The Strength of Speech in the face of disaster

With  the dreadful news from Japan over the last few weeks, it came as no surprise to me that the Emperor of Japan decided to address his subjects.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8385868/Japan-earthquake-Emperor-Akihitos-exceptional-speech.html

Emperor Akihitos, as is tradition, never addresses his subjects and as a result, Japanese people had never heard his voice until this address. When we consider how interested everyone was in Kate Middleton's voice when she spoke at her engagement interview, one can only imagine what a positive impact this had on the Japanese people's morale. Hearing a human voice; particularly that of a leader, is a very powerful emotional experience. The emperor was able to connect on a very personal level with his subjects.

So, do you have a voice that connects with others? Does your voice make an impact when you address others in meetings; on the telephone; or presentations? How might your voice make a difference to those around you. These are questions we all need to consider, just as Emperor Akihitos did.