how to use your voice in presentation

How to Use Your Voice Effectively During A Presentation

In this article, we’ll explore some practical tips and techniques for using your voice effectively during a presentation. From speaking clearly and varying your tone and pitch to using inflection and emphasis, these strategies can boost your vocal delivery and feel more confident and in control.

1. Vary Your Tone and Pitch

2. use inflection and emphasis, 3. speak clearly and concisely, 4. avoid filler words and phrases, 5. use pauses strategically, 6. pay attention to your body language, 7. avoid monotony, 8. use vocal pacing, 9. speak with confidence, 10. use repetition, final thoughts.

Another important aspect of using your voice effectively during a presentation is varying your tone and pitch. This helps to keep your audience engaged and interested in what you are saying. 

Try to avoid a monotone voice and instead vary the pitch and tone of your voice throughout the presentation. For example, you might raise your voice slightly when making an important point, or lower it when speaking more softly or confidentially.

In addition to varying your tone and pitch, it’s important to use inflection and emphasis to help convey your message. This means emphasizing key words or phrases in your presentation, such as by raising your voice slightly or pausing before or after the emphasized word. 

Inflection can also be used to convey different emotions, such as excitement or concern, depending on the content of your presentation.

The first tip for using your voice effectively during a presentation is to speak clearly and concisely. This means articulating your words carefully, pronouncing them correctly, and avoiding filler words such as “um” or “like.” 

It’s also important to speak at an appropriate pace, neither too fast nor too slow, so that your audience can follow along easily. Take your time when speaking and pause at appropriate moments to emphasize key points.

Filler words and phrases, such as “um,” “like,” and “you know,” can be distracting and take away from the impact of your message. Try to avoid using them as much as possible. 

If you find yourself slipping into using filler words, take a moment to pause, collect your thoughts, and continue speaking. This will help you to speak more clearly and effectively.

Pauses can be a powerful tool when used strategically during a presentation. Pausing before or after a key point can emphasize its importance and allow your audience to digest the information. 

Pausing can also help you to collect your thoughts and regain your composure if you are feeling nervous. Be sure to practice your pauses during your practice sessions to ensure that they are effective and not too long.

Your body language can also impact your vocal delivery. Standing up straight and using confident gestures can help to project confidence and authority in your voice. Avoid slouching or fidgeting, as this can detract from your message and make you appear nervous or uncertain.

Monotony refers to a lack of variation or excitement in your vocal delivery. This can make your presentation seem dull or uninteresting to your audience. 

To avoid monotony, try to vary your tone, pitch, pacing, and volume throughout your presentation. This can help to keep your audience engaged and interested in your message.

Vocal pacing refers to the speed at which you speak. Varying your pacing can help to keep your audience engaged and interested in your message. 

You can use a slower pace to emphasize important points or a faster pace to add excitement to your presentation. Practice adjusting your pacing during your rehearsals to find the right balance for your presentation.

Confidence is key to effective vocal delivery. Practice speaking with conviction and authority to project confidence and credibility in your message. This can help to keep your audience engaged and interested in your presentation.

Repetition can be an effective tool for emphasizing key points and making your message more memorable. By repeating important words or phrases, you can help to reinforce your message and make it more impactful. Practice incorporating repetition into your presentation where appropriate to add emphasis and impact.

Using your voice effectively during a presentation takes practice and attention to detail. By incorporating pauses, active listening, speaking with confidence, using repetition, being authentic, and practicing the other techniques discussed in this article, you can master the art of vocal delivery and deliver a clear, confident, and engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

Related Posts:

British Council

How to improve your voice for presentations, by ros and neil johnson, 18 august 2016 - 01:43.

Ros and Neil Johnson, speech and drama specialists at  Theatresaursus , explain the benefits for presentations of improving the voice, and offer some techniques.

Have you ever given a presentation or done any other form of public speaking? If so, you probably spent some time thinking about the words you were going to use and the ideas you were going to express. But, as Dr Emily Grossman has  pointed out , when someone is speaking, most of the information we receive as an audience comes through the speaker's body language, their enthusiasm, and – very importantly – the tone of their voice.

Why is it important to improve the way we use our voice?

When we make a presentation or speak to a large group of people, it's important to have an authoritative and appealing tone of voice. This will come from the ability to make your voice resonate, as a resonant voice is more pleasing on the ear and can make you sound more confident. This in turn helps the audience relax and enjoy the presentation.

An audience will ‘pick up’ on your voice and respond favourably, potentially affording you a greater deal of respect and attention. Often, the audience won’t know or understand why this is the case, so having the ability to control and improve the way you use your voice can be a useful and powerful skill.

There are practical reasons, too. Using your voice skilfully can stop you getting a sore throat. When we shout, our vocal folds (often known as vocal chords) crash together and become swollen and red, sometimes causing damage. So learning how to use your voice by warming it up will prevent soreness in the throat.

How does our body produce sound?

Breath is the power behind the voice, but this is only the start. As we breathe in, our lungs expand. When we speak, the air comes up through the  trachea , making the vocal folds (which are situated at the top of the trachea) vibrate. This creates sound. The ability to control the breath is very important and is the basis of all voice work.

We then use the resonators in our throat, nose, mouth and cheek cavities (sinuses) to amplify the sound, and our articulators (tongue, teeth, lips, etc.) to create specific sounds that become understandable words and therefore speech.

However, as with any sport or exercise, it is important to warm up before we start. This means first warming up our body from head to toe before we start to work on our voice.

Exercise 1:

Check through the body, shaking each part from the toes upwards. Shake your legs and arms. Then, stretch up to the ceiling or sky. Roll the shoulders and lift them up to the ears and then back down again, all the time making sure that they end in a relaxed position. Finally, relax your neck. Gently roll your head by first putting your chin on your chest and roll the head round to the back clockwise and anti-clockwise.

Exercise 2:

Yawn – this relaxes the throat and all the vocal areas. Then, yawn and stretch at the same time.

How do we improve our breath control?

The most important thing is to learn how to relax and allow yourself to expand and increase your breath capacity. The natural tendency is to breathe only in our upper chest, so learning to breath down into our lower lungs and using the  diaphragm  properly is the first step. The diaphragm is a muscle separating the thorax from the abdomen – by finding and exercising this muscle, we can learn to better control our breath during speech.

Exercise 3:

Lie on the floor on your back with feet on the floor, so that your legs are bent with your knees pointing upwards. Check your posture: you should be relaxed, shoulders down, fists unclenched, etc. Now mentally take a journey through your body from head to toe, making sure you are relaxed. Start with your feet, ankles, legs and work your way up to your head. When you find tension, ask your body to release it.

Relax and breathe. Take the breathing deeper, breathing in to a count of four (in your head). Breathe in through your nose and feel the breath expanding the ribs like an umbrella up and out. Place a hand just below your belly button and feel the belly rise and drop.

Remember you must try to be relaxed at all times – always check (see exercise 1) and do not force anything.

If the upper chest begins to lift while you are breathing, gently place a hand on it to keep it still and down. Release all the abdominal muscles. Take your time and breath in and out (in through the nose and out through the mouth). Breathe in and release the breath to produce a long 'huh...ahh' sound. Do this a few times.

Now, apply tension throughout the body so it is completely tense and then release. Feel your body relax.

Go back to your breathing – in through the nose and out through the mouth. Feel your muscles through your back and keep your upper body still, but not tense.

Now slowly stand up. Centre yourself with your legs shoulder-width apart, arms and shoulders relaxed, knees unlocked. Your head should be perched upon your neck. Make sure your chin is not jutting out or pulled in.

Let your head drop, chin to chest (relaxed) and then let your body roll down vertebrae by vertebrae so your body is hanging, arms loose, and stay like this hanging, relaxed and breathing. Roll back up (make sure your head comes up last). Hug yourself, with your arms, your hands touching your ribs. Roll down again into the hanging position. Breathe gently in and out and feel the rib cage move. Gently roll back up as before (head last).

This is a great exercise for feeling the movement needed in the ribcage and to help get the muscles working.

Please note: as this way of breathing may feel very different to what you are used to, you may not notice a great deal of movement to begin with. However, as with anything new, 'practice makes perfect'.

How do we articulate sound into speech?

Articulation creates the specific sounds that make up words. By using our tongue, teeth, palate and lips (our articulators), we create recognisable words. In order to be clear in our speech, we need to exercise our articulators by going through the vowel sounds. The following exercises 4-6 will help improve your articulation:

Exercise 4:

Make a 'hum' sound with your lips together but not tight – feel your lips tickle or vibrate. Move the 'hum' sound around inside your mouth from the lips to nose and back to the lips. Feel the vibrations in the different areas.

Chew some imaginary gum. Imagine it is growing and growing. Now, imagine you have toffee stuck in your mouth and use your tongue to get it out.

Exercise 5:

Always from a relaxed and centred position, say out loud:

'pah paw poo pee pay...pah paw poo pee pay'

'lah, law, loo lee lay...lah law loo lee lay'

'gah gaw goo gee gay...gah gaw goo gee gay'

Use these structures to go through different sounds and, in particular, sounds that you find difficult. For the 'lah' sound, the tip of the tongue should be behind the front teeth before flicking out to an open mouth.

Exercise 6:

Say out loud:

'ba da ga...ba da ga' (making the sound of the consonants, i.e., 'buh' not 'baah', 'duh' not 'daah', etc.). Repeat.

'pa ta ka...pa ta ka'  (again make the sound of the letters 'p', 't' and 'k').

You can do this anywhere, but try to use your full voice and also whispering (which should always be voiceless).

Tongue twisters are also a good way to exercise the articulators and help improve fluency of articulation and diction. You can find many on the internet, for example: 'She sells sea shells on the sea-shore' and 'Peter piper picked a peck of pickled pepper'.

Exercise 7:

Place your hand on your chest and yawn. Feel the vibrations and resonance in your chest. Now say 'hello, hello, hello' from deep down in your chest.

Why is the ability to project our voices important? 

If you want to be heard, you need to learn how to project. Projection comes from taking control of the breath.

If you can, arrange to visit the room you are going to be speaking in and walk around it. Use your speech and play with it, walking around while speaking, playing with the volume. Ask a colleague to listen to you – can they hear you clearly? Does your voice resonate?

Try speaking very slowly. Now try singing your speech. Now 'throw' your voice to the farthest wall. This should always be done from a place of relaxation. Check that your shoulders are down. Wriggle and roll them to check for tension. Check your posture.

Finally, make sure you check your pace – we always speak much faster than normal when we are nervous. Practise speaking very slowly. You will feel that it's too slow, but it almost certainly won’t be.

Ros and Neil Johnson are founders of  Theatresaursus , which runs Shakespeare workshops, drama courses and holiday courses. They recently delivered a course for teachers and trainers at the  British Council in Malaysia  about how to use theatre-based techniques in the classroom.

Find out about the British Council's  Shakespeare Lives  programme of events and activities in 2016, celebrating Shakespeare’s work on the occasion of the 400th anniversary of his death.

You might also be interested in:

• Classroom techniques to help pupils tackle Shakespeare
• How to present complex ideas clearly
• How to become good at debating

View the discussion thread.

British Council Worldwide

• Afghanistan
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Czech Republic
• Hong Kong, SAR of China
• Korea, Republic of
• Myanmar (Burma)
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• North Macedonia
• Northern Ireland
• Occupied Palestinian Territories
• Philippines
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• South Sudan
• Switzerland
• United Arab Emirates
• United States of America

7 Tips on How to Use Your Voice Effectively in a Presentation

1. Intonation and rhythm

Improve Your Presentation Skills

If you'd like to learn more about delivering presentations, why not take a look at how we can help?

Boost your presentation skills with our online courses. RRP from US$0 – limited time offer just US$0.00

3. Emphasis

• He was misbehaving in the office last week.

4. Clarity and enunciation

7. Emotion and expression

More articles on presentation skills.

Write for us on the ZandaX blog

ZandaX Blog Contents

Want to see them all? Click to view a full list of articles in our blogs.

