How to speak so that people want to listen | Julian Treasure | TED

Summary

The speaker explores the profound impact of the human voice, identifying it as a powerful tool capable of inciting both love and war. They highlight the 'seven deadly sins of speaking' that hinder effective communication, such as gossip, negativity, and dogmatism. To counteract these, the speaker proposes the acronym 'HAIL'—representing honesty, authenticity, integrity, and love—as foundational principles for impactful speech. Additionally, they delve into the 'toolbox' of vocal techniques, including register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch, and volume, emphasizing the importance of vocal warm-ups for powerful speaking. The talk concludes with a vision of a world where conscious sound creation and consumption lead to enhanced understanding and a more harmonious environment.

Takeaways

• 🗣️ The human voice is a powerful instrument capable of initiating profound change, such as starting wars or expressing love.
• 💬 Many people struggle with being heard or taken seriously when they speak, suggesting a need for more effective communication strategies.
• 🚫 The speaker identifies 'seven deadly sins of speaking' that people should avoid: gossip, judging, negativity, complaining, excuses, exaggeration, and dogmatism.
• 🌟 To speak powerfully, the speaker suggests four cornerstones: Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Love, which together spell 'HAIL'.
• 🌐 Honesty means being truthful and clear in communication.
• 👤 Authenticity involves being genuine and true to oneself.
• 🔗 Integrity is about being reliable and trustworthy by doing what one says.
• ❤️ Love, in this context, means caring for others and tempering honesty with kindness.
• 🎛️ The speaker introduces the concept of a 'toolbox' of vocal techniques to enhance the power of speech, including register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch, and volume.
• 🎶 Register refers to the part of the voice one uses, with lower voices often associated with power and authority.
• 🎵 Timbre is the quality or color of the voice, which can be improved through training.
• 🎼 Prosody is the rhythm and intonation of speech, which adds meaning and makes communication more engaging.
• 🏁 Pace can be used to emphasize points or to create excitement, while silence can also be a powerful tool in speech.
• 📈 Pitch and volume can be manipulated to convey different emotions and to capture attention.
• 🔥 The speaker emphasizes the importance of warming up the voice before speaking, providing a set of vocal warm-up exercises.
• 🌱 The potential for a world where people speak powerfully and listen consciously is presented as an ideal to strive for, promoting understanding and effective communication.

Q & A

What is described as the most powerful sound in the world?

The human voice is described as the most powerful sound in the world because it has the unique ability to start a war or express deep affection like 'I love you.'

Why might people not listen when others speak?

People might not listen when others speak due to various reasons such as the speaker engaging in negative habits like gossