This week’s tip is about talking too fast on TV and on stage, and what you can do to avoid it.

First of all, you need to figure out why you’re talking too fast. Is it because you are nervous? Is it because you feel pressed for time? Or is it because your mind is going 100 miles per hour and you’re just trying to catch up?

Next, you should record yourself and watch it, to see how fast you’re talking and if there are specific points in your speech or on camera appearance where you have a tendency to talk faster. I know it’s hard to watch yourself, but it’s very helpful.

Now that you’ve done all that work, here’s how you can slow down. Think of yourself as a story teller. Don’t rush through your speech. Relish your opportunity to give it, and concentrate on breathing life into every word. They are all important. You are in charge of the message. Say it at your pace!

And if you’re being interviewed on TV and you only have a few minutes, choose fewer talking points and spend more time on each. Don’t cram too much information in there. When you do that, it can feel jumbled and the importance of your message is often minimized.

This is a good start but there’s much more to cover about this. If you have any questions, just drop me a line here.

All the best,

Dave