Career Options

• Mental Wellness
• School Students

College Students

Working Professionals

• Counsellors
• Special Features
• The Mentoria Blog

Raise Your Voice: 10 Vocal Techniques For Powerful Public Speaking

Reyaa Agarwal

Jump to Section

Have you ever wondered what sets apart a captivating speaker from a forgettable one? It’s all about the power of the voice! Whether you’re delivering a persuasive presentation, giving a TED talk , or simply addressing a crowd, mastering vocal techniques can elevate your public speaking game to new heights. In this blog, we’ll uncover ten vocal techniques that will transform your voice into a mesmerising instrument, captivating your audience’s attention from the moment you open your mouth. So, warm up those vocal cords, embrace your inner performer, and let’s embark on a journey to unleash the full potential of your voice for effective public speaking !

The Power Of Projection: Be Heard Loud And Clear!

Are you tired of straining to be heard? It’s time to project your voice with confidence! Discover techniques to engage your diaphragm , control your breath, and project your voice to the back of the room. Whether you’re speaking to a small group or a large audience, you’ll grab attention and leave a lasting impact with your powerful voice.

• Diaphragmatic Breathing: Diaphragmatic breathing, also known as belly breathing, is a technique that involves engaging the diaphragm to promote deep, controlled breaths. To engage your diaphragm, place one hand on your abdomen and inhale deeply, allowing your belly to rise as you fill your lungs with air. Exhale slowly, feeling your belly lower. This technique helps activate and strengthen the diaphragm, improving breathing efficiency and vocal projection.
• Vocal Exercises: Certain vocal exercises can help engage the diaphragm and promote better control over your voice. One effective exercise is the “Siren” exercise, where you start at a low pitch and gradually slide your voice up to a higher pitch and back down again. This exercise encourages the use of the diaphragm and helps expand your vocal range.
• Yoga and Pilates: Engaging in activities like yoga and Pilates can also help strengthen the diaphragm and improve its function. These practices often emphasise deep breathing and core engagement, which indirectly targets the diaphragm. Exercises such as the “Hundred” in Pilates and various breathing techniques in yoga can promote diaphragmatic engagement and overall breath control.

By incorporating these techniques into your vocal and breathing exercises, you can develop a stronger connection with your diaphragm and improve your ability to control your voice and engage your audience effectively.

Mastering Pace And Pause: The Art Of Rhythm In Speech

Speech is like a dance, and rhythm is its beat. Learn the art of pacing your speech and strategically incorporating pauses for emphasis and impact. Explore the power of silence and let it speak volumes. By mastering pace and pause , you’ll create a captivating and engaging delivery that keeps your audience on the edge of their seats.

• Practice Timing and Rhythm: One technique for mastering pace and pause is to practise timing and rhythm during your speech or presentation. Pay attention to the natural flow of your words and sentences, and aim for a consistent and appropriate pace. Practice delivering your content at different speeds to find the right balance. Use a stopwatch or timer to track your timing and make adjustments as needed.
• Emphasise Key Points with Pauses: Pauses can be used strategically to emphasise important points and allow them to sink in with your audience. When you reach a significant point or want to create anticipation, pause briefly before continuing. This gives your audience time to process the information and adds impact to your message. Experiment with different lengths of pauses to find what works best for the content and tone of your presentation.
• Use Vocal Inflection and Variation: Another technique for mastering pace and pause is to incorporate vocal inflection and variation. Varying your tone, pitch, and volume can help add interest and engagement to your speech. Use pauses in conjunction with vocal inflection to create emphasis and convey meaning. Practice modulating your voice and experimenting with different patterns of pacing and pausing to keep your audience engaged and attentive.

Remember, mastering pace and pause is a skill that comes with practice and experience. By being mindful of your delivery, practising timing and rhythm, and using pauses strategically, you can enhance your overall speaking ability and effectively engage your audience.

Taming The Tension: Unlocking Vocal Relaxation

Are you plagued by vocal tension? It’s time to loosen up and find your vocal freedom! Do exercises to relax your jaw , neck, and throat. Release tension, embrace your natural voice, and speak with ease. By unlocking vocal relaxation, you’ll project confidence and authenticity, captivating your audience with every word.

• Jaw Relaxation Exercise: Start by gently opening your mouth and allowing your jaw to relax. Place the tip of your tongue behind your upper front teeth and let your jaw hang loose. Slowly move your jaw from side to side, feeling the muscles in your jaw release any tension. Repeat this movement several times, focusing on keeping your jaw relaxed throughout.
• Neck Stretch: Sit or stand with a straight posture. Slowly tilt your head to one side, bringing your ear towards your shoulder. Hold the stretch for a few seconds, feeling the gentle stretch along the side of your neck. Repeat on the other side. Next, lower your chin towards your chest and hold for a few seconds, feeling the stretch in the back of your neck. Finally, tilt your head back and look up towards the ceiling, stretching the front of your neck. Repeat these stretches a few times, focusing on maintaining a relaxed and steady breath.
• Throat Release Exercise: Sit or stand with good posture and take a deep breath in. As you exhale, make a low “ahh” sound, allowing your throat to fully open and relax. Repeat this sound a few times, focusing on the feeling of the vibration and relaxation in your throat. You can also gently massage the muscles at the front of your throat with your fingertips in a circular motion to further release tension.

These exercises can help alleviate tension in your jaw, neck, and throat, promoting relaxation and reducing any discomfort or stiffness you may be experiencing. Remember to listen to your body and stop any exercise that causes pain or discomfort.

Pitch Perfect: Harnessing The Power Of Vocal Range

The magic of voice lies in its versatility. Explore the power of pitch variation to convey emotion and captivate your audience. From high notes of excitement to low tones of seriousness, your vocal range is a palette of colours waiting to be explored. Embrace the full spectrum of your voice and paint a vivid picture with your words.

Imagine you’re giving a motivational speech. By utilising pitch variation , you’re able to inject enthusiasm and energy into your delivery, motivating your audience to take action and pursue their dreams.

• Siren Exercise: Begin by smoothly gliding your voice from your lowest pitch to your highest pitch and back down again, resembling the sound of a siren. This exercise helps you explore and expand your vocal range, allowing you to have better control over your pitch and explore different tones.
• Vocal Fry Exercise: Practise producing a low-pitched, creaky sound by deliberately engaging your vocal fry. This exercise helps strengthen your vocal cords and improve pitch stability, enabling you to hit lower notes with clarity and control.
• Lip Trills: Close your lips and produce a buzzing sound as you exhale slowly. This exercise helps relax and warm up your vocal cords, enhancing your pitch accuracy and control. It also aids in improving breath control and sustaining notes effortlessly.

Articulation Excellence: Enunciate And Articulate With Precision

Clear communication is key to effective public speaking. Explore exercises to enhance your enunciation and articulation, ensuring every word is crisp and easily understood. Master the art of pronunciation, clarity, and diction, leaving no room for misinterpretation. Enunciate like a pro and command attention with your impeccable speech.

• Tongue Twisters: Challenge yourself with tongue twisters that focus on specific sounds or letter combinations. Repeat them slowly and gradually increase your speed. This exercise improves clarity and precision in articulation, helping you pronounce words more accurately.
• Consonant Articulation Exercises: Practise exaggerating and isolating specific consonant sounds, such as “t,” “d,” and “s.” Pay attention to the placement of your tongue and the clarity of the sound. This exercise improves diction and enhances the overall intelligibility of your speech.
• Reading Aloud: Choose passages or texts with varying levels of complexity and read them aloud with emphasis on clear and precise articulation. This exercise helps you develop better control over your mouth muscles and improve your overall speech clarity.

Emotional Resonance: Infusing Your Voice With Emotion

Your voice is a powerful vehicle for emotion. Learn to infuse your words with genuine feeling to create an emotional resonance with your audience. Whether it’s joy, empathy, or determination, let your voice reflect your authentic emotions. By connecting on an emotional level , you’ll establish a deep rapport and leave a lasting impact.

• Emotional Recall: Tap into personal experiences or memories that evoke specific emotions. Practice expressing those emotions through your voice, allowing the feelings to resonate in your tone, pace, and inflection. This exercise helps you develop authenticity and emotional depth in your delivery.
• Vocal Characterisation: Experiment with embodying different characters or personas and expressing their emotions through your voice. Explore the nuances of tone, rhythm, and volume to convey the intended emotions convincingly.
• Visualisation Technique: Before speaking, mentally visualise the emotions you want to convey and imagine how they would manifest in your voice. Focus on connecting with the emotional essence of your message and channelling it through your vocal expression.

Masterful Intonation: Conveying Meaning Through Tone

Intonation is the secret sauce that adds flavour to your speech. Learn how to use variations in tone to emphasise key points, create suspense, and convey meaning. Whether it’s a rise in tone for a question or a fall for a powerful statement, your intonation will guide your audience’s understanding and engagement.

• Phrase Emphasis: Practise emphasising different words or phrases in a sentence to alter the intended meaning. Experiment with various tonal patterns to convey different shades of emphasis and highlight the key elements of your message.
• Rising and Falling Inflection: Explore using rising inflection to indicate a question or uncertainty and falling inflection to convey a statement or certainty. Practice modulating your voice to create natural and engaging intonation patterns.
• Dynamic Pacing: Experiment with varying the speed and rhythm of your speech to reflect the emotional content and importance of different parts of your message. Use pauses and changes in pace to add emphasis and maintain listener engagement.

Dynamic Volume Control: The Soft And Loud Of Impactful Speaking

Volume control is your secret weapon for impactful speaking. Explore techniques to adjust your volume, from soft whispers to powerful proclamations. Use volume to create emphasis, build suspense, and engage your audience in a dynamic journey. Harness the power of volume and watch as your words reverberate in the hearts and minds of your listeners.

• Whisper Exercise: Practise speaking softly and clearly, making sure your words are still intelligible. Focus on maintaining clarity and projection, even at lower volumes. This exercise helps develop control over your breath and vocal muscles for effective soft-speaking techniques.
• Vocal Projection: Practise speaking with a strong and confident voice, projecting your sound to fill the space around you. Focus on maintaining good posture, engaging your diaphragm, and using appropriate breath support to produce a powerful and resonant voice.
• Volume Variation: Explore the power of contrast by intentionally varying your volume levels throughout your speech. Experiment with softer moments.

Authenticity Amplification: Embracing Your Unique Voice

In a world of imitators, authenticity is a breath of fresh air. Embrace your unique voice and let it shine through your speaking. Discover techniques to unleash your natural vocal qualities, quirks, and personality. By amplifying your authenticity, you’ll connect with your audience on a genuine level, leaving a memorable impression.

• Self-Reflection: Take time to understand and embrace your natural speaking voice. Reflect on your own vocal qualities, strengths, and unique characteristics. Embrace your individuality and avoid imitating others. This will help you develop a confident and authentic speaking style.
• Authentic Storytelling: Share personal experiences and stories that reflect your true self. Connect with your audience by being genuine and relatable. Allow your voice to convey the emotions and authenticity behind your stories, creating a stronger connection with your listeners.
• Self-Acceptance: Embrace your voice as a part of your identity. Celebrate its uniqueness and avoid comparing yourself to others. Practice self-acceptance and develop a positive mindset towards your own vocal abilities. This will enable you to speak with confidence and authenticity.

The Secret Of Vocal Warm-Ups: Preparing Your Instrument

Just like a musician tunes their instrument, you must warm up your voice before speaking. Explore vocal warm-up exercises to relax your muscles, improve vocal agility, and prepare your instrument for a stellar performance. From tongue twisters to vocal sirens, these warm-ups will unleash the full potential of your voice.

• Lip Trills and Buzzing: Perform lip trills and buzzing exercises to warm up your lips, tongue, and facial muscles. This helps to improve articulation, flexibility, and overall vocal control.
• Tongue and Jaw Exercises: Engage in tongue and jaw exercises, such as tongue stretches and jaw rotations, to release tension and promote relaxation in these areas. This aids in improving clarity of speech and reducing vocal strain.
• Vocal Sirens: Practise vocal sirens, gliding your voice smoothly from the lowest to the highest pitch and vice versa. This exercise helps to warm up your vocal folds, expand your range, and promote vocal flexibility.

Master Vocal Techniques With Mentoria! 

By mastering these ten vocal techniques, you have unlocked the key to powerful public speaking. Embrace the power of projection, pace, relaxation, pitch, articulation, emotion, intonation, volume, authenticity, and warm-ups. Infuse your words with magic and captivate your audience with the sheer force of your voice. So, step onto the stage, own your unique sound, and let your voice be the symphony that resonates in the hearts of all who listen.

