The human voice in an instrument we all play. It has immense power if used right. But, when we use it, people often do not listen. So, "how can we speak powerfully to make change in the world?"
First, seven bad habits we need to move away from:
Gossip: Avoid gossip. Speaking poorly of those not present is not only immoral, but will inevitably come back around to damage our reputation.
Judging: Try not to judge. It is difficult to listen to someone who is constantly judging or finding faults.
Negativity: Limit negativity. It is frustrating and hard to listen to someone who speaks only of negative things.
Complaining: Similar to negativity, constant complaints are off-putting and difficult to listen to. "Complaining is viral misery."
Excuses: Take responsibility for your actions. Nobody wants to hear blame pushed onto themselves or others.
Exaggeration: Be precise in your speech. Exaggeration borders on lying, and cheapens what you say.
Dogmatism: Speaking as if your opinions are facts will cause people to become frustrated and quickly stop listening.
These seven "deadly sins" of speech to avoid can be contrasted with four "cornerstones" of powerful speech. Use the word "hail" to remember them:
H - Honesty: Speak the truth and be clear about what you say.
A - Authenticity: Be yourself, and speak what you believe to be true.
I - Integrity: Be someone people can trust. Do what you say you believe in even when nobody is looking.
L - Love: Not romantic love, but use your words in a way that is positive and helpful whenever positive.
Once the seven "sins" and four "cornerstones" have been mastered, other speech tools can be added to your "toolbox." For example:
Register: We mostly speak in our throats. If you need power and authority, lower your voice and speak from your chest.
Timbre: Timbre is the way your voice feels. Focus on breathing and posture to make your voice more rich and warm.
Prosody: Vary your tone. Don't allow your voice to be monotonous. People who speak only in one tone are not pleasant to listen to.
Pace: You can excite your listener by speaking more quickly, slow down to emphasize what you are saying, or use silence to create powerful suspense.
Pitch: Pitch goes hand in hand with pace: vary your pitch to change the delivery of your speech.
Volume: Further excite your listener by increasing volume. Capture attention by getting more quiet. Vary your volume to be more interesting. Don't impose loud volumes on people around you - it's rude.
All this is important for daily life, but even more-so during an important speech. For these important moments, do vocal exercises to warm up your voice beforehand.
In closing, imagine a world where everyone does their best to speak powerfully and consciously - that world would be more beautiful. Think about this when you speak, and people will want to listen.
Watch Julian Treasure's full TED Talk here:
https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_how_to_speak_so_that_people_want_to_listen
