A big complaint I hear from many women is that when they answer the phone, the caller asks to speak to their mother. Does that ever happen to you? There is no doubt that this is a problem for the woman who is looking to succeed in her career.

Women have enough difficulty competing with their male counterparts as it is. If you are being overlooked for a promotion or a raise because of how you sound, there is hope and help.

You have a better voice inside of you which sounds more mature and will improve with age. If you are in your 40's or 50's, you are probably discovering that nothing on your body is getting better with age. A voice that has had training, however, is much like a bottle of red wine: it just keeps improving. When I am in my 80's, I know that I will look it; but, I won't sound old because I've taken the pressure off my vocal folds (cords) and throat.

Joanna Woodward and Lauren Bacall are two examples of the mature voice that sounds warm and rich in quality. Neither has the quivering, high-pitched voice so common among elderly women. Woodward is in her 70's and Bacall, her 80's. In both cases, they are powering their sound by means of their chest cavity.

When you learn how to use your chest as your primary sounding board, you, too, can discover a voice that sounds mature - not too old, not too young - and, in the process, you will also discover the best means of controlling your nervousness in any form of public speaking. Another marvelous benefit is that you will be able to increase your volume without shouting which is known as projection.

Not everyone who teaches voice understands this principal; therefore, it is important for you to look for training in which you first learn how to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. This is the fundamental. There is no way around it.

Chances are good that you are a shallow breather (99% of the population is guilty of this) which results in a higher-pitched, thinner sound. What this means is that the throat and voice box (as well as the mouth and nasal cavities to a lesser extent) are doing all the work. Once you:

your childlike sound will be gone. It happens that quickly. Make it a habit and you will never have to worry about losing to your competition because of your voice. If image matters, get rid of your childlike voice. It's standing in your way.