We’re here to provide you with all the help! Kick-start your journey with Mentoria and discover the right fit for you. Feel free to call us to speak to our career mentors and choose the right guidance plan that suits your needs.

Mentoria’s career guidance programme enables you to choose your perfect fit from 3 streams, 850+ courses, and 12,000+ careers, and discover what will bring out the best in you.

Choose your ideal path from 12,000+ career options.

Related Articles

📞 Call Now   800.403.6598 Contact Us - Get Started

No products in the cart.

Bring Personality To Your Presentation Through Vocal Expression

Your Presentations Need More Vocal Expression

A lot of presentations are boring, aren’t they? I know I’ve sat through my fair share of really, REALLY bad presentations. The ones where the speaker droned on far too long, his voice so monotone and flat that I had a hard time staying awake, much less hold interest in what was being said.

This lack of vocal expression is a common problem, particularly for speakers who read from a prepared text or read their PowerPoint slides . How can anyone have really good vocal expression when they’re reading?

Well that’s a simple fix: Avoid reading from your notes, right?

If only it were that simple.

Of course my advice is to deliver a presentation in which you speak directly to the audience as opposed to reading from your notes, but if you don’t train your voice to be expressive, you’ll still sound flat (and boring). Think of your voice as an instrument: Keep it in tune and it will produce sounds that your audience will love listening to. Neglect it and it will squawk and sputter and make your audience wince.

Vocal Expression of Emotion

Vocal expression isn’t just about the tone of your voice; it combines a number of things. Vocal expression is about how you deliver your message with words and how you express those words. When have good vocal expression, you can convey emotion and character to your audience simply by your pitch, your pronunciation, and the speed at which you speak.

Your voice has its own personality, and it’s influenced by your natural pitch. It’s the reason some people sound powerful or articulate and others sound brash or squeaky. Some people have a wide pitch range, which allows them to be incredibly expressive. Others have a very small range, which leads them to be monotonous. When you understand your natural pitch range, you can work with it and use it to your advantage when you’re speaking.

Your tone is what you use to carry emotion in your voice. Think about how your tone changes when you are happy, angry, sad, or surprised. Tone plays a big role in vocal expression, and it’s limited only by your natural pitch.

As you prepare for you next speaking engagement consider:

• how you can use your natural pitch to your advantage by using a variety of notes within it
• where (in your presentation) you can use more expression by changing your tone to make what you’re saying more interesting and engaging for your audience

How To Improve Vocal Expression

Like every public speaking skill, the harder you work at your vocal expression and the more you practice, the better it will get.

Here are some things you can start doing today to improve your vocal expression:

• Practice breathing techniques. Breathe from deep within your diaphragm, not just from your lungs. Place your dominant hand on your stomach and notice where it moves in and out. That’s your diaphragm. When you breathe from it, your tone improves because you are taking in and expelling more oxygen.
• Practice speaking slower. It’s common for people to speak faster when they’re nervous. If you think you’re speaking slow enough, record yourself using a recorder or your phone and you’ll most likely see that you are speaking too quickly to be understood clearly.
• Practice taking a pause. This goes along with speaking slower. If you have a hard time slowing your speaking pace down, take deliberate pauses throughout your presentation and force yourself to slow down.
• Practice working your pitch range. You know how high and low your voice can go. How can you use that range to make your presentation for expressive and interesting?

Vocal Expression in Public Speaking

The most charismatic speakers are the ones who understand how and why vocal expression matters in public speaking. Not everyone has a wide pitch range, but that doesn’t limit how well of a public speaker you can be. Explore your voice and what it’s capable of, and work with it to make your presentations more dynamic and charismatic. Have you ever seen a presentation that blew you away with the vocal expression? Comment down below and share the difference it made for you!

Excellent site you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find high-quality writing like yours nowadays. I truly appreciate the blogs you post. Take care!!

This is pretty good information! I would have never thought to work on my voice. I feel like overall, I am a decent public speaker but I do tend to stiffen up in front of people I don’t know so I am sure it can be heard in my voice. I will have to test things out. Thanks for this information! Going to see what other tips you have on this website.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Top Courses
• Online Degrees
• Find your New Career
• Join for Free

What Are Effective Presentation Skills (and How to Improve Them)

Presentation skills are essential for your personal and professional life. Learn about effective presentations and how to boost your presenting techniques.

At least seven out of 10 Americans agree that presentation skills are essential for a successful career [ 1 ]. Although it might be tempting to think that these are skills reserved for people interested in public speaking roles, they're critical in a diverse range of jobs. For example, you might need to brief your supervisor on research results.

Presentation skills are also essential in other scenarios, including working with a team and explaining your thought process, walking clients through project ideas and timelines, and highlighting your strengths and achievements to your manager during performance reviews.

Whatever the scenario, you have very little time to capture your audience’s attention and get your point across when presenting information—about three seconds, according to research [ 2 ]. Effective presentation skills help you get your point across and connect with the people you’re communicating with, which is why nearly every employer requires them.

Understanding what presentation skills are is only half the battle. Honing your presenting techniques is essential for mastering presentations of all kinds and in all settings.

What are presentation skills?

Presentation skills are the abilities and qualities necessary for creating and delivering a compelling presentation that effectively communicates information and ideas. They encompass what you say, how you structure it, and the materials you include to support what you say, such as slides, videos, or images.

You'll make presentations at various times in your life. Examples include:

Making speeches at a wedding, conference, or another event

Making a toast at a dinner or event

Explaining projects to a team 

Delivering results and findings to management teams

Teaching people specific methods or information

Proposing a vote at community group meetings

Pitching a new idea or business to potential partners or investors

Why are presentation skills important? 

Delivering effective presentations is critical in your professional and personal life. You’ll need to hone your presentation skills in various areas, such as when giving a speech, convincing your partner to make a substantial purchase, and talking to friends and family about an important situation.

No matter if you’re using them in a personal or professional setting, these are the skills that make it easier and more effective to convey your ideas, convince or persuade others, and experience success. A few of the benefits that often accompany improving your presentation skills include:

Enriched written and verbal communication skills

Enhanced confidence and self-image

Boosted critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities

Better motivational techniques

Increased leadership skills

Expanded time management, negotiation, and creativity

The better your presenting techniques, the more engaging your presentations will be. You could also have greater opportunities to make positive impacts in business and other areas of your life.

Effective presentation skills

Imagine yourself in the audience at a TED Talk or sitting with your coworkers at a big meeting held by your employer. What would you be looking for in how they deliver their message? What would make you feel engaged?

These are a few questions to ask yourself as you review this list of some of the most effective presentation skills.

Verbal communication

How you use language and deliver messages play essential roles in how your audience will receive your presentation. Speak clearly and confidently, projecting your voice enough to ensure everyone can hear. Think before you speak, pausing when necessary and tailoring the way you talk to resonate with your particular audience.

Body language

Body language combines various critical elements, including posture, gestures, eye contact, expressions, and position in front of the audience. Body language is one of the elements that can instantly transform a presentation that would otherwise be dull into one that's dynamic and interesting.

Voice projection

The ability to project your voice improves your presentation by allowing your audience to hear what you're saying. It also increases your confidence to help settle any lingering nerves while also making your message more engaging. To project your voice, stand comfortably with your shoulders back. Take deep breaths to power your speaking voice and ensure you enunciate every syllable you speak.

How you present yourself plays a role in your body language and ability to project your voice. It also sets the tone for the presentation. Avoid slouching or looking overly tense. Instead, remain open, upright, and adaptable while taking the formality of the occasion into account.

Storytelling

Incorporating storytelling into a presentation is an effective strategy used by many powerful public speakers. It has the power to bring your subject to life and pique the audience’s curiosity. Don’t be afraid to tell a personal story, slowly building up suspense or adding a dramatic moment. And, of course, be sure to end with a positive takeaway to drive your point home.

Active listening

Active listening is a valuable skill all on its own. When you understand and thoughtfully respond to what you hear—whether it's in a conversation or during a presentation—you’ll likely deepen your personal relationships and actively engage audiences during a presentation. As part of your presentation skill set, it helps catch and maintain the audience’s attention, helping them remain focused while minimizing passive response, ensuring the message is delivered correctly, and encouraging a call to action.

Stage presence

During a presentation, projecting confidence can help keep your audience engaged. Stage presence can help you connect with your audience and encourage them to want to watch you. To improve your presence, try amping up your normal demeanor by infusing it with a bit of enthusiasm. Project confidence and keep your information interesting.

Watch your audience as you’re presenting. If you’re holding their attention, it likely means you’re connecting well with them.

Self-awareness

Monitoring your own emotions and reactions will allow you to react well in various situations. It helps you remain personable throughout your presentation and handle feedback well. Self-awareness can help soothe nervousness during presentations, allowing you to perform more effectively.

Writing skills

Writing is a form of presentation. Sharp writing skills can help you master your presentation’s outline to ensure you stay on message and remain clear about your objectives from the beginning until the end. It’s also helpful to have strong writing abilities for creating compelling slides and other visual aids.

Understanding an audience

When you understand your audience's needs and interests, you can design your presentation around them. In turn, you'll deliver maximum value to them and enhance your ability to make your message easy to understand.

Learn more about presentation skills from industry experts at SAP:

How to improve presentation skills

There’s an art to public speaking. Just like any other type of art, this is one that requires practice. Improving your presentation skills will help reduce miscommunications, enhance your time management capabilities, and boost your leadership skills. Here are some ways you can improve these skills:

Work on self-confidence.

When you’re confident, you naturally speak more clearly and with more authority. Taking the time to prepare your presentation with a strong opening and compelling visual aids can help you feel more confident. Other ways to improve your self-confidence include practicing positive self-talk, surrounding yourself with positive people, and avoiding comparing yourself (or your presentation) to others.

Develop strategies for overcoming fear.

Many people are nervous or fearful before giving a presentation. A bad memory of a past performance or insufficient self-confidence can contribute to fear and anxiety. Having a few go-to strategies like deep breathing, practicing your presentation, and grounding can help you transform that fear into extra energy to put into your stage presence.

Learn grounding techniques.

Grounding is any type of technique that helps you steer your focus away from distressing thoughts and keeps you connected with your present self. To ground yourself, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and imagine you’re a large, mature tree with roots extending deep into the earth—like the tree, you can become unshakable.

Learn how to use presentation tools.

Visual aids and other technical support can transform an otherwise good presentation into a wow-worthy one. A few popular presentation tools include:

Canva: Provides easy-to-design templates you can customize

Powtoon: Animation software that makes video creation fast and easy

PowerPoint: Microsoft's iconic program popular for dynamic marketing and sales presentations

Practice breathing techniques.

Breathing techniques can help quell anxiety, making it easier to shake off pre-presentation jitters and nerves. It also helps relax your muscles and get more oxygen to your brain.  For some pre-presentation calmness, you can take deep breaths, slowly inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth.

While presenting, breathe in through your mouth with the back of your tongue relaxed so your audience doesn't hear a gasping sound. Speak on your exhalation, maintaining a smooth voice.

Gain experience.

The more you practice, the better you’ll become. The more you doanything, the more comfortable you’ll feel engaging in that activity. Presentations are no different. Repeatedly practicing your own presentation also offers the opportunity to get feedback from other people and tweak your style and content as needed.

Tips to help you ace your presentation

Your presentation isn’t about you; it’s about the material you’re presenting. Sometimes, reminding yourself of this ahead of taking center stage can help take you out of your head, allowing you to connect effectively with your audience. The following are some of the many actions you can take on the day of your presentation.

Arrive early.

Since you may have a bit of presentation-related anxiety, it’s important to avoid adding travel stress. Give yourself an abundance of time to arrive at your destination, and take into account heavy traffic and other unforeseen events. By arriving early, you also give yourself time to meet with any on-site technicians, test your equipment, and connect with people ahead of the presentation.

Become familiar with the layout of the room.

Arriving early also gives you time to assess the room and figure out where you want to stand. Experiment with the acoustics to determine how loudly you need to project your voice, and test your equipment to make sure everything connects and appears properly with the available setup. This is an excellent opportunity to work out any last-minute concerns and move around to familiarize yourself with the setting for improved stage presence.

Listen to presenters ahead of you.

