The results are in. The most challenging aspect about speaking to a group is “going too fast”. Thanks to all those who voted in our recent Facebook Poll.
So what can you do about it? We all know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, the Hare speeds through with bravado and the Tortoise progressing with a slower pace and thoughtful approach is ultimately more effective at the task, in this case he wins the race.
Tip No 1:
Read aloud. Try speaking as though you were reading from a book. Imagine the punctuation that would be required. The commas, the colons and the full stops. If the sentence is too long you lose track of what it is saying and run out of breath. This happens to your audience when they listen to you speak without a break. Practice reading out loud and really pay attention to the grammatical pauses and try to incorporate these into your public speaking.
Tip No 2:
Ask the audience. Try your speech with a safe friend or family member. Speak fast and see what feedback they give you and then make yourself speak slowly, you can do it. Ask your friend what is different in the two times you spoke? Without fail, your audience will hear and understand more of what you are saying the slower you speak. You can also have a “buddy” in your audience on the day that can give you a little signal when you are going to fast. Basic but very helpful.
Tip No 3:
Pause for processing. Your audience needs time to think about what you are saying just as much as you do. Often people speak too fast because they are worried they will forget what to say. Have notes, rehearse, but importantly, when speaking allow yourself to pause. Just take a breath, allow your shoulders to drop and the words will come to you. You will gain clarity of thought and be able to move on. This pause also allows your audience to think about what you have said before you raise another point. Trust the process and pause for processing.
So next time you are ready to bolt out of the gates, remember to let the Tortoise speak and ‘…rethink your potential™’.
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