Whether you present to a group of two or three in a small conference room or to an audience of hundreds in a large conference center, using your voice effectively adds impact to your message and keeps your audience interested and engaged.

VARY THE PITCH AND VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE

When you give a presentation, your voice should project energy and enthusiasm. After all, if you're not excited about your subject, why should your audience be excited about it? One way to demonstrate enthusiasm and project energy is to vary the pitch of your voice. In other words, put a verbal punch behind the words you want to emphasize.

Imagine a speaker delivering this line from behind a podium, speaking in a monotone:

"Friends, today I'm going to unveil the most innovative product our company has released in the last 20 years."

Now imagine the same line delivered by a dynamic speaker who varies the pitch and volume of her voice, punching the words set off in text by asterisks:

"Friends, today I'm going to unveil the most *innovative product* our company has released in the *last 20 years*."

Here's another example of punching key words.

In 1987, President Ronald Reagan gave a famous speech at the Brandenberg Gate on the Berlin Wall, built by the Russians after World War II to separate East Germany and West Germany. Although President Reagan gave the speech in West Germany, East Germans could also hear his words through the gate. The speech began by summarizing Soviet and Germany history, and the rhetoric built in intensity until Reagan shouted this famous line:

"Mr. Gorbachev, *tear down this wall*!"

The crowd cheered - on both sides of the wall. Two years later, the Brandenberg gate opened and the Berliners, not the Soviet president, tore down the Berlin Wall.

The modulations in pitch and volume that made the Reagan speech so effective can make your business presentations more effective.

VARY THE PACE OF YOUR VOICE

Just as you vary the pitch and volume of your voice, you should vary the pace of your voice when you speak to an audience. Don't be afraid to speak rapidly during some parts of your presentation and pause for effect during other parts.

Used correctly, a pause mesmerizes the audience, building anticipation for what you are going to say next. One effective presentation tool is for the speaker to follow a long sentence with a short sentence of just one to three words. Generally speaking, you should deliver long sentences at a faster pace than short sentences.

REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE

The best way to add energy to your presentations is to rehearse them again and again. When you rehearse, work from a written script, and deliver the speech out loud, as if you were presenting to a live audience.

Try placing pauses and punches at different points in your presentation. Experiment with the volume and phrasing of your words. Make notes on your script to remind you which words to punch and when to pause, and memorize the inflections as you memorize the words.

Never read a presentation from notes or from a script.

One thing is certain: your presentation skills will improve with practice. While you are developing your skills, seek out opportunities to give as many presentations as you can. Offer to give presentations at your workplace, and look for volunteer opportunities that involve public speaking.

If you use your voice effectively, your presentations will inform and inspire your audience.

Learn more about this author, Marilyn Lindblad.
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