Emphasis Checklist

To speak with conviction, it’s easiest to practise more consciously the first few phrases of the opening of your presentation, which will include a Spice.   

When you practise, do it as you’re walking around your home, going for a walk or whatever, standing in the mirror.  

You might only do 30 seconds’ worth but if you start a presentation by talking and moving more naturally – even if you have to do this consciously – it will feel ‘less you’ to crawl back into a more inhibited mode.

Moreover, gesture not only helps add colour to your voice, but also to diffuse nervous energy.

1. Underline key words for the first few phrases in the opening

2. Practised in the mirror / around the home or e.t.c. with gesture, moving in tandem with key words / phrases (1 or 2 minutes of practice).

3. Mark in the pauses in any section of your content using the slashes ( //) for the elephants I talked about.

4. Record yourself doing a 30 second snippet on your phone.  Are you using pitch changes and pausing?  It not, this may be because:

a) you’re not using gesture

b) you’re not pausing for long enough.

Re-record and apply pauses and gesture, if necessary.