Talking to be Heard or with Impact
Introduction
The ability to talk is a fundamental skill that we all have. However, it is also one of the most difficult to master. If you are not a natural public speaker, practicing effective communication skills can be challenging. But with some time and effort, you can learn how to speak with impact so that your audience listens and understands what you have to say. Here are seven things you should keep in mind when delivering your next presentation or speech:
Eye contact
Eye contact is important for two reasons. First, it's a sign of confidence--you are looking directly at the person you are talking to, rather than at their nose or mouth. Second is that eye contact helps keep your audience engaged in what you're saying. If they can't see your eyes while they listen, then they might start thinking about something else and lose track of what it was that got them interested in the first place!
This rule applies equally well whether or not there's an audience around; if someone has asked you a question or made some kind of comment during an interview (or even just while sitting down with friends), look directly into their eyes when replying.
Pause
Pause before speaking.
Pause after speaking.
Pause to collect your thoughts, or for dramatic effect.
Uncluttered Language
Keep sentences short.
Use simple words.
Avoid jargon and acronyms, especially when you're speaking to a general audience. If you're not sure whether your audience will understand the term, just say what it means instead of using jargon or an acronym (e.g., "the term 'cloud' refers to..."). This makes it easier for people who don't know what those things mean yet still want to understand what you're saying!
Use active voice instead of passive voice whenever possible; this makes your writing more engaging and less confusing for readers who aren't familiar with your topic area yet still want answers from their search engines! It also keeps sentences tight and directs attention towards action rather than inaction (which sounds boring). For example: "We found out that... vs "...was found by us." Or: "Our team worked hard last week" vs "...worked hard last week."
Pausing Before You Speak
Pausing before you speak is a good way for you to think about what you want to say, but it also gives the audience time to process what they have heard. This can help build trust with your listeners because they will know that you are giving them your full attention and care about their understanding of the message.
The pause can be used as a way of building anticipation in your speech as well: "I'm going to tell you something now", or "You are going to hear something interesting". The silence adds drama and tension, which makes listeners want more information from the speaker!
Pausing After You Speak
When you are speaking, pausing after a point or question allows the audience to digest what you have said and absorb your message. You can also use it to emphasize a point or question, clarify something you have said, or give the audience a chance to ask questions.
It is important to talk with your audience in mind.
Talk to be heard or with impact
Speaking with confidence
Eye contact
Uncluttered language (avoid jargon, acronyms and buzzwords)
Pause before you speak. It will give you time to think about what you want to say and let the other person know that it is their turn to speak.
Pause after each sentence or thought as well. The pause gives your audience time to process what was said, which can help them understand what else needs explaining or clarification from yourself or others involved in the conversation
Conclusion
When you're speaking to be heard or with impact, it is important to consider the audience. You should speak with eye contact and pause before and after each statement. Uncluttered language will help your audience understand what you are saying more easily while pausing allows them time digest what they just heard before moving on to another topic