Putting Your Best Voice Forward

Close your eyes. Now say the words ‘Sue’ and then ‘zoo’ out loud. Do you hear the difference? Do you feel the difference in your mouth?

For people who may have trouble hearing or feeling the difference there is help. Nancy Morgenstern, founder of Speakbest LLC, has been training ears, tongues and mouths to speak more clearly for years. Vision is also key to this type of learning — seeing how a mouth and lips move to form a sound.

Think about it: if an employee, co-worker or boss doesn’t know whether you just said you were going to the zoo or are off to see a customer named Sue, problems could arise.

But what started out as an accent reduction company has morphed into all sorts of ways to help people speak better: getting rid of ‘ums’ and ‘you knows,’ or helping people slow their speaking pace to be better understood, for example.

“Rate is very, very important,” said Morgenstern from her home office in Simsbury.

Her background is peppered with distinct regional accents — she grew up in Boston and on Long Island. Morgenstern, who has two sisters, was the one with the Boston accent. Her sisters sounded more Long Island.

“I was never comfortable with the Long Island accent,” she said.

Accents surrounded her, but it was her fourth grade teacher that made a point about accents Morgenstern still remembers.

“Nancy you’re in New York, talk like a New Yorker,” she was told.

“But I love my Boston accent,” she responded.

And in a way, the seed of a future career was planted in that exchange. With time she lost her accent almost completely, but her interest and her work in the field has only grown over the years.

She works one-on-one and with small groups, from youngsters to adults. For accent modification there is a certain process that is followed. And to be clear, the goal is not to get rid of an accent, but to modify it.

After an evaluation, a program will be determined based upon a client’s schedule and goals. Some accents or other speaking issues can be modified in a few hours, while others may take a total of 24 hours.

One hour (three 20-minute sessions) of daily practice is required during the program to benefit optimally. The client will be provided with other recommendations on how to apply newly learned skills throughout their day. Practice should continue for six months following completion of the program for it to take hold.

Oftentimes, once people become aware of the issue through hearing themselves, change can begin.

“So much of it is based on awareness,” she said.

Improved communications has many benefits, Morgenstern said. In a business setting, it can help reduce turnover due to the inability to be understood; improve profits as sharing new ideas increases with more effective communication, as well as improve worker attitudes and team morale.

Other applications where communication is important in a work setting include answering the phone, writing e-mails, and working with clients and colleagues.

“Nancy’s expert coaching and her dedication to her clients enable talented people increase their confidence, communication effectiveness, and their business results,” said Carol Genco, who was a client when she managed executive development at Aetna. “Her approach is based on extensive experience and proven practices, as well as perceptive, individualized strategies. She is a valued resource who works effectively with executives, managers and early-in-career talent.”

In addition to an accent there are other obstacles such as a slur, lisp, cluttered speech, mumbling, or difficulty pronouncing long words that Morgenstern helps client overcome.

Someone may have an unpleasant voice quality, sound hoarse, lose their voice often, use a child-like voice, speak too loudly or softly, in a monotone, or a negative tone.

She can help with all of this.

Her client list includes companies, government agencies and universities.

She has been working with the UConn Health Center since 2000 as an adjunct professor at the health career and opportunity program. She provides professional development training for underrepresented minority college and high school students interested in pursuing careers in the health sciences.

“It touches me deeply,” she said of the work and watching the students’ progress.

She works with others at the health center as well. There is a large international presence at the facility. She also works with a large pharmaceutical company in Wallingford. Company program are typically offered three times a year.

She recently started a health care profession program to help nurses and pharmacists. She also started a program that is for the younger generation — the ones who text and instant message so much they do not have good communications skills on the phone or in person.

“They just don’t speak verbally anymore,” said Morgenstern, adding this is an area where she expects to see growth.

She has heard from concerned parents who are worried about their children entering the workforce and getting that second interview.

“It’s a real serious issues,” she said.

To get in touch with Morgenstern at Speakbest call 860-651-3684 or email info@speakbest.com. The web site is www.speakbest.com.