Moment 85 - How To Speak So EVERYONE Listens To You: Julian Treasure

Nov 25, 2022 11m 46s 8 insights
This episode emphasizes that speaking and listening are critical, underdeveloped skills. It outlines practical techniques to enhance vocal delivery, including specific breathing exercises, mastering prosody, leveraging silence, and self-coaching through recording.
Actionable Insights

1. Treat Voice as a Skill

Recognize that speaking is a skill, not just a natural capability, and commit to developing it to improve life outcomes, happiness, effectiveness, and overall well-being.

2. Develop Deep Breathing Practice

Engage in a regular breathing practice, such as resonant breathing (inhaling through the nose, exhaling audibly through the mouth, lengthening both breaths), and focus on breathing from the diaphragm to improve vocal quality and reduce nerves.

3. Practice Vocal Prosody

Actively practice prosody, which involves varying the intonation (up and down delivery) and rhythm of your speech, including the gaps you leave and the emphasis you place on words, to make your communication more engaging and emotionally resonant.

4. Utilize Strategic Silence

Become comfortable with silence in your speech by consciously avoiding filling every gap with verbal tics like “ums” or “you knows,” which allows for clearer communication and greater impact.

5. Record and Self-Coach

Regularly record yourself speaking and listen back critically to identify areas for improvement, effectively becoming your own coach to master your vocal delivery.

6. Improve Physical Posture

Consciously improve your posture, as it directly impacts your breathing and vocal delivery, contributing to a more effective and powerful voice.

7. Consider a Vocal Coach

If you have a “boring voice” or want to significantly enhance your speaking abilities, consider hiring a formal vocal coach to receive expert guidance and training.

8. Adjust to Cultural Prosody

Be sensitive to cultural differences in prosody and intonation, adjusting your speaking style to match the expectations and communication norms of your audience to ensure your message is well-received.