A long-time reader asks:
What’s the average speaking rate? Is it better to speak faster or is is better to speak slower?
In this article, we answer these questions and look at the factors which influence your speaking rate, a critical component of your delivery.
Filler words — including um and uh — are never written into a speech, and add nothing when a speaker utters them.
Yet these insidious verbal hiccups are ubiquitous, uttered by most speakers in most speeches every day.
Robin Hutchins writes:
I teach a college speech class. The most common struggle my students have is the use of filler words such as um and uh. Do you have a strategy that helps to omit filler words?
What can be done? Is it hopeless?
In this article, we examine why filler words have a negative impact on your effectiveness, and learn a five-step strategy for reducing them.
One of my favorite TED Talks is that by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the international bestseller Eat, Pray, Love. In her talk, Gilbert speaks about the fears and frustrations of those who pursue a creative life, especially during those moments of angst when the creative juices are not flowing, and offers some advice and encouragement.
It is a touching performance. Even though I have seen it numerous times – I use it as part of one of the courses that I teach on public speaking – I never tire of it. Although there is room for improvement, the positive aspects of Gilbert’s talk make it moving and memorable.
This is the latest in a series of speech critiques here on Six Minutes.
I encourage you to:
Everyone breathes. It’s one of the most natural things we do.
However, if you ask singers to name the most important part of vocal technique, 9 out of 10 will say “breathing.”
So, is there some special way to breathe that makes your voice better? Yes!
In this article, we explore breathing as it relates to vocal variety as a speaker. I’ll provide you an easy to follow technique, as well as tips to improve your voice through better use of air.
The results of applying these tips will be more Power, better Pacing, more interesting Pitch and more effective Pauses in your speaking.
As presenters, we know the importance of focusing on the information and emotional needs of our audience:
What is relevant to them?
What do they already know?
How do they feel about our topic?
When I recently spoke at two conferences in Africa, I discovered that there is another, more fundamental layer of audience needs to consider as well.
In this article, I will share the lessons I learned about basic communication issues when speaking to a culturally distinct audience.
Many speakers are guilty of making faulty assumptions about their presentations, and their ability to deliver them well. Sometimes even seasoned speaking professionals like me fall victim to this behavior.
How about you?
In this article, you will learn:
Does your voice put your audience to sleep? Does it put you to sleep?
Do you find it hard to convey emotions with your voice?
Are you easy to listen to, or does your voice let you down?
The sixth Toastmasters speech project guides you to harness the power of your own voice. This article of the Toastmasters Speech Series examines the primary goals of this project, provides tips and techniques, and links to numerous sample speeches.
This article reviews a fantastic talk by Majora Carter titled “Greening the Ghetto” at TED. I loved this emotionally charged talk detailing her fight for environmental justice and her efforts as director of Sustainable South Bronx.
Majora Carter’s TED talk has both incredible strengths — passion, energy, authenticity — and one unfortunate weakness — rapid speaking rate. Both extremes are worthy of public speaking analysis.
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