Pace refers to how rapidly you speak. Obviously, you don't want to sound unnatural, but research has shown that people who speak faster, louder and more fluently are perceived as more persuasive than those who do not. Stories that are delivered at a more upbeat pace are more persuasive than those that are delivered more slowly because the lively storyteller comes across as more competent and knowledgeable. You can slow down your speech occasionally for effect, but don't speak slowly on the whole. Otherwise, your presentation will seem sluggish. It is much better to keep up the energy and enthusiasm than to let it drop. In most cultures, deeper voices, for both men and women, are generally interpreted as reflective of authority and strength. In addition, a deeper voice is stereotypically considered to be more believable and more indicative of an individual's sincerity and trustworthiness. For these reasons, listen to a recording of your own voice and determine whether or not it would benefit from being slightly lower in pitch. Even though it would require a vocal adjustment, a deeper pitch is something you have conscious control over. Other reasons for introducing new pitches into your speaking pattern are to prevent your voice from sounding monotone and to create interest. Remember, if you are not an engaging speaker, you will not be persuasive. A huge thing to consider when telling a story is your voice's volume. Obviously, you're not going to be very persuasive if no one can hear you. At one time or another, you've probably experienced the aggravation of straining and struggling to hear a speaker. Before your presentation, test the room to ensure that you can be heard from all locations. Also, test to see whether you're going to need amplification. If so, be sure this equipment is available and set up prior to beginning your presentation. The converse is also true: Be sure you are not yelling or shouting at your audience. A loud voice is just as, or even more, aggravating for an audience as struggling to be able to hear. When delivering a speech, clearly articulate every sentence, phrase and word. When your speech is clear and coherent, it conveys competence. When your diction gets sloppy, on the other hand, it suggests lack of education and laziness. Consider how lawyers, doctors, supervisors, lobbyists and the like must be articulate if they are to professionally survive. Good articulation conveys competence, experience and credibility. Another practical reason to have good diction is simply because it is so much easier to follow than poorly articulated speech. People will be more likely to be won over by your message if you are easy to understand. Vocal fillers can destroy your presentation, hurt your credibility and annoy your audience. Most people feel that they don't have a problem with fillers, but you would be amazed when you record yourself what words you use to fill in space during a speech. Vocal fillers include the common "um," "er," "ya know" and "uh." In addition to these, some people have their own idiosyncratic way of filling in gaps between ideas. Some repeat the first two or three words of a sentence until their brain catches up and they decide what they're going to say next. Others constantly say things like "OK" and "like." Fillers will never work to your advantage and they need to be eliminated from all speech. Here we see another reason why you should record yourself and assess your vocal abilities. Besides words, pauses also add meaning and impact to your stories. The sound of well-timed silence can be more powerful than a dozen words. Because of this technique's dramatic effect, however, it can be overdone. Don't use pausing too much. If you do, it will lose its effectiveness. Besides highlighting important points, pausing also increases comprehension. When you pause in your story, your prospects have a moment of introspection, which helps them mentally and emotionally participate in the moment. Whether it is a moment to reflect or to enjoy a good laugh, a lull allows your audience members to process your story on a deeper level. Silence amplifies all sensory and emotional details of your story. Use pauses to create attention, emphasis and mood. It is a common mistake to not hold the pause long enough. Be sure you allow enough of a pause that the full effect will be felt. When you do this, the audience anticipates and listens closely to what you will say next. As they come to understand your pausing patterns, your audience can tell something important is about to happen. This strategy is made even more effective when you combine it with pitch strategies. Be sure that as you come to the pause, your pitch is high, thereby building suspense and giving momentum to what will follow. Inflecting your pitch downward will defeat the purpose, providing a feeling of resolution instead of suspension. Because of the many nuances that are conveyed through the different uses of the voice, it's always a good idea to record your voice and listen to it. What does it project? Do you sound compelling? Besides the overt message, observe the subtleties such as pitch, pace, volume, tone and articulation. Effective use of vocal variety catches and holds others' attention. If you don't like how you sound, don't despair; it is a common phenomenon. Pinpoint the precise aspects of your voice you'd like to strengthen then take things one step at a time. A handy tape or digital recorder may prove to be your best coach. The thing that speaks the most directly, other than the voice, is your body. When you speak, words comprise less than 15 percent of what your listeners "hear." Your audience also receives information from your face, your posture, your hands, your eye movements, your gestures and your overall demeanor. Used well, these elements can give your story flow and add emphasis to it. If not used well, your body language can be very distracting and even cause you to lose credibility with your prospects. If you seem awkward or unsure of yourself, your audience will not receive your message as well. During a presentation, use gestures very carefully. Certainly there is room for spontaneity, but as a general rule, plan your gestures out ahead of time. They have to fit the story you are telling and not seem awkward or thrown together. Don't overdo it, but do use them to keep your audience's attention, to add drama to your story and to underscore your key points. Think of your body as a prop that serves as a visual extension of the story you are telling with your voice. Above all else, your gestures must come across very naturally. Don't be robotic in your presentations. As with your voice, it's always a good idea to video record your presentation in advance or to practice it in front of a mirror. The nice thing about telling a story to a live audience is that you can always gauge their reactions and thereby determine how your message is going over. With a story, you can tell right away if your prospects are with you or if you're losing them. This gauging enables you to instantaneously adjust and adapt your presentation as necessary. If your audience is involved in your story, you're encouraged to keep doing what you're doing. If you're losing them, however, you can make a change and re-harness their attention. How do you know when you're losing your prospects' attention? Watch their faces. Are their eyes on you? Are they taking notes? What is the expression on their faces? Usually, it's easy to tell. If you're losing them, your story might be too long-winded. In that case, cut out extraneous details. Also try changing your voice by adjusting its volume, pace or quality. Learning how to persuade and influence will make the difference between hoping for a better income and having a better income. Beware of the common mistakes presenters and persuaders commit that cause them to lose the deal. Get your free report 10 Mistakes That Continue Costing You Thousands and explode your income today. Conclusion Persuasion is the missing puzzle piece that will crack the code to dramatically increase your income, improve your relationships, and help you get what you want, when you want, and win friends for life. Ask yourself how much money and income you have lost because of your inability to persuade and influence. Think about it. Sure you've seen some success, but think of the times you couldn't get it done. Has there ever been a time when you did not get your point across? Were you unable to convince someone to do something? Have you reached your full potential? Are you able to motivate yourself and others to achieve more and accomplish their goals? What about your relationships? Imagine being able to overcome objections before they happen, know what your prospect is thinking and feeling, feel more confident in your ability to persuade. Professional success, personal happiness, leadership potential, and income depend on the ability to persuade, influence, and motivate others. |
