifting of energy and emotional intention. Project your sense of self into every corner of the room. Create an expansive, inclusive presence. Your audience has to watch and listen to you without interruption. Give them something worth watching.

One Last Tip

Peter: John, one last tip for my listeners — what would it be?

John: Start fostering an awareness of your voice. At the end of the day, ask: does my voice feel healthy, or is it tired and worn out? When I'm in front of people, are they engaged — or do I sense attention starting to wander? A lot of this is awareness, and a genuine appreciation for the remarkable instrument you carry within you.

Peter: Where can listeners connect with you?

John: My main website is johnhenny.com, and for speakers specifically, compellingspeaker.com.

That's a wrap of another episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Be sure to tune in again for a conversation with another public speaking expert. And remember to use the link in the show notes to go to Amazon and check out Peter's acclaimed book, The Captivating Public Speaker.