The Art of Speaking To Impress
How To Speak To Impress
Every so often, you find yourself in a situation wherein you want to make a great impression. Whether you’re on your way to a job interview or you’re about to meet your blind date, you know you want to look good. In fact, you want to look and be your best.
Sure, your dressed to the nines and you really did a good job on your appearance, but there’s something more telling that you may have missed out on, and that is the way you speak.
People can tell so much about you with the words you use and the way you pronounce them. This is telling of the kind of background you have. Hence, don’t forget to pay close attention when you start to talk.
Your Tone
First of all, you need to watch your tone. Even if you’re feeling annoyed, tired, or depressed, don’t bring the other person down with you.
The whole point of the conversation is to connect. Be sure of yourself.
Sometimes, you attach tag questions at the end of your sentences, and this makes you look uncertain. It’s fine when you’re trying to be nice to your date, but when it comes to job interviews, you must always sound like you know what you’re talking about.
You already are capable of producing a variety of vocal tones but you have to listen to yourself a lot so you can distinguish the differences in these. Experts say that you have to modulate your tone by modulating your breathing. So, if you find yourself talking too quickly, take a deep breath and you’ll see a big improvement.
Your Vocabulary
Of course, a lot can be said about your vocabulary. If you’re more articulate, people will notice. This doesn’t mean that you have to work hard at impressing others when you speak. Rather, you have to do this so that you can express yourself better. This somehow tells others that you’re also attuned to what they’re feeling and thinking, and they’re more likely to open up to you when this happens.
You may have picked up your vocabulary from your friends. If they somehow sound too brash, then you will be brash as well. You can’t drop your friends and forget them if this happens, but you can certainly work on yourself.
Read books, do puzzles, and play word games. Not only will you have fun along the way, but you’ll also be adding great words into your vocabulary.
Your Fillers
Then, also watch out for your fillers.
People say ‘um’ a lot when they’re shifting sentences. You could be guilty of the very same thing. If this has become a habit, you may not be conscious of it. Try substituting these fillers with more precise words.
Instead of saying ‘like,’ you can say ‘similar to.’ Get a friend to help coach you because these things are often said unconsciously. You can even come with a sort of reward-and-punishment scheme to add to the fun and to make you more aware of the things that come out of your mouth.
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