Which of the following will help your listeners pay attention to the body of your speech by identifying ahead of time what they should listen for CH 12?

1. Career development
2. How To Improve Articulation in 9 Steps (With Tips)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated July 12, 2022 | Published May 25, 2021

Updated July 12, 2022

Published May 25, 2021

Most jobs require strong communication skills in order to succeed and advance in the workplace. Part of being an effective communicator is knowing how to speak to an audience in an engaging and understandable way. Improving your speaking skills can reinforce your competence and bolster your reputation at work.

In this article, we discuss what articulation is and the benefits of improving articulation, and we offer tips for how to improve articulation and become a better speaker.

What is articulation?

Articulation refers to how clearly someone forms words. It includes the ability of a speaker to be coherent and easily understood. Articulation involves using proper pronunciation and grammar and using an appropriate volume and rate of speech. Articulation can also refer to the physical abilities necessary to form sounds and words, including the movements of the tongue, lips, teeth and vocal cords.

Related: 15 Public Speaking Tips and Tricks for Your Next Presentation

Benefits of improving articulation

Becoming more articulate can impact other people's perceptions of you. Developing strong speaking skills can help you appear more competent. Delivering a well-crafted speech or speaking easily with colleagues can show that you're comfortable in the workplace. Additionally, being articulate can demonstrate confidence and poise, which are features employers value.

When you feel comfortable speaking with others or to a group, you may be more likely to volunteer for presentations or special projects, making you an important asset to your company and improving your chances of being recognized by your supervisor. This ability can help you stand out and may lead to promotions or other career advancements.

Related: 14 Communication Strategies To Overcome Communication Barriers in the Workplace

How to improve articulation

Here are nine steps you can take to improve your articulation:

1. Listen to yourself speak

To help you improve your speaking, record yourself speaking. You can capture an actual presentation at work or simply speak for several minutes on your own. Listen to yourself and identify areas that you can improve, such as sharpening your pronunciation and eliminating filler words. Consider asking close friends and family to listen to you speak and ask for their feedback.

Related: How To Communicate Better With Coworkers

2. Check your speed

Strong articulation involves knowing how to use the appropriate rate of speech. Speaking too quickly can make it difficult for people to understand you and follow your thoughts, while speaking too slowly may imply that you are not confident or knowledgeable of your material. Generally, a conversational speaking tone is between 120 and 150 words per minute. You can use your recorded speech to measure your speech rate by converting the audio to text and pasting it into a word counting program.

Once you know your rate, you can make a conscious effort to either speed up or slow down to get to a pace that is engaging for the audience and comfortable for you. You can also practice varying your speed in various parts of your speech. Talking faster can show passion and urgency, while talking slower can show seriousness and help you emphasize a point.

3. Watch for unnecessary words

Try to eliminate filler words from your speaking, such as "um," "like" and "okay." These words do not add substance to your speaking and may distract your listeners. Using streamlined, precise speech patterns can suggest confidence and help your audience understand you better and stay interested in your ideas.

4. Use pauses effectively

Breaks in your speaking can be strategic ways to emphasize certain points and allow you to organize your thoughts before speaking. When you pause during a speech, it gives your audience time to think about your last statement. It denotes the seriousness or importance of the subject.

When speaking casually or in a small group, taking a few seconds to collect your thoughts before responding to a comment or question can help you provide a more articulate, focused answer. Organize your thoughts to ensure you provide a thorough, thoughtful, appropriate response.

5. Practice pronunciation

When you listen to yourself speak, you may notice that certain words or sounds present challenges for you. Practice saying these words each day, focusing on each syllable and sound and emphasizing the correct part of the word. For example, the word "mischievous" has an emphasis on the first syllable, "mis." If you're unsure of how to pronounce certain words, look them up and listen to audio examples of their pronunciation.

You may also want to focus on clearly expressing the last sound of the word, making sure your voice does not trail off. For instance, pay close attention to contractions and words that end in t, sh or ch.

6. Vary your pitch

Your pitch refers to how high or low you speak. To improve articulation, try varying your pitch throughout your speaking to sound more natural and conversational. People tend to respond better to more soothing, melodic speakers who incorporate a range of high and low tones.

7. Speak at the right volume

Choose an appropriate volume when speaking to others. This may mean projecting your voice when speaking to a large crowd or reducing your volume when having a meeting with your supervisor.

8. Develop confidence

An important component of speaking well is to feel confident in your knowledge and ability. Before a presentation or meeting, do things that make you feel good about yourself, like exercising, painting or writing. Find activities that give you a mental boost so that you feel more sure of yourself heading into an important discussion. Increased confidence can help diminish your nervousness. Reducing your anxiety can improve your focus, recall and ability to speak clearly and directly.

Read more: How To Overcome a Fear of Public Speaking

9. Prepare thoroughly

It can be easier to speak well when you know your material thoroughly. Before a speech, study your material until you are comfortable giving the presentation without notes. Consider bringing only an outline with you when you deliver the speech to help you speak naturally, rather than read from a script. Adequate preparation can improve your confidence, which can help you feel more comfortable in front of people.

Tips for improving articulation

Here are several tips you can use to become more articulate:

• Imitate effective speakers. Find celebrities, artists or professionals that are articulate and listen to their speeches. Imitate their cadence, tone and volume to help improve your own speaking abilities.

• Picture your success. Before a presentation, visualize yourself speaking confidently and effectively. Having this picture in your mind can help reduce your discomfort and give you confidence and optimism for your speech.

• Join a public speaking group. Find groups in your area that practice public speaking. These groups can provide tools and strategies to help you overcome your fears and become a more engaging, articulate speaker.