In part two of Public Speaking for Lawyers 101 we look at articulation, pronunciation and the use of fillers.
Articulation and Pronunciation
As lawyers, people expect us to have a command of English and to use language precisely. Therefore, if we are lazy in articulation and pronunciation, we lose credibility. For example, how many times do you say “gonna” instead of “going to?” Are you a fan of dropping the “g” at the end of a word? Each time you do this, you run the risk of losing respect by the audience. As you lose respect, you diminish your message.
Fillers
Ah. Uhm. Ya know. Like. All of these are filler words that add nothing to your presentation. If used excessively, an audience may spend more time listening for the next filler word than hearing the speaker’s message. Using fillers is a habit that easily develops. We often use them in everyday conversation in an effort to ensure that no one butts into our thought stream. When presenting, though, there is no chance of that, and the excessive use of fillers hurts your presentation.
One way to try to eliminate the use of fillers is to focus on your own conversations. You can make a mental note of how often you and others are using fillers. Once you become aware of your filler use, practice not using fillers in your everyday conversations. If that fails, join Toastmasters. They actually have ah/uhm counters that will let you know exactly how many filler words you used in a presentation. It will be an incredible learning experience.
Contact me for complimentary 30 minute session to find out how a coach can help you give better presentations!
Photo credit: nan palmero via Foter.com / CC BY