A number of years ago I conducted an interview with master speaker, and former NSW Premier Bob Carr, for a product titled, Choice Voice. Lessons from great speaking voices.

Here is a portion of one response from Carr during the interview.

Michael Kelly
**Give us an example or two of how your voice helped in achieving the success you’ve had in public life and in business life.

Bob Carr
“Well, you have to be heard in the Parliament, so when I was a young Minister I took a lot of trouble to give performances at Question time in the New South Wales Parliament as impressive as I could make them.

And you could only do that by having an energetic and animated voice. If you couldn’t be heard and if you didn’t sound like a frontbencher you were in trouble.

I think the voice communicates moreover when you’re Leader of the Opposition whether you’re a credible Premier, a prospect as Premier. And if you don’t sound like it – if you sound under-educated,

there are people unconsciously who are going to mark you down.

The voice has got to carry authority and I think performing as Premier and persuading people to do things they may not have thought of, or they might find too hard – again it’s authority and your authority begins with your voice.”

Here is Carr’s entire 1:48 minute response to the above request. I strongly encourage you to listen to it, to hear and ‘feel’ the authority of Carr’s voice.

Own the Conversation

Implementation suggestion to get to better ‘know’ your voice.

(1) For the next seven days, at the start of each day, audio record yourself for 50 seconds talking about what you’ll to that day.

(2) Listen to the clip immediately.

(3) Note one thing you like about your voice.

(4) Give yourself a ‘reward’ (eg. a pat on your forearm) for doing the recording and listening.

p.s. Here is the entire, and free Choice Voice interview with Bob Carr