Speakers Bureau Tool Box

Voice & Delivery

Many speakers ramble and sound indecisive because they're nervous, feel uneasy about the audience, or they're not sure what to say. They mumble enless sentences sounding uncertain.

Here's the cure for rambling and sounding wishy-washy. These simple techniques (with practice) can help you sound as good as any speaker you've ever heard on the radio, TV, in the movies or in politics.

1. Speak in Short Phrases -- To sound crisp and confident, speak in short phrases, instead of long rambling sentences. A phrase is a group of words that express an idea. Short means two to 14 words. A good average phrase length is about seven to nine words. Writing a speech? Write it in short phrases.
2. Followed by Short Pauses -- Follow each phrase or sentence with a clean, brief pause, (a fraction of a second to two seconds) so listeners have time to absorb the idea. "When the words cease, the meaning flows on," says a Chinese proverb.
3. Pitch Down on Endings -- To sound confident, decisive, authoritative -- drop your pitch firmly at the end of each phrase, on the final syllable. Don't inflect up on endings or you'll sound uncertain, questioning, nervous or begging for approval. Drop the pitch, not the volume. Drop or round pitch on words, phrases, sentences and nearly all questions.
4. Pitch Up for Emphasis -- The purpose of speaking is not to recite words, but communicate ideas. To get your ideas across, emphasize one idea in each sentence or phrase (usually one word or two words). To emphasize: hit punch or stress a sound. to hear the power of emphasis, listen as you emphasize each word of this sentence, one at a time.
   • Homer Doesn't Kiss His Wife
     • Here are three ways to emphasize:
     1. Pause after the key word (sometimes pause before)
     2. Pitch Up: Raise the pitch level of the key word (on the accented syllable of the key word). Pitch higher for more impact and importance. Emphasis is UP.
     3. Pitch Around: Round the pitch on key words to add a sense of fulness.
5. Speak With High Energy -- "An ounce of energy is worth a pound of technique," wrote Roger Ailes. Speak with enthusiasm for your topic and for your audience. Emotion is contagious.

Practice
Here's the 27-word opening sentence of John Kennedy's Inaugural speech. Where would you pause (after which words)?

"We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom -- symbolizing an end as well as a beginning -- signifying renewal as well as change." Jan. 20, 1961

Information provided by Michael Buschmohle, professional public speaker and President of Applause Associates.