neutral vowels are essential to effective. English pronunciation.' Up your language skills, if you feel you need to. 3FO
Master of the
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The trick to trumping your fear of public speaking lies in improving your oratory skills, writes Eugene Yiga
It’s about developing a voice that inspires others while projecting professionalism and confidence Edgars club AUGUST 2017
communicating,’ Rissen-Harrisberg says. ‘It’s about developing a voice that inspires others while projecting a professional, confident, and commanding presence.’ She suggests these four tips to help improve your oratory kills.
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Speak up, speak clearly and project
Do you mumble or speak too slowly? People might assume that you are lazy and inconsiderate. Speak too fast and they’ll start to lose focus. And, if you speak too softly, you’ll appear to be hesitant and unsure of yourself. So, what’s the solution? ‘The quality of your voice counts for 38% of our communication message,’ says Rissen-Harrisberg. ‘We are assessed according to the tone, pace, pitch and clarity of our
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orget trying to picture your audience naked. The best way to overcome your fear of addressing a group, leading a meeting or flawlessly delivering that make-orbreak presentation, is to master the art of public speaking. But how on earth do you master something you’re deathly afraid of? (In fact, research has shown that many people seem to fear public speaking even more than they do death.) According to Monique Rissen-Harrisberg, founder and CEO of The Voice Clinic, overcoming this fear is all about the confidence that comes from mastering public speaking. ‘The key is a balance between projecting confidence and enthusiasm whilst retaining integrity and sinceritywhen
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How’s your pronunciation?
We tend to speak the way our friends and family speak – they’re the people who have the most influence over us during childhood. But, in today’s world, clarity and being understood are essential. And, whatever language we are using should be true to its rhythms and flow. ‘When you’re speaking English, for example, you need to be familiar with the formation of both consonants and vowel sounds in order to understand how the language should be articulated,’ Rissen-Harrisberg says. ‘The flow of speech and even neutral vowels are essential to effective English pronunciation.’ Up your language skills, if you feel you need to.
The intro and conclusion of your presentation are key. Deliver these flawlessly and you cannot fail
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Focus on upping your presentation skills
Often times, the fear or apprehension of speaking actually originates from you not
Edgars club AUGUST 2017
being confident in what/how you’re presenting. Whether it’s the structure and content or the delivery and style, most people could improve their presentation skills. So, what’s the best way to avoid death by PowerPoint? ‘Know the tricks of the trade: the introduction and conclusion of your presentation are the most important parts. Focus on delivering these flawlessly, and you cannot fail,’ Rissen-Harrisberg says. ‘Also, learn to craft a killer “hook”, opening statement and participation strategy. These presentation “tricks” help capture and hold any audience’s interest.’
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turn the fear to your advantage
Still experiencing butterflies in your stomach, an increased heart rate, breathlessness, perspiration or a feeling of being out of control when you stand up to address an audience? Perhaps the key to dealing with these unpleasant feelings is to try to turn them to your advantage. ‘What’s happening is that the fear produces an adrenal response, called a fight or flight response,’ Rissen-Harrisberg says. ‘You want to turn that debilitating “flight” response (wanting to remove yourself from the situation) into a “fight” one (seizing the opportunity to try to make the most of it). ‘Think of this as your chance to be heard, to express yourself and your thoughts. And, so doing, try to turn your fear into enthusiasm and energy by reviewing these steps. Focus on developing your public speaking skills, instead of giving into fear,’ she concludes.
image: gallo images/getty images
speech. One needs to speak with a deep, resonant and clear voice that projects strength, warmth, clarity and authenticity.’ Practice your speech before-hand, focusing on the sound and quality of your voice – regardless of the words. Find the tone and speed that works for you and adjust everything according to that standard. Enlisting your partner or a friend’s ear can be a big help here.
