If you struggle with speeches or presenting your thoughts in a vivid and comprehensible way, do not worry, we’ve got your back.
Tripping over your words during business meetings or everyday small talk can be a large source of insecurity for many. It can be overwhelmingly frustrating to have great ideas but no ability to communicate or convey them. Strong and effective spoken articulation is often associated with being more capable, confident and intelligent. Here are six tips that will enable you to become more articulate in your professional as well as personal life.
Listen to yourself
You may find it terrifying to hear your speech, but nothing will teach you how to be more articulate quite like listening to yourself speak. Record yourself in a normal or casual conversation and replay it in your spare time to identify the technical issues, such as monotone, filler words, up talk, and run-on sentences, as well as any habits that sound awkward or uncomfortable. Note that identifying the problem is the first step toward tackling it.
Don't be afraid to pronounce
One bad habit that can get in the way of the powerful delivery of a speech is mumbling. It is essential to fully pronounce each syllable to prevent trailing off when speaking; doing so also slows you down and offers the audience more time to understand what you are intending to convey.
Monitor your speed
Not sure if you are speaking too slow or too fast? Try this trick to test your speed: Copy and paste a 160-word passage into Microsoft Word and read it aloud (at your standard conversational speed) while recording yourself on an audio recorder. How long did it take you? It should be near the minute mark. Aim for about 155 to 175 words per minute for normal conversations.
Eliminate filler words
If you are wondering how to be more articulate, it’s probably because you have caught yourself over-utilizing words such as “like,” “um,” and “ahh,” which can make you sound uncertain and inarticulate. Instead of using fillers, use phrases such as ‘Let’s move on to…’, or ‘Another important consideration is…’, to sound more eloquent.
Study other speakers
Articulate speakers learn from other articulate speakers. If you are looking for inspiration find a podcast or radio show you enjoy, and analyze the host’s speech. He or she has likely squashed any verbal ticks and can help you identify effective patterns of speech.
Think before you speak
Perhaps the most important trick to becoming a more articulate speaker is to know what you are talking about. Having a clear idea of what you want to say will enable you to organize your thoughts into a coherent structure.
Now that you know how to be more articulate, there’s nothing that can stop your voice from being heard.
