How a Man Speaks

“Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” –Jesus (Luke 6:45)

Winston Churchill was a man of action. As a soldier, he fought in India, the Sudan, and South Africa, and in the trenches of World War One. He was also a great orator, even though he had to overcome a speech impediment. Most of us aren’t naturally great speakers, but effective public speaking is a learned skill like any other. To communicate your ideas and lead others into action, here are a few tips:

• As Shakespeare wrote, “Brevity is the soul of wit.” Speak only when you have something to say, and don’t use unnecessary words. If you are constantly talking, people will tune you out. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Delete these crutch words—“um,” “like,” and “you know”—or any other speech fillers from your conversation. If you need a moment to think of the right word or to connect your thoughts, just pause.

• When speaking to a group, you need to project your voice without shouting. So, when you come to podium, look out and find the member of the audience farthest from you. Gauge your volume as if you were speaking directly to them, and remember the singer’s trick that the strength of your voice should come from your diaphragm rather than your throat. It will give you an authoritative tone without yelling or straining.

• Enunciate and speak clearly: mumbling can convey a lack of confidence or simply annoy or bore your listener who cannot make out what you say. Listen to a recording of yourself speaking. It can be a humbling experience. It is hard to speak too slowly, but easy to speak too fast. And don’t speak in a monotone. Use inflection to keep your voice dancing and people following. 

• Practice: Great speakers and great writers have this in common—they practice. Churchill rehearsed his speeches the way an actor rehearses his performance. If you’re just starting out as a speaker, part of your practice can be learning from and mimicking the style of other speakers you admire, and learning how they strike the right tone for the right occasion.  Your voice should bring fire when heat is needed and be somber and soothing when you need to console someone. Ronald Reagan had a soft voice that offered a Midwestern reassurance of common American decency. Theodore Roosevelt had a high-pitched voice that he used to highlight his high-energy version of “Americanism” and “the strenuous life.” John F. Kennedy had a nasally, Massachusetts-accented voice that he packaged as the voice of smart, sophisticated idealism.

• Be expressive and smile. Too many men presume that a manly demeanor is dour, but in fact, that can just be dull. If you are invited, or volunteer, to speak about something, you should be passionate about it, so bring some energy to your speech.