When you watch others present, you'll get a feel for the room's acoustics and lighting. You can also listen for any data that’s relevant to your presentation and revisit it during your presentation—this can make the presentation more interactive and engaging.

Use note cards.

Writing yourself a script could provide you with more comfort. To prevent sounding too robotic or disengaged, only include talking points in your note cards in case you get off track. Using note cards can help keep your presentation organized while sounding more authentic to your audience.

Learn to deliver clear and confident presentations with Dynamic Public Speaking from the University of Washington. Build confidence, develop new delivery techniques, and practice strategies for crafting compelling presentations for different purposes, occasions, and audiences.

Article sources

Forbes. “ New Survey: 70% Say Presentation Skills are Critical for Career Success , https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/09/25/new-survey-70-percent-say-presentation-skills-critical-for-career-success/?sh=619f3ff78890.” Accessed December 7, 2022.

Beautiful.ai. “ 15 Presentation and Public Speaking Stats You Need to Know , https://www.beautiful.ai/blog/15-presentation-and-public-speaking-stats-you-need-to-know. Accessed December 7, 2022.

Keep reading

Coursera staff.

Editorial Team

Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...

This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

• Presentation Tips 7: How to use your voice effectively
• Presentation Skills

When you give a presentation your first goal should be to capture and hold the attention of your audience. Everyone must be able to hear and easily follow what you are saying. Fortunately you have one very valuable and versatile tool at your disposal to make this happen – and that’s your voice. In this post I will explain how to use your voice to best effect and have the impact you want on your audience.

First of all it’s important to recognise that giving a presentation is not the same as having a conversation with an individual or a small group at a meeting. When speaking in public you need to put a lot more effort into how you use your voice.

How to improve your speaking voice – the 4 essentials

No doubt you’ve sat through a presentation where it was difficult to hear the speaker or they spoke in a monotonous voice. Perhaps you persevered and tried hard to concentrate on the message. The truth is that the majority of audience members will drift off, give in to boredom and find alternative activities such as doodling on their notepads or fiddling with their smartphones. To keep your audience engaged you must use your voice well.

Be aware of the volume of your voice. Generally that means speaking out and projecting your voice more than you would in a normal conversation. It depends of course on the size of the room and numbers in the audience. Don’t speak too loudly or it will sound as if you are lecturing your audience. Don’t speak too softly either or they will simply lose interest. Whilst the most important thing is to be heard at all times, you should also try to vary your volume e.g. raise your voice to draw attention to a point; lower it to lend a bit of intrigue to what you are saying.

As well as making yourself audible, it is of course essential that you speak clearly. That means articulating words properly and taking care not to mumble or to ‘swallow’ word endings. The best way to achieve clarity is to move your lips and open your mouth wide enough for the sound to escape!

• Tone and emphasis

The content of your presentation may be of high quality, but you’ve got to make it sound interesting too. This means using your voice to convey enthusiasm, conviction, empathy etc. The tone you adopt should be consistent with the content of your message e.g. avoid sounding too cheerful if you’re announcing some bad news to your workforce!

Bear in mind that it’s possible to change the meaning of a sentence depending on the particular words you emphasise. So it’s important to decide on what words you should emphasise, perhaps by highlighting them in your notes and by practising out loud.

Avoid dropping your voice at the end of sentences as you are likely to send your audience to sleep – a technique used by hypnotists! Instead, try to put a little bit more emphasis into the final word of a sentence, without exaggerating too much.

• Pace and Pauses

There’s a tendency for people to speak too fast when they are presenting. This may come about because of nerves and an eagerness to get the presentation over and done with. As a general rule, when presenting you should speak more slowly than in ordinary conversation. Aim for about 150 words per minute to allow your audience enough time to take in what you are saying.

No doubt you will have noticed how comedians use a deliberate pause before delivering a punch line. This is a technique you can use also in formal presentations for deliberate effect and to allow your audience time to absorb a key point.

Voice and relaxation exercises

Your voice is capable of making a wide range of sounds, although typically we use only a limited amount of our voice capacity when presenting. Some of the inhibition comes from feeling nervous about speaking in public. If you have to deliver many high level presentations, then you may like to consider using the services of a voice coach.

Here are some simple exercises you can try by yourself to help warm up your voice before delivering a presentation.

• Get your vocal chords working by humming a tune.
• Pretend you are chewing a sticky toffee.
• Practise breathing deeply to fuel your voice.
• Think of some tongue-twisters and say them out loud, taking care to articulate every word.

Improving your vocal quality will enhance your presentations and make you come across as more confident and credible. Your body language and the visual impression you make matters a great deal too.

Click here to read one of my previous posts on How to make a great first impression.

Please contact me if you would like to find out about training courses or coaching on Presentation Skills. Click her e to view a sample Presentation Skills training programme.

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the author: margaret johnston.

Related Posts

Presentation Tips 10: How to make a team presentation

Presentation Tips 9: How to deal with audience questions

Presentation Tips 8: How to use visual aids

Presentation Tips 6: How to make a great first impression

Presentation Tips 5: How to structure a presentation

One comment.

This is great

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

How To Project Your Voice To Deliver a Standout Presentation

Posted by Belinda Huckle  |  On June 26, 2018  |  In Presentation Training, Tips & Advice

In this Article...quick links

1. Warm up your voice

2. start strong to hook your audience, 3. speak confidently and clearly, 4. vary the pace of speech and use pauses, 5. vary pitch and volume.

What you project can make or break a presentation. No matter how well-written they are, it won’t guarantee that you will be heard. To hook your audience and maintain their interest, you will also need to present it well.

That’s when your voice comes into play. Without the shadow of a doubt, its role is significant in getting your message across. Indeed, the tone you use will be instrumental in the delivery of your presentation as it will reflect your personality, your confidence and your passion for the subject. In other words it will give you credibility (or not).

So how to project your voice to deliver a standout presentation? To make it a powerful weapon, here are five tips to project your voice with strength and authority.

When presenting, putting your best self forward is crucial to connect with your audience. That includes mastering your tone of voice, which needs to sound both authoritative and approachable. This “tool” is a crucial component to establishing your personal presence as a presenter.

Therefore, as an actor or singer would do before getting up on stage, you need to warm it up. There are plenty of ways to do that, which include working on your articulation and breathing. Here are three quick and simple exercises you can try:

• Take several deep breaths – Breathe in slowly for a count of 4, hold for 2, then exhale slowly for a count of 4. Do at least 6 rounds.
• Yawn a few times – This basic “exercise” will release the tension in your jaw, throat and on your vocal cords.
• Repeat tongue twisters – Tongue twisters are sequences of words that are hard to pronounce quickly and clearly. Not only they will help to warm up, but they will also condition you to articulate better.

Spending as little as 2 minutes on these simple exercises can be enough to set you up, or at least your voice, for a  successful presentation.

The first 30 seconds of a presentation are always crucial. Indeed, research has shown that this is all you get to try and hook your audience, before potentially losing their interest for good. Knowing that, and the fact that you only get one chance to make a stellar first impression , it’s important to pay particular attention to your introduction.

Keep things simple, avoid technical jargon or overly complicated phrases, and focus on your tone of voice. In most cases your intro should not contain any complex content, giving you an opportunity to place emphasis on a strong delivery style. You don’t want to be too colloquial, but you can be relaxed and conversational. The simpler your introduction, the easier it will be for you to kick off the presentation confidently, calmly and to speak with conviction.

If you want to be heard and understood, shyness is not an option. If you’re using a microphone, always place it in a position allowing increases in volume. Presenters tend to lower their voice to avoid microphone sound-distortion, but this common mistake can severely reduce the impact of what you’re saying, making you sound hesitant. On the contrary, be slightly louder! And make sure that everything is in place to encourage a strong, confident voice.

To avoid looking unsure or nervous, rehearse, rehearse and rehearse again. The better you are prepared, the more confident you will feel, appear and sound.  

Good preparation will also help with clearing your speech of vocal tics and filler words (ah, um, er, right, okay, etc). These can be particularly damaging when pitching ideas and recommendations as they’ll significantly undermine the conviction in your voice and therefore your overall credibility. Thanks to meticulous preparation up-front, you should have the meat of your presentation in the back of your mind to be able to avoid any vocab clutter.

Contrast is vital to the overall impact of a presentation. There’s nothing worse than presenters staring at their notes or speaking like a robot. You need to bring your presentation to life to give your audience the will to listen. If you present with a monotonous voice you will inevitably lose their interest.

Don’t be too quick as this will make you look nervous and hard to follow. On the contrary, if you’re too slow you’ll appear hesitant and bore your audience. You need to find the right balance. The easiest way to do this is to treat your presentation like a conversation rather than a performance. If you can do this and be yourself everything should fall naturally into place without you even thinking about it.

Remember that pauses can be a great way to draw attention to important aspects of your presentation. For example, a strong pause after a critical point will help it to land with authority and impact.

Pausing will also help to chunk up your presentation – in effect helping to create chapters in the story. Moreover, pauses give the audience time to reflect and digest what you’re sharing which is crucial for maintaining their engagement.

Similarly to the above, pitch and volume can provide the all-important contrast to keep an audience engaged. It’s vitally important that certain parts of a presentation are given special emphasis with higher pitch and volume. This will help you convince your audience that you care and know about what you are presenting.

If you have done your homework before the presentation you shouldn’t need to think about adjusting these. Just try to stay natural and engage with your audience. The tone, pitch and volume of your voice will naturally vary depending on what you’re saying and how crucial it is.

Mastering your voice is crucial for an impactful and compelling presentation. Want to learn how to make it a valuable asset? Get in touch with secondnature today and let us help you achieve your business goals through effective presentations .

Written By Belinda Huckle

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Belinda is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of SecondNature International. With a determination to drive a paradigm shift in the delivery of presentation skills training both In-Person and Online, she is a strong advocate of a more personal and sustainable presentation skills training methodology.

Belinda believes that people don’t have to change who they are to be the presenter they want to be. So she developed a coaching approach that harnesses people’s unique personality to build their own authentic presentation style and personal brand.

She has helped to transform the presentation skills of people around the world in an A-Z of organisations including Amazon, BBC, Brother, BT, CocaCola, DHL, EE, ESRI, IpsosMORI, Heineken, MARS Inc., Moody’s, Moonpig, Nationwide, Pfizer, Publicis Groupe, Roche, Savills, Triumph and Walmart – to name just a few.

A total commitment to quality, service, your people and you.

Presentation Guru

10 tips for…using your voice.

It’s your instrument and most people don’t really know how to use it. But it can greatly influence people’s perception of both you and your brand. Projecting your voice is so much more than just speaking louder. Follow these 10 tips to make sure they hear you –  in every sense.

This article is part of the series ’ 10 Tips for… ’.

1) Rehearse in the place where you’ll make your speech

If you can, it will be like a full dress rehearsal and readies you for the real thing. If you can’t use the venue, use somewhere like it.

2) Project to people at the back of the room

Imagine the breath that you’ll need to make your voice get there and do it.

3) Learn to breathe from your diaphragm

The deep, slow, powerful breaths will give you all the oomph you need to project.

4) Practice hitting the end consonants of the words

‘She sells seashells on the sea shore’ is unintelligible to an audience unless you do.

5) Use punctuation

Use the punctuation (verbal or actual) to pause for breath. It will help your delivery and allow the audience to catch up with what you’re saying. Practice a comma for a short pause (say ‘one thousand’ inside your head) and breathe, full stop twice that, paragraph three times ‘one thousand’ again.

6) Rehearse the pauses

Rehearse the pauses too because confident use of them will help you to deliver your key points, with real impact.

7) Emphasise

Emphasise the 2 or 3 key words in a sentence to deliver the real meaning in what you say.

8) Rehearse HOW you say it

Rehearse changes of pace, emphasis, tone and drama until it feels right for you. That’s what rehearsal is for, not simply so you remember what to say, but how you say it too.

9) Delete the problem parts

If there are words, phrases, or parts of the speech you just can’t say in rehearsal, cut them out or change them because, one thing is for sure, you won’t be able to say them in the real thing.

10) Speak with your real voice

Speak with your real voice, not your ‘phone voice’ or your ‘actor’s voice’. Your own voice with its accent, inflection, pitch and tone will deliver the most credible message to your audience.

This article is part of the series ’ 10 Tips for… ’. Watch out for our next article where we will be looking at setting up on the day.

