Dynamic Speaking - top ten tips

If you really want to make an impact and ensure that your message is heard, you need to be a dynamic speaker and hold the attention of your audience.

So here are Ten Top Tips to help you do just that…

1. Breathe Life Into Your Presentation
Correct breathing releases tension and anxiety. To overcome nerves prior to speaking, take three long inhales and three long exhales.

2. Speak On The Outward Breath
To enrich the full range of the voice, speak on the outward breath rather than the held breath. You will feel more relaxed and it adds more power to your voice.

3. Think Sexy!
To speak with more power and authority without sounding aggressive, think sexy! The voice becomes deeper and resonates from the chest, conveying a richer, warmer quality.

4. Think Boots!
To project a more powerful voice and avoid voice strain, look straight out to your audience and imagine sending your voice down to your boots. Try practising on the dog, kids, or your partner and watch them sit up and take notice!

5. Say It Like It Is
Remember to write and speak in shorter sentences. It sounds more natural and helps your audience stay with you.

6. Make Eye Contact
Eye contact makes a powerful connection with your audience. Give a nugget of information or a phrase to each person. If you’re nervous about making real eye contact, look at their forehead, they’ll never know the difference.

7. Invest In A Gesture
Do move and use gestures, but aim for economy of movement. Try moving the arms from the elbow, rather than the shoulder. This avoids looking like you’re
flagging down a bus!

8. Wait For It!
Pause more. Pause in between each phrase. Allow your audience time to assimilate your message. Remember, it’s the first time they’ve heard your talk.

9. Use More Visual Imagery
People always remember powerful images. Paint a picture through words. Use an analogy - then complex concepts or technical material comes “alive”.

10. Practise, Practise, Practise!
It really does make you perfect. Practise your talk aloud to yourself and then to a colleague. This gives you a sense of pace.

In all walks of life good communication skills are essential.

Everyone deserves to discover that their “real” voice is dynamic, powerful and memorable - it’s truly amazing!

Once learnt, these skills are with you for life!


Constance Lamb is a professional actress and public speaking consultant. She works in Television, Theatre and as a Voice-Over. She is a trained teacher, has an M.A. and has taught voice to undergraduates at Florida State University. Clients include: Reuters, Pricewaterhouse Coopers, Morgan Stanley, Thales Acoustics, Toyota, Training & Enterprise Councils, TV producers and many international business people.