Give me 14 minutes and I'll help you think & speak faster

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares effective strategies to help improve both speed and clarity in communication. The tips focus on improving speech mechanics through tongue twisters, increasing speaking speed with exercises like reading 300-word stories, and mastering breath control for sustained speech. Additionally, the speaker suggests fostering quicker thinking by deeply understanding your area of expertise, using frameworks for clear communication, and managing stress and anxiety through breathing techniques like box breathing. These techniques aim to enhance both mental agility and verbal fluency, helping individuals communicate more effectively and confidently.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tongue twisters are a great exercise to improve articulation, helping you speak faster and with clarity.
• 😀 To measure and improve your speaking speed, read a 300-word story and aim to increase your word count with each session.
• 😀 Practice breath control to avoid speaking too breathy, which can slow you down and strain your voice.
• 😀 Diaphragmatic breathing and techniques like S-sound and box breathing can enhance your ability to speak more effectively without gasping for air.
• 😀 Understanding a topic deeply, rather than memorizing it, allows you to think and respond more quickly in conversations.
• 😀 The 3-2-1 framework helps you structure answers quickly and clearly by breaking down complex information into manageable parts.
• 😀 Reducing stress and anxiety through breathing exercises (like box breathing) can improve your ability to think faster and clearly.
• 😀 Don't overwhelm others with too much information. Instead, offer the most important piece first and follow up with more if needed.
• 😀 Consistent practice with tongue twisters and reading exercises builds muscle strength and efficiency in your mouth, improving speech speed.
• 😀 Proper breathing support is key to long, clear speech. Train yourself to control the flow of breath to avoid vocal strain.

Q & A

What is one of the main reasons people speak slower than they would like?

One of the main reasons people speak slower is that their brain takes longer to process thoughts, which makes it harder to formulate responses in real time.

How can practicing tongue twisters help improve speech speed?

Practicing tongue twisters helps improve articulation by strengthening the muscles in the lips and tongue. This allows for more efficient mouth movements, enabling faster speech without losing clarity.

What should you do while practicing tongue twisters to improve speech speed?

While practicing tongue twisters, you should read each one five times, progressively getting faster each time, which trains your mouth and brain to articulate words more quickly and clearly.

How can measuring your words per minute help in improving speech speed?

By measuring your words per minute, you can track your progress over time. Gradually increasing your reading speed by adding 10 words to your average each time helps you intentionally practice and improve your speech rate.

What is a common issue with breath control that affects speech speed?

A common issue is expelling too much breath per word, which leads to needing more frequent breaths, causing speech to slow down. Proper breath control allows for smoother and faster speaking.

How can you practice good breath control for better speech?

One way to practice good breath control is by taking a deep breath and making an 'S' sound for as long as possible, mimicking the proper air support needed for efficient speech.

What does the 321 framework for thinking faster involve?

The 321 framework involves structuring your responses with three steps, two types, or focusing on the one thing that is most important about the question. This helps you quickly organize and deliver clear answers.

How does deep understanding of a topic contribute to thinking faster?

When you deeply understand a topic, you no longer need to rely on memory retrieval or hesitations. This allows you to formulate answers quickly without getting stuck on recalling facts.

What role does anxiety play in thinking and speaking speed?

Anxiety can impair your ability to think clearly, which in turn makes it harder to speak quickly. Reducing anxiety through techniques like breathing exercises can help improve both thinking and speaking speed.

What is box breathing, and how does it help with anxiety?

Box breathing is a technique where you breathe in, hold, breathe out, and hold again for equal counts (usually 4 counts each). This method reduces anxiety, which helps you think more clearly and speak faster in stressful situations.