Onto the second part of Stephen’s question. He wanted to know how skilled, rehearsed speakers might intentionally sound like they’re searching for the next word in order to make their talk sound more spontaneous. This week I have really bashed the conventional wisdom that fixing filler words is something we all need to be super worried about, so it’s only fair that I make a point in favor of that practice here.
If your speech is riddled with likes, y’knows, rights, okays, and kind ofs, it can seem like you just rolled up and decided to give an impromptu talk. That style is too casual for a situation in which you’re commanding the time and attention of many other people. On the other hand, when you have basically eliminated distracting vocal habits, reintroducing them strategically is a way to convey authenticity.
The way I’m interpreting Stephen’s question is this: It seems important to be a practiced and polished speaker, but not so polished that you aren’t connecting on a human level. What do you think about vocal habits that naturally surface when someone is speaking? Can skilled speakers use these habits as a vocal version of artificially-distressed furniture or pre-ripped jeans?
A few thoughts:
- Good radio hosts, podcasters, and speakers make sure to write in the voice they use to speak. When I write for myself, there are sentence fragments, lines as long as runaway trains, conversational phrases, and even syllables (like “oh”) that punctuate my thoughts. I can inhabit the material because there’s no barrier to really speaking the words. I know other professionals do this as well, even practicing a stammered syllable or repeated phrase to underscore their authenticity.
- When you are really comfortable with your material, you can present it each time in a new way. You may actually be searching for a word, or trip over your tongue, because though you’re very prepared, you are creating the thoughts anew in the moment to meet the need of connecting with this listener, this audience.
- Learn the rules so that you can break them. When speakers know that reading their script may limit their vocal range or make them sound mechanical, adding conversational elements surprises the listener. A great example of this is a flight attendant reading the pre-flight safety information. When they rattle off each item just as it’s written, only the new to flying and the anxious listen. When they make that material their own, conveying the same information with the intention to make them put down their phones and listen, we do listen, and we appreciate the extra effort made to ensure our safety.
In conclusion, (a phrase I would never write in a speech I was saying out loud), let’s not make this too complicated. As audience members, we want to feel like a speaker took the time to prepare to talk to us. We also want to feel like they are human and real.
When you’re practicing, identify the words and phrases (like “in conclusion”) that sound like they should only live on the page, and get rid of them. Practice in a way that helps you connect with what excites you about this message and this audience. Slow down.
And try not to read to us. We’d rather listen to you stumble a bit or search for what you want to say than feel the disconnection that comes when you’re just reading off the page.
Thanks, Stephen! Keep those questions and ideas coming!