If you liked this, you might also like

How to Decide When You Should Talk Fast or Slow

Why Public Speaking Should Be Taught in Schools

How to Practice Effectively for Just About Anything

• Latest Posts

+Jim Harvey

Latest posts by jim harvey ( see all ).

• How to get over ‘Impostor Syndrome’ when you’re presenting - 6th January 2024
• Powerpoint Zoom Summary for interactive presentations – everything you need to know - 19th November 2023
• Sharpen your presentation skills while you work – 3 great audiobooks for FREE - 29th October 2023
• Death by PowerPoint? Why not try The Better Deck Deck? - 31st October 2021
• The Presentation Guru Presentation Skills Questionnaire – How Do YOU Rate? - 13th October 2021

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow The Guru

Join our Mailing List

Join our mailing list to get monthly updates and your FREE copy of A Guide for Everyday Business Presentations

The Only PowerPoint Templates You’ll Ever Need

Anyone who has a story to tell follows the same three-act story structure to...

Powerpoint Zoom Summary for interactive presentations – everything you need to know

In this article I’ll be showing you how you can use Powerpoint Zoom to...

How to get over ‘Impostor Syndrome’ when you’re presenting

Everybody with a soul feels like an impostor sometimes. Even really confident and experienced...

We use essential cookies to make Venngage work. By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.

Manage Cookies

Cookies and similar technologies collect certain information about how you’re using our website. Some of them are essential, and without them you wouldn’t be able to use Venngage. But others are optional, and you get to choose whether we use them or not.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are always on, as they’re essential for making Venngage work, and making it safe. Without these cookies, services you’ve asked for can’t be provided.

Show cookie providers

• Google Login

Functionality Cookies

These cookies help us provide enhanced functionality and personalisation, and remember your settings. They may be set by us or by third party providers.

Performance Cookies

These cookies help us analyze how many people are using Venngage, where they come from and how they're using it. If you opt out of these cookies, we can’t get feedback to make Venngage better for you and all our users.

• Google Analytics

Targeting Cookies

These cookies are set by our advertising partners to track your activity and show you relevant Venngage ads on other sites as you browse the internet.

• Google Tag Manager
• Infographics
• Daily Infographics
• Graphic Design
• Graphs and Charts
• Data Visualization
• Human Resources
• Training and Development
• Beginner Guides

Blog Beginner Guides

How To Make a Good Presentation [A Complete Guide]

By Krystle Wong , Jul 20, 2023

A top-notch presentation possesses the power to drive action. From winning stakeholders over and conveying a powerful message to securing funding — your secret weapon lies within the realm of creating an effective presentation .  

Being an excellent presenter isn’t confined to the boardroom. Whether you’re delivering a presentation at work, pursuing an academic career, involved in a non-profit organization or even a student, nailing the presentation game is a game-changer.

In this article, I’ll cover the top qualities of compelling presentations and walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to give a good presentation. Here’s a little tip to kick things off: for a headstart, check out Venngage’s collection of free presentation templates . They are fully customizable, and the best part is you don’t need professional design skills to make them shine!

These valuable presentation tips cater to individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, encompassing business professionals, sales and marketing teams, educators, trainers, students, researchers, non-profit organizations, public speakers and presenters. 

No matter your field or role, these tips for presenting will equip you with the skills to deliver effective presentations that leave a lasting impression on any audience.

Click to jump ahead:

What are the 10 qualities of a good presentation?

Step-by-step guide on how to prepare an effective presentation, 9 effective techniques to deliver a memorable presentation, faqs on making a good presentation, how to create a presentation with venngage in 5 steps.

When it comes to giving an engaging presentation that leaves a lasting impression, it’s not just about the content — it’s also about how you deliver it. Wondering what makes a good presentation? Well, the best presentations I’ve seen consistently exhibit these 10 qualities:

1. Clear structure

No one likes to get lost in a maze of information. Organize your thoughts into a logical flow, complete with an introduction, main points and a solid conclusion. A structured presentation helps your audience follow along effortlessly, leaving them with a sense of satisfaction at the end.

Regardless of your presentation style , a quality presentation starts with a clear roadmap. Browse through Venngage’s template library and select a presentation template that aligns with your content and presentation goals. Here’s a good presentation example template with a logical layout that includes sections for the introduction, main points, supporting information and a conclusion: 

2. Engaging opening

Hook your audience right from the start with an attention-grabbing statement, a fascinating question or maybe even a captivating anecdote. Set the stage for a killer presentation!

The opening moments of your presentation hold immense power – check out these 15 ways to start a presentation to set the stage and captivate your audience.

3. Relevant content

Make sure your content aligns with their interests and needs. Your audience is there for a reason, and that’s to get valuable insights. Avoid fluff and get straight to the point, your audience will be genuinely excited.

4. Effective visual aids

Picture this: a slide with walls of text and tiny charts, yawn! Visual aids should be just that—aiding your presentation. Opt for clear and visually appealing slides, engaging images and informative charts that add value and help reinforce your message.

With Venngage, visualizing data takes no effort at all. You can import data from CSV or Google Sheets seamlessly and create stunning charts, graphs and icon stories effortlessly to showcase your data in a captivating and impactful way.

5. Clear and concise communication

Keep your language simple, and avoid jargon or complicated terms. Communicate your ideas clearly, so your audience can easily grasp and retain the information being conveyed. This can prevent confusion and enhance the overall effectiveness of the message. 

6. Engaging delivery

Spice up your presentation with a sprinkle of enthusiasm! Maintain eye contact, use expressive gestures and vary your tone of voice to keep your audience glued to the edge of their seats. A touch of charisma goes a long way!

7. Interaction and audience engagement

Turn your presentation into an interactive experience — encourage questions, foster discussions and maybe even throw in a fun activity. Engaged audiences are more likely to remember and embrace your message.

Transform your slides into an interactive presentation with Venngage’s dynamic features like pop-ups, clickable icons and animated elements. Engage your audience with interactive content that lets them explore and interact with your presentation for a truly immersive experience.

8. Effective storytelling

Who doesn’t love a good story? Weaving relevant anecdotes, case studies or even a personal story into your presentation can captivate your audience and create a lasting impact. Stories build connections and make your message memorable.

A great presentation background is also essential as it sets the tone, creates visual interest and reinforces your message. Enhance the overall aesthetics of your presentation with these 15 presentation background examples and captivate your audience’s attention.

9. Well-timed pacing

Pace your presentation thoughtfully with well-designed presentation slides, neither rushing through nor dragging it out. Respect your audience’s time and ensure you cover all the essential points without losing their interest.

10. Strong conclusion

Last impressions linger! Summarize your main points and leave your audience with a clear takeaway. End your presentation with a bang , a call to action or an inspiring thought that resonates long after the conclusion.

In-person presentations aside, acing a virtual presentation is of paramount importance in today’s digital world. Check out this guide to learn how you can adapt your in-person presentations into virtual presentations . 

Preparing an effective presentation starts with laying a strong foundation that goes beyond just creating slides and notes. One of the quickest and best ways to make a presentation would be with the help of a good presentation software . 

Otherwise, let me walk you to how to prepare for a presentation step by step and unlock the secrets of crafting a professional presentation that sets you apart.

1. Understand the audience and their needs

Before you dive into preparing your masterpiece, take a moment to get to know your target audience. Tailor your presentation to meet their needs and expectations , and you’ll have them hooked from the start!

2. Conduct thorough research on the topic

Time to hit the books (or the internet)! Don’t skimp on the research with your presentation materials — dive deep into the subject matter and gather valuable insights . The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel in delivering your presentation.

3. Organize the content with a clear structure

No one wants to stumble through a chaotic mess of information. Outline your presentation with a clear and logical flow. Start with a captivating introduction, follow up with main points that build on each other and wrap it up with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.

Delivering an effective business presentation hinges on captivating your audience, and Venngage’s professionally designed business presentation templates are tailor-made for this purpose. With thoughtfully structured layouts, these templates enhance your message’s clarity and coherence, ensuring a memorable and engaging experience for your audience members.

Don’t want to build your presentation layout from scratch? pick from these 5 foolproof presentation layout ideas that won’t go wrong. 

4. Develop visually appealing and supportive visual aids

Spice up your presentation with eye-catching visuals! Create slides that complement your message, not overshadow it. Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words, but that doesn’t mean you need to overload your slides with text.

Well-chosen designs create a cohesive and professional look, capturing your audience’s attention and enhancing the overall effectiveness of your message. Here’s a list of carefully curated PowerPoint presentation templates and great background graphics that will significantly influence the visual appeal and engagement of your presentation.

5. Practice, practice and practice

Practice makes perfect — rehearse your presentation and arrive early to your presentation to help overcome stage fright. Familiarity with your material will boost your presentation skills and help you handle curveballs with ease.

6. Seek feedback and make necessary adjustments

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and seek feedback from friends and colleagues. Constructive criticism can help you identify blind spots and fine-tune your presentation to perfection.

With Venngage’s real-time collaboration feature , receiving feedback and editing your presentation is a seamless process. Group members can access and work on the presentation simultaneously and edit content side by side in real-time. Changes will be reflected immediately to the entire team, promoting seamless teamwork.

7. Prepare for potential technical or logistical issues

Prepare for the unexpected by checking your equipment, internet connection and any other potential hiccups. If you’re worried that you’ll miss out on any important points, you could always have note cards prepared. Remember to remain focused and rehearse potential answers to anticipated questions.

8. Fine-tune and polish your presentation

As the big day approaches, give your presentation one last shine. Review your talking points, practice how to present a presentation and make any final tweaks. Deep breaths — you’re on the brink of delivering a successful presentation!

In competitive environments, persuasive presentations set individuals and organizations apart. To brush up on your presentation skills, read these guides on how to make a persuasive presentation and tips to presenting effectively . 

Whether you’re an experienced presenter or a novice, the right techniques will let your presentation skills soar to new heights!

From public speaking hacks to interactive elements and storytelling prowess, these 9 effective presentation techniques will empower you to leave a lasting impression on your audience and make your presentations unforgettable.

1. Confidence and positive body language

Positive body language instantly captivates your audience, making them believe in your message as much as you do. Strengthen your stage presence and own that stage like it’s your second home! Stand tall, shoulders back and exude confidence. 

2. Eye contact with the audience

Break down that invisible barrier and connect with your audience through their eyes. Maintaining eye contact when giving a presentation builds trust and shows that you’re present and engaged with them.

3. Effective use of hand gestures and movement

A little movement goes a long way! Emphasize key points with purposeful gestures and don’t be afraid to walk around the stage. Your energy will be contagious!

4. Utilize storytelling techniques

Weave the magic of storytelling into your presentation. Share relatable anecdotes, inspiring success stories or even personal experiences that tug at the heartstrings of your audience. Adjust your pitch, pace and volume to match the emotions and intensity of the story. Varying your speaking voice adds depth and enhances your stage presence.

5. Incorporate multimedia elements

Spice up your presentation with a dash of visual pizzazz! Use slides, images and video clips to add depth and clarity to your message. Just remember, less is more—don’t overwhelm them with information overload. 

Turn your presentations into an interactive party! Involve your audience with questions, polls or group activities. When they actively participate, they become invested in your presentation’s success. Bring your design to life with animated elements. Venngage allows you to apply animations to icons, images and text to create dynamic and engaging visual content.

6. Utilize humor strategically

Laughter is the best medicine—and a fantastic presentation enhancer! A well-placed joke or lighthearted moment can break the ice and create a warm atmosphere , making your audience more receptive to your message.

7. Practice active listening and respond to feedback

Be attentive to your audience’s reactions and feedback. If they have questions or concerns, address them with genuine interest and respect. Your responsiveness builds rapport and shows that you genuinely care about their experience.

8. Apply the 10-20-30 rule

Apply the 10-20-30 presentation rule and keep it short, sweet and impactful! Stick to ten slides, deliver your presentation within 20 minutes and use a 30-point font to ensure clarity and focus. Less is more, and your audience will thank you for it!

9. Implement the 5-5-5 rule

Simplicity is key. Limit each slide to five bullet points, with only five words per bullet point and allow each slide to remain visible for about five seconds. This rule keeps your presentation concise and prevents information overload.

Simple presentations are more engaging because they are easier to follow. Summarize your presentations and keep them simple with Venngage’s gallery of simple presentation templates and ensure that your message is delivered effectively across your audience.

