The best presenters master five vocal attributes. They speak at the right pace and volume. They articulate every word. They control tone, emphasizing the right words. They pause at the right time.
Pace: Inexperienced presenters tend to speak too fast, unsettling their audience. Speak a bit slower than your natural pace. A relaxed pace will allow you to breathe naturally. Your audience will hear and take in your words. When you rehearse, try to say no more than 150 words a minute.
Volume: Pace and volume work together. When you speak at a deliberate pace, you will find it easier to control your volume. Speak loudly enough so that everyone can easily hear you. That means sustaining a volume that is slightly higher than your normal voice. If the room is too deep or wide, use a microphone.
Articulation: Pronounce every word clearly. One mispronounced word will erode your credibility. The same goes for names. With any tricky name or word, make sure you have it right. If needed, write in your script the phonetic spelling and indicate the accented syllables.
Tone: Vary your tone by drawing on the full range of your natural speaking voice. Highlight key words or phrases and emphasize them. Beware of speaking in a monotone; a flat voice ruins even the best-written speech.
Pauses. Most speakers are afraid of silence. But you need not fill every second with sound. In fact, your audience will appreciate a well-timed pause. It gives them to time to catch up with your words. Try to avoid using fillers like “um” and “you know.” These verbal hiccups distract your listeners and tar your credibility. Need a second to find the right word? Pause, but don’t fill.
Next up: body language