Think about the last time someone really held your attention…
Maybe it was a speaker whose words stirred something in you, or a storyteller who didn’t just talk but also took you somewhere.
What made you stop, focus, and listen?
Now, let’s flip it: When you are the one speaking to a crowd, are people zoning out or zoning in?
Here’s a truth that most people miss: It’s not just about what you say; it’s also about how you say it.
After all, your voice isn’t just a sound. It’s an influence. It’s a connection. It’s persuasion.
No one explains this better than Julian Treasure, a sound expert who’s spent decades studying the power of the human voice. His viral TED Talk, “How to Speak So That People Want to Listen,” has over 50 million views, and for good reason—it teaches speakers how to transform the way they communicate using six key vocal elements.
Let’s break them down and see how you can unlock your voice as a superpower:
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Register: Speak from Strength
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Timbre: Make It Warm, Not Worn Out
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Prosody: Speak in Music, Not Monotone
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Pace: Slow Down to Be Heard
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Pitch: Emotion Lives in Elevation
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Volume: Don’t Just Be Loud—Be Heard
Treasure says, “We vote for politicians with lower voices—it’s true—because we associate depth with power and authority.”
That depth comes from speaking in your chest register, not your throat or head. When your voice resonates from deeper down, it sounds fuller and more grounded. It subtly tells your audience: I’ve got this. You can trust me.
Try this: Take a deep breath, relax your shoulders, and speak slowly from your chest. It’s a small shift that can instantly increase your credibility.
Timbre is the texture of your voice. Treasure describes the ideal timbre as being like “hot chocolate—rich, smooth, warm.”
Think Morgan Freeman narrating your life!
People are naturally drawn to voices that feel pleasant. The opposite of that is the harsh, tight, nasal tone that wears people out before you even finish your sentence.
Pro tip: Treasure encourages breathing exercises, better posture, and even working with a vocal coach to soften and enrich your timbre. These tweaks don’t just change your voice; they also change how people feel when they hear you.
Have you ever been stuck listening to someone who spoke in a flat, lifeless tone?
No ups. No downs. No escape.
That’s a lack of prosody—your voice’s melody. Treasure warns that monotone speech is one of the fastest ways to lose your audience. Without vocal variation, even exciting content sounds dull.
How to fix it: Let your voice play. Add rhythm. Emphasize key words. Pause where it matters.
Think of your voice as a song, not a siren.
Treasure puts it plainly: “I can slow right down to emphasize… and at the end of that, of course, is our old friend silence.”
Your pace tells listeners how to feel. Rushing can feel anxious or uncertain. Speaking too slowly can feel unsure. But intentional pacing—with well-timed pauses—creates suspense and importance.
Practice this: Try inserting a 1-second pause after a key phrase. It gives your words weight. Plus, don’t fear silence—it’s not awkward. In fact, it’s powerful.
Pitch is your vocal mood ring. High pitch makes you sound excited or annoyed. Low pitch indicates you’re calm or serious.
Treasure doesn’t say you should “avoid pitch changes.” He wants you to master them. So, learn how to use pitch to reflect your message. When you emphasize emotion with pitch, your words feel real.
Pro tip: Practice saying the same sentence in three different emotional tones. This builds pitch awareness and helps you match your tone with your message.
Being loud isn’t the same as being powerful. Treasure warns against “sodcasting”—broadcasting your voice like a one-way megaphone, without regard for others.
Volume should be intentional. Loud enough to command attention but quiet enough to draw people in. After all, volume variation gives your message depth and drama.
Try this: Lower your voice when sharing something personal or serious. Raise it when you’re driving a point home. Such a contrast will keep your listeners engaged.
So… what’s the point?
Treasure’s message is simple but transformative: Your voice is a tool.
Learn to use it, and you can change the world—one conversation at a time.
When you master register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch, and volume, you’re not just “talking better.” You’re speaking in a way that’s impossible to ignore.
So, ask yourself: The next time you open your mouth to speak—are you creating noise or crafting sound?
Once you start speaking like someone worth listening to, people won’t just hear you; they’ll also remember you.
About The Dynamic Marketing Communiqué’s
“Thursdays: Speak on the Shoulders of Giants”
In a meeting with one person…
… a boardroom with five people…
… or a huge venue with hundreds of people…
—whatever the situation or setting, it’s very important to learn and eventually master the art of public speaking.
No matter what, you always need to effectively get your message across.
What good is a presentation with awesome content if you don’t deliver it properly?
Every Thursday, we publish different tips, insights, and secrets on how you can improve your presentation skills to captivate your audience and lead interesting discussions.
The need for great presentation skills applies EVERYWHERE.
(Small meetings with your team, big meetings with your boss, an important marketing pitch, speaking engagements for events with a big audience, etc.)
Learning these skills is not just for the corporate world. Being in other industries such as the Arts, Information Technology, Medicine, and Education while knowing how to communicate and present well will definitely give you an edge.
Have that advantage.
Hope you find this week’s public speaking tip interesting and helpful.
Stay tuned for next Thursday’s “Speak on the Shoulders of Giants!”
Cheers,
Henry Desai
Managing Director
Valens Dynamic Marketing Capabilities
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