Power of Expression

Power of Expression
When delivering a presentation, it is the speaker's job to convey the message clearly and powerfully. Many speaking aspects contribute to the ability to express ideas. Stage presence and voice qualities will contribute to the expression of the message, but the speaker also needs to consider the flow, filler words, enthusiasm, and facial expressions.

Flow
Speakers want their speeches to flow smoothly. If a speaker loses his/her train of thought or jumps from one idea to another and back again, the audience will struggle to follow the speech and the message will be lost in the confusion. A well prepared speech will help avoid this problem.

Pace can also affect flow. If the speaker is speaking too slowly, the audience will lose interest. On the other hand, if the speaker goes too fast, the audience will not be able to follow the thought process. The speaker should choose an appropriate pace for the speech. The pace may change slightly throughout the speech to make a point (i.e., slowing down to emphasize a phrase that the audience should remember), but caution should be exercised to avoid changing the tempo too much.

Filler Words
Filler words and/or phrases can become distracting and disrupt the flow of a presentation. Common filler words and phrases include: um, ah, like, and, so, you know, or any phrase that is overused to fill space. These words are often used unintentionally or as a nervous habit. When trying to eliminate these words from a speech, the speaker should follow the same basics as for eliminating nervous habits. Generally, filler words are used when finishing a sentence, trying to think what to say next, or when getting an extra jolt from the nerves. The following guidelines will help eliminate the use of filler words:

At the end of a sentence, immediately start another. Normally speakers wait 2-3 seconds to begin another sentence. Until the filler word problem is solved, the speaker should violate this pattern and go from sentence to sentence with as little of a pause as practical. Do not string sentences together with words like "um" or "and."

It is permissible to pause for a few seconds as you gather your thoughts. Speakers should not feel as though they have to actually speak all of the time. Pauses, although they may seem like an eternity to the speaker, are seldom noticed as being out of the ordinary by the audience.

Be aware of filler word use. Some speakers audio tape their presentations or ask others to listen to the speech – especially if there is a delivery problem such as using filler words.

Eliminate fillers from your everyday conversation. Notice the use of filler words in everyday use. Speakers who learn to converse without them have little problem with their use in a speech.

Practice! The more familiar the speaker is with the speech, the less he/she will need to rely on filler words.

Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is one of the most important vocal qualities a speaker can possess. The enthusiastic presenter easily gets the audience's attention. Expressing enthusiasm throughout the speech will help maintain the audience's attention. In addition it will show the speaker's feelings towards the subject. However, sometimes the topic is somber or serious and a show of enthusiasm might be inappropriate. If this is the case, the speaker should attempt to express a conviction or passion for the subject throughout the delivery, but tone down the level of enthusiasm.

Facial Expressions
Facial expressions can help set the mood of the speech. Smiling relaxes both the speaker and the audience. Facial expressions should also reinforce the speech. If inappropriate facial expressions are used, they may cause confusion and distraction for the audience. In addition, when the speaker indicates a mistake in the planned speech by a facial expression, the audience will notice the mistake, and the speaker's credibility may be compromised. However, if the speaker maintains a calm facial expression, the audience may not even realize a mistake was made. Using appropriate facial expressions will assist the speaker in conveying his/her message to the audience
ANKITA
PGDM-1ST SEM