"Hearing each other's voices and catching up over coffee on the latest happenings with my brother Kwan from Brisbane."

Many people don't think about their voice during their day-to-day conversations. Well, that may be so, but if you're presenting or speaking as a professional, you'd want to use every available means to capture the attention of your audience.

We're all born with our natural voice but do very little with it to enhance it's effectiveness. In fact, your voice is a wonderful musical instrument, to be used to win over the heads and hearts of your listeners. Moreso, if used to its maximum effectiveness, it's like an orchestra with it's highs and lows that triggers thoughts, imagery and sensations in the minds of your listeners.

The column of air that starts from our lungs amd that's brought in from the outside by our diaphragm, is one of the most important factors to consider when we talk about voice. Because it is that column of air that supports our voice. No air, no voice.

Good speech results from breathing properly and to releasing a controlled flow of air for speaking. To improve your breathing and voice power, do the following exercise while sitting up:

1. Breathe through your nose for 3 seconds
2. Hold for 3 seconds
3. Exhale, drop your jaw wide
4. Open your back of your throat as if you're yawning
5. Pretend that a hollow tube connects the back of your throat to your tummy
6. On exhalation of your breath, keep jaw open and say "aaaahhh" sound as long as you can. Remember to open the back of your throat
7. Feel the tone pass all the way down the imaginary hollow tube from your mouth, to your throat, to your tummy
8. Make the sound low and deep. Feel the tone vibrate deep in your tummy
9. Hold the tone for 6 seconds, doing it slowly and relaxed. Remember to sit up in a good posture
10. Do this 5 times. Do it at least 3 times a day

Within a short period, you will notice a measurable improvement in your voice as this technique helps oxygenate your blood, project your voice, eliminates voice tension and controls the rate of your speech.

Good luck!

And so said Little Red Riding Hood to the Big Bad Wolf. What is the single, most powerful feature apart from your voice that you can use to hold your audience's attention when you present?

If you said eye contact - you're right!

Look directly at the other person's eyes when you are talking to them. If you are sincere about it, then you will make quite an impression on the other person if you are also enthusiastic and genuine about what you are saying. Remember, a small half smile on your lips conveys a lot, and you should strive to establish and gain rapport with the other person when you are communicating with them.

Have you ever been to a party or to a meeting where the person you're talking to keeps on glancing about the room to see who's there? You begin to feel uncomfortable and ask yourself, "Does this person really care about me and what I have to say?"

Feeling rejected, you may start to glance about the room as well, as your defences go up. Your conversation will be superficial, and you may want to exit from the scene. Fast! Although you might have exchanged business cards or phone numbers, you really don't care if that person ever calls you.

So what brought this feeling on? It's because s/he didn't bother to look into your eyes as you were talking. This scenario is a common and disheartening one. Most of the time, the people don't mean to be rude - often they don't even realise what they're doing.

However, an excellent communicator would pay attention to the person or a group and make them feel as though they are the most important people in the world. Develop excellent eye contact by looking into the other person's eyes for about 3 seconds before moving onto the next person in the group.

Doing this will avoid the impression that you are shifty and cannot be trusted. So remember to cultivate deliberate and excellent eye contact in your next speech! You'll be a magnet to others!

Picture of the World Heritage Cruiser in Tasmania

I'm off to Sydney and Tasmania in February for a working holiday. I can hardly wait to revisit Tasmania, especially the township of Strahan and to visit Sarah Island which was named "Hell on Earth" by the early convicts from England. The World Heritage wilderness beckons and I'm also excited to attend the play by the famous The Round Earth Company. The director of the play, Richard Davey, comes with a formidable reputation - he has had many years of theatre experience and wrote and produced Tasmania's longest running play, "The Ship That Never Was".

I'll tell you more about the trip next month, and share with you what I learn.

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It's CHINESE NEW YEAR this month in February. I wish all my readers great Health, Wealth and Prosperity in the year of the Rooster! May all your wishes come true for you and your loved ones!

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Do write to me with any comments or feedback that you have.

See you next month!

Ricky