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There is a very particular kind of frustration that a lot of people carry around for years, and they often do it quietly. It sounds like this: “I know I can speak.”“I know what I’m talking about.”“I’m absolutely fine in a normal conversation.”“But put me in a meeting, a panel, a group call, a boardroom, or any room where it matters, and suddenly I’m different.”

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I just need more confidence,” I want to suggest that you may have been aiming at the wrong target. Because most people do not struggle because they lack talent.They do not struggle because they have nothing valuable to say.And they do not struggle because they are fundamentally incapable of becoming strong communicators. They struggle because pressure changes them.

There’s something slightly uncomfortable about what we’re going to look at today. Because once you notice it, you won’t be able to un-hear it. And more importantly, you may start to recognise it in yourself. In the last episode, we talked about the pressure gap. The difference between who you are at your best and how you come across when the stakes rise. Today, we’re going one level deeper. We’re going to look at how that gap shows up in your voice. Not in obvious ways. In small ways. Subtle ways. The kind of shifts that you don’t notice when you’re speaking. But other people register almost immediately.

There’s a moment that happens in meetings that almost nobody talks about. You’re prepared. You know your material. You’re not junior. You’re not inexperienced. And yet, when the attention turns towards you, something changes. Not dramatically. Just slightly. Your breathing shifts. Your thoughts speed up. You begin speaking a fraction faster than you intended. You added a little more explanation than you planned. And when you finish, the room doesn’t quite respond in the way you expected.

Hey, welcome back to the show. I’m Jimmy Cannon—and whether you’re out on a walk, driving to work, or elbow-deep in the washing up, thanks for bringing me along. Today we’re talking about a skill that most people think they should be good at… but secretly dread: thinking on your feet. You know, those moments when you’re put on the spot and your brain decides to take a coffee break. But here’s the twist—we’re not going to talk about quick tips or hacks. We’re going to talk about jazz. Because as someone who’s spent years performing and improvising on stage, I’ve realised that the same things that make a great soloist… can make you a powerful speaker. This isn’t about being flashy. It’s about presence, trust, and knowing what to do when the unexpected happens. Let’s dive in. Do people really listen when you speak? 🎤 Take our free quiz to discover how to speak with confidence, communicate with clarity, and make a lasting impact: https://cut-through-communicator.scoreapp.com

Ever feel like no one’s really listening when you speak—no matter how polished your slides or steady your voice? In this episode of Public Presentation Tips, we’re digging into why most professionals lose the room... and how to win it back with presence, contrast, and confidence. 🎤 Want to know how well you come across when you speak? Take our free quiz to discover how to speak with confidence, communicate with clarity, and make a lasting impact: cut-through-communicator.scoreapp.com

Struggling to make your voice heard in the crowded world of online meetings and webinars? In this episode, we dive into practical voice projection exercises that will help you cut through the noise, speak with clarity, and project your message to a larger audience with confidence. Whether you're presenting to a small team or addressing a virtual auditorium, these techniques will ensure your voice commands attention.

5 ways to change how you speak  We use our voice every day, but more importantly, you need it in your business. Talking to clients and colleagues, in meetings and presentations, your voice is your number one communicator and is key to your influence and impact, whatever industry you’re in. Here are 5 things you can do to change the way you speak and more importantly, how you’re perceived...

Or, do you or know someone that does? It can sound grating, and generally lacks tone and dynamics.  One thing I see and hear often with clients, is that they speak from the Larynx, which can be tiring and sound strained.  What you might not realise is that there are a lot more areas of resonance that you can tap into (literally), which will give you more projection and colour to your voice.

Our voice is sometimes the first thing that people notice and is key to our influence and communication. Most people are unaware that with the right tools, they can speak with more variety of tone, dynamics and project their voice so that they sound more authoritative, and engaging to colleagues and clients.

Knowing how to warm up your voice quietly, is key when preparing to speak online in these times of remote culture.  There are plenty of vocal warm-up exercises for the voice, such as my own, but in this episode, I've focused on ones that you can do straight away and without anyone listening in. Find Jimmy on social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmycannonsinger/ https://www.facebook.com/JimmyCannonsingerandvoicecoach/ ➡️  Join Jimmy's online course 'Master Your Voice' here: https://www.jimmycannon.com/master-your-voice-course About This Episode: In this episode, Jimmy Cannon shares tips on how to: warm up your voice quietly before speaking on Zoom to clients and colleagues, giving a presentation or recording a video. To book Jimmy for workshops or one to one voice coaching sessions or for more information on the courses he can offer, please email: [email protected] Or call +44 (0) 7970412147 https://www.jimmycannon.com/

Practising voice projection exercises will help your voice cut through the crowd in meetings, and speak with more clarity and projection to a larger audience.

Most of us, including me before I became a professional singer, take a shallow breath into the top of our chest, so when we speak it can sound tight and thin.  Using correct diaphragmatic breathing, we can let a lot more air into the lungs and therefore use this air to create more resonance.  Exploring different areas of resonance will give you more projection and variety of tone in your voice, helping you communicate your message more confidently and with more authority.

In this podcast, I talk about how to develop stage presence for public speaking.  This could be a metre square piece of carpet in your office, behind a podium in a large conference centre, or even in the bar after work.  By changing the way you stand and hold yourself when speaking will affect how you sound and come across to your audience.

Speaking anxiety is a very real thing, in fact, it has a name; ‘Glossophobia’ Individuals who have fear of speaking publicly suffer from strong fear in social performance situations and social sphere. (Stein, Walker, & Forde, 1996).   Causes of stage fright: The experience we have when asked to make a presentation or before speaking at a conference is primal, and comes from our ‘fight or flight’ response, which is ingrained deeply into our DNA. The body releases Adrenaline to counteract and control the fear, but of course, we don’t need to run away from animals anymore…