I don’t need to up my volume…
I don’t need to slow my pace…
I don’t need to enunciate my words…
I don’t need to consider my accent…
I don’t need to add inflection when I talk…
I don’t need to make eye contact with my audience…
BECAUSE I always use a microphone!!!
Have you ever been to a presentation with a presenter who fits one of these statements? I think each of us has been in the audience when we wished the speaker had not made one of the above assumptions. The big news flash is that using a microphone doesn’t mean you can opt out of working on your skills.
Amplification works both ways: The microphone makes it more obvious if you have a flaw. For example, if you have a monotone speaking style without much inflection, everyone in the audience will be able to clearly hear that! Everything will stand out more. When you add a smile to your face and some volume to your voice, it is really hard to remain monotone – the inflection in your speech can’t help but improve!
Speak for understanding: It doesn’t matter if you have an accent because of your country or language of origin or have a unique dialect. Speak slowly during your opening remarks to give your audience a chance to orient to your accent. With or without an accent, pay attention to enunciate your words throughout your talk. Take the time and make your important points, speaking clearly all the way to the end of each sentence.
Likewise, if you are naturally soft-spoken, you will need to practice projecting your words and then do that same thing even when you have a microphone. You will feel like you are speaking too loudly, but trust me, your audience will be able to hear and understand you!
In short, speak like you don’t have a microphone every time, even when you do have a microphone, and you can raise your audience’s perception of you from good to great! Good luck!