You know exactly what you want to say.

 You practiced it in the car (where you sounded sooo polished!) 

You practiced in front of the mirror (where you looked cool, collected and confident!)

Then…..

 You stood up in front of actual human beings and suddenly your voice became quiet, shaky, breathless—or so inexplicably high that people wondered about the tightness of your pants. 

This is where voice coaching for public speaking can help you.

Public speaking coaching is not just for CEOs giving TED Talks or people dramatically pointing at PowerPoint presentations. 

It can help teachers, attorneys, business owners, students, managers, performers, and anyone who wants to sound more confident when other people are listening.

And no, the goal is not to turn you into a booming radio announcer or make you speak in a fake “professional voice” (think newscaster) that sounds nothing like you.

The goal is to help your real voice work better. As I often say, the goal is to be you…but enhanced!  

What Does Voice Coaching for Public Speaking Actually Help With?

Many people assume that public speaking problems are entirely about confidence.

Sometimes they are. In fact, a lot of it is. But it’s not everything !

Sometimes the problem is also physical.

You may be running out of breath halfway through a sentence. You may be tightening your throat when you get nervous. You may be speaking too quickly because your brain is screaming, “FINISH THIS PRESENTATION SO YOU CAN GO HOME TO YOUR CAT.”

Voice coaching can help with things such as:

• speaking clearly without overworking
• projecting your voice without yelling
• breathing more efficiently
• reducing throat and neck tension
• slowing down without sounding robotic
• adding vocal variety
• improving articulation
• avoiding vocal fatigue
• sounding more polished on Zoom
• managing a shaky or breathy voice

A good voice coach will not just tell you to “be more confident.”

That’s about as helpful as telling someone with insomnia to “just fall asleep.” 

Instead, a coach should give you specific tools you can actually practice. The goal: develop new habits through awareness and  repetition . 

Where Can You Find Public Speaking Voice Coaching?

There are several different places to look, depending on what you need.

1. A Private Voice Coach

A private voice coach can work with you one-on-one on your breathing, projection, resonance, pacing, articulation, and vocal stamina.

This can be especially helpful if your main concern is how your voice feels or sounds when you speak. A lot of people come to me  mentioning specific feedback they have gotten, such as “I have been told I mumble ”, or “ I tend to say ‘um’ or ‘like’ a lot”. 

Private coaching also gives you the chance to work on your actual presentation, speech, interview, lecture, or meeting material.

You can practice the real thing instead of repeatedly saying random phrases about red leather and yellow leather until you get bored and wonder what the heck you’re even doing. 

Online voice coaching can work very well for public speaking, especially if most of your presentations happen virtually. Your coach can hear how you sound through a computer microphone and help you make adjustments for Zoom, Teams, recorded presentations, webinars, or online interviews.

2. A Public Speaking Coach

A public speaking coach may focus more heavily on presentation skills, body language, audience engagement, storytelling, and speech structure.

This can be a great fit if you already feel comfortable using your voice but need help organizing your ideas or connecting with an audience…and keeping them! 

Some public speaking coaches also have strong vocal training backgrounds. Others focus more on communication strategy.

Neither is automatically better. It simply depends on what you need.

If your main problem is, “I do not know what to say,” a public speaking coach may be the best place to start so they can help you put it all together. 

If your main problem is, “I know exactly what to say, but my voice disappears when people are added to the equation,” voice coaching may be what you need! 

3. Toastmasters

Toastmasters can be a helpful and super  affordable way to get regular practice speaking in front of people. It can even be fun and a great way to meet people,too! 

Members give speeches, receive feedback, and gradually become more comfortable presenting.

Toastmasters is especially useful if you need repetition and accountability. The more often you speak in front of a group, the less terrifying it usually becomes. After all, we fear the unknown! 

However, Toastmasters is not the same as individualized vocal coaching.

A group may tell you that you need to speak louder or slow down. A voice coach can help you understand why you are struggling to do that and show you how to fix it. 

Also, the two can work very well together if you’re super serious about getting better at this! 

4. Acting or Theatre Classes

Acting classes can be wonderful for developing vocal expression, physical presence, spontaneity, and comfort in front of an audience.

They can also help people stop sounding as though they are reading directly from a hostage note.

That said, acting classes don’t focus specifically on workplace presentations, interviews, lectures, or professional communication.

Look for a teacher who understands your goals and will not require you to pretend to be a river ….unless, of course,  that is something you have always secretly wanted.

Another option you may find useful in this category is one near to my heart: IMPROV CLASSES!  There are even improv groups like the famed Second City that cater specifically to business professionals and students.

With improv, it’s not about being hilarious (although, depending on the presentation, it can indeed be super helpful!)

