On one side there are speakers, orators and lecturers (or whatever they are called these days); on another, people who upload videos to the internet with explanations or opinions aimed at their audience. And finally, there are people who, for work reasons, have to speak to a small group during a presentation in a business meeting. (Also read: Techniques of the best TED speakers)
All of these groups share exactly the same first goal: “not to tire or bore the listener, to try to hold their full attention, and to come across as confident in ourselves and in the content of our talk.” That is the goal we are going to focus on, because it is where the main mistakes are made, and fortunately they can be fixed.
1. Verbal tics
Almost everyone has probably had a verbal tic (a word or expression repeated in every sentence) at some point in their life, and let’s hope, for their own sake, that they had someone honest nearby willing to tell them, especially if they often speak in public or to an audience.
2. Filler words and stammering
The “umm, uh, er, ahh” sounds are known as “filler words”. We included these “non-words” among the 10 words you should delete from your vocabulary. I don’t know whether you have ever started watching an online video where someone explains something and, two minutes in, had to stop because it made you anxious: you want to get the message, but it seems to be delivered in instalments, with lots of commercial breaks. These words, like stammering, are ideal for cutting down your listeners’ attention span.
3. Speaking too quietly
You need to project your voice properly. Most people who speak very quietly tend to be shy and insecure. But there is a small percentage who speak very quietly because nobody ever taught them to project their voice correctly. Either way, whatever the reason, the impression you give will be one of insecurity, so it is something you need to change. Today it is easier than ever to record yourself giving a talk and listen to it. It is the best way to see all your possible mistakes first-hand.
4. Letting your voice fade at the end of sentences
Some speakers are aware of the importance of highlighting the key content in their sentences, but forget to keep the right tone of voice until the end of each sentence. I once attended a talk where the speaker kept leaving us hanging, because his voice faded at the end of every sentence. Some members of the audience dropped hints to turn up the microphone, which made it unpleasant whenever he spoke loudly, and we still couldn’t hear what he said at the end of most sentences.
5. A monotone voice
This is probably the final ingredient for putting an audience to sleep. Your voice cannot be a flat line on a monitor. It is not about making the pitch of your voice go up and down, but about using intonation to show enthusiasm and passion. I always give the example of the analyst José Luis Cava, who may or may not be right in his talks, but you will never be bored listening to him. (In this video you can also spot a verbal tic: “¿queda clara la idea?”, roughly “is the idea clear?”)
Watch: José Luis Cava on YouTube
6. A lack of body language
Our gestures should accompany our words. Body language should be used in the right measure. Too little body language can be boring, while too much can be distracting. You should feel comfortable with your gestures, although you should avoid some well-known ones, such as putting your hands in your pockets or crossing your arms. (Read: 7 body language techniques that will help you in business)
7. Forcing jokes
People are often advised to use a sense of humour to make their talks more enjoyable and entertaining. But I have bad news: not everyone is funny, and there is a very fine line between being a funny person and looking like a clown when you have no natural sense of humour.
8. Heavy breathing
Microphones can play nasty tricks, and sometimes they pick up perfectly how we breathe in and out, producing gasps that make us seem anxious or nervous and pass that same feeling on to the audience.
9. Showing no enthusiasm
Some speakers… simply… have no enthusiasm for what they are talking about. It may be because they have given the same speech ten times that month, or because they are talking about the subject in the same way they might talk about gardening. Unfortunately, enthusiasm is very hard to fake in front of experienced listeners.
Beyond that, it is a matter of gaining experience until you fully master the rhythm and intonation of your words, the ideal placement of pauses between sentences, and the ability to think about your next sentence without losing focus on the one you are saying.
Many people ask how to get rid of their fear before their first talks or presentations, and the truth is that you can’t get rid of it. You can only fight it and hide it from your audience. With time and practice you will feel more and more confident and fluent. Remember that everyone, however confident they look at a conference, felt real panic at the beginning. Of course, having your presentation well prepared will give you more confidence.
Further reading
Featured image: Michael Coghlan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.
