Professional speakers know all the tricks of the trade for ensuring that their best commodities - their voices -- stay healthy.

What can you do if a frog suddenly finds its way to your throat minutes before an important presentation? What if it's a sore throat or cold that bothers your voice? Even before you make an important sales call on the telephone, your voice is critical. A hoarse voice is not pleasant on the ears.

Some professional speakers have their own trade secrets for nurturing ailing vocal chords. I like to sip a Halls Menthylyptus cough drop, melted in a cup of boiling water. Other speakers I know use unflavored Ricola cough drops. Still another speaker uses Herbal Quincer's, a throat drop made by Lotte.

Another problem many presenters have is the dreaded dry mouth syndrome. At one time or another it hits most speakers. No one is immune. In order to avoid and cure this problem, before making a presentation, consider the following eight guidelines:

Watch the foods you eat.
Avoid caffeine, sugar, chocolate and dairy products. These items can make you thirsty and parched or create mucus.

Use Vaseline on your teeth.
This helps your upper lip slide over the teeth and create saliva.

Bite the tip of your tongue.
Don't bite so hard that it draws blood, just enough to create saliva.

Drink plenty of water.
Make sure it's room temperature or warm -- not ice-cold. Consider adding a wedge of lemon -- it can cut the phlegm, but may be too acidic for some stomachs.

Stop smoking and avoid alcoholic drinks.
Both of these vices are hard on the throat.

Watch what you wear.
Your clothing should be loose around the waist to help you breathe better and around the neck so it doesn't choke you.

Consider doing vocal warm-ups.
Everyone makes fun of singing in the shower, but it's effective. Even some upbeat humming on the way to your presentation of before picking up the phone to make a call can help.

Sit up straight!
Your mother was right. Good posture while speaking can help your voice stay healthy.

Although a strong, healthy voice doesn't guarantee you speaking success, without one it will be hard to present your ideas effectively.


Article copyright 2003 Marjorie Brody and Brody Communications Ltd.

Marjorie Brody, MA, CSP, CMC, is founder and fearless leader of Brody Communications Ltd. in Jenkintown, PA, and an executive coach. She helps individuals and corporations achieve their potential by strengthening their professionalism, persuasiveness and presence. Marjorie has presented to more than 1,000 audiences, and is the author of 15 books, including Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move?, Speaking is an Audience-Centered Sport, and Professional Impressions … Etiquette for Everyone, Every Day. She has appeared on CNBC several times, Fox-TV, Oxygen Network, and been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, People, BusinessWeek, Fortune and many other national publications. Marjorie can be reached at 800-726-7936, or by visiting www.MarjorieBrody.com. To sign up for her free quarterly newsletter, go to www.BrodyCommunications.com.