Do I need a 'voice coach'? The Difference between ‘vocal coaching’ and what I do (hint: my way is better)
Prime Minister: some have sneered at Keir Starmer for hiring a voice coach (Image: Simon Dawson)
I'm famous! I was featured in the Guardian last week, in an article about voice coaching for politicians and how developing effective public speaking skills can enhance leadership communication.
(It's not my first appearance in this esteemed publication: that was a very brief mention in a theatre review when I was a student at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art a mere 22 years ago!)
This came about (the new piece, not the theatre review haha!) because of reports in the British press about how prime minister Keir Starmer had used the services of a voice coach for several years (not me, sadly).
Beyond the specific focus of the story (opposite politicians criticising the PM for meeting his coach in person during the UK's second covid lockdown: 'is a voice coach a key worker??') the Guardian writer noted that in a lot of the commentary, there was 'sniffiness' about the fact that Starmer had used a voice coach at all.
A person aspiring to become the nation's most high-profile public speaker, needing help with public speaking? What a scandal!
Effortless Public Speaking: Preserving the Mystique
As I said in the piece: It is a critique that many high-profile people fear when they ask for this kind of help, says Anthony, [who] has signed plenty of NDAs as a result. “I think people want to preserve the mystique that they are effortlessly brilliant,” he says.
I talked about this the last time I was quoted in a British newspaper about Keir Starmer and his voice.
Back then, in 2023, I was asked to comment on whether I thought the Leader of the Opposition as-was had had voice coaching (and now we know for sure).
My take on it was, in essence, 'I should hope he has! If he hasn't - is he really serious about becoming the Prime Minister?'
People do like the idea that speaking well is a talent: it feels special, this notion that you were born to do this job/lead this company/present this product to the world, and look how blessed you are with the ability to inspire and move people. ‘No-one else can do what I do!’
David Beckham: needed no help, coaching or practice to score from 30 yards away. Just talent
Public speaking comes easily to some people, I suppose, just like David Beckham was a naturally gifted footballer, right? I'm sure the hours and hours of free-kick practice that DB did as a kid had very little to do with his 'talent'.
Developing effective public speaking skills, like taking free kicks, takes practice.
Good speaking is not a talent. Like any skill, it can and should be practised if you want to get better.
Public Speaking Coaching: Which Approach Works Best?
So what's the best way to practise? What kind of public speaking coach will get the best out of you?
Because there are different approaches, and different types of coach. The type of coaching you get makes a big difference.
In the Guardian article, as well as coming to me for comment, the writer quoted a couple of other professionals, who were more what I would call a 'vocal coach' or 'voice coach'.
Theatrical: stage actors and singers benefit from voice coaching. But is that what speakers really need?
There’s an important distinction to be made between my approach, and traditional voice coaching - the kind that actors and singers tend to work with.
I know, because as I subtly referred to above, I'm a classically-trained actor and RADA alumnus - that's right darling, you can’t get much more traditional than that.
The other coaches in the Guardian article, who I'm sure are very good, talk about 'accessing the breath' and making a 'fully voiced sound'.
This is vocal coaching jargon: what does 'accessing the breath' mean in plain English? 'Breathing'? Does making a 'fully voiced sound' mean speaking LOUDER? Deeper?
I loved my RADA training, but that's the thing: I was training to be a professional performer.
Traditional Voice Coaching vs. Effective Public Speaking Coaching
Traditional voice coaching focuses on the speaker, the speaker's body, and the mechanics of sound production, whereas corporate speech coaching takes a more strategic approach to communication in professional settings.
My approach prioritises the needs and experience of the listener.
Traditional voice coaching is built around the idea that the voice is an instrument that can be fine-tuned. A 'voice coach' helps with projection, pitch control, breath support, resonance, and articulation.
These techniques are invaluable for actors who need to fill a theatre with their voice, eight performances a week, or singers developing the range and flexibility to achieve the artistic effect of whatever music they're singing.
But there’s a key issue: this approach keeps the speaker’s attention on themselves—on their breath, posture, and tone—rather than on their audience.
When applied to public speaking, I've found that this inward focus can actually be a distraction.
If a speaker is overly preoccupied with how they feel, and how they sound ('am I using my chest voice enough?'), they may lose sight of why they are speaking in the first place: to communicate a message in a way that lands with the listener.
In real-world scenarios—whether in politics, leadership, or business—the effectiveness of a speech isn’t measured by vocal technique but by how well the message is understood and acted upon.
You don't have to sound like Morgan Freeman or Cate Blanchett to be a good speaker. I've heard speakers with high, tense voices speak really well, and I've heard speakers with beautiful rich baritones, cool as a cucumber and super-relaxed, deliver lacklustre, vague and underwhelming speeches.
Listener-Focused Speaking: A More Effective Approach
The core of my coaching philosophy is: what are the needs of a listener?
I help speakers focus on what their audience needs to hear and how they need to hear it. This means remembering what it's like to be a listener and understanding what you need from a speaker: expectations, concerns, and emotional state so you can craft a message that resonates with them.
Speaking well isn’t about perfect enunciation or vocal theatrics—it’s about connection and developing effective public speaking skills.
The goal is not to impress with your voice but to ensure your audience grasps and remembers your message.
That’s why a listener-focused approach is far more effective, and more useful, than refining vocal technique like an actor or a singer.
Practical Tips for Effective Public Speaking
If you want to shift from a performance-based approach to a connection-based approach, here are some strategies you can use:
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listeners need YOU to do the work so that they don't have to. This is not the same as getting hung up on how they're judging you: 'do they like my voice? Will they think I sound professional?' These are not helpful thoughts to have while you're speaking.
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Instead of worrying about sounding good, think about whether you are being clear. If your audience understands they will feel engaged, and then your voice is doing its job.
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don't worry about whether the timbre of your voice is “authoritative” or “polished.” A conversational tone is more effective than a theatrical one anyway, especially in leadership and business contexts.
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use pauses to support meaning. Well-placed pauses give your audience time to absorb your thoughts and information. If they can keep up with you, they'll find it easier to listen.
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Your connection with your audience isn’t just about sound—it’s also visual. Making eye contact makes listeners feel spoken to, not at - but not all the time or it just feels weird (yes that's a technical term). The Guardian slightly misquoted my instructions, which are: pick just two or three key thoughts, look up on the last three words of that thought, and hold it for a moment. Then the thought will connect with the listener.
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Great speakers are so focused on the needs of a listener that they stay attuned to their audience’s reactions, and adjust accordingly. If people seem confused, clarify. If they seem disengaged, find a new energy on your next thought. Communication is a two-way process: even a formal public speech should feel like a conversation.
The most effective speakers aren’t those with the most refined voices but those who understand how to deliver their message with their listeners in mind, using audience-centred communication techniques to maximise engagement.
When you stop thinking about how you sound and start thinking about how you are heard, your impact grows exponentially.
As ever, I'm incredibly easy to get in touch with to discuss meeting online for a free 1hr taster session.
And even though I'm 'famous' now I haven't jacked up my prices :)