TWHS#097: How Your Voice Undermines Your Expertise

Hey Folks

Here's the problem. Your vocal delivery in presentations and meetings might be reducing your impact. You could be overwhelming or boring people with just your voice. And you might not even know it.

You've crafted a great message but if you deliver it poorly, no-one listens.

I've seen many vocal delivery problems in my Technical Storytelling coaching programs and often helped people with this feedback.

Years ago I was delivering training every day and getting a sore throat. So I arranged to get some training from some vocal coaches. They were actors. Not only did they give me some techniques to help with my throat, but they gave me some techniques to be way more compelling when I spoke.

And now I see how these techniques help people in professional meetings.

There's 3 things that you can change easily and massively raise your impact.

Pace

Lots of people speak way to fast. When you do that:

• You can be overwhelming. People can't keep up. Your impact is reduced.
• You can come across as very nervous. People see that lack of confidence. Your impact is reduced.
• You can lack gravitas and seem more junior. People are less likely to take you seriously. Your impact is reduced.

All that from speaking too fast.

But if you speak too slowly it's really boring and people will zone out.

So speak with an average of 140ish words per minute. The key thing is to add variety, add some dynamic.

Sometimes add some pace to inject energy and enthusiasm. Sometimes slow things down to really emphasise a point and them marinade in what you just said.

Pitch

You've all sat through a monotone presentation. Somone using the same pitch for every word. Couple that with an unvaried pace and you've got a recipe for a snoozing audience.

So what should you do?

Use variety and change your pitch. Not extreme variety. We don't need Alvin and the Chipmunks followed by Barry White. But a bit of variation is essential.

Going higher in pitch can add energy and enthusiasm. Mix it with an increase in pace and you've got an instant energy injection.

Going lower can add a bit of seriousness and gravitas. Mix it with a decrease in a pace and people take you a bit more seriously.

Use variety, but don't use extremes.

Volume

Again variety is key and don't use extremes.

You can raise your volume to add emphasis and impact. But too loud and it can be a bit aggressive.

Lower your voice and you invite people in. It's almost like you're sharing a secret with them. But too quiet and people can't hear you. And quiet too much and you seem a bit timid.

So again it's about variety and not using the extremes.

Variety

Mix it up and don't use extremes.

• To add energy. Speed things up, raise your pitch and speak a bit louder.
• To add gravitas. Slow things down, lower your pitch and add some volume.
• To invite people in. Speak quietly and slow things down.

What To Do Now?

So what practical things can you do to get better? Well here's a couple of tools you can use.

• Powerpoint "Rehearse With Coach". Turn this on and deliver a presentation. You get a report at the end which gives you a graph about your pace. See how fast you're speaking and try mixing it up.
• Ask For Feedback. Actually ask other humans. Be vulnerable and ask for feedback. Do you speak too quickly or add variety in presentations and meetings?
• Teleprompter. I use this a lot. Set the pace of a teleprompter and force yourself to match that pace. Then add some variety within the tolerance of the teleprompter scrolling. It' helps you build muscle memory of speaking at a different pace.

Raise your impact just by using variety in your voice. A great message is not enough. You need to deliver it well.

Hope this helps

BenP

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Whenever you're ready, there are 3 ways I can help you:

• Leaders In Tech: Raise the impact of your team.  Make them more influential, memorable and successful with customers everyday.  The Technical Storytelling Professional Program enables them to create clarity, generate energy and drive the results you need.
• Individuals: Accelerate your career and build your reputation.  Develop the skills to help you present,  influence and explain in the tech world.  Check out the Technical Storytelling Essentials or Tech Community Speaker courses.
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