The role of the body and voice in developing eq
Over the last two decades there has been an increase in the awareness of the importance of EQ: emotional intelligence, but it seems to me that most people do not realise that emotional intelligence is in fact a body intelligence. The focus is on cognitive and behavioural development, but what is really needed to develop EQ is a deepening connection to and awareness of the body and the voice.

why start in the body?
Emotions are felt and experienced in and through the body. Nervousness before a presentation or meeting for example, is something we feel in our tummy, or we may sweat more than normal, or our mouth might get dry. When speaking up about something you are unhappy about you may feel your heart beating or feel a shortness of breath, maybe your throat tightens up or your knees feel weak. These physical signals then make their way to your brain telling you that you are no longer 100% comfortable and may not be 100% safe.
When we connect to our body we can become aware of the information we are constantly getting from our sensory systems: our interoception, proprioception, and exteroception, and what our senses are telling us about the inside of the body and the outside of the body, and about our body in relation to space and environment and in relation to others in that environment. We rely on this ‘intuition’ to make assessments on how we feel. Understanding this and the changes we feel in our body and in our sense of self, is really the foundation of emotional intelligence. The more disconnected someone is from themselves, their body and their own physical experience of the world, the less emotionally intelligent they will be. Importantly, it is only when we are in tune with our own body and sense of self that we can possibly connect properly with others and be empathetic and compassionate towards them and what they are attempting to express.
There is a lot of talk about authenticity – people wanting to lead from a place of authenticity, to be authentic, and so on. Really what is required here is an ever-deepening connection to our own lived experience of our body and its senses and how these impact on our perception of ourselves and on our ability to express ourselves and connect with others in the world.
WHAT’S THE VOICE GOT TO DO WITH EQ?
Your voice is composed through the co-ordination of hundreds of muscles and ligaments, its production depends almost entirely on your breathing. Your voice is also a mirror of your emotional and psychological state. It is through the sound and nuances of your voice that your emotions are being communicated to your listeners. So when you are unsure of yourself, your voice may wobble or be unsteady. When you are angry, your voice may be louder than normal – this is due to increased air pressure – or, it may have a rough sound to it – we call that disruption. If you are feeling impatient, your speech delivery may be faster and ‘chopped off’ with a harder glottal onset which makes its sound abrupt. These are just a few examples. The old adage, ‘It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it’, points to the voice being at the very centre of communication, and I believe, EQ.
When we become aware of the intricacies of our voice and master the production of vocal sound, we can begin to craft our voice consciously in communication so that we may be effective. In addition, when we learn to hear our own voice in technicolour, we are then able to listen to the voices of others in a more educated and conscious way. When we can do this we are able to understand others better, we can understand their emotions and intentions – we can also then respond in the most effective or appropriate way and ultimately be better communicators. If EQ is ultimately about connecting with others more successfully, then we need to develop the channels through which we do this. That is; through our body and its movement and energy, and through our voice with its tone, pace and pitch, its colours and intonation etc.
HOW CAN I DEVELOP MY EQ?
The Voice 360 Embodied Communication Practice approach helps people to bring these elements of communication into alignment. Through the process we become aware of the interconnectedness of the voice, the body, emotions and the psyche and how they all have an effect on each other. Through this approach we are able to focus on and open up space in each of these areas so that communication is not something accidental but rather coordinated, conscious and emotionally intelligent.
If you would like to master the art of emotional intelligence, connect with me.