Top Three Speech Challenges You Want To Fix!

Let’s face it, you may be an experienced speaker as a trainer or a leader; but, there’s been a niggling “must-do” makeover you’ve kept putting off.  Here are three of the most familiar ones I’m asked to improve upon. Which ones do you want to fix?

I Sound Boring. Your tone of voice will make or break the success of your speech. Listeners react in almost in a mirror-like manner; if you sound bored then they will be bored. Spice up your delivery with energy and variety of expression. You create energy right from the start by thinking: “This is fun; and I’m going to present my speech enthusiastically!” Get support from you breathing process to create this energy level.  

Next, variety of expression is created from shifting your tone from only one level to a variety of high and low pitches in sync with your ideas. There are many ways to get variety with using pauses or changing your pitch levels up or down. Here is just one example to put emphasis on a key adjective which can emphasize a statistic to your listeners:  “This is a HUGE increase of 45% from last month.”  Vocal exercises in expanding your pitch range and using your full body chest resonance will get you results to keep your audience always interested.
 
I have to repeat myself constantly.  This may be due to your lack of voice projection or your speech being mumbled. Manage your breath power to speak clearly and loudly without having to shout.  Aim your sound to the farthest point in the room so every word is heard. If you are in a meeting and speaking to only a few people aim your sound to the opposite side of the room. Don’t speak from the throat. Go deep to your core body to bring your breath up and out with a fuller sound.
 
If you mumble then your words are not heard clearly. The remedy is to exercise your jaw, lips, and tongue so your mouth will open wider and your words will have better clarity. Look in a mirror to see if you barely move your lips when you speak. If so, consciously exaggerate a wider mouth opening and pronounce all word endings distinctly. Repeat: “wow” 5 times daily as a warm-up exercise.
 
I speak without getting any respect.  First, check the previous two challenges to determine if your vocal sound is heard with a clear message so you are easily understood.  Are you confident in what you are saying? If you show a lack of confidence or a weakness of in your voice or body language, your expertise is undermined.  Gain confidence by several rehearsals of your speech so you are totally prepared and not taken by surprise. Use your best calming voice sound of authority. Do not feel intimidated by the listeners; instead, give your expert advice like a mentor would, so they can move forward.    

Create powerful engagement with a variety of expression using interesting transitions between your key points. These can include questions, an activity, or examples from everyday life to stimulate their curiosity. The most valuable way to get respect is to inspire your listeners with a story through your dramatic delivery so your listeners feel it strongly. They will admire you.
 
Which ones do you want to fix?
Stop putting it off any longer. Give your listeners your training and leadership insights so they will move forward, and want to come back to learn more. They deserve to hear an inspiring presentation.
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Brenda C. Smith, Author, loves to share her training guides to help speakers improve the sound of their voice and delivery style. Her experience as a drama and speech instructor, coach, director helps her clients always achieve that dramatic edge to inspire their listeners. "Breathe...Just Steps to Breathtaking Speeches" is available on Amazon & others-http://bit.ly/1lqNWXl