What are some of the best tactics to use as a speaker?
Here's 10 of them.
-A thread 🧵-
Here's 10 of them.
-A thread 🧵-
1. Pace
This is the speed you speak at. For a big speech or presentation, you want to hang around 110-140 wpm.
If your audience can't follow what you say, they can't understand it.
For conversations, the pace can be quicker but read on for the next tactic.
This is the speed you speak at. For a big speech or presentation, you want to hang around 110-140 wpm.
If your audience can't follow what you say, they can't understand it.
For conversations, the pace can be quicker but read on for the next tactic.
2. Change of pace
Speeding up demonstrates excitement and passion. When you speed up do it for no more than 45 seconds or else it will feel out of control to your audience.
Slowing down demonstrates seriousness and drama. This can apply to a single word, phrase, or thought.
Speeding up demonstrates excitement and passion. When you speed up do it for no more than 45 seconds or else it will feel out of control to your audience.
Slowing down demonstrates seriousness and drama. This can apply to a single word, phrase, or thought.
3. Rhythm
This is how you pair particular words or phrases. Think of rhythm just like you do with music.
Look at your words like notes. Some should be paired together quickly, some should be more deliberately paced out, and some should blend together.
Study the West Wing.
This is how you pair particular words or phrases. Think of rhythm just like you do with music.
Look at your words like notes. Some should be paired together quickly, some should be more deliberately paced out, and some should blend together.
Study the West Wing.
4. Volume
Pretty obvious here but often used wrong. Going louder doesn't make you more commanding.
Volume should be used in dynamic ways. One of the best approaches is to combine volume changes with pacing changes.
Think of "THIS IS SPARTA" in 300.
Pretty obvious here but often used wrong. Going louder doesn't make you more commanding.
Volume should be used in dynamic ways. One of the best approaches is to combine volume changes with pacing changes.
Think of "THIS IS SPARTA" in 300.
5. Tone
Your tone is what tells the audience how to feel about something. Use sarcasm, humor, and friendliness.
Bring out a somber tone in your voice. You can even make your voice quiver or cut off words to highlight the tone.
Different parts should have different tones.
Your tone is what tells the audience how to feel about something. Use sarcasm, humor, and friendliness.
Bring out a somber tone in your voice. You can even make your voice quiver or cut off words to highlight the tone.
Different parts should have different tones.
6. Anchoring
Your physical presence anchors points as you say them.
If you have 2 different subjects in a talk, choose a place to stand for each of them.
Always deliver information on that subject in that spot. The same applies to zoom. Move your body from side to side.
Your physical presence anchors points as you say them.
If you have 2 different subjects in a talk, choose a place to stand for each of them.
Always deliver information on that subject in that spot. The same applies to zoom. Move your body from side to side.
7. One unlike the other
This tactic comes in the form of a list where the beginning of the list all makes sense.
Then you deliver the last point of the list that is completely different.
It's something the audience wasn't expecting and is your big reveal. Make them say "huh"
This tactic comes in the form of a list where the beginning of the list all makes sense.
Then you deliver the last point of the list that is completely different.
It's something the audience wasn't expecting and is your big reveal. Make them say "huh"
8. Floating opposites
This one you've definitely seen before but maybe never realized.
Minimize time and maximize profits.
That's an example as you give one thing going down and the other thing going up.
It creates a huge chasm between them in the listener's mind.
This one you've definitely seen before but maybe never realized.
Minimize time and maximize profits.
That's an example as you give one thing going down and the other thing going up.
It creates a huge chasm between them in the listener's mind.
9. Eye Contact
Instead of going wide and surface level with your audience, do something different.
Make deep eye contact with specific individuals.
Other audience members will be pulled towards your intensity and confidence.
Move on when you feel you built a deep connection.
Instead of going wide and surface level with your audience, do something different.
Make deep eye contact with specific individuals.
Other audience members will be pulled towards your intensity and confidence.
Move on when you feel you built a deep connection.
10. Silence
Silence serves many purposes. It's a palate cleanser for the audience, it gives you the speaker time to think, but the most important use of silence is to highlight major points.
Deliver the big question or moment and let it hand in silence.
Embrace it.
Silence serves many purposes. It's a palate cleanser for the audience, it gives you the speaker time to think, but the most important use of silence is to highlight major points.
Deliver the big question or moment and let it hand in silence.
Embrace it.
These are just a taste of the tactics great speakers use.
The magic is in combining them all into one beautiful symphony.
If you want to learn more check out On Deck Performative Speaking.
If you enjoyed this thread please RT and like!
beondeck.com/performative-s…
The magic is in combining them all into one beautiful symphony.
If you want to learn more check out On Deck Performative Speaking.
If you enjoyed this thread please RT and like!
beondeck.com/performative-s…
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