Say more with less

Speaking
Written By Liam Sandford

Sometimes it is what you do not say that says the most.

You may think that the more you talk the better your audience will understand. That is not correct at all. In fact, there is a huge benefit to not being long winded. Have you ever been to a conference and heard a presenter go on and on…and on? At some point they may even say, “I know I have been talking a while, but”.

Basically, they are saying to the audience, ‘yeah, I am talking more than I should, but I am going to keep going because I do not care about you, the audience.’ If you ever think you are speaking for a long time, that is because you are. It is a sign you should stop.

This person is a talker rather than a speaker. The two are very different:

What is a Talker?

A talker thinks value comes from the length of time talking.

They continue to say words even after they have made the point they need to land. Often they will go around the houses and confuse the audience by saying more. The more they say, the more confusing it gets — the audience has to think hard to separate the signal from the noise.

You do not want to be a talker. If you have this tendency, when you start to realize you are overtalking, stop. Do this in every day conversation so when you come to deliver a presentation you have a thought process to stop any rambling.

What is a Speaker?

A speaker understands that value stems from delivering a clear message.

They recognize that delivering a concise and focused message has far more impactful than rambling on without purpose. Being a speaker means knowing how to effectively convey information and engage the audience. A true speaker can separate signal from the noise.

Being intentional with your use of words is a hard skill to develop, but an essential one for becoming a great speaker. This means everything you say either adds value to your audience or directly engages them to keep their attention before delivering your next main point.

Quality > Quantity

Say less by pausing

Saying more with less is a talent. Saying more without talking is an even bigger one. Purposeful pausing is a real skill. Pausing sends the audience a signal that ‘this is crucial’, and you want them to reflect on the point you just made.

We live in an age where information is flying at us. We rarely pause and think. Giving the audience a chance to do that means your messages can sink in. It gives them time to digest without having to change their focus instantly to what you are saying next. If your pause is the only moment in the day they stop and reflect, they are more likely to remember your message.

When planning your speech, identify the most important points where you want to build up to create a powerful impact. These are the moments when you should strategically insert pauses. This both helps land the message, and gives you time to slow down your delivery, and avoid being a talker.

Actionable takeaways

  • Take time to craft your message and ensure that everything you say adds value. You want to be a speaker, not a talker.

  • Don’t speak for a long time just to fill space. Your audience don’t want to have to find signal in the noise — you should be that signal.

  • Use pausing as a way to slow down your brain and avoid rambling to your audience. Plan strategic pauses just after you deliver a key message — this will help you land your main point with the audience.

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Liam Sandford
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