How to Become More Articulate: 11 Hacks to Be a Better Communicator
Originally published at https://eggcellentwork.com.
Figuring out how to become more articulate can take you a long way in terms of getting your point across and having others take you seriously. However, this is by no means a simple process.
You will need to learn, practice and apply to actually learn how to articulate thoughts into words. To help you out, I have compiled some simple hacks that you can use to become a better communicator.
Take a look!
How to Become More Articulate
There are several things that you can try out to become more articulate. You can go through a few of them in detail below.
Record Yourself
One of the best ways to learn how to become more articulate is by recording yourself. Whenever you have something to say, it can help to plan it out, prepare it in your head and speak it out loud.
You can then use the voice recording function on your phone to record your entire speech, whether personal or professional so that you can then listen back to it when you’re done.
This can help you understand how others will hear you while also being able to spot mistakes such as gaps, filler words, voice modulation and more. You can then improve on those aspects and record yourself again to note the difference.
Understand Speed Requirements
You should try to regulate the speed with which you communicate your thoughts, ideas and feelings. This can make your speech sound a lot more interesting and layered so that people will listen to you attentively.
It is important not to talk too fast as this could make it difficult for your listeners to understand what exactly you are trying to say. On the other hand, talking too slowly could easily make people lose interest or track of what you are saying.
It is important to maintain a balance while also changing up your speed at different points of your speech or conversation so that you can draw attention to all the right parts.
On average, you should aim for around 140 words per minute when it comes to conversational speech.
Enunciate Each Word
Make sure you pronounce and enunciate each word accurately and clearly so that people can have an easier time following what you are saying without you needing to backtrack or repeat what you were saying.
In case there are certain words that you are unsure about, it can become too easy for you to skim over them to cover up your lack of confidence. This can make it confusing for the listeners and can also be off-putting in professional contexts.
If you can help it, then you can try to practice enunciating all the syllables of difficult words by looking up their pronunciation so that you are not caught off-guard later on. If you have to speak spontaneously, then don’t feel too embarrassed about mistakes as this can allow you to learn from them later!
Deal with Fillers
Filler words are usually words that you might subconsciously add to your speech so that they can provide you with a gap to collect your thoughts and move ahead with what you were trying to say.
Some common fillers that people tend to use include “like”, “so”, “um”, “okay”, “yeah” and many more. While they can help you take a breath or collect yourself, these filler words can easily end up diverting the attention of your listeners, making them lose track of important elements.
It is essential to reduce these fillers in your speech so that you can talk in a more flowing manner. It can be more effective to eliminate these fillers and leave a small gap instead.
Listen to Podcasts
Podcasts can be great ways for you to learn how to become more articulate. This is because podcasts include people talking at length about a certain topic or even having a conversation or discussion with other people about something relevant to them and their podcast.
By paying attention to their speech patterns in different contexts, you can make your own notes and try practicing those habits in your own speech.
This can also give you a listener’s or audience’s perspective so that you can figure out how to address that the next time you have something to say.
Speak Simply
While it can sound impressive when people use technical or professional jargon to convey information or even to lead discussions, this can usually be quite confusing to the listeners, especially if they are not well-versed in the topic.
In this sense, you should try your best to speak as simply as possible by breaking down all possible jargon and explaining it in simple words. Using fancy vocabulary just for the sake of it can also prove counterproductive at times if no one knows what you are trying to convey.
You should also consider who the audience or listener is here so that you can adjust your conversation or speech accordingly.
Pause
Do not be afraid to pause while talking as this can actually be an effective strategy when it comes to clearly conveying your thoughts and ideas to people.
If you are making a speech or a formal presentation, then taking deliberate pauses during certain parts of your speech can not only help you take a moment to breathe and move on but can also serve to tell your listeners that they are listening to an important piece of information.
Allow them to absorb the information and understand the weight of the matter.
When it comes to regular conversations, then a pause can also be effective in a similar way. It can also give you some space to gather and articulate your thoughts better.
Here, you can also rely on nonverbal cues to help you out.
Volume and Pitch
Volume and pitch are also important aspects of articulation and communication. These can add plenty of depth to what you are trying to say so that people can maintain their level of interest.
When it comes to volume, you should ensure that everyone can hear you clearly enough. Being too loud, however, can end up being too grating and distracting for your listeners, especially if you are talking into a mic.
You should change up your pitch at different points of your speech as well so that people can understand the essence and mood of what you are saying. While some elements might require a higher and passionate pitch, others might require a gentle and low pitch.
Develop Confidence
Developing your confidence level while speaking can make a huge difference when it comes to actually making your speech or initiating a conversation. Figure out some breathing techniques for managing your nerves or anxiety effectively before your turn to speak.
While it is completely normal to feel nervous while speaking up, it is essential for you to manage this by initiating a point or participating in public speaking more and more. This can allow you to get used to the idea better so that you are better equipped next time.
Even if you make mistakes, you can simply note them down and avoid them next time.
Practice
You should get as much practice as possible before articulating yourself. While this might not always be possible in casual and spontaneous situations, you should certainly try to make preparations beforehand if you have the option to do so.
Keep repeating your speech mentally as well as out loud. It can help to write things down to be able to recall them later.
You can also practice with some people that you are close to so that they can provide valuable feedback and help boost your confidence.
Visualize
An effective strategy for becoming more articulate is to visualize your listeners or audience to anticipate how they will look and react. This can help calm your nerves a bit before actually facing them.
You can further practice what you have to say by looking at yourself in the mirror so that you can learn how to interact with people in front of you while also preventing yourself from relying too much on your notes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can Reading Make Me More Articulate?
Reading can be another great way to make yourself more articulate as it can help you understand sentence and speech structures while also building on your vocabulary. You can also understand different perspectives that you can then take care of in your own articulations.
Can Someone Help Me Become More Articulate?
You can certainly seek help for becoming more articulate. You can either take help from online speeches and talks so that you can then imitate them or you can join and attend public speaking classes or workshops to get some useful tips.
Self-improvement books can also help in this regard.
Parting Thoughts
Now that you know what you should do to become more articulate, it is time for you to understand all of these tips and apply them to your own articulations, whether personal or professional. Practice well and make a great impression using these. Good luck!
