What Makes Speech Sound More Confident

Written by: Roselyn Mathew / Professional Communication / July 19, 2023 / 8 minutes read

Confident speech is something that everyone desires to have. For some, it is to improve their overall self-esteem and position in the society whereas for some others, it is a necessity for their work. Either way, it is important to sound confident when we communicate.  We will go through some of the factors that determine whether a speech is confident or not.

FACTORS THAT DETERMINE CONFIDENCE IN SPEECH

Loudness

Loudness in speech is the amount of projection that our voice has while speaking. Loudness varies according to the way we speak. Loudness is measured in decibels (dB). A whisper has around 30-40 decibels, a normal conversation has around 50-60 decibels and a loud speech has around 60-70 decibels. It is important to have adequate loudness while speaking. A speech with less loudness can denote that a person is not confident or sure of what they are speaking about. Make sure that your voice is loud and clear while speaking. Use an amplifier if you need to speak to a group for prolonged periods of time.

Mouth opening

Mouth opening is also an important factor which is often overlooked. Make sure to have an adequate mouth opening while speaking. A person with a lesser mouth opening appears to mumble when they speak which could make others feel that they are not interested in speaking or that they are not sure if they are right or wrong. It can also indicate that the speaker is anxious. An inadequate mouth opening can also result in a fast rate of speech, incomplete sound articulation and reduced loudness.  It is therefore important to be mindful of the degree of mouth opening. It is necessary to check if your mouth opening is adequate or not if you get frequent requests to repeat what you said or to be louder.

Rate of speech

Rate of speech is the speed of speaking. Rate of speech is generally measured in words per minute or syllables per minute. The average rate of speech is around 140-160 words per minute or 180-220 syllables per minute. Syllables per minute is more accurate in finding the rate of speech than words per minute as each syllable is equal in duration whereas word duration changes depending on the length of the words spoken. A fast rate of speech denotes anxiety and less confidence. It can also make speech difficult to understand. The speaker might also find it difficult to speak fluently if they have a fast rate of speech.

Fillers

Fillers are sounds or words or even phrases that are used frequently while speaking. There is a common misconception that the sounds” uh, um” and words such as “like, you know” are filler sounds and words. In fact, any sound or word can be fillers if they are repeated frequently. Words like “you know, like” are not filler words if they are only used occasionally. Using fillers can indicate that a person is hesitant to speak, is confused or not so sure about what they speak.

Confident speech is something that everyone desires to have.

Uptalks

Uptalks are known as a raising tone of pitch at the end of sentences. Generally, raising tone patterns are made in questions and before commas or semicolons where there is a pause before continuation of the sentence. When there is an uptalk, it might seem that the speaker is asking a question or is continuing the sentence after a brief pause. This pattern of speech would make a person look less confident or doubtful as it appears as if they are unsure of what they speak or are hesitant in continuing their speech and are making abrupt stops because of their uncertainty.

Eye contact

Eye contact is a very important factor to pay attention to while speaking. An adequate eye contact gives a good impression of the speaker’s confidence. A poor eye contact may indicate anxiety or fear the speaker has while interacting with others. A poor eye contact might also give the impression that the speaker is not much interested in talking. Eye contact is important not only to show confidence and interest, but also to see the reaction of the listener to get immediate feedback on their speech. It is also important to make sure to not give ‘too much’ of an eye contact while speaking. The recommended eye contact is looking at the listener 50% of the time while speaking. Excessive eye contact can make the listener uncomfortable and the speaker might look as if they are trying to intimidate or assert dominance over the listener.

Body language

Body language is often overlooked but is an important factor that may or may not make a person appear confident. An erect position with open body posture indicates confidence and acceptance. A slumped or stooped posture can indicate that the person feels inferior to others, is depressed or tired. A closed body posture like folding arms still indicates that the person is confident but can also make the person appear to be unfriendly or unaccepting of others' ideas or opinions. It is also important to not have a stiff posture while speaking. Move your hands and body a little and keep the body relaxed. A stiff posture can indicate that the speaker is anxious and lacks confidence.

Fluency

Fluency is the flow of speech. A fluent speech means that the speech flows smoothly without any repetitions or interruptions. A disfluent speech consists of pauses, repetitions and prolongation of sounds or words. A person with disfluency might sound anxious, doubtful or hesitant. This strongly affects perception of confidence in speech. Disfluencies can also be caused due to unfamiliarity to the situation or the topic discussed. It is important to practice speaking about the topic to be fluent. If fluency is inadequate due to issues like stuttering or extreme anxiety, it is beneficial to consult a professional to work on them.

Conclusion

Having a confident speech is a necessity or an asset to people depending on their work and other situations. It is important to focus on your speech and create a good impression. This in turn improves self-esteem and a positive perception about your speech.

To speak with one of the speech-language pathologists at Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, schedule an initial consultation by clicking the link below or calling (647) 795-5277.