One Simple Tip to Speak More Clearly and Concisely

I can’t believe how quickly the months go past! Which is my way of saying “Oops, sorry, I missed a newsletter publication in May”. But here it is, better late than never as we say.??

When you give that important presentation in English, would you like to always speak clearly and concisely? I’m sure you would! Clarity and brevity are highly valued qualities of business communication.

So, what is that simple tip that I’m referring to in the title? It's very obvious but very few people do it!

The tip is to make an effort to speak more slowly. It sounds easy, right? But it’s surprising how many people DON’T do it and they end up communicating in a confused way that sabotages their credibility.

How does speaking more slowly help you to speak concisely and clearly?

• You are better able to focus on the pronunciation and articulation of your words.
• You become more aware of where you should pause – pausing is one of the most powerful tools in public speaking.
• You are more able to use your rational mind to think of an appropriate word to use.
• It gives you space to assess whether you should give more information or hold back (you don’t want to over-explain).
• It stops you from speaking as fast as your brain is functioning. This is good because if we just let our words tumble out, we’re in danger of rambling.

What are the other benefits of speaking more slowly?

• It gives you space to focus on your audience, to connect with them and to assess the impact of your words.
• You come across as self-confident and in control (people who are nervous naturally increase the speed at which they speak).
• It allows you to control emotions such as anxiety so your communication is calmer.

As you can see, speaking more slowly has lots of advantages. It’s the basis for being able to communicate clearly and concisely. And as a non-native speaker of English, it’s really a powerful ‘tool’ for you. You just need to remember to use the tool!

So, let me leave you with the question – HOW are you going to remember to speak more slowly the next time you give a presentation?

How can you train yourself to slow down?