Rather, it’s about being comfortable being in the moment, reacting, and creating communication from simple prompts.  I can say with certainty that improv can be insanely fun, as well as insanely helpful…! 

5. Corporate Communication Programs

Some companies offer executive communication training, presentation workshops, or leadership development programs.

These may be useful if you need help with boardroom presentations, sales pitches, media interviews, or high-stakes meetings.

The quality and personality of these programs vary greatly.

Some are practical and supportive.

Some appear to believe that every successful professional must speak slowly, stand completely still, and use the same tired jargon. 

Ask what the program actually covers before signing up. And read reviews if you can. 

How Do You Choose the Right Coach?

Before booking, look at the coach’s background and teaching style.

Do they work with speakers as well as singers?

Do they understand breath, tension, vocal fatigue, and projection? In other words: technique?

Do they offer private lessons?

Can they work with your actual presentation material?

Do they sound like someone you would feel comfortable being awkward in front of?

That last question matters….because you gotta check your ego at the door here. 

Public speaking can make people feel vulnerable. You need a coach who can give honest feedback without making you feel like an idiot. 

A good coach should explain what is happening, offer practical exercises, and help you make gradual improvements.

They should not simply tell you to “open up,” “own the room,” or “find your power stance” while providing no information about how one actually does that.

Do I Need to Change My Natural Voice?

No. 

Definitely not.

You do not need to manufacture a deeper, louder, smoother, more “important” version of yourself.

In fact, forcing your voice to sound lower or more authoritative can create extra tension , causing problems you just don’t have time for. 

The best public speakers usually sound like themselves—just clearer, more grounded, and much easier to understand.

You can still have an accent.

You can still have a softer voice.

You can still sound warm, funny, thoughtful, enthusiastic, nerdy, serious, or delightfully strange.

The goal is not to erase your personality. No way! 

The goal is to make sure your voice communicates what you actually want it to communicate. 

Coaches like myself want to work with your personality, so that your presentations are easier for you and your audience! 

Can Voice Coaching Help With Nerves?

Yes, although it will not magically eliminate every nervous feeling.

Some nerves are normal. Even experienced performers and speakers can feel anxious before an important event. Nerves are not a bad thing: they simply mean you care ! 

Voice coaching can help you manage the physical symptoms that show up when you are nervous.

For example, you can learn how to:

• avoid holding your breath
• release unnecessary throat tension
• begin speaking without gasping
• use pauses instead of rushing
• recover if your voice shakes
• warm up before a presentation
• pace yourself during longer talks
• eliminate filler words such as “ummm” and “like”

The goal is not necessarily to feel absolutely fearless…’cause good luck with that.

The goal is to know what to do even when you are nervous. Because nerves are human.

What Happens in a Public Speaking Voice Lesson?

A lesson may begin with breathing, stretching, gentle sound exercises, or articulation work.

Then you may practice part of your speech, presentation, interview answer, lecture, or meeting introduction.

Your coach may help you identify places where you rush, tighten, lose breath, trail off, or become difficult to understand.

You may work on one small section several times.

This is normal, so be prepared for some tedious sessions! 

Nobody becomes a brilliant speaker because someone yelled, “LOUDER!” from the back of the room.

Progress usually comes from making specific adjustments and practicing them until they begin to feel natural. Muscle memory at its finest! 

Is Online Voice Coaching Effective for Public Speaking?

Absolutely. 

But you knew I would say that.

Online coaching is especially practical for people who speak during:

• virtual meetings
• webinars
• online interviews
• recorded courses
• livestreams
• remote presentations
• podcast interviews

Your coach can help you work with the same type of setup you use professionally.

You can also record portions of your lesson, review exercises between sessions, and practice from your own home.

This is particularly nice if the thought of driving somewhere, finding parking, entering a mysterious office building, and speaking in front of a stranger adds an entirely unnecessary second layer of stress…which I totally, totally get!  I just want my clients to be as comfortable as possible.

Final Thoughts

The best voice coaching program for public speaking is one that matches your actual needs, which may be different than another business professional’s . 

You may benefit from private voice lessons, public speaking coaching, Toastmasters, acting/improv classes, or a combination of several options!

The most important thing is finding a coach or program that gives you practical tools—not vague encouragement and a motivational quote about resilience. 

Your voice does not need to become bigger, lower, louder, or less like you.

It simply needs to become more reliable and easy to use. 

You should be able to walk into a meeting, presentation, interview, or classroom and trust that your voice will show up with you and do its thing. 

That is what good voice coaching can help you build.

If this sounds good to you, I’d love to help you with your speaking! Book a session here so I can get you sounding and feeling like your best self in front of others.