S-P-E-A-K
C-L-E-A-R-L-Y,
S-L-O-W-L-Y,
L-O-U-D-L-Y
I have rarely heard anyone speak too slowly or too loudly in a presentation, seminar, or new business pitch. In my workshops it is harder for me to get people to slow down and speak up than it is to do just about anything else. (I must add that when I have heard that rare person speak too slowly, it put others in the audience and me to sleep). But the most common problem today among speakers is “fast talking”, a distraction that loses more audiences than you can imagine.
Speak in syllables. Use proper grammar. Don’t run words together. Just pronouncing all the syllables and words clearly and precisely will set you apart from most public speakers.
So that everyone can hear you, imagine that you are recording your presentation and the microphone is in the wall at the back of the room. When you go to a stage play the actors speak loudly and clearly. They adjust their performance to the size of the audience and the room. They exaggerate the enunciation and the volume. Speak at a pace and a volume that is easy to listen to.
Remember, this is show business. You are a performer and you have to act like one. Exaggerate your pronunciation, volume, and pace.