Speaking Is Sexy Tip #19, Vol. 2
The Tempo of Our Speech
If you were asked, "What is the most important thing to remember when you get up to give a speech?", what would you answer? The choices go from the ridiculous to the sublime.
"Most important? Not to faint!"
"To get my point across, no matter what."
"Have lots of slides and things, so they won't be looking at me all the time."
"Not to forget my notes."
"Wear comfortable shoes."
"Make sure they can hear me."
"Be bright, be brief, and be seated!"
And on and on. There are probably as many answers as there are people who actually speak to groups on a regular or infrequent basis. You're probably thinking of your favorite right now.
Strangely enough, there's one answer I hardly ever hear that, frankly, should be right up at the top of the list. Maybe it's too obvious.
"Most important? That the audience understands what I'm saying."
The primary vehicle we use to make sure they understand us is, naturally, our voice. How we feel about giving the speech will influence how we sound when we actually start to talk.
Let's say you're feeling good about yourself, confident that you know your material and will do a good job. The tempo and tone of your voice will show it. You'll speak with good volume, at a speed that's easy to listen to, not too fast, not too slow. You won't suddenly lose your voice and speak in a whisper or talk too loud to cover the sound of your violently beating heart. They'll hear your excitement about your subject in your natural vocal ups and downs and your voice will sound regulated, even and strong. They'll have no difficulty understanding every word you say.
But what if, when you get up in front of the room, you speak too fast, too slow, too loud, too soft, in a jerky uneven tempo, or even feel like you're losing your voice in the middle of your talk? Here are a few suggestions why that might happen:
Too fast? Your mind works faster than your tongue. You have too much to say and not enough time to say it. You're really anxious to get it over with. When you were a kid expressing your opinion, you were told to be quiet, what you think doesn't matter. You got into the habit of speaking fast to get it all out before they could shut you up.
Too slow? You're not sure of what you're saying. You're worried it's not 'right'. You were told as a child to slow down, you're talking too fast, and it became a habit. You're afraid you don't have enough material to fill the time you've been given.
Too loud? You're afraid they won't listen unless you're extra forceful. You had to compete for attention when you were growing up and speaking loudly was the only way to be heard over the others. You're afraid the audience will lose interest and fall asleep. You may have a hearing deficiency and don't realize how loudly you're speaking.
Too soft? You're afraid what you're saying is not quite correct. You're not sure of your material. You're afraid someone will jump up and disagree with you. You don't want to be heard because then you'll have to defend what you're saying. You're shy and embarrassed to be up in front of people in the first place. You don't feel you belong there.
Jerky tempo? You're not sure of your material. You're easily distracted and having difficulty moving from one point to the next. You can't find your place in your notes, or you don't have any, and you're trying to 'wing it'. You're regretting you didn't rehearse. Trying to think on your feet isn't working, so there are lots of starts and stops in your delivery.
Losing your voice? You're up the creek without a paddle. You're so disheartened by your incompetence that you don't even want to be heard. You're creating an excuse to end your misery quickly. Or you may be coming down with laryngitis.
Your voice will immediately tell your audience that you're feeling absolutely competent and sure of what you're saying. They'll pay attention and listen carefully because your vocal confidence will let them know that what you have to say is worth remembering.