1. How to start a presentation?

To kick off your presentation effectively, begin with an attention-grabbing statement or a powerful quote. Introduce yourself, establish credibility and clearly state the purpose and relevance of your presentation.

2. How to end a presentation?

For a strong conclusion, summarize your talking points and key takeaways. End with a compelling call to action or a thought-provoking question and remember to thank your audience and invite any final questions or interactions.

3. How to make a presentation interactive?

To make your presentation interactive, encourage questions and discussion throughout your talk. Utilize multimedia elements like videos or images and consider including polls, quizzes or group activities to actively involve your audience.

In need of inspiration for your next presentation? I’ve got your back! Pick from these 120+ presentation ideas, topics and examples to get started. 

Creating a stunning presentation with Venngage is a breeze with our user-friendly drag-and-drop editor and professionally designed templates for all your communication needs. 

Here’s how to make a presentation in just 5 simple steps with the help of Venngage:

Step 1: Sign up for Venngage for free using your email, Gmail or Facebook account or simply log in to access your account. 

Step 2: Pick a design from our selection of free presentation templates (they’re all created by our expert in-house designers).

Step 3: Make the template your own by customizing it to fit your content and branding. With Venngage’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor, you can easily modify text, change colors and adjust the layout to create a unique and eye-catching design.

Step 4: Elevate your presentation by incorporating captivating visuals. You can upload your images or choose from Venngage’s vast library of high-quality photos, icons and illustrations. 

Step 5: Upgrade to a premium or business account to export your presentation in PDF and print it for in-person presentations or share it digitally for free!

By following these five simple steps, you’ll have a professionally designed and visually engaging presentation ready in no time. With Venngage’s user-friendly platform, your presentation is sure to make a lasting impression. So, let your creativity flow and get ready to shine in your next presentation!

• SUGGESTED TOPICS
• The Magazine
• Newsletters
• Managing Yourself
• Managing Teams
• Work-life Balance
• The Big Idea
• Data & Visuals
• Reading Lists
• Case Selections
• HBR Learning
• Topic Feeds
• Account Settings
• Email Preferences

Don’t Underestimate the Power of Your Voice

• Dan Bullock
• Raúl Sánchez

It’s not just what you say, it’s how you say it.

Our voices matter as much as our words matter. They have the power to awaken the senses and lead others to act, close deals, or land us successful job interviews. Through our voices, we create nuances of meaning, convey our emotions, and find the secret to communicating our executive presence. So, how do we train our voices to be more visceral, effective, and command attention?

• The key lies in harnessing our voices using the principles of vocalics. Vocalics primarily consists of three linguistic elements: stress (volume) , intonation (rising and falling tone), and rhythm (pacing). By combining vocalics with public speaking skills, we can colors our words with the meaning and emotion that motivates others to act.
• Crank up your volume: No, we don’t mean shout. The effective use of volume goes beyond trying to be the loudest person in the room. To direct the flow of any conversation, you must overtly stress what linguists call focus words. When you intentionally place volume on certain words, you emphasize parts of a message and shift the direction of a conversation toward your preferred outcome.
• Use a powerful speech style: The key to achieving a powerful speech style, particularly during job interviews and hiring decisions, is to first concentrate on the “melody” of your voice, also called intonation. This rise or fall of our voice conveys grammatical meaning (questions or statements) or even attitude (surprise, joy, sarcasm).
• Calibrate your vocal rhythm with the right melody: Our messages are perceived differently depending on the way we use rhythm in our voices. Deliberately varying our pacing with compelling pauses creates “voiced” punctuation, a powerful way to hold the pulse of the moment.

[derivative id="274848" style="inline"]

• Dan Bullock is a language and communications specialist/trainer at the United Nations Secretariat, training diplomats and global UN staff. Dan is the co-author of How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere (Career Press, 2021).   He also serves as faculty teaching business communication, linguistics, and public relations within the Division of Programs in Business at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. Dan was the director of corporate communications at a leading NYC public relations firm, and his corporate clients have included TD Bank and Pfizer. 
• Raúl Sánchez is an award-winning clinical assistant professor and the corporate program coordinator at New York University’s School of Professional Studies. Raúl is the co-author of How to Communicate Effectively with Anyone, Anywhere (Career Press, 2021). He has designed and delivered corporate trainings for Deloitte and the United Nations, as well as been a writing consultant for Barnes & Noble Press and PBS. Raúl was awarded the NYU School of Professional Studies Teaching Excellence Award and specializes in linguistics and business communication.

Partner Center

How to Use Your Voice Effectively in a Presentation?

• Filed under: Public speaking articles , Public speaking tips and tricks , Speaking tips , Speech delivery

The way you use your voice is one of the absolute most important aspects of speaking in public . This can easily change the way your audience sees you, whether for the better or for the worse. Today, I’m going to talk about how to use your voice well so that you can improve your speech-giving skills.

So, how do you use your voice effectively in a presentation? Watch your volume, and be mindful of your intonation. Speak clearly at all times when you are giving a speech. Place emphasis on the right words. Make sure you pace yourself accordingly. Pause when appropriate.

If all of this sounds a little intimidating to you, don’t worry about it. In this article, I’m going to give you some of the best professional tips to make sure you are using your voice to maximize your potential. And when you are done reading, hopefully, you will feel more confident to put some of these tips into practice during your next presentation.

Table of Contents

How to Use Your Voice Effectively in a Presentation

Even just the slightest change in your voice can change the entire meaning of a sentence. And you may not be a master at the skills required to make effective use of your voice. That is okay! Nobody is born a master of anything. That is why I’m going to walk you through developing some of the skills you need to use your voice properly during a presentation.

So, What is the Big Deal About Volume?

How would you feel if you were sitting in the audience listening to a speech , and the speaker was shouting at you the whole time? This would be very off-putting, and almost always seen as being aggressive . You might feel like leaving the presentation early to avoid being yelled at any more!

Or what if the speaker was so quiet that you could barely hear a word they had to say? Eventually, you might lose interest and zone out. You’ll find yourself reaching for your phone, looking for a distraction until the whispering speaker was done.

Maintaining the proper volume is crucial. But how do you know exactly what volume is right ? The answer to that question: you want to be loud enough for everyone to hear you, but not too loud that you make your audience uncomfortable.

First, notice what the size of your crowd is. If you have a larger audience spread out over a wider area, you might need to talk a little louder.

However, if you have a microphone, you will have a much easier time regulating your volume. This can help you from not straining your voice in order to be heard.

It is also okay to raise and soften your voice at different points throughout your presentation to draw attention to certain words or phrases.

For example, you may raise your voice for a word to place emphasis on it, or you may whisper something in order to make a point. Just make sure you are not being excessively loud or quiet the entire time. Moderation is the key!

Intonation, Intonation, Intonation!

Many students tell me that they know they should use proper intonation, but that they are also not sure of exactly what that word means. Simply put, intonation means how you say something. And how you say something is just as important as what you are saying.

Proper intonation is important to convey emotion . Your voice should fluctuate naturally because speaking in a monotone variation will do nothing but bore your audience.

The next time you have a one-on-one conversation, think about how you already use intonation. Do you say every sentence, word, syllable in the same way? With the same volume? Or by placing the same emphasis on every word? Chances are, your answer to that is no; that would be the correct answer.

Don’t force it, though. Try to practice giving a speech as naturally as you would explain something to a friend.

Recommended books

How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations

Jeremy Donovan

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Nancy Duarte

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun

Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

Carmine Gallo

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything... Fast!

Josh Kaufman

Let your words flow. After all, it is better to sound natural and flowing than to sound like you are trying to be a robot onstage!

Above Everything Else, Speak Clearly

Let me make it simple for you: if you are not speaking clearly, your audience will not be receiving the message that you are trying to convey. After all, what are you going to get out of listening to a speech where you can’t understand what words the person onstage is even saying?

Unfortunately, many of us are prone to mumbling because we’ve allowed ourselves to fall into that habit. If you are one of those people, you need to practice enunciation and speaking as clearly as possible.

Each time that you rehearse, you need to make sure that you are pronouncing your words clearly. Practice your presentation for a friend or family member.

They can give you feedback, and tell you if there are any words they weren’t able to clearly understand. Then, you can practice these words more than the rest to be able to clearly pronounce them without mumbling.

Try to make a point to remember what words and sounds you are most likely to start mumbling. You can keep these in mind when you are on stage, and remember to speak them more clearly.

Emphasizing a word

What words, phrases, or sentences are the most important during your speech? You should use your voice to emphasize these so that they stand out. But how does this work?

Let me show you an example of proper emphasis. Read these four sentences out loud, one at a time:

“ She didn’t say anything” “She didn’t say anything” “She didn’t say anything” “She didn’t say anything ”

Do you notice how each of them has a slightly different meaning based on which word is emphasized?

Each sentence has the same exact words at the rest of them, but each sentence has an emphasis placed on a different word. Use this principle when you are giving your speech to emphasize keywords, facts, sentences, and more.

Don’t Forget About the Pace

It is incredibly important to remember not to speak too fast or too slow. If you are going too fast, very few people will be able to keep up, and your audience may miss out on vital details about your message. And when you are going to slow? Well, you may risk boring your audience.

I realize that it is easy to start speaking fast when you are very knowledgeable or excited about a particular topic. But if you want to properly share the facts about this topic with your audience, you have to learn to slow down!

Just like with volume, it is okay to temporarily speed up or slow down in order to emphasize a particular point. But you want to make sure you are talking in a smooth and steady tempo the majority of the time; again, not too fast and not too slow.

And Pause Every Now and Again!

I have already published an extensive article about how to use pauses effectively to create a great speech. But, I’m going to give you some of those tips here, too.

You should consider using pauses:

• … to switch topics, change sentences, or end a paragraph.
• … to replace filler words such as “uh” and “um”.
• … to emphasize a word or phrase.
• … to make up for when you have lost your place.
• … to ask a hypothetical question.
• …. to think of an answer for a question asked by an audience member.

Pausing is natural when done properly and effectively. It will also give you a chance to give your voice a much-needed rest, no matter how short of rest it is. Pausing is a wonderful way to remember that it’s not just what you are saying, but also how you say it.

How to take care of your voice?

If you know me, you know that I almost always offer an extra tip! And it is this: don’t forget to take care of your voice. This is especially important if you speak in public a lot, or work in a field where you are required to use your voice on a daily basis.

If you rely on your voice to make a living, you must care for it.

The concept of taking care of your voice isn’t only limited to singers. You don’t want to wear your voice out by speaking too much or incorrectly. After all, abusing your voice can lead to laryngitis or even vocal nodules in the more extreme cases.

Here are a few things you can do to take care of the quality of your voice:

Avoid excessive screaming or yelling

Both of these can cause serious harm to the voice. If you regularly spend days cheering loudly at the local baseball game, or nights screaming at a concert, you may want to think about changing some of your lifestyle habits. After all, remember that your voice is irreplaceable.

Avoid whispering or clearing your throat

You should also avoid whispering or clearing your throat as much as possible since both of these can actually be significantly harmful to your vocal cords.

Don’t forget to rest

After speaking or using your voice for long periods of time, you should vocal rest. That means, don’t speak for a given amount of time in order to let your voice rejuvenate itself.

You may choose to do this for the rest of the day, for an entire day, or for even longer. How long you choose to rest your voice is up to you.

If possible, also give yourself of a period of no-talking and no using your voice before you give a presentation. This will help you rest up for the big event.

Sometimes you have to stop

If you are doing something with your voice that hurts, stop as soon as possible and don’t do it anymore.

Whether you are imitating a funny sound or doing something louder than what you usually do, you should never use your voice in a way that causes physical discomfort.

What if you have a sore throat?

If you have been sick with a sore throat or coughing, avoid excessively using your voice during that time. Your voice is already under a lot of stress from illness, so be gentle to yourself! And if it’s possible, try not to give any big presentations when you are under the weather.

Additionally – if you absolutely have to use your voice if you are having throat problems it is very useful if you are able to drink something with honey in it . This helps to coat and relax your throat.

It won’t reduce the damage done to your throat so still don’t speak for long periods of time but it will help you get through it. And it will reduce the amount of damage you do to your throat while speaking.

