Speaking With Authority

When giving a presentation many people just stand up and deliver it as fast as possible, at constant pace and volume.

Others, who are often armed with prepared notes and read from them, deliver in a flat monotonous tone, barely pausing to emphasise anything they have to say.

Either way, whatever they are sharing with their audience lacks any credibility or conviction.

Boring, boring, boring!

Now, there’s a wonderful element you can add to the way you deliver your presentations and it’s called “gravitas”. Knowing how to speak with gravitas will not only improve your presentation skills but will help you in any one-on-one situation where you want your listener to understand the importance of what you’re telling them.

To deliver with gravitas you quite simply slow down your speed of delivery and add depth to your voice, which is to speak in a deeper tone.

British dictionary definitions for gravitas tell us that it is seriousness, solemnity, or importance and the thesaurus gives us synonyms like dignity, gravity, sobriety, poise, ponderance, solemnity, austerity, formality and grit.

In this extract Listen to Churchill deliver with gravitas particularly the last few ringing words “This was their finest hour”. I’m sure you’ll understand what I mean. Slow and serious!