Public Speaking: 15 Easy Ways to Keep Your Voice Healthy

Maintaining a strong, healthy voice is vital for virtual and in-person speaking. Here are 15 easy ways to keep your voice healthy.

Have you ever been so passionate in expressing yourself that you lost your voice?

We usually call this condition hoarseness. But it’s an indication that some real vocal abuse has been
going on. Fortunately, it’s a temporary and benign condition that comes from straining the vocal folds
or “cords.”

But it can become something serious if it turns into chronic abuse or misuse of the voice. That can
happen with anyone who uses his or her voice extensively, especially in public settings. That can
include politicians, sports coaches who shout from the sidelines—or singers. Adele made headlines in
2017, for instance, for requiring surgery on her vocal cords for the second time in six years—while still in
her 20s.

When you speak at in-person and virtual meetings, in presentations, and on the phone, you face the
same challenge in keeping your voice functioning optimally without strain or damage. Here are 15 easy
techniques to help you do so.