Avoid smoking

Avoid smoking as much as possible. If you are a smoker who can’t quit, at least try not to smoke right before or after a presentation.

When you take care of your voice, it will thank you by performing well when you need it to. And as always, being mindful of your health in any way is a rewarding endeavor!

Don’t drink coffee or sweet drinks before your speech

Limit caffeine and sweet drinks before your speech. Why? Because they make your mouth dry and it’s hard to speak if your mouth is dry, isn’t it?

Also, Caffeine is a stimulant that may keep you awake, but it also noticeably increases anxiety levels.

You should be drinking water

And the crucial element is that you shouldn’t be drinking water directly before your speech . If you do so you will end up with the mouth full of water and you will be talking extremely sloppily.

Conclusion: How to Use Your Voice Effectively in a Presentation?

Today, we talked about how to use your voice effectively in a presentation. Some of the things we talked about were controlling volume and pace, using proper emphasis, and speaking clearly. Do you have any other tips about effectively using your voice that you would like to share? Leave them in the comments below!

Related Questions

How do I warm up my voice before a speech? Always start by gently releasing your jaw. Learn to practice lip and tongue trills before long periods of speaking. You could even do a little bit of light humming to warm the voice up.

How do I make my speech effective? Make sure you clearly present the purpose of your speech to your audience. Connect with your audience members in a direct manner. And effectively use your voice when you are speaking.

Will I hurt my voice from talking too much? Using your voice for long periods of time can strain it. If you have developed a sore throat after talking or singing excessively, rest your voice and drink plenty of fluids until you feel better.

Posts about public speaking you may also like

How to make a speech? Frequently asked questions

There’s an FAQ section in every area, and public speaking is no exception. I’m often asked how to make a speech or what making a

17 Biggest Public Speaking Myths Debunked

Public speaking is like anything else in life that cannot exist without some myths, and today I am going to take a closer look at

16 secret ways how to speak to a bored audience

One of the many nightmares of public speaking is having a bored audience. It happens to everyone, but it doesn’t make it any less worrisome.

• Tags: Effective speaking , Illustrating your speech , Impromptu speaking , Introduction to a Speech , Making a speech , Pauses in speech , Presentation techniques , Speech skills , Speech tips

Recommended gear

Best Portable Speakers For The Presentations

Best Video Cameras for Public Speakers

Best rresenter remotes for public speakers

Best Portable Thumb Drives And Hard Drives for the Presentations

Who is janek tuttar.

My name is Janek Tuttar , and I am the founder and author of Speak and Conquer website.

I have been teaching public speaking at Estonian Entrepreneurship University of Applied Sciences

Here, I am sharing the wisdom of how to cope in different public speaking situations.

More information about Janek »

Share this post

Hi! My name is Janek Tuttar, and I am the founder and author of SpeakAndConquer.com.

I have been teaching and blogging about public speaking since spring 2007. Here, I am sharing the wisdom of how to cope in different public speaking situations.

Send me an e-mail: [email protected]

LEGAL INFORMATION

This site is owned and operated by Janek Tuttar. SpeakAndConquer.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies.

Best teleprompters

Best Computer Mice for the Presentations

Best Laptop Backpacks for Public Speakers

Create Your Course

How to do a voiceover on google slides or powerpoint, share this article.

Voice-over presentations offer a better learning experience because they are a more engaging way to learn. 

Some students learn better through visual cues, while others learn by listening. However, adding voice-over narration to your presentations enables students to benefit from the best of both worlds. It allows adding important information and context to explain what’s on the slides – as if your students were attending a live lecture!

Now, you may assume adding voice-over to your presentations is complicated. However, it isn’t as tricky as you probably think! Once you have your slides ready, there are just a few extra steps you’ll need to take to add narration. 

In this blog, we share four ways to do a voiceover presentation – voice-over Google Slides, PowerPoint, screen recording, and the Presentation lesson feature on Thinkific.

Before we get into the options, let’s quickly cover the only ground rule regarding recording voice-overs: Don’t sacrifice sound quality. Viewers are willing to put up with rough visuals but don’t forgive poor sound. Most computers have built-in microphones that sort of get the job done, but we recommend headphones or a USB Microphone to improve the quality of your voiceover.

Related: How To Set Up A DIY Home Video Recording Studio For Cheap

Now, let’s get into your voice-over options. Toward the end of the article, you will also find five tips for adding a good voice-over. If you’d like to sit back and learn, check out this video we created on how to easily add voiceover to your slides:

4 ways to do voice-over presentations

There are two main routes you can take to record a voiceover for your presentations :

You may want to use PowerPoint or Google Slides to add voiceover to each slide that plays as students make their way through the presentation. PowerPoint has recording functionality built-in, but with Google Slides, some extra steps are involved with recording your audio, then uploading it to Google Drive before you can embed it on each slide.

Alternatively, you may want to ditch the slides and create a screen recording of the presentation. To do this, you can use any screen recording software as you talk through the slides and turn your presentation into a video lesson. And if you’re a Thinkific user, you can create voiceover slides with the Presentation lesson feature.

Use this list to skip to your preferred voice-over narration method:

• How to do a voice-over on Google Slides
• How to do a voice-over on PowerPoint (Microsoft Office)
• How to do a voice-over screen recording
• How to do voice-over slides with Thinkific

Option 1: How to do a voice-over on Google Slides

Google Slides doesn’t have built-in functionality to record your slides, but you can still accomplish the same with it with an extra step. You can add voiceover to Google Slides by uploading an audio file saved in Google Drive to each slide.

For this option, all you need is Google Slides and a computer with a microphone. 

Let’s go through the steps-

Step 1: Create your audio files for each slide and upload them to Google Drive.

Tip: Organize your files with a naming convention. You’ll need to locate these files in the next step. To keep them organized , following a naming convention for your audio files, including Course, Lesson, and Slide numbers, helps.

Step 2: Insert audio to your slide, and configure play settings

Next, you can insert audio from your drive into each slide individually.

The files you uploaded should be in the Recent tab, but you can also search for the file manually.

Step 3: Configure your audio settings 

Google Slides gives you the option to specify how the voiceover should act. To open the Format options menu, you can click on the speaker icon, then go to Format options under the Format menu.

Voice-over formatting options for Google Slides:

• Autoplay- You can choose if you want the audio to play automatically or manually when a student clicks the slide.
• Loop- You can define if you want the recording to stop or repeat once it gets to the end.

• Button size and colour – You can resize the button by dragging the corner and changing the colour using the “Recolor” option.

An online course or membership site can be a wildly successful way to monetize content.

Need help figuring out where to start? Get free training and start building for free !

Option 2: how to do a voice-over on PowerPoint

Microsoft Powerpoint has a feature that many average users don’t know about, which allows you to add voice-over narration to your PowerPoint. For this option, all you’ll need is Microsoft PowerPoint and a computer with a microphone.

On Windows computers:

Step 1 – in the top menu, go to slideshow >> record slideshow..

You have the option to record from the beginning of the presentation or from the current slide you’re on.

Step 2- Start recording

Once you select which recording you’d like to go ahead with, you’ll be in full-screen mode with options to record, stop, and replay. Once you click record, there will be a countdown timer from 3.

Anything you type in the notes section of the PowerPoint can be viewed by clicking on the notes button at the top.

The recording will stop automatically once you make it to the final slide. You can also pause, stop, or replay a recording at any time by pressing the pause button in the top left of your screen.

You can also record a video of yourself in the corner by selecting the video option in the bottom right corner.

Step 3 – Testing your narration

Once you’re finished, a speaker icon will appear at the bottom right corner of all the slides with recorded narration.

Just hover over the speaker icon to play, skip to time, or adjust the volume to play the narration.

On Mac Computers

Step 1 – click on slide show..

In the top menu, click Slide Show and choose the slide you want to start working on. Unlike on Windows, you will have to select the slide you want to work on manually. If it is the first slide you wish to choose, do so. 

Step 2 – Click on Record Slide Show

Step 3 – Choose the input method

On the top of the screen, you can turn off the camera, if you wish to, or turn it on. 

The next button helps you choose the voice input, whether your Mac’s in-built mic or an external device. 

Step 4 – Add a voice-over to slides

As with the Windows version, add voice-over to the slides one by one, and add notes if you wish. 

Step 5 – Complete recording

Once done, click on the large red button to start recording. Once your voice-over is complete, click the same button to stop recording. Again, add notes if you wish to. Then, move to the next slide. 

Step 6 – Click on tips for more controls

Click on Tips for several functions and shortcuts you can use on your Macbook to control your voice-over recordings. The Mac version of the PowerPoint tool is much easier to use. 

Step 7 – Verify your voice-over for accuracy

After your voice-over is complete, return to your presentation, and make sure that your voice-over is accurate by clicking on the white “Play” icon at the bottom of each slide.

Option 3: how to do a voice-over with screen recording

The last option involves recording your screen and audio as you discuss the presentation.

Check out our guide: How To Record Your Screen On Any Device .

We’ll show you free options and two paid options with advanced editing features:

Hit the record button on the video conferencing software

The easiest and cheapest option for screen recording without additional software is to join a Google Meet or a Zoom call by yourself, share your screen, and press the recording button.

This may be easy for a simple presentation but may prove frustrating for a longer presentation –  the inability to edit means you’ve got one shot to make it through your presentation without any mistakes.

Use your computer’s built-in screen recorder

On Windows 10 , just click Windows + G at the same time to open the Game Bar, and press “Start Recording”.

If you’re on a Mac , you can make a video recording of the entire screen or just a portion of it. Shift-Command(⌘)-5 will display on-screen controls for recording the entire screen.

Two paid screen recording options

If you want the ability to edit and customize your video and access more editing options, you’ll need to invest in some software like Screenflow or Camtasia .

Here are our two favorite options , depending on whether you’re on a Mac or Windows System:

Screenflow is a software program for video editing and screencasting for Apple users and is one of the best options for screen capture. This software functions well as a video editor for novice editors, but it lacks the deep customization and functions of a more advanced editor like Adobe Premiere Pro.

Download free trial of Screenflow

Camtasia is an all-in-one screen recorder and video editor that works on both Windows and Mac. It is one of the most widely used systems for screen recording and video editing. It is popular for its user-friendly interface and simple video editing.

Try Camtasia for free

Option 4: how to do voice-over presentations with Thinkific

If you have created a presentation on an external platform like Keynote , PowerPoint or Google Slides, you can use a Presentation lesson to display it within your Thinkific course! 

This function enables you to record audio while speaking to specific slides. You also have the option to upload a recording for each slide. 

This is a great way to create a customized experience for your students right within Thinkific .

To create a Presentation lesson, you will need to upload a PDF file. Each page in your PDF will be converted to images that will be displayed as slides within your Presentation lesson for students to navigate through.

If you have created a presentation in an external platform like PowerPoint you can simply export it from that platform as a PDF to later upload to Thinkific!

Here are the steps to create a Presentation lesson with voice-over on Thinkific .

With that, let’s explore what it takes to ensure a good voiceover.

Follow these five tips for adding a good voiceover

• Invest in a good microphone – Most cell phones and computers come with built-in microphones. These may not provide the professional-grade audio quality necessary to create compelling online lessons. Therefore, you must invest in a professional microphone that eliminates noise and disturbances. As we mentioned earlier, the most important rule is to ensure that your audio quality is high.
• Use a teleprompter – Although you may speak out your presentation and elaborate on the impromptu bullet points, you could make mistakes. These mistakes may make you seem like a novice.  A teleprompter can help you read out your sentences in front of the webcam or the mic without making any errors. The result is – top-notch quality presentations with voiceovers.
• Clear your throat – Most people do not realize the importance of a good quality voice. In fact, voice-over artists are hired simply because of their excellent voices! While you do not need to hire professional voice-over artists, you can ensure that you sound your best by gargling your throat and clearing it before you begin to record. In other words, avoid recording your voiceover if you have a sore throat or when your voice sounds hoarse. Keep a jug of water ready next to you to keep sounding fresh.
• Sound confident – Confidence doesn’t come with good quality microphones and teleprompters alone. Practice talking in front of a mirror, which will help ensure that you sound and look great. In fact, dressing professionally just before you record your voice-over may also have psychological benefits – you could feel more professional and thus sound more professional and confident.
• Edit audio if necessary – Despite all the care taken, you may make mistakes during voice-over recording. Listen to your slides repeatedly and make changes until you are completely satisfied with how you sound. Although there are audio editing tools out there, they may not be necessary for simple presentations such as the ones required for online lessons.

