Voice and Speaking

Pace, pauses, presence and talks people remember.

• Steady Pace, Slower on Key PointsSpeak at a steady, unhurried pace and slow down for the main point, numbers and names.Mixed evidence
• Pause After the PointStop for one or two seconds after your main point, a question or a price, and let it land.Practitioner wisdom
• End Statements Going DownLet your pitch fall at the end of a statement so it sounds like a statement, not a question.Mixed evidence
• Let Your Hands HelpUse natural hand gestures that match your words, especially for size, number and order.Strong evidence
• Eye Contact, One Thought Per PersonLook at one person for a full sentence, then move to the next; with a sceptical listener, ease off rather than stare.Mixed evidence
• Look Good on a Video CallCamera at eye level, light in front, plain background, and look into the lens for your key sentences.Practitioner wisdom
• TED 1: Unleash the Master WithinTalk about what you truly care about in your work, not your job title or service list.Practitioner wisdom
• TED 2: Master the Art of StorytellingCarry your message in a story with a person, a struggle and a change.Solid evidence
• TED 3: Have a ConversationRehearse until your talk sounds like a relaxed chat with a friend.Practitioner wisdom
• TED 4: Teach Them Something NewGive the audience one fact or idea they did not know about their own world.Solid evidence
• TED 5: Deliver a Jaw-Dropping MomentPlan one moment people will remember: a striking fact, a prop, a photo or a short demo.Practitioner wisdom
• TED 6: Lighten UpUse light, natural humour from real stories, not jokes you found online.Mixed evidence
• TED 7: The 18-Minute RuleKeep talks short and tight; if you have an hour, break it into short blocks with a change of pace.Mixed evidence
• TED 8: Paint Mental PicturesShow it as well as say it: pictures, objects and vivid words, not walls of text.Strong evidence
• TED 9: Stay in Your LaneBe yourself and speak only about what you know; borrowed style and borrowed topics show.Practitioner wisdom
• Monroe's Motivated SequenceStructure a persuasive talk in five steps: attention, need, satisfaction, visualisation, action.Practitioner wisdom
• What, So What, Now WhatFor any update or answer, say what happened, why it matters, and what to do next.Practitioner wisdom
• PREP: Point, Reason, Example, PointAnswer with your point, the reason, an example, then the point again.Practitioner wisdom
• Rehearse Out LoudPractise your talk or pitch aloud, start to finish, several times before the real thing.Solid evidence
• Record YourselfRecord a practice run on your phone, watch it once, and fix the one biggest problem.Mixed evidence
• Join a Speaking ClubSpeak in front of a friendly group regularly, such as a Toastmasters club, to make speaking feel normal.Practitioner wisdom
• Slides With Pictures, Not ParagraphsUse one idea per slide, a strong picture and a few words; keep the details in a handout.Strong evidence

Drills

• Surprise request for an update“Quickly, where are we on the hiring?”
• Moderator puts you on the spot“Do agri graduates make good salespeople?”
• Stating the fee“What's your fee?”
• Ten minutes to present results“You have ten minutes. Please don't bring thirty slides.”
• A colleague says words don't matter“Don't worry about the script. 93% is body language anyway.”
• Team lead suggests power posing“Everybody, two minutes of power pose. It boosts testosterone.”