I’ve got a question for you: ever walked away from a presentation feeling like your words just floated into a void and nobody really heard what you had to say?
You’re not alone. I’ve definitely been there—standing in front of a room full of entrepreneurs and small business owners, anxiously gripping my notes while my voice teetered between barely audible and way-too-intense.
In those moments, I realized something crucial: how you say something can be just as important as what you’re saying.
That’s exactly what public speaking expert Vinh Giang emphasizes over and over again.
According to Vinh Giang, nailing down a few vital elements can drastically elevate your communication—whether you’re pitching a potential client, rallying your team, or even having a one-on-one conversation.
So let’s dive into the five essentials he highlights and discover just how we can elevate the way we communicate with others.
1. Volume
I used to struggle with volume during my early days of pitching my startup.
Whenever I’d get nervous, I’d speak softly, and clients would strain to hear me—if they even bothered to pay attention at all.
Vinh Giang has pointed out that “Volume is the lifeblood of your voice and if you aren’t speaking loud enough, no one will be able to hear the music inside you.”
One simple tweak—raising my volume—helped me command more respect and keep the room’s attention.
And let’s be real: you can have the best pitch in the world, but if no one can hear it, it’s pretty much game over.
This doesn’t mean yelling into the mic. It means matching your volume to the size of the room and the energy of your audience.
If you can strike that balance—loud enough to be clear, but not so loud that you’re jarring—you’ll naturally come across as more self-assured. Over time, it’ll become second nature.
2. Melody
Ever sat through a monotone lecture where you found your mind wandering every two minutes?
I remember one professor who spoke in a single flat pitch for an entire semester—pure agony for my attention span.
Vinh Giang calls this element your “vocal variety,” and it’s basically the melodic pattern of your voice.
“Variety is what keeps people engaged! Without any vocal variety when you speak, it’s easy to lose people’s attention,” he says to illustrate how dull it can sound when you don’t switch things up.
Melody is about giving your words some rhythm and emotion. Raise your pitch slightly when you’re excited or sharing great news; drop it when you’re getting serious or talking about cautionary tales.
This up-and-down intonation keeps your audience engaged because it’s more human and relatable.
That said, Giang reminds us to be aware of the pitch with which we end our sentences.
He cautions, “If you’re not aware, and you keep ending on a higher pitch, then everyone’s going to question your authority. Make sure you end on a lower pitch.”
Next time you speak, think of it like telling a story—capture the excitement, suspense, or gravity with your voice’s melody. It might feel odd at first, but trust me, your audience will tune in more closely.
3. Speed
Speed is something I initially overlooked. I’d often plow through my presentations in record time, fueled by nerves and too much coffee.
But as Vinh Giang points out, “When you shift your speed, you shift people’s focus.”
Hitting the brakes and allowing a pause (especially after making a key point) can really help your words sink in.
It’s a bit like good music—there are faster sections that build excitement and slower parts that let you soak in the moment.
From what I’ve seen in my own talks, strategic speed control can transform a decent speech into a compelling one.
People get a chance to breathe and process your ideas when you slow down, and they perk up when you pick up the pace.
Just make sure you’re intentional about it.
If you talk too quickly throughout, you’ll lose folks.
If you’re too slow, you’ll lull them to sleep.
Get comfortable with pacing changes by practicing out loud. Record yourself and listen back.
You might be surprised how even slight adjustments in speed can keep people at the edge of their seats.
4. Tonality
When I first started public speaking, I misunderstood “tonality” as just another way of saying “loud or soft.”
But the truth is, tonality is the emotional color of your voice—it reflects how you really feel about your message, whether that’s excitement, concern, urgency, or reassurance.
Vinh Giang notes that when your tone doesn’t match the content of your words, you risk sounding insincere.
Think about a time when someone said “I’m really happy for you” in a flat, unenthused voice.
Even if they meant well, it didn’t feel genuine, did it? That mismatch between words and tone can break trust in an instant.
The beauty of tonality is that it helps bridge the gap between logic and emotion.
By varying your tone at key moments—like dipping it lower when you’re sharing something serious or raising it higher when you’re genuinely enthusiastic—you provide cues that guide your audience’s emotional response.
This can help transform a simple piece of information into a relatable story or a compelling call to action.
It might feel awkward at first, especially if you’re used to playing it safe with a neutral voice, but keep experimenting until your tone naturally resonates with your message.
5. Hand gestures
Lastly, Giang emphasizes the importance of body language, specifically hand gestures.
Thinking back to my first big presentation, I remember how my palms were glued to the lectern, and my upper body was basically a statue.
The problem? It looked stiff and, frankly, a bit weird.
Hand gestures are more than just arbitrary movements; they’re powerful tools that can reinforce what you’re saying.
These gestures can help clarify your points and keep your audience visually engaged.
Vinh Giang often demonstrates how gestures can amplify your message by giving an example:
If you’re talking about growth, show it with an upward sweeping motion. When cautioning your audience, maybe use a gently raised palm.
Think of it like adding bold or italics in a written piece—you’re emphasizing the important stuff. Just make sure your gestures feel natural and align with your words.
Over-the-top or dramatic hand movements can distract, but done well, they’re a game-changer.
Wrapping things up, but it’s still a big deal…
Delivering a fantastic speech—or even just speaking well in everyday situations—hinges on how effectively you leverage these five elements: volume, melody, speed, hand gestures, and tonality.
It may sound like a lot to juggle, but trust me, once you start applying these tips in small increments, they all add up to give you a positive vocal image.
And it’s not just about impressing an audience; it’s about truly connecting with them.
If we pay attention to these subtle yet powerful aspects of communication, we can make a world of difference in how our messages land.
Until next time, friends.
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