Clients often tell me they talk too fast. They either notice this themselves, or a supervisor gives them that feedback, or they observe people often ask them to repeat themselves. When we get into the details, though, their rate is often not the problem.
You may be wondering, okay so then what IS the issue? There are three common factors that contribute to the feeling of someone talking too fast:
1. Not finishing your words
No matter how fast or slow you talk, if you skip the final sounds in a word (this might resemble mumbling), it can give the impression of talking too fast, because it takes the listener a beat to figure out what you are saying. So, it’s often not speed but clarity.
For example, if I say “awthetah”, you might or might not know that I meant “all the time”.
2. Not breathing to denote a period or other punctuation
Powering through your content in a giant run-on sentence feels fast, even if the rate is normal. Pauses for breath are essential not only for the speaker, but for the listener to process what they hear.
If this feels familiar, I tell you that you have the right to breathe. You are not wasting people’s time by taking a breath; you are actually helping them understand you.
3. Monotone/lack of inflection
Shooting all your words out like a rapid-fire machine gun feels fast regardless of the actual speed. Using pitch changes to highlight important words helps listeners follow you.
Inflection also tells a listener whether you are asking a question, in the middle of a list, or at the end of a sentence. Imagine with your mind’s ear the inflection of dictating a shopping list of “milk, bread, and eggs”. Your voice goes up a little on the end of “milk” and “bread”, then down at the end for “eggs”. This vocal punctuation provides information to the listener.
In short, it’s possible to talk very quickly and still be easy to hear and understand. If you think you might be a fast talker, try these tips or reach out for a session for more personalized guidance.
