6 Tips to Help you Speak Clearly & Concisely

Have you ever had the experience of listening to someone speaking when you understand their individual words but you don’t understand what the person is saying by how they choose to combine those words? It’s an interesting phenomenon, isn’t it?

The most useful advice for clear speaking, whether you’re speaking in your native language or not, is the same – keep it simple.

This is good news for non-native speakers of English and consequently, I’m always telling my clients “YOU DON’T NEED TO USE SOPHISTCATED VOCABULARY.”

But apart from keeping it simple, what else can you do to make sure you speak clearly and concisely and that your listener hears your message exactly as you intended.

Here are 6 tips for you:

1. State your main point upfront.

You may hear this referred to as BLUF – Bottom Line Up Front. People have short attention spans and they want to know immediately if what you’re about to say or present is relevant to them. Don’t create a situation where your listener(s) have to say “so what’s your point”?

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2. Speak in your audience’s language.

Just because we are very familiar with the our industry-specific terminology, doesn’t mean that everyone else is. The fact is, we tend to overestimate others’ knowledge of our jargon and others won’t often admit that they don’t understand the words and phrases? you’re using.Use universally understood words and explain concepts in terms that can resonate with everyone. Remember, it's not about dumbing down your message but making it accessible to all.

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3. Emphasize key words

Every conversation or presentation has certain words or phrases that are crucial to the main message. To make these "key words" memorable, emphasize them. This can be done by adjusting your tone, volume, or even using a brief pause before or after the word. This technique can draw the listener's attention and help reinforce your point.

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4. Be mindful of enunciation

When you’re speaking in English and it isn’t your native language, it’s often mispronunciation and laze enunciation that causes listeners to not understand. Make sure you pronounce the ends of words clearly. Speak at a pace where you can comfortably pronounce each word.

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5. Adopt the 'What, So What, Now What' framework

Breaking down your communication into these three components can make your message more structured and impactful:

?What: Begin by stating the topic or problem at hand.

So What: Explain why the topic or problem is important for the listener.

Now What: Conclude by suggesting a course of action, or explaining the next steps.

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6. Avoid 'upspeak'

When it comes to intonation in your speaking, statements end with a downward inflection and questions end with a rising one. A rising intonation at the end of a statement is often referred to as 'upspeak'. Why do some people say a statement but with a rising intonation as though the statement was a question?

When you adopt upspeak you can sound as though you’re not sure of what you’re saying. In professional settings of course, it's essential to sound confident and assertive. So avoid ‘upspeak’. ?By keeping your intonation steady or using a downward inflection at the end of statements, you come across as more confident and credible.

Like all aspects of communication, being able to speak clearly and concisely is an ongoing learning journey.

What other tips and techniques would you recommend along the journey?