Speech Habits to Avoid: #8 of 10
Ariadne Laurenns
Head of Training @ Confident Speak | Empowering Clients to Build Presence, Influence, and Impact in a Dynamic World
Another classic mistake so SO MANY of us make on a daily basis is SPEAKING TOO QUICKLY
Speaking Too Quickly - Why Do We Do It?
Perhaps nerves or discomfort in the spotlight cause us to race through what we need to say as quickly as possible
Perhaps we need to deliver difficult news and want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible
Or maybe it's an old a habit we've unconsciously acquired, and we don't know how to overcome it
Whatever the 'why or wherefore' we undermine the value of our message when we rush through our delivery
Some Examples
During Presentations:
Rushing through slides - this can make the audience miss key points.
In Meetings:
Speeding through updates - this can lead to misunderstandings.
While Networking:
Rapid speech - this can come across as nervousness or a lack of confidence.
On Sales Calls:
Talking too fast - this can overwhelm your potential clients.
In Interviews:
Quick responses - this may seem rehearsed or not thought out
Solution:
To avoid the pitfalls of speaking too quickly, remember to;
Stop and slow down a beat or two conscious of the speed at which you are speaking
Vary your pace for emphasis and use pause for the classic 'tension-release' effect
So, if you want your audience to SIT UP and LISTEN UP, vary your pace and 'speak with purpose'!
In case you missed my other articles in this series