FOUNDATION 2: VOLUME (Projection)

What It Is

Volume is how loudly or softly you speak. But it's not about being loud—it's about projection. Projection means your voice carries, fills the room, and reaches everyone's ears without effort.

The Difference Between Loud and Projected

• Loud: You're shouting from your throat. It sounds aggressive, harsh, and exhausting.
• Projected: Your voice comes from your diaphragm (the muscle below your lungs). It fills space naturally, without strain.

What It Communicates

• Quiet/Weak (from throat, no support): Apologetic, uncertain, timid, not serious
• Projected (from diaphragm, supported): Confident, authoritative, grounded, credible
• Too Loud (aggressive yelling): Harsh, dominating, scary, unprofessional

Why It Matters

Volume tells people whether you believe in what you're saying. When you whisper or speak quietly:

• People have to strain to hear you
• You sound uncertain
• They think your message isn't important
• You come across as apologetic

When you project:

• People can hear you without effort
• You sound confident
• You sound important
• Your authority increases

The Physical Component: Diaphragmatic Support

Your voice comes from three places:

1. Throat (wrong) - Creates tension, sounds strained, gets tired quickly
2. Chest (partial) - Better, but still limited
3. Diaphragm (correct) - Supported, resonant, fills space naturally

How to find diaphragmatic support:

• Put your hand on your belly (below your ribcage)
• Take a deep breath in through your nose (your belly expands, not your chest)
• On the exhale, say: "HEY" or "NO" (you should feel it come from your belly, not your throat)
• That's where your voice should come from

The Cost of Speaking Too Quietly

• People ask you to repeat yourself
• Your ideas get overlooked
• You sound apologetic even when you're not
• In important moments, people don't take you seriously
• You get interrupted

The Power of Projection

When you project:

• People hear you clearly
• You sound confident and present
• Your ideas get taken seriously
• You command attention
• People respect you

Reference Videos :

Look at this Ted Talk of Dr. Wendy LeBorgne (TEDxUCincinnati)  “Vocal Branding: How Your Voice Shapes Your Communication Image” 

This talk explains how the physiology of the voice affects presence and projection. LeBorgne breaks down how resonance, breath support, and vocal placement influence how powerful or weak a voice sounds — perfect for illustrating projection vs. loudness.

How to Practice Volume

Exercise 1: Diaphragmatic Breathing

1. Stand or sit comfortably
2. Place your hand on your belly
3. Breathe in slowly through your nose (belly expands)
4. Exhale on a "HA" sound (feel it come from your belly)
5. Practice 5 times
6. This is where your voice lives

Exercise 2: Projection in Different Spaces

1. Stand in a small room
2. Say: "I have something important to share" (project so it fills the room, not shout)
3. Stand in a large room
4. Say the same thing (project further)
5. Stand outdoors
6. Say the same thing (project even further)
7. Notice: You're not getting louder, you're projecting further

Exercise 3: Compare Throat vs. Diaphragm

1. Say this sentence from your throat " We need to make some changes in our department. " (you'll feel tension)
2. Say the same sentence from your diaphragm (you'll feel support)
3. Record both
4. Which sounds more credible?

Exercise 4: Speak While Walking

1. Walk around while speaking
2. This naturally uses diaphragmatic support
3. Notice how your voice feels different
4. This is the feeling you want