"Following redundancy I was advised to seek a Voice Coach to help me develop my voice to sound its best especially during job interviews and when speaking on the telephone.

Fortunately I came across Susan’s website and promptly booked a course of five sessions with her.

Each session was relaxed, non-judgemental, informal and fun including relaxation and warm up exercises prior to the actual voice work. I was given a workbook full of easy-to-follow tips and advice. Also each session was recorded so I could return home and practice many of the techniques learnt. I was impressed by the rapid progress I made during only a small number of sessions. This improvement has been commented upon by both my family and friends.

Working with Susan was a very enjoyable experience. I would have no hesitation in thoroughly recommending her as a Voice Coach and indeed have done so many times."

David J. King

Dear Susan,

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you, but as a result of our very successful Voice Workshop (for which many thanks!) our group has decided to do some singing for fun.  We have been practising a couple of carols which we performed successfully today at the Company Carol Service under the banner "***** singers". 

I have found your CD with the relaxation exercises and techniques for voice care very useful, and I press the breathing and standing into service each time before we sing.  I also pressed them into service on 6 December when I had to share the presentations with another colleague in a day-long training session to would-be **** assessors.

With very best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,

from

JP

International Research Company

Susan Heaton Wright – Voice Coach – Testimonial

Background

I was introduced to Susan early in 2006.  At the time I was working with an Executive Coach who had helped identify that it would be beneficial for me to get some coaching in projecting my voice more positively and confidently as well as working on my personal presentation.

Professional Services

Susan gave me some advice on the types of support with which she could help me.  Once I had decided what I thought would be best, Susan gave me a short contractual document and we set up a first meeting.

We discussed at the first meeting how the support would work and Susan was very flexible about what she would cover with me once she was clearer what I perceived was my main problem area.  We had an initial two hour session which covered basics from breathing properly, posture, entering a room (for a meeting), selecting where to sit (to make best impact) -  to recording my voice then analysing and discussing the impact on the listener by emphasising different words and phrases.

Further meetings were arranged at mutually convenient times and venues and I was given some practice work in between times such as recording a different voicemail on my mobile answering service – which Susan checked for signs of improvement!

At a subsequent meeting, Susan discussed my progress since we had last met and she re-evaluated whether or not we were working on the right things.  Even though Susan was making clear what she thought I needed to work on, it felt like a jointly owned programme of improvement activity.

The support Susan provides was also very good value for money considering the ground covered and the progress that I felt I had made in a very short period.

Personal Experience

I found the sessions with Susan really helpful.  Looking back, I have made use of every technique that we discussed.  Breathing properly is such an amazingly simple skill but has a very calming effect.  I am now much more aware of mannerisms that I have that portray a lack of confidence.  Even if I do lack confidence on occasion, I am now much better at not letting this get in the way of presenting a positive image.

Impact on my day to day job

I changed jobs part way through my voice coaching and have taken on studies alongside work so have not pursued my voice improvement work as much as I would have liked.  However, what I have noticed is that by practicing the techniques Susan showed me, I feel more confident at meetings and I am clearly projecting a more positive image.  Someone commented to me after my third week in the new job that I seemed to have grasped all the big issues in a very short space of time – not actually the case but the positive stance that I took on issues being discussed at meetings was giving senior managers a feeling that I was in control of the new work area.

Other comments

I think the combination of my executive coaching and voice coaching led to me feeling the benefit of the voice coaching in a very short space of time.  I was clear at the start what the issues were for me and where I most lacked confidence.  Susan is very helpful at getting to the nitty gritty of what the problem really is in a  non-threatening way. For example, I was convinced that my strong accent was getting in the way of me making points clearly at meetings.  Susan was able to share her experience that regional dialects themselves were not necessarily an issue and often it was the tone, emphasis or volume at which an individual spoke that was more of the problem. 

Susan is really easy to talk to; she has a very open and friendly style and I really enjoyed my sessions with her.

Ms H A

Head of Investment Management

Central Government Dept.