Is it better to talk slow?
These are: Slow speech is usually regarded as less than 110 wpm, or words per minute. Conversational speech generally falls between 120 wpm at the slow end, to 160 - 200 wpm in the fast range. People who read books for radio or podcasts are often asked to speak at 150-160 wpm. Show
You want to get to the point. But fast talking could harm your career and interpersonal relationships. Fast talkers are sometimes viewed as nervous and may also tend as salesy or intentionally manipulative. Use these tips to avoid this communication and get your point across. 1. Measure Your Rate of SpeechJust how fast are you? Thanks to some good old-fashioned math, you can find out your word per minute (w/pm) rate. It’s helpful to find your baseline, so you have some way to measure and recognize improvement. A few things to consider:
Do the Math: Plan what you’ll say in advance and count the number of words. Still trying to decide what to use? Try this website that has a steady stream of short stories. Divide the number of words by the number of minutes you were speaking. Voila, you have your words per minute (WPM)! Pick an App: Want to track your voice using an app? We recommend the app Metronome Beats for Android and iOS. Estimate Speaking Time: Curious how your WPM impacts speaking time? Type in your word count, choose a speaking rate, and speechinminutes.com will tell you how long you’ll be talking. 2. Feel Your Rhythm: Not Too Fast, Not Too SlowAs someone who talks quickly, slowing down to the pace of Steve Jobs may sound exasperating and painful. Sure, he’s the gold standard of speakers, but his pacing might feel uncomfortable for you. There’s great news. There are different kinds of influential speakers, and the ideal speaking rate looks different for each person. Look for someone you respect that talks at a comfortable pace, and listen to them to find your talking speed sweet spot. Curious about what the various WPM sounds like? Lynda Stucky recorded the varying rates so you can get a feel for what it sounds like. Rainbow Passage 140 WPM Rainbow Passage 150 WPM Rainbow Passage 160 WPM Rainbow Passage 170 WPM Rainbow Passage 180 WPM Rainbow Passage 190 WPM Rainbow Passage 200 WPM Action Step:
3. Read Poetry, AloudLet me count the ways that reading poetry aloud will help you talk slower:
Action Step: If sitting alone and reading poetry aloud feels unimaginably painful, try reading along with someone else. This video has a selection of 50 poems read by celebrities. Turn on closed captions and read along; you’ll be about one or two beats behind the reader, enabling you to mimic their pacing and inflections. Some favorite poets:
Pro Tip: Not a fan of poetry? You can also achieve a similar effect by reading your favorite fiction books and acting out different character voices. 4. Do a Little ImprovNo, not that kind of improv. Improve your clarity and speaking pace by giving 60-second improv speeches about random topics. How to Play:
It sounds like this would make you speak faster, doesn’t it? At first, yes. You’ll breathlessly scramble for words, stammering and racing through everything you know about “foot.” But as you continue to practice, you’ll find yourself slowing down. You’ll get a feel for how long 60-seconds is, and your brain will begin to settle into organizing thoughts interestingly. Action Step: Do this once a week, on your own (using the improv generator), with your partner, at a dinner party, or on your lunch break with some coworkers. Make sure to play long enough that everyone gets multiple turns. 5. Regulate Your BreathingIf you talk fast because you’re nervous, you’ve probably experienced running out of breath. It’s a vicious cycle. You talk fast. You can’t breathe. Suddenly you’re trying not to gasp for breath. You speed up in a desperate attempt to finish. Work on regulating your breathing to avoid speeding up as you go and sound more confident. Action Steps:
Pro Tip: Practice breathing with the box breathing technique. This video guides you through the simple breathing exercise. 5. Add Pauses to Your NotesAdding pauses to speeches and presentations CAN make you sound less robotic and more charismatic. This little tip is a powerful tool to hold your audience’s attention and get your point across clearly. Maintain total control of your presentation by scripting your pauses in advance. Add a “//” or another symbol to indicate where you should pause. But where should you put your pauses? Vanessa Van Edwards recommends using a power pause mid-sentence to add drama or, at the end of the sentence, to let a thought sink in. Vinh Giang provides a great example of this while talking about pauses! Did you notice his pauses? He accomplishes a balance speed while also pausing to emphasize his points: “When you pause // you give people time to think about what you’ve just said // When you pause // it gives you time // to listen // and when you learn how to pause // it gets rid of all your umms // and your ahhs// and your non-words.” Pro Tip: Always insert a pause after:
