How to Jump Start Your Career by Speaking Better

Many of my clients are incredibly competent. They know their stuff. They are, in a word, smart.

Somewhere, however, synapses misfire and signals are lost along the neural highway from their minds to their mouths. As such, they come off as babbling idiots. They interject "um" or "ah" between every two or three words. They stammer. They go off on tangents. Their brains may work faster than their mouths.

There are other clients of mine who are too smart. They lack the ability to dumb it down for management or hiring managers. You can see the physical manifestation of their angst when trying to explain the complex to the simple.

Still others ramble. And ramble. And ramble. And never get to the point. Or, to use an old axiom, they take the long way around the barn.

Ergo, these wonderfully talented individuals commit involuntary social and job seeking suicide. Most hiring managers, networking and even social contacts aren't going to be patient enough to uncover their brilliance. Their mouths get in their way.

In short, people judge you them on how they talk. If you aren't able to communicate verbally, most job contacts won't want to talk to you for long, and most potential social contacts will avoid you.

Sad, but true. There are ways, however, to improve your speaking skills, avoid vocal fillers and not get so tongue tied.

Join Toastmasters. I met a member who had suffered a stroke when I joined my home club six years ago. His voice slurred with the tell-tale signs of his stroke. He hesitated. He had fillers. Through the constant speaking practice he forced upon himself, in just two years it was impossible to tell he had been a stroke victim. Toastmasters worked for him and countless numbers throughout the world, and it can work for you, as well. There's a Club near you. Check where and when they meet on their website.

Think slower. Often times, our mind will work faster than our mouth and we'll get tongue-tied. Stammering and vocal fillers often result. It takes real practice for speed thinkers to slow it down.

Relax. Breathe. Realize that you know your stuff. You may never get rid of the butterflies in your stomach, but with practice, you can at least get them to fly in formation.

Prep work. There's an old saying that goes, "If there's even the smallest chance you will be called upon to say a few words, you better damn well have a few words to say." Practice what you want to say before you're in the situation where you need to speak. Know the key points you want to cover.

IN A NUTSHELL: Show your true brilliance by improving your speaking ability. Join Toastmasters, think slower, relax and be prepared.