Secret #2: Speak with Clarity
Effective communication is the backbone of captivating your audience. To ensure your message is delivered clearly and concisely, consider the following tips:
1. Practice Tongue Twisters:
Tongue twisters are a fun and effective way to enhance speech clarity and improve your pronunciation. These exercises challenge your articulatory muscles and help you develop better control over your speech. Incorporate tongue twisters into your daily routine to warm up your voice and improve your enunciation.
Here are a few fun ones I use with our clients.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. A peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, Where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter Piper picked
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much wood As a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood
Susie sells seashells by the seashore.
2. Slow Down and Articulate:
Many people rush through their speech, especially when they're nervous. To speak with clarity, it's crucial to slow down and articulate your words clearly. Enunciate each syllable and word, allowing your audience to absorb your message comfortably.
On a recent production, 32 time Emmy Award Winning Anchor,
Michael Cogdill, shared his secret for speaking more clearly.
"Place a cork gently between your front teeth and practice reciting a passage several times before removing the cork. Strive to articulate the words as crisply and clearly as you can while the cork is in your mouth. Repeat the same passage without the cork in place."
3. Record and Review:
Recording your speeches or presentations is an invaluable practice for improving your speaking clarity. Use a camera or audio recorder to capture your performance. Afterward, review the recordings critically. Pay attention to areas where your speech may have faltered or where you could have pronounced words more clearly.
4. Breath Control for a Steady Voice:
Proper breath control is essential for maintaining a steady and confident voice throughout your performance. Breathing exercises can help you control your breath and avoid running out of air mid-sentence. Practice diaphragmatic breathing techniques to strengthen your respiratory muscles and improve your breath control.