The Week That Was
I have ventured into X this week, much more than before, and have realized that X is an important weapon in a writer's arsenal. I was successful in getting about 100 new followers on X. My target is to get to 500 followers on Twitter and then monetize my content there either via ad share or subscription. Latter is tougher to start with, but easier to maintain and vice versa.
Please follow me on X if you have not already.
As I mentioned in my last newsletter I am also planning to re-work my newsletter. The plan is in place, will send details later. on a personal front life was the same as usual. Working on my brand, my life coaching studies, and pushing myself on X.
Enough about me lets get to the topic of today’s newsletter which discusses how to make sure you are listened to when you speak. This is not the ‘Whats’ but the ‘Hows’ of the matter.
How To Speak The Right Way
In my last two stories in this series, I wrote about the ‘Hows’ of Listening and the ‘What’s’ of Speaking (links at the end).
This story is the actual physical process of speaking, which is how to speak.
I think the how of speaking is the most important aspect of being a good speaker, but often the most overlooked. Some aspects need a lot of training before perfecting, but some do not.
Once you have read these I would like you to be conscious of these in the future, both in others and yourself, and understand how it makes a difference.
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This is where you speak from. You can speak from your nose, throat, and chest. Each brings out a different kind of voice which is often used by singers but can be helpful in regular speech too.
Speaking from your chest gives you a lower deeper voice, speaking in this manner gives you more authority. I am sure you would have noticed this, people with deeper voices usually command more authority.
Darth Vader would not command the same respect if he sounded like Jim Carrey from Ace Ventura. It is the depth of his voice that commands respect.
You can practice these tips for having a deeper voice
Pace
I am not sure about you, but there was a time when I was not sure of an answer to a question, I used to start speaking very fast. This was my way of throwing all excuses/answers in a short amount of time and hoping something would stick.
Through this, I used to expect that what I am wrong about might get overlooked by something I am correct about.
Sooner you get rid of this habit the better.
The pace with which you speak can often show your confidence. Someone who paces their speech correctly, slowing to emphasize, and speeding up to highlight chaos can impress their listener. A well-paced speed highlights the confidence the speaker has in their content.
Pace can also be used to evoke an emotion of respect, anger, or confusion. A tool when used correctly can help you make people act on your behalf.
Timbre
Timbre is the frequency(Hz) in which we speak. A whisper would have a different frequency, than a normal conversation. When we are chanting something we have short bursts of air coming out. Singing would be in a tune, and yelling would sound different.
Each of these ways of speech has its place.
A whisper usually emphasizes secrecy or importance.
Chanting is talking to self, and in a group, it can be empowering.
Singing can portray a myriad of emotions of sadness or happiness.
Yelling can emphasize both anger and elation.
So the timbre can be used to feel what you are saying, and in turn, evoke an emotion in the listener.
Silence/Pause
Silence is often more powerful than a thousand words. The pause, the break of flow, the time to ponder and absorb.
Imagine you are standing in a group of hundreds of people, talking shouting, chanting, and suddenly everyone goes quiet.
When this happens it is usually because of something which is collectively more important than what the hundreds were talking about. It could be someone of authority coming in, or something more serious like an accident.
All profound things and emotion of things are proceeded and attended by silence
— Herman Melville
The power of silence can be used to draw attention. Imagine you are having a conversation with someone and the other person says something stupid, the best response is no response. Let the speaker realize his stupidity they would either double down on it or back away on realising what they said is not even worth a response.
A pause before saying something profound can be a way to clear the palate of thoughts off all that preceded it. This ensures what is of importance stands by itself in the conversation, this should follow with some more silence, for people to absorb.
Silence is the most effective way to say something that can be thought-provoking.
A Perfect Speech
Watch the below video to feel the power of all I stated above. These are conversations disguised as a speech by one of the best speakers of this generation.
Hope it highlights what I said above, and is something you can use in your daily conversations.
He uses register, pace, timbre, and silence to perfection.
A video that can teach you more about how to speak than 100 voice coaches.
Provided you are listening for the right thing.
So what are your thoughts?
Did this story tell you something new today, or was it one of those been there, done that?
This series of stories is about using the power of communication to hold power and respect. Do check out my newsletters 16 and 17 for more communication tips.
If you are a regular subscriber you would know I am pursuing to start to venture into the realm of personal coaching. Please do support me in this new venture by filling out this really quick survey Click For Survey(2min)
You would be an integral part of my journey, and this newsletter is the resource that would have all that I want to share with you.
Do share this newsletter with anyone who would benefit from my weekly content.
Wish me luck.
Hope you have a great year ahead.
See you again next week.
Till then
Jijo George