Lawyers are inevitably asked to speak in front of various organizations. Many people believe that lawyers have a natural ability to convey a point of view effectively. Little do they know that many lawyers view public speaking as a curse, rather than a gift.
I respect the fact that speaking in public is not a natural born gift. It takes effort, practice, and humility to connect with your audience…whether they are in or out of the courtroom.
After thirty years of being involved in Toastmasters International, I still get anxious whenever I have to give a presentation. The tidbits I offer in this series of posts are meant to help you understand and overcome the anxiety of public speaking.
Vocal Variety
Vocal variety means more than talking loud and then soft. It is a combination of inflection, volume and speed. Inflection is when you raise or lower the pitch and tone of your voice. Oftentimes a rising inflection at the end of a sentence signals a yes/no question or an observation. A falling inflection is delivered with a sense of finality or with authority. The proverbial “mike drop.”
The volume of one’s voice is how loud or softly one are speaking. If a speaker speaks too loudly, all the time, an audience can easily feel threatened or intimidated. Likewise, when a speaker delivers an entire address in a soft voice that is hard to hear, the audience is likely to give up trying to listen. To avoid monotony, it is best to use a combination of loud and soft voices. The changes in volume and inflection also serve to keep the audience engaged.
Rate of speech is how fast a speaker talks. Based on a psychological study, audiences tend to think that speakers that speak at a rate of 180-210 words per minute as more effective and confident. However, when giving a public presentation, it is wise to remember that the audience will have a hard time following what you are saying if you speak too quickly. Generally, to effectively reach an audience, keep the speaking pace to a conversational level between 140 and 180 words per minute. If a speaker slows the speech too much, the speaker runs the risk of being perceived as unintelligent according to linguist Deborah Tannen.
Contact me for complimentary 30 minute session to find out how a coach can help you give better presentations!
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