When I work with my clients in color – the life, the emotion, the animation we express in speaking – one of the many exercises we cover is one in which they must say, “She said yes,” as if they were afraid. Many people have difficulty saying those three words in that manner. Of course, I jokingly tell them to imagine that their mother-in-law is coming to stay with them for 6 months! Upon hearing that, many are then able to express those words admirably.
The singular, most important aspect in their terrified countenance is what happens to their eyes: they open wide and you can see and almost feel their fear.
You have probably heard someone being described as having cold, lifeless eyes or maybe an individual has warm, inviting eyes. Our eyes are indeed the windows to our soul as was said in the book of Matthew, one of the Gospels in the Bible: goodness can be seen in one’s eyes as well as evil.
For the purposes of public speaking, however, your eyes can say many things about you, the most common of which may be fear. While some of my clients may have difficulty showing fear in a role-play situation, were they placed on a stage for the purpose of addressing an audience, indeed, the fear in their eyes might well be the only emotion they express!
In the movie, Witness, a young Amish boy has witnessed a murder at the 30th Street Train Station in Philadelphia. While at the police station looking at a cabinet filled with awards and trophies, he sees a picture of the man who committed the murder. His eyes instantly express both recognition and fear. You, the viewer, do not immediately see what the child is seeing; however, he does not need to say a word for you to understand what his eyes are expressing.
When you are speaking, be it at the lectern or just in conversation, what are your eyes saying? Do you allow your emotions to be seen? Are you able to show joy, disbelief, sadness, enthusiasm, anger, pain as well as fear just by means of your eyes? If you are unsure, watch yourself in the mirror as you express those emotions with the simple words, She said yes. This is an excellent exercise to begin the process of speaking with color.
Your eyes truly are the windows to your soul. Use them when you speak and your emotions will be seen as well as heard.
If you would like to speak with more expression, you can work with me by means of Skype in which I will show you how to be more colorful in your speech. In the process, you will discover your deeper, richer, more mature-sounding voice. For more information, visit my Voice Training Services Page.