Brief Summary
This TED Talk explores the power of the human voice and how to use it effectively. It identifies seven common speaking habits to avoid, termed the "seven deadly sins of speaking," and offers four cornerstones for powerful communication, summarized by the acronym "HAIL" (Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Love). The talk also provides practical vocal exercises to improve speaking skills, emphasizing the importance of conscious sound creation and consumption for a world where understanding prevails.
- Avoid the seven deadly sins of speaking: gossip, judging, negativity, complaining, excuses, exaggeration, and dogmatism.
- Embrace the four cornerstones of powerful speaking: Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Love (HAIL).
- Utilize vocal toolbox: register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch and volume.
- Practice vocal warm-up exercises to prepare for important speaking engagements.
The Instrument We All Play
The human voice is a powerful instrument capable of starting wars or expressing love, yet many feel unheard when they speak. To speak powerfully and effect change, certain habits must be avoided. The speaker introduces seven "deadly sins of speaking," noting that while the list isn't exhaustive, these are common pitfalls.
Seven Deadly Sins of Speaking
The first sin is gossip, or speaking ill of someone who isn't present, a habit that undermines trust. The second is judging, which makes it difficult for others to listen because they feel evaluated. Negativity, including complaining, is the third sin; it spreads misery and hinders communication. Excuses, where individuals avoid responsibility, form the fourth sin, making them difficult to listen to. The fifth sin is embroidery or exaggeration, which cheapens language and can lead to lying, eroding trust. Dogmatism, the sixth sin, involves presenting opinions as facts, which is off-putting to listeners. Avoiding these seven sins is crucial for effective communication.
The Four Cornerstones: HAIL
There are four positive cornerstones for powerful speech, which form the acronym "HAIL" (Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Love). Honesty involves being truthful, straightforward, and clear. Authenticity means being yourself, standing in your own truth. Integrity is about honoring your word and being trustworthy. Love, in this context, means wishing others well, which tempers honesty and makes it difficult to judge others.
The Vocal Toolbox
Beyond what you say, how you say it matters. The human voice is an amazing instrument with a toolbox that includes register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch, and volume. Register refers to where you locate your voice, with chest voice conveying weight and authority. Timbre is the quality of your voice, which can be trained to be richer and warmer. Prosody is the sing-song or meta-language that imparts meaning. Pace involves varying your speed to emphasize points, including using silence effectively. Pitch and volume can also be modulated to convey different meanings and emotions. Avoid "sodcasting," or imposing your sound carelessly on others.
Vocal Warm-Up Exercises
Before any important speaking engagement, it's crucial to warm up your voice. The speaker demonstrates six vocal warm-up exercises: deep breaths with a sigh, lip warming with "Ba, Ba, Ba," lip trills ("brrrrr"), tongue exercises with "la, la, la," rolling the "R," and the siren exercise ("weeeaawww"). These exercises prepare your voice for effective communication.
Creating Sound Consciously
The talk concludes by envisioning a world where people speak well to those who listen consciously in environments designed for sound. This involves creating and consuming sound consciously and designing environments consciously for sound. The result would be a world where understanding is the norm, an idea worth spreading.
