For most speakers, preparing for a presentation involves working on the content and power point slides. ‘What you say’ is important. But ‘How you say it’, is what transforms a good presentation into an excellent one. If you want to be perceived as a charismatic and memorable speaker, learn to prepare ‘Your- Self’ - your voice, breath, body and vocal delivery for presentations , so that you exude confidence & presence while speaking.
Preparing Your Voice, Breath, Body and Vocal Delivery for Presentations
• Tap into the full potential of your breath. Learn thoracoabdominal breathing – how to use the lower chest and abdomen (belly) effectively, to power your voice
• Develop healthy posture. Learn to keep your spine and body aligned.
• Practise exercises to keep your jaw and throat relaxed so that your voice sounds resonant and richer
• Find and use your optimal vocal pitch, which is usually in the lower half of your pitch range
• Practise speaking at the right pace so that you are not too fast or too slow. Learn to vary the pace at which you speak, so that you sound interesting
• Learn to use the right tone of voice so that you sound authoritative, credible and confident
• Practise articulation or speech exercises so that your words are clear & precise, and your audience receives your message
• Learn to stress on the right words, using pitch & volume variations and effective pauses, so that your audience can make meaning of what you are saying
• Practise effective intonation or voice modulation by using a combination of variations in pitch, volume, pauses, & the pace or speed at which you speak, to hold the attention of your audience
• Learn how to project your voice. Projection is a healthy and effective way of making yourself heard.
• Practise your vocal delivery regularly for a few days before the presentation. Your vocal delivery should empower your message & effectively convey your professional image
• Record your presentation and listen to it objectively. Check if you are sounding monotonous, unclear, shrill, breathy, nasal, too fast or slow, too soft or loud, and work on it
• Practise your presentation in front of a mirror. You will get to see & understand how you use your body and breathing for speaking
• Improvise every time you practise, so that you sound spontaneous. Develop a conversational and natural style of speaking.
• Take a few relaxed breaths, align your spine, center your body, before you start your presentation.
• Avoid holding your breath when you are planning what to say next.
• Learn to make effective use of pauses. Don’t use vocal fillers like ‘Uhm, Uh’. Breathe whenever you pause.
• Avoid using long sentences that will strain your breathing. Your audience will also find it difficult to understand you.
• Speak at a pace that is not too fast or slow. Vary your pace depending on your content.
• Make yourself interesting with vocal variations, often referred to as voice modulation.
• Warm up your voice regularly before every presentation.
• Avoid wearing high heels and waist hugging clothes, that squeeze your body & breath, and affect the alignment of your spine & body.
About Dr. Sadhana Nayak
She is a Mumbai based vocal medicine specialist and voice coach for professional and artistic voice users. She has trained business leaders, corporate speakers, actors, news anchors and singers in India and the U.S.A
Website : www.drsadhananayak.com
Email : drnayakvoice@gmail.com
Mobile : +919819752312
Timing : 11 a.m- 5 p.m
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