5 Tips For Speaking More Clearly In A Professional Setting

5 Tips For Speaking More Clearly In A Professional Setting

Whether you’re giving a presentation, speaking in a meeting, or attending an important conference, speaking clearly and effectively is essential to success in a professional setting. Clarity of communication can help you stand out as a thought leader and make a lasting impression on your peers. To help you make the most of your professional speaking opportunities, here are 5 tips to ensure you’re speaking clearly and easily in any situation. 

1) Know Your Audience

When preparing for any business presentation or meeting, one of the most important tips for speaking clearly is to know your audience. It’s important to understand who you are speaking to so that you can tailor your message and select words that they will understand. Take the time to get to know the audience before you begin speaking. 

Consider their background, education level, and interests so you can adjust your language and delivery style accordingly. Also, ask yourself questions like “what are the main objectives of this presentation?” or “what do I want my audience to take away from this meeting?” This will help you tailor your message in a way that resonates with them. This will help you tailor your message in a way that resonates with them. To effectively organize and prioritize your message, you can use a hierarchy of information to help structure your presentation logically, ensuring that key points are clearly highlighted and your message is delivered coherently.  

2) Choose Simple Language

When you are speaking in a professional setting, it is important to choose words and phrases that are easy to understand. Using big words or technical terms may impress your colleagues, but it can also confuse them and make it difficult for them to follow your message.

Instead, try to use simpler language that everyone in the room can easily grasp. Aim for brevity; instead of saying “utilize,” just say “use.” It is better to be understood than to appear smart.

Additionally, if there is terminology that is specific to your company or industry, try to explain the meaning and context of the words so everyone can stay on the same page. 

Finally, be aware of any slang or jargon in your speech. A lot of slang and jargon has become commonplace, but some people may find it difficult to comprehend. In general, stick to everyday language that everyone in the room will be familiar with.

3) Slow Down

When speaking in a professional setting, it is important to take the time to enunciate each word. Slowing down your speech will help ensure that your audience understands what you’re saying. Additionally, slowing down your speech will help you emphasize key points and keep your audience engaged. When preparing for a presentation or meeting, practice beforehand by reading through your material at a slower pace than normal. This will help you get used to speaking more slowly and clearly in front of an audience.

Additionally, when speaking in a professional setting, it is important to not rush through or stumble over words. Be mindful of pauses and breaths so that you don’t appear rushed or flustered. Taking the time to slow down your speech will help ensure that your message comes across clearly and effectively.

4) Speak Up

Speaking clearly and easily in a professional setting requires you to speak up. If you’re too quiet, your audience won’t be able to understand you. Aim for a volume that is slightly louder than normal conversation. Don’t shout, but make sure your voice carries to the back of the room.

Good vocal projection also involves being aware of the space you’re speaking in. If you’re in a large room with high ceilings, consider speaking more loudly to reach your audience. Similarly, if you’re in a smaller room, try to moderate your voice to prevent reverberation.
Projecting your voice also involves taking pauses when necessary and maintaining good posture. Keep your head up and shoulders back to open up your chest for better breathing and projection. Make sure to also take a few deep breaths before you begin speaking. This will help to relax your vocal cords and reduce any tension that might be present. 

Remember that practice makes perfect! The more often you practice speaking up in a professional setting, the more confident you’ll become.

5) Repeat Key Points

Repeating key points is a great way to ensure your audience understands the main message of your presentation or meeting. Summarizing the main points of your speech will help ensure that your audience walks away with a full understanding of what you have said. It can also be helpful to remind them of any action items that need to be completed as a result of your discussion. Taking the time to repeat key points will help your audience stay focused and engaged in the conversation.

When it comes to repeating key points, be sure to keep it concise. Don’t spend too much time rehashing the same information. Instead, take the time to summarize the main points of your discussion, and move on to the next topic. This will help keep your presentation or meeting running smoothly and efficiently.

At the end of your presentation or meeting, it is a good idea to once again remind your audience of the main points you discussed. Doing so will help ensure that everyone leaves with a clear understanding of what was discussed, as well as any action items that need to be taken care of.

By following these simple tips, you can ensure that your presentations and meetings are clear, efficient, and effective. Taking the time to know your audience, choose simple language, slow down, speak up, and repeat key points will help ensure that everyone understands and retains the information presented in a professional setting.

The Final 4 Bonus Tips.

1. Learn the Basics: To be able to speak more clearly and accurately, it is important to have a basic understanding of the language you are trying to learn. This will help you communicate more effectively and ensure that you don’t make any grammatical mistakes while speaking.

2. Practise Your Pronunciation: Pronunciation plays a very important role in speaking correctly and clearly. Make sure to practice your pronunciation every day to ensure that you can speak confidently and without any errors.

3. Listen and Speak: One of the best ways to learn how to speak more clearly is to listen and then try to imitate the speaker. Listen carefully to the speaker’s intonation, accent and pronunciation before trying to replicate them. This will help you get a better understanding of the language and help you speak more clearly. 

4. Use a Speaking Tool: A great way to improve your language skills is by using a speaking tool such as Learn Laugh Speak. This tool will provide you with instant feedback on your speech, so you can adjust your words accordingly and become a better speaker in no time!

This was written by me. Bryce Purnell, founder of Learn Laugh Speak. Check out more on my Medium or send me an email if you’re ever curious about anything at all!