When we talk to an audience, it is important to portray the correct tone, volume and clarity of voice. Your voice needs to be appealing , but not overly authoritative.
When you create a presentation, you probably spend hours deciding on the words and pictures to use on your presentation. How much time do you spend on focusing on the delivery of the presentation?
Using an appealing tone of voice when talking to a large audience, is important. It is more important than the content of the presentation, as it is often how it’s said, not what you say.
An appealing voice has the following qualities: Resonant voice, which comes from learning how to use the body when you are speaking.
Voice, when used communicatively, is an extension of gesture. It is a movement by itself. Let that thought sink in for a minute. Voice as a MOVEMENT?
During a presentation, the speaker is always trying to reach out to the audience. It is a journey. When there is something important that needs to be said, it needs the entire person. Their body, communicative and emotional impulse.
If you change the way you use your body, you change the relationship with yourself and the world. You therefore, change your voice, and your presentation upon the world.
Try the following exercises below and see what happens to your voice when you change your movement:
- Imagine yourself to be very light. Walk and move until this lightness is working right through you.
- Speed up your movement till it is what you consider to be fast.
- Describe your speech whilst in this mode.
Change in someone’s movement changes the relationship with voice. Changes in movement affect your pitch use, resonation, rhythm of breathing, which then changes the speech rhythm.
I am curious to hear your thoughts, on what other things can change your presentation skills. Comment below to share your thoughts.
If you would like to work on improving your presentation skills, contact me on : thila@speakforlife.com.au