The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

348 / TAKING CENTER STAGE

Speaking powerfully

Using confident vocals

As you speak, your audience “reads” your voice—

its nuances of pitch, volume, pace, and so on. This

process happens imperceptibly, below the radar

of consciousness, yet it shapes your audience’s

perceptions of your message. Sound hesitant and

your audience will question your content. Sound

confident and your audience will side with you. Try

using the various facets of your voice (see right)

when you practice your presentation and use them

to effect.

Remaining calm

Slow and deep breathing enhances your

performance. It boosts the supply of oxygen to your

brain, making you more alert; it helps you stay calm;

and it increases the flow of air over your vocal cords,

enhancing the clarity of your voice. To keep from

stumbling during your presentation, declutter your

speech by removing unnecessary words and any

trite expressions.

Finally, learn to be comfortable with silence

in front of an audience: it feels odd at first, but

remember that “dramatic pauses” after key points

add memorable emphasis.

How do you sound? In control? Authoritative? Dynamic? Voice is a

powerful tool in the presentation arsenal. Don’t worry—you don’t

need to have the booming resonance of a stage actor to convince

your audience that you are fully involved in what you are saying.

TONE

Whether presenting

good or bad information,

do so with a tone that

matches the content of

what you are saying.

INTONATION

Using an upward

inflection (upspeak) at

the end of sentences

may signal you are

uncertain. Using

declarative sentences

with the voice ending in

a downbeat will give

even neutral phrases

PACE an authoritative touch.

Vary the pace of your delivery. This

helps keep your audience alert. Speak

slowly when delivering key messages:

new ideas need time to be processed.

US_348-349_Speaking_powerfully.indd 348 30/05/16 3:06 pm