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In my last chatter, I mentioned the level of disappointment I was with my videotaped speech. It seems that most people do not like to listen to themselves, or even worse, watch themselves on video--unless you happen to be tall, handsome, and speak with a sexy French accent. Personally, I would rather eat carpet fuzz than watch myself speak. I looked and sounded funny. I would like to blame it on the poor lighting and acoustics of the room, but deep down, I realize that the problem lies within me.
As much as I want to improve my appearance, I'm not willing to subject myself to a chin tuck, botox injection, or a face-transplant. So, I'm left with option B: Move to France, immerse myself in the language and come back speaking like Gérard Depardieu. Just kidding. After some analysis, I came to accept one main reason for the deep aversion I had to my speech. My speech was too fast, lacking enunciation and vocal clarity. I need to go back to the basics.
Before I focus on the advanced techniques of stage movement, VAKS, or dynamic kinesthetics, I should just make sure I sound clear and pleasant. Consciously slow down the pace. Speak with more power and intent. Fully open up my mouth to pronounce the vowels clearly. Don’t be lazy and slur the words. Fully utilize my lips, tongue and teeth to enunciate the consonants. Project my voice to the back of the room without yelling.
Many of us have the similar problem speaking English, especially for non-native speakers. I strongly recommend that we go back to the basics and take care of the essentials first. I believe that with consistent practice, we can make this into a habit before focusing on other advanced techniques. I hope that you will be able to notice my effort as I deliver my next speech. |
CC Chatter 
