You’ve been told to “just take a deep breath” before you speak. But if your chest is tight and your voice won’t come out, that advice falls flat. This post explores why your voice locks up under pressure, and the simple, science-backed techniques you can use to release it.

My overarching recommendation is to use space and pauses to omit authority and confidence. It also helps to avoid stuttering, rushing your speech, and the dreaded 'um'

As a Voice Coach, I’m constantly meeting singers and speakers who are not breathing correctly!

In fact, most of us breathe incorrectly… we raise our upper body/our shoulders when we inhale and drop down again when we exhale. This can cause all sorts of problems, including anxiety, shortness of breath and unnecessary tension.