I had a speech coach analyze my voice and found out I'm making 4 huge mistakes

There's something sickening about hearing a recording of your own voice, and realizing that, yes, that is what you sound like to the rest of the world.

Unfortunately, my job requires me to spend a decent chunk of my day transcribing recordings of phone interviews with sources.

I'm frustrated enough to cry each time I hear the hesitant squeaks coming out of my headphones - squeaks that sound nothing like the confident, polished tones I assumed I was emitting.

Recently, my frustration hit its peak, and I decided to consult Susan Sankin, a New York City-based speech coach whom I'd interviewed for an article a few months ago, about the problem.

I sent Sankin several clips of myself speaking during phone interviews and asked her to identify the biggest mistakes, in hopes of sounding more professional both during interviews and in-person conversations.

I confess, though I knew I was hardly Terry Gross, I was shocked at the amount of criticism I received.

Here are the four key mistakes Sankin highlighted, as well as recordings of me making them.