Understanding how to be well-spoken: Tips and techniques to boost your confidence

When you think about someone you perceive as well-spoken, what attributes does that person have? Can the individual communicate thoughts clearly and succinctly? Does the person use words that flow well and are easy to understand? Although communication is part of everyday life, communication barriers may exist for certain people in specific situations. Learning how to be well-spoken can benefit your professional and personal life by promoting self-confidence and boosting self-esteem.

What does it mean to be well-spoken?

Before you explore how to become well-spoken, it’s helpful to know what the term means. A well-spoken individual can speak professionally and clearly in oral conversations with others. Some of the characteristics of a well-spoken person might include the following:

• Confidence in speaking abilities
• The ability to explain things quickly and easily
• An extensive vocabulary
• The ability to share thoughts articulately and connect details logically in speech

These aspects can help a person become well-spoken in all aspects of life. When you feel confident in your verbal communication, you can use this skill at work and in your relationships.  

Why is it essential to be well-spoken?

Nearly every job listing includes communication skills as one of the must-have qualities for job candidates. Speaking and writing well can benefit you, regardless of your position or the industry in which you work. Becoming well-spoken involves improving your oral communication skills. As you boost these skills, you may want to explore other career opportunities that use them. Upload a resume and start browsing jobs that value exceptional communicators.

In a professional sense, becoming more well-spoken can help you communicate with your co-workers more effectively. Well-spoken people may progress into leadership positions where they can instill confidence and motivate others with their words. Depending on your desired role, you might need public speaking skills to lead discussions or assign tasks to other team members.

As you work on your communication skills, you might also experience benefits in your personal life. Effective communication is essential in all types of relationships. People who can express their needs, listen to others, and respond empathetically and positively tend to have more fulfilling personal and professional relationships.

Steps to improve how you speak

Now that you know why it’s worth taking the time to become a more well-spoken person, follow these steps to implement your plan.

Listen to how others speak

Before you start changing your speaking habits, listening to how others speak is wise. If you have someone in your life who you consider to be well-spoken, listen closely and take note of the individual’s speaking characteristics. You might notice that the person incorporates vocabulary words that aren’t common in everyday speech or uses fewer filler words, like “um.” As you recognize what makes another person sound more eloquent when speaking, you can incorporate these characteristics into your speech patterns.

“As you recognize what makes another person sound more eloquent when speaking, you can incorporate these characteristics into your speech patterns.”

Record and watch yourself

It’s hard to know what to improve if you’re not sure what you’re doing wrong with your communication. Instead of trying to guess what speech habits you might have, use your phone to record a video of yourself talking. If you’re unsure what to say, take a minute to write a few talking points that you can expand on in the recording. It’s better to speak naturally instead of reading something prepared in advance. Your speech habits when reading are usually a bit different than those that come through when you’re talking without relying on a script. 

You could also ask a friend to have a conversation with you and then record the two of you talking. Study the recording carefully, being as objective as possible. Looking at your speech patterns in natural, organic conversation is helpful.

Assess your breathing patterns

Breathing is essential to staying alive, but your breathing patterns can affect how you speak to others. For example, if you’re discussing a topic you’re passionate about exploring, you might forget to take a breath and run out of air mid-sentence. By contrast, taking regular deep breaths allows you to maintain your speaking pattern and control your volume more effectively. 

If you notice that your breathing patterns make it more difficult to speak clearly and confidently, try taking a deep breath before making a statement. During conversations, you can correctly breathe because you take breaks from talking when the other person speaks. But if you’re speaking in public, monitor your breathing and focus on taking breaths regularly.

Listen to your volume and tone

A well-spoken person usually maintains a steady volume when speaking. The individual can also use a professional and even tone when talking to others. If your speaking volume or tone fluctuates when you say something, your point may not come across to listeners as effectively. It’s easy to lose interest when someone is speaking so casually or almost whispering that it’s difficult to hear the person. When assessing your tone in a professional setting, you may want to compare how others in your industry speak when communicating. Observe their volume level and tone. 

Tips to become more well-spoken

As you improve your communication skills, you can use the following tips and techniques in your efforts:

Ask questions

When you ask questions, it’s easier for a conversation to flow naturally. Consider questions about topics you’re genuinely interested in learning more about, as these are more authentic in conversation.

Watch for filler

If you’re nervous or uncomfortable when speaking in front of others, you may try to fill in natural pauses in a conversation with filler words like “um,” “uh,” “like,” and others. Unfortunately, these words can make you sound less articulate, which hampers your ability to be well-spoken. As you communicate with others naturally, try to limit your use of filler words. It might initially seem uncomfortable, especially if there’s a lull in the conversation, but you’ll get used to pauses over time.

When you speak, it’s natural to gesture with your hands. But when your hands are in your pockets, you may compensate by using more filler words. Using your hands in conversation can help you feel like you’re getting your point across, but limiting usage can impact your communication skills. Allow your hands to have free movement when you speak, and you might notice that the use of filler words in your speech declines. 

Avoid distractions

It’s easy to lose your train of thought when you get distracted, but doing so can impact how well you communicate. If you’re presenting a topic or speaking in front of a group, do your best to limit distractions. Put your phone away, turn off notifications, close your computer, and focus on the task in front of you. Speaking in front of others can cause natural feelings of worry, and increasing your already heavy cognitive load with a distraction can make it hard to get the words out.

You can become a well-spoken individual who captures others’ attention effectively by making a few changes to your speaking habits. Learning how to be well-spoken can benefit you throughout your life, whether you’re using the skill in a personal relationship or applying it to score a leadership role.

Read additional articles about improving your skills:

Explore seven essential soft skills and why you need them.

When applying for new gigs, here are the essential program manager skills to include on your resume. 

It’s just as important as speaking: Learn how to be a good listener.