07.24.08
7 ways to improve your public speaking
London, UK
Voice expert Fergus McLelland has novel ways of getting presenters and speakers to think about and use vocal variety. In his latest e-mailshot, he outlines his system like so:
A couple of weeks ago, I was listening to a speaker with great content, but her sound dragged me down. Droning, lilting, up and down, up and down - hypnotic certainly, but don’t ask me what she was talking about because I can’t remember. The sound had no connection to the words.
The lunch break arrived, thank goodness, I needed to move around! I bet you know the type of speaking I mean. This person was not going to get many speaking engagements from us!
The Speaker’s Graveyard
After lunch, the “graveyard slot.” The hardest spot for a speaker to fill. We in the audience were full and exhausted, ready for a sleep. Up got John, the next speaker. WOW!!! His voice was full of so many sounds that connected with us all. We were happily in the palm of his hand and hooked on every word.
You Can Do What John Did!
Using the sounds we have used all our lives in different situations we can breathe life into our speeches, just like John. These sounds are the sounds that got results in the past, so life has trained us all to be experts. Take these sounds into your presentation and you will have a whole heap of variety that will keep people on the edge of their seats.
The Top 7 Sound Patterns We Can Use In A Speech
1. The Dog
Think of a time you have spoken to a misbehaving dog.
Say a few sentences in that mood: “Bad dog! Sit Down! Go away!
Notice the power? Short, sharp and commanding.
2. The Baby
How would you speak to a child you want to soothe to sleep? Think of how your voice will croon and lull the baby - if you are lucky!
3. The Lover
Remember a time when you have crooned to a lover. The words aren’t important. The sound is what creates the ecstasy. Smooth, lilting, gentle. The most powerful set of sounds a human can use are the lover sounds, even to the bank manager - if used carefully. A lot of the most successful orators use the lover sound repeatedly in their speeches.
4. The Boss
“Yes, Mrs Smith, I have that covered.” Strong, full of self-confidence, almost like a soldier.
5. The Parent - when you were small
Mother or father, how did you speak to them when small and wanting your own way?
6. The Stranger
Lost, you ask someone the way to your end location.
7. The Enemy
A time you have been angry and spat your comments out with power.
