As a sales professional, speaking clearly and articulately is an indispensable skill, whether pitching a proposal or just communicating with clients. However, improving your speech clarity can be challenging and requires consistent practice and conscious effort. Here, we will share five expert tips to help you speak more clearly and communicate more effectively. Not only can these tips help you excel in sales, but they can also improve your everyday communication skills.
1. Practise Regularly
Learning to speak more clearly requires consistent practice. There are no shortcuts to
success. Whether reading stories to your children or speaking in public, every bit of
practice helps refine your speech delivery.
Remember, the aim is not perfection but progress. So, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Gradually build on your ability to enhance your clarity in speech. Here are some key
examples of how you can practise:
● Practise in front of a mirror
● Read aloud from books or newspapers
● Record yourself and listen back to it
● Engage in conversation with friends or family
● Join a public speaking club or debate team
2. Over Exaggerate Your Expressions While Practising
When practising your speech, it can be helpful to exaggerate your expressions. Although it
may seem unusual at first, this technique can help you be more expressive when
speaking in day-to-day conversations or while making a sales pitch.
Here are some ways you can apply this method effectively:
Dramatise Your Facial Expressions
Practice in front of a mirror and exaggerate your smiles, frowns, and other facial
expressions.
Amplify Your Gestures
When practising, exaggerate your gestures.
Exaggerate Your Vocal Modulations
Vary your pitch, volume, and speed.
3. Imitate Great Speakers
Learning from successful people is a proven strategy for achieving success in any field,
including public speaking. Inspirational speakers have a unique way of expressing their
thoughts that captivate their audience and leave a lasting impression.
● Listen to speeches by industry leaders or renowned motivational speakers. Study
their speech patterns, tone, pitch, and body language.
● If you need help finding great speakers, look for TED Talks on YouTube. TED
Talks cover many topics and provide numerous examples of effective
speaking techniques.
● When imitating great speakers, it’s important to remember to maintain your
individuality. Imitate their mannerisms, but don’t lose your style and voice.
● Seek feedback from those around you, whether colleagues, mentors, coaches, or
just friends and family. They can provide impartial advice on how to improve.
4. Control Your Breathing
Breathing is essential to speech delivery and can directly impact your vocal patterns.
When speaking, particularly during public speaking or presentations, it is crucial to
maintain control over your breathing to ensure your words are clear, audible, and
impactful.
Inhale
As a speaker, always remember to inhale through your mouth before starting each new
statement. This simple step will allow you to control your breath and support your voice
throughout the delivery of that statement.
Use Breath To Pace Your Speech
Your breath can also be used as a pacing tool. You can naturally pace your speech by
inhaling and exhaling at regular intervals. This can prevent you from rushing through your
points or losing your audience due to quick, unclear delivery.
Train Your Breath Control
Consider training your breath just as you would train your voice for a speech. Regular
breathing exercises can help you build lung capacity, enabling you to deliver longer
sentences without losing breath or compromising on clarity.
5. Pace Yourself
Maintaining an appropriate pace in speech is crucial for conveying your message
persuasively and speaking more clearly. It’s a delicate balance between efficiency and
clarity. Here are some tips to help you manage your speaking speed:
Speak at a conversational pace
This makes it easier for listeners to follow and understand what you are saying.
Pause for impact
Use pauses to emphasise key points and allow the listener to process the information.
Pay attention to the listener’s reactions
If they appear confused or lost, it might be a sign that you are speaking too quickly.
Practice with a Timer
Time yourself while practising your speech. This can help you determine whether you are speaking too quickly or too slowly.
If you need help learning to speak more clearly or require other coaching to perfect your
sales technique, Sales Ethos can help. We provide specialised sales training in Melbourne
for professionals to increase sales, enhance their skills, and improve customer
relationships. Contact us to unlock your full potential.