Whichever method you choose, turning a regular presentation into an engaging voice-over is sure to improve the quality of your presentation.

But here’s a thought: Why not monetize your presentations with an online course?

Sign up with us for free and try it out (we dare you) . 

Not ready to take the leap, but still interested in improving the quality of your production? Check out one of these related guides:

• How to Create Video For Your Online Coaching Course
• How to Improve the Video Production Quality for Your Online Course
• Best Equipment & Software For Creating Online Courses
• 4 Elements of Effective Video Content for Online Courses

This guide on voiceovers was published in August 2020 and was updated in October 2022.

Colin is a Content Marketer at Thinkific, writing about everything from online entrepreneurship & course creation to digital marketing strategy.

• How To Craft Magnetic & Compelling Learning Outcomes
• Essential Questions To Ask In Your Training Evaluation Survey
• Best Equipment & Software For Creating Online Courses
• How to Create a Compelling Sales Page for Your Online Course
• What Is Universal Design For Learning? (Examples & Best Practices)

Related Articles

Transform your book into an online course.

Hear from Jeanine Blackwell how to transform your book into a profitable online course, with her tips on designing engaging content.

Bite Sized Learning: A New Strategy For Teaching (How It Works & Tips)

Bite sized learning is as simple as it sounds… It's a strategy implemented to deliver content in very small, focused nuggets. Learn how to use it.

Create Your Online Course From YouTube

Learn how to create your first online course, using content from your YouTube channel. Get examples of how to build your course lesson plan.

Try Thinkific for yourself!

Accomplish your course creation and student success goals faster with thinkific..

Download this guide and start building your online program!

It is on its way to your inbox

More From Forbes

Five ways to boost your visibility and make your voice heard at work.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Having your voice heard at work is a multifaceted endeavor that involves understanding your ... [+] workplace culture, building strategic relationships, honing your communication skills, and being both persistent and patient

Navigating the complexities of workplace dynamics requires a keen strategy to ensure your voice stands out. From shaping pivotal decisions to contributing to meaningful projects, the ability to make your presence known is a critical factor in steering your career in the right direction. Here are a five tactics designed to amplify your visibility, guaranteeing that your efforts are not just seen but significantly acknowledged and valued.

1. Build Strategic Relationships

Begin by observing and understanding the communication dynamics of your workplace. Every organization has its unique culture, and fitting your approach within this context can significantly increase your chances of being heard. Notice how decisions are made, who the key influencers are, and how ideas are usually presented and discussed. After getting a grasp of your workplace culture, the next step is to actively engage in building strategic relationships within your firm. This effort goes beyond mere socializing; it involves identifying and connecting with key individuals who wield influence or have decision-making capacities.

Look for opportunities to support or collaborate on projects and initiatives that matter to these influencers. This could involve offering your expertise, sharing resources, or providing valuable insights. By establishing a rapport and demonstrating your value, you create a foundation for your opinions to be not only heard but also championed by these pivotal figures. Networking in this manner not only elevates your visibility within the organization but also positions you as a credible and resourceful team member, paving the way for your ideas to gain traction and support.

Emphasize the importance of mutual benefit in these relationships. It’s not just about what you can gain, but also about how you can contribute to the success of your colleagues and the firm as a whole. By being a reliable and supportive ally, you naturally foster an environment where others are more inclined to support your initiatives in return. This strategic approach to relationship-building within your workplace can transform your network into a powerful catalyst for realizing your goals and amplifying your voice within the organization.

2. Develop Your Communication Skills

Effective communication is key to being heard. This includes both how you speak and how you listen. Practice clear, concise, and impactful communication. Tailor your message to your audience, focusing on the key points and benefits of your ideas. Equally important is active listening. Show genuine interest in others’ ideas and feedback, as this fosters a reciprocal environment where everyone feels valued and heard.

Why You Should Stop Sending Texts From Your iMessage App

Apple ipad pro 2024 release date: latest news on when it will launch, the best air purifiers for pets to help reduce allergens and odors.

Beyond verbal skills, enhancing your non-verbal communication can also play a significant role. This includes maintaining eye contact, using appropriate gestures, and demonstrating openness and receptivity through your posture and facial expressions. Being adept in these aspects of communication will make you a more persuasive speaker and an attentive listener, ultimately strengthening your influence and presence in any professional setting.

Additionally, continuously seek to improve your communication skills by seeking feedback from peers and mentors. Engage in exercises that challenge your public speaking, negotiation, and persuasive writing abilities. Consider joining workshops or groups focused on communication development. By actively working on these skills, you ensure that your voice is not only heard but also respected and valued across various platforms and interactions within your firm.

3. Speak Up with Confidence

The significance of confidence in communication is underscored by insightful research undertaken by Chak Fu Lam, Alexander Romney, Daniel Newton, and Wen Wu, published in Personnel Psychology last year. This study illuminates the nuances of ‘voice inquiry’ as an effective communication strategy, especially within the dynamics of leader and employee interactions. Voice inquiry refers to the practice of framing suggestions or concerns in the form of questions, a method that can foster endorsement without directly confronting or challenging leadership. This tactic, rooted in dominance complementarity theory, suggests that such an approach can enhance a leader’s sense of power, particularly when the leader’s dominance is pronounced.

In practical terms, this means actively seeking opportunities to articulate your ideas, whether through presentations, meetings, or informal discussions. Such engagements serve as platforms to refine your communication skills, making your message more compelling and your presence more persuasive. The study further advocates for the importance of feedback in honing your communication style, emphasizing that confidence accumulates over time through consistent practice and exposure.

The key takeaway here is the validation of voice inquiry as a strategy that balances assertiveness with tact, encouraging a more inclusive and empowering approach to organizational communication. By embracing this approach, individuals can navigate the complexities of workplace dynamics more effectively, securing endorsement for improvement-oriented initiatives without inciting resistance or undermining leadership authority. This insight is invaluable for anyone aspiring to cultivate a confident, influential voice in their professional life, reinforcing the notion that the power of communication lies not just in the message, but in the method of its delivery.

Remember, confidence builds over time with experience and practice. So, embrace every chance to speak up, knowing that each occasion is a step towards becoming a more confident and influential communicator within your organization.

4. Utilize Various Communication Channels

As we head into the second quarter of 2024, there are multiple channels through which you can make your voice heard. Besides traditional meetings and one-on-one conversations, consider writing articles for the company newsletter, contributing to internal forums, or even starting a blog if your company supports it. These platforms can provide additional avenues to share your insights and ideas, reaching a wider audience within your firm.

Embrace social media and digital communication tools that are favored by your company. Whether it’s Slack, Microsoft Teams, or another platform, engaging in these digital spaces can amplify your voice. Create content that highlights your expertise, shares valuable insights, or sparks meaningful conversations. Be consistent and proactive in these channels, offering help, answering questions, and contributing to discussions. This multi-channel approach not only diversifies how you communicate but also reinforces your presence and thought leadership within the organization, making your voice hard to ignore.

Moreover, don’t underestimate the power of visual content such as infographics, videos, and presentations to convey your messages in an engaging and digestible format. Visuals can often communicate complex ideas more effectively than text alone, especially in digital formats where attention spans may be shorter. Consider collaborating with others to produce content that showcases your collective expertise and insights, further amplifying your voice and extending your reach within your firm.

5. Be Persistent but Patient

Persistence is crucial when trying to make your voice heard. If your ideas don’t catch on immediately, don’t be discouraged. Evaluate what could be improved in your presentation or proposal, and try again. However, it’s equally important to balance persistence with patience. Understand that change and acceptance can take time, and continually pushing without regard for timing or context can be counterproductive.

Adopt a strategy that combines resilience with adaptability. If you face resistance, take it as an opportunity to refine your approach and gather more support. Engage with those who are skeptical in a constructive manner, seeking to understand their perspectives and addressing their concerns. Patience does not mean inaction; it means being strategic about when and how you present your ideas. Celebrate small victories along the way and use them as building blocks for larger successes. By being both persistent and patient, you demonstrate your commitment to positive change and your respect for the organization’s pace and process, which can ultimately lead to more meaningful and lasting impact.

And so, by adopting these strategies, you can enhance your visibility and impact within your firm, contributing to both your personal growth and the success of your team. Remember, every voice matters, and making yours heard is a powerful step toward achieving your professional goals.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Find answers to your questions and learn more!

Get lots of tips and advice to get the most from typecast

• Customer Support
• Contact Sales

• August 23, 2022

Need a Voice Actor?

Recommended articles.

Typecast SSFM v1: The Next Generation in AI Voice Software

How to Use Vocaloid Text-to-Speech

How to Use an Android Text to Speech

Hear the Difference: Typecast SSFM Redefines Text-to-Speech

Are you nervous about using your voice to narrate PowerPoint presentation? Not to worry, you can use a cool voice generator to narrate your slides in various voices and accents. This can be a great way to add some personality to your presentation and make it more engaging for your audience. This post will discuss how to narrate PowerPoint without using your voice.

How to Narrate Powerpoint

Do you want to narrate PowerPoint presentation but don’t want to use your voice? Are you worried that your voice won’t engage your audience? Are you thinking about adding voiceover to powerpoint? Don’t worry, there are ways to narrate a presentation without using your voice. Of those ways, advanced text-to-speech software is the most effective.

There are many benefits to narrating a PowerPoint without using your voice. Here are some of the most notable ones:

• You can add more personality to your presentation by choosing different voices and accents for the text-to-speech software.
• This can be a great way to engage your audience and make your presentation more attractive.
• It can also be helpful if you’re not comfortable speaking in front of a large group of people.

Fortunately, some of the best advanced text-to-speech software programs can help make your presentation sound amazing! Best of all, PowerPoint has a narration feature that lets you add audio or voiceovers on slides or the whole production. Below we will discuss how to upload your PowerPoint audio on a Mac or a PC.

PowerPoint Narration For PC And Mac

The processes for PowerPoint narration for PC and Mac are similar. Here are the steps for each method.

PowerPoint Narration for PC

• First, open a new or existing presentation in PowerPoint.
• Using the top toolbar, select the “Insert” option.
• Scroll to the far-right side of the menu and select “Audio.” Using this option, you can insert voiceover audio from a reliable advanced text-to-speech software app.
• After adding the voiceover, a microphone icon will appear, indicating that the PowerPoint narration was successful.

PowerPoint Narration For Mac

• Open a new or existing presentation for PowerPoint for Mac.
• Find and select the “Insert” option in the top toolbar.
• Like the PC version, navigate to the far-right side and click “Audio.”
• Once again, you can use your favorite voiceover app to create the most engaging PowerPoint audio for your presentation.

Typecast – An Advanced Text-to-Speech Software For a PowerPoint Presentation

Typecast is an advanced text-to-speech software for narrating PowerPoint presentations. With Typecast, you can create fantastic audio for your PowerPoint slides in minutes. The software is simple to use, just paste your text into the app and click “Play.” Typecast will generate high-quality audio you can download and use for your PowerPoint presentation. 

Typecast is also great for creating audio for eLearning courses, training materials, and marketing videos. If you need to create a narrated PowerPoint presentation for the office or a potential client, Typecast is the best text-to-speech software to use! Business owners can even hype up their presentations by adding the movie announcer voice to their audio.

Typecast offers many benefits, including:

• A wide range of voices and accents to choose from (over 260 and counting!)
• Quick and painless audio creation – just paste your text and click “Play!”

Typecast is the best advanced text-to-speech software for narrating pitches for small business owners looking to create more engaging content, launch a new product, or open a new business in their franchise. With Typecast, you can easily create audio for your PowerPoint slides in minutes without using your voice! Try it out today.

Type your script and cast AI voice actors & avatars

The ai generated text-to-speech program with voices so real it's worth trying, related articles.

The Best AI Tools for Small Businesses

How to Create a Zoom Background Design

How to Design a Website

How to Add a YouTube Video to Powerpoint

• We're hiring 🚀
• Press/Media
• Brand resource
• Typecast characters
• Usage policy
• Attribution guidelines
• Talk to sales
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Copyright © 2024 Typecast US Inc. All Rights Reserved.
• 400 Concar Dr, San Mateo, CA 94402, USA