One of the things I regularly notice when working with people on their presentation skills is how much attention they give to what they are going to say.
And that is important.
But we also need to think about how we are going to say it. Your voice is one of the most powerful tools you have as a speaker. It can communicate enthusiasm, confidence, excitement, concern, authority and passion.
Or it can put people to sleep.
We have all heard the monotone speaker
You probably know what I mean. Same pace. Same volume. Same rhythm. Minute after minute. Nothing really changes. After a while, everything starts to sound the same.
And if everything sounds the same, how does your audience know what is important?
That is the real cost of a monotone voice. The audience has to do all the work. They have to decide which point matters. They have to work harder to stay interested. Eventually, some of them simply switch off.
Variety keeps people listening
I often say that our job as a speaker is to make it easy for the audience to listen to us. Vocal variety helps us do that. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start with three things: pace, volume, and pause.
1. Pace
You don’t need to speak at the same speed all the time. Sometimes you can speed up slightly when telling an exciting story or moving through information that is familiar to the audience. But when you arrive at an important point, slow down. If I want my audience to really remember something, I am much more likely to say it slowly and deliberately. The change in pace tells the audience: Listen to this. This matters.
2. Volume
Most of us have more range in our voice than we use. Sometimes we need to speak with more volume and energy. But interestingly, becoming quieter can also be very powerful. If I suddenly lower my voice, people often listen more carefully. Again, it is the change that gets attention. You don’t need to shout. You simply need some contrast.
3. Pause
Anyone who has been to one of my workshops will know that I am a great believer in the power of the pause. Many speakers are frightened of silence. We think that if we stop talking, something has gone wrong.
It hasn’t. A pause gives you time to breathe. It gives you time to think. It gives the audience time to process what you have just said. And a well-placed pause can give far more impact to the words that come before it or after it.
One of my calls to action in my workshops is: Get comfortable with silence. It takes practice, particularly if you naturally speak quickly. But it is worth practising.
Don’t try to manufacture a “speaking voice”
There is one caution I would add. Vocal variety should still sound like you.
I don’t want people putting on a special presentation voice or becoming overly dramatic. That can sound just as unnatural as speaking in a monotone. Think of it as having an interesting conversation with someone.
When we are genuinely interested in a conversation, our voice naturally changes. We speed up. We slow down. We become louder. We become softer. We pause. Our voice reflects what we are thinking and feeling. That is what we want when we present.
Try this
The next time you rehearse a presentation, record one or two minutes on your phone. Then listen back. Don’t worry about your words initially. Listen to your voice.
- Am I speaking at the same pace all the time?
- Does my volume change?
- Am I using pauses?
- Can I hear which points are important?
- Would I enjoy listening to me?
You may be surprised by what you hear. Your voice is already a very powerful communication tool. You may just need to use a little more of it.