Five points to consider

Regardless of the type of talk you’re delivering, here are five things you must consider.

Be heard

When talking, whether in a meeting or a presentation, you must be sure that everyone can hear you. As a general rule talk using a volume that allows the person farthest away to hear you. There’s no need to shout, but you should practise speaking in a loud voice, particularly if you are usually softly spoken.

Pace

Pace refers to the rate that you speak at. Generally, when you are speaking to your friends in informal situations you speak more quickly than you would when taking part in a presentation or meeting. A steady pace, not too hurried and not too slow, makes it easy for others to follow you. Speaking too fast has two problems – you finish too soon, and your audience finds it harder to understand you. They can’t keep up.

Speaking too slowly has two problems as well. You take too long to finish, and your audience can become bored.