Top 10 Tips to Speak Better

This is an extremely important factor. When speaking, you should look directly into the eyes of the person you’re talking to; it shows confidence and focus on the message you want to convey.

Sincerity comes from within the speaker and gradually shapes the tone and expressiveness of the voice. In Buddhism, ‘expressiveness’ in speech is created by ‘compassionate love for all beings’. A person who carries love in their heart will naturally speak with feeling. This is something that cannot be forced.

If someone lacks compassion but tries to force a pleasant tone, it will not work. With love and compassion, even if you are not able to do much for others, you carefully watch your words and actions so as not to hurt others. In your interactions, you aim to make others feel happy and at ease. Pay attention to how some people can carelessly say things that hurt others, while others speak thoughtfully and sincerely, only desiring to make others feel good. A sincere heart that wants to bring happiness to others is the root of a more expressive and heartfelt voice. That’s why people say that the voice reflects the soul.

Body language plays a crucial role in communication! Research shows that 90% of the information exchanged comes from non-verbal actions.

Pointing at someone while talking is rarely seen as positive. Never roll your eyes repeatedly during a conversation, as it will be perceived as deceitful and dishonest. Don’t hide your hands, purse your lips, or make sarcastic smirks. Avoid crossing your arms or intertwining your fingers, as it signals you’re not interested in what the other person is saying.

Picking your nose is a highly inappropriate act in any conversation, no matter how close you are with the person you’re speaking to. Always remember this!

Having a rich vocabulary to express yourself accurately and at the right time is an enormous advantage! It allows you to convey your message effectively to your audience.

Make use of a Vietnamese dictionary to ensure that you fully understand everything you and the other person are exchanging, which will also help expand your vocabulary.

Knowing how to listen is a key factor in becoming a great communicator. However, listening alone is not enough, you also need to learn how to be silent.

Don’t speak endlessly regardless of whether the other person is listening or not. Instead, embrace silence and show your interest through eye contact. Avoid silent gestures like looking away, yawning, rubbing your head, wiping your eyes, or crossing your arms. Silence is when you absorb more about situations, understand the cause and effect, and most importantly, silence can express emotions more powerfully than any eloquent words.

Don’t just talk about what you think or what you enjoy listening to. Instead, discuss topics that are of interest to everyone or that the person you’re speaking with finds engaging. If you're unsure what to talk about, focus on listening and smile.

Occasionally, offer a comment to show that you're engaged and have your own opinions (this is an example of active listening in communication).

Work on developing a natural appearance, from your clothing to your voice. Many people fail to convey their message convincingly because their way of speaking feels unnatural, making others think they're acting.

A serious attitude is crucial in persuasive communication, but it also needs a touch of liveliness. You can adjust your delivery and avoid being stiff like a wooden stick. However, don’t overdo it with excessive gestures; moderation is key.

Make sure you truly want to integrate with others. For instance, if you only wish to fit in within your family or workplace, you should at least be able to speak convincingly, or become a good actor! One basic communication principle is to avoid fillers like 'um' and 'uh'. Be consistent and eliminate the habit of repeating certain words.

Listeners will also get annoyed if you repeatedly say things like: 'You know...' (as if you're yelling 'No, I don’t know this') or 'You see, actually, it's like this...'

To have an engaging voice, you must articulate clearly. To pronounce words clearly, practice reading several pages of a book each day, carefully enunciating each word until it becomes second nature. This way, even during regular conversations, you'll speak with precision. If you find yourself rushing through words and not fully pronouncing them, continue practicing.

Your voice doesn't need to be beautiful, but it must be accurate and clear. Additionally, your voice should be loud enough to be heard, but not too loud or too soft. In crowded places, speak a little louder so your voice isn’t drowned out. Avoid basic spelling mistakes, especially during formal communications.

Intonation is the variation in pitch of the combined sounds, aligning perfectly with the emotion and meaning you want to convey. It doesn’t need to be as fluid as music, but it certainly requires a soft and gentle tone.

One way to develop a soothing tone is to practice speaking and recording your voice, then listen to it and adjust any areas where the pitch seems off. Additionally, occasionally singing a favorite tune is an excellent way to improve your intonation.

Avoid rambling or speaking endlessly without a clear topic. Using long-winded sentences to convey simple ideas can leave your audience feeling exhausted. Instead, focus on shortening your sentences (speaking briefly doesn't mean being blunt), while making sure your words are genuine, natural, engaging, and relatable.

The philosopher Aristotle once said, "A person with shallow understanding tends to speak at length." Therefore, aim to express yourself concisely and effectively.

Apply the inverted pyramid structure: provide the key information first, and then elaborate with additional details if your listener shows interest.