At a recent presentations skills workshop I gave in New York City , I asked an executive with a thin voice to rate the loudness of his voice on a scale from 1-10. He picked an 8, the rest of the room picked a 3. I see this over and over again. For some reason, most of us tend to imagine our voice is louder than it actually is.

Try rating the power of your speaking voice . Ask a friend to evaluate your voice on a scale o f 1-10 while you’re presenting. Is their perception of your voice the same as yours? If so, how is it different? When you speak, does your voice “go to the walls”, but not beyond them? Are you able to fill the room with sound? Really engage the diaphragm?

If your perception of the power of your voice is an 8 and your colleagues think you’re at a 3, trust their feedback, and make some changes. Try speaking at an 8, even if it seems like you’re shouting. Again, test the results in front of your colleague. If they feel that your volume is adequate, really challenge yourself to stay at an 8 while speaking. It may feel awkward to you, but it’s likely fine for your audience.