Rhythm in a speech is created through the use of contrast. If you have ups, you should have downs, if you speak loudly at one point, speak softly at another. There are a great many elements of your speech that can be used to create rhythm, including:
- Your script.
Build contrast into the script of your presentation by using humour at some stages, and a more serious tone at others. Balance a ‘chatty’ feel with a more ‘business-like’ tone. Use stories for some explanations, and hard data or illustrative props for others. - Your body language.
Making a serious point? Stand still and speak with sincerity. Telling a story? Move about and become animated. And make sure that you do both in one presentation, so that your body language becomes captivating. - Your voice.
Nothing creates rhythm and contrast as effectively as the way you use your voice. Speak in a monotone, and you will bore them. But take the time and trouble to decide which parts of your presentation should be delivered swiftly, slowly, loudly, softly, and so on, and you will bring your speech to life. - Your facial expressions.
Your facial expressions, and particularly your eyes, are your foremost ambassadors as a speaker. Remember to keep them switched on throughout. Nerves play havoc with an inexperienced speaker’s capacity to use facial expressions. They tend to ‘switch off’ and focus only on remembering content. The content, however, is only half of the total communication. Remember to keep your face switched on throughout. - Your energy levels.
You can create an almost hypnotic effect by designing your speech in such a way that there are contrasting energy levels. Start enthusiastically. Then drop your energy levels and speak with a slow serious tone. Then rev things up a little and become animated once again. Energy levels are powerful. Learn to play with them, and you will appear masterful. - Getting the hang of it.
Here’s an easy way to learn to work with rhythms. Stand in front of a mirror. Now count to twenty. But do so as though you were delivering a dramatic speech, like this:
- “1… 2… 3…4” (Conversational and friendly)
- “5…6…7…8” (Serious, as though explaining an important point)
- “8… 9…10!” (Angry and passionate!)
- “11… 12…” (Slowly, as if telling a sad story)
- “13… 14… 15… 16!” (Faster, more excited, smiling)
- …and so on, up to twenty.
When you reach twenty, start again, continually varying your tone and style. Don’t think about content. Simply focus on expressing different emotions, with different voice tones, facial expressions and body movements. Learning to use rhythm and contrast will bring your speeches to life.