Action Step: As you write your speech, add pauses in areas you want to emphasize. As you practice, play around with emphasizing different parts of a sentence. Notice how the rhythm feels and adjust your pauses on paper as you test it out verbally. 6. Approach it Like City Driving: Vary Your SpeedWhether you’re on a first date or presenting a project to your board, keep your speech moving. That would be strange and possibly creepy. Instead, adjust your speaking to have natural and dramatic pacing to keep your audience’s attention. Image: Speakerhub If you practice reading poetry aloud, this can also help you with pacing. Your ultimate goal isn’t to hit a certain w/pm. Instead, you’re working on adjusting your speech to be more charismatic. Pro Tips:
Action Steps for Your Next Date:
7. Be (a Little) TheatricalAs you speak, be deliberate. Use any of these things when you’re talking to add a short pause and communicate relaxed confidence:
You have the floor, and everyone is paying attention to you. Instead of rushing through what you have to say, slow down a little. Be present in your environment and use these somewhat theatrical movements to speak at a more moderate pace. Pro Tip: Worried that people are bored and don’t want to listen to you? Worrying about that is counterproductive. Instead, when you take command of your environment and slow yourself down, you will exude confidence. Action Step: Choose one thing from the above list and use it in your following speech or conversation. It may feel uncomfortable at first, so don’t overdo it! 8. Anchor to an Object or a PersonBefore going into an interview or even walking on stage, plan to find something to anchor onto.
9. Learn the Art of Stage PresenceDid you know that public speaking is actually a skill? Many people struggle with stage anxiety because they feel they ‘missed the memo’ on public speaking or they are lacking because they do not have a natural stage presence. Not true! Stage presence and public speaking are skills you need to be taught—very few people have them naturally. Here are all the aspects of public speaking you can master.
For every speaking skill you add to your toolbox, the less speaking anxiety you will feel. If you want help really diving into your presentation skills, be sure to sign-up for our course… Master Your People SkillsAchieve your impact. Up your influence. Share your ideas with the world. People School is the only science-based interpersonal communication training for top performers. Join People School Why do People Talk Fast?People talk fast because they are nervous. It’s their culture, they want to get to the point, or they are worried others aren’t interested in what they have to say. Let’s dive a little deeper into each of these and look at some solutions for whichever reason you talk fast.
Talking Slower FAQWhy should you talk slower? It would help if you talked slower so your audience could process your words. Additionally, talking slower is important, so you aren’t perceived as nervous. It’s counterintuitive, but talking slower will allow you to share more information and, most importantly, to share it in a way that people can follow and appropriate. Can you train yourself to talk slower? Yes, you can train yourself to talk slower. Start by calculating your speaking rate, so you know how fast you talk. Then, practice articulating your words, speak dramatically slower (at home), and work on your pacing. Your goal is to use your speaking rate to communicate meaning and connect with the person you speak to. How can you talk slower when reading a script? To talk slower when reading a script, add in “//” to indicate areas to pause. As you read, avoid clustering or blurring words. Make sure to articulate each word and focus on the rhythm of your speech. Your rhythm of speech should include the natural emotions and inflections that you would use in a conversation. What’s the normal pace for talking? The average pace for talking is about 150 words per minute but can fall between 140-160 words per minute. Remember that your focus should be more on pacing than words per minute. Proper pacing can help you communicate effectively and connect with whoever you are talking to. Not only do you want to practice your pacing and rate of speech, but being a good communicator includes some other skills. Get our 14 Tips On How To Improve Speaking Skills. Is it more attractive to talk slower?Speaking slowly makes people sound more intelligent, research finds. A lower tone also makes both sexes sound more attractive.
Are fast talkers more intelligent?Granted, the research on speech speed and its impact on perceived intelligence is mixed. Some studies show that speaking more rapidly makes you seem more intelligent, possibly because speed implies certainty.
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