Controlling a shaky voice

[ipredicttrouble]

I'm not sure if I'm posting in the best place but I was wondering if anyone had any advice with regards to controlling a shaky voice?

Just to give a bit background I've never really suffered from this up until recently but I received a promotion at work about a year ago and think this is somehow linked. Although work is going well and I don't particularly feel stressed about it the problem I have is that in one particular meeting that I lead on I find myself having intense feelings of panic when I need to speak and then difficultly in getting my voice out without it shaking uncontrollably. Even though in my head I feel calm, physically I'm not. I go to other meetings and deal with senior colleagues and am fine but it's this one meeting where I am having problems. I've managed to just about get through them but I know my colleagues have noticed and it's starting to chip away at my confidence. I feel really frustrated as I can't seem to overcome this. I've been respected at work for a number of years but am worried now about other people's perceptions of me and also my ability to lead and make further progress in my career.

Any advice would be gratefully received...I'm willing to try anything!! Starting to feel desperate.

Thanks

I used to get stressed about addressing meetings until one day, I noticed a dear friend sitting right at the back - since then, I've been able to imagine her there, wishing me well and waiting to hear every word - it's surprising how much confidence it gives.
Before this, I used to imagine audience dressed only in their underwear, so can recommend this too.

Thanks Showtime, I had thought that next time I would focus on looking at one person in the room. It's quite a small meeting so I think the intensity of it gets to me. I seem to cope better when there are more people!

I'm just desperate to feel calm and confident in this situation.

Bump

Any other advice?

Do you have a glass of water to use?

I struggle with this. Do really slow out breaths work at all? I find focussing on that helps. I sing silent night really slowly in my head! Keen to hear any other tips people have.

A tiny piece of advice: talking louder can help. It sounds silly, but try singing something high in a quiet voice - it's hard and wavery. Try it again, but loud. It's stronger. It can help a bit when you're speaking too.

But I do sympathise greatly though. I have to speak in public a lot & I'm quite confident at it...unless I have to stand up. If there's no lectern or if there's no table to hold on to, I shake uncontrollably. It's bloody ridiculous, but I can't stop it. I now try & make sure I only give talks when sitting down, but making sure of that is stressful.

In the end, no techniques will really help us, except just feeling more confident inside. But that's a tall order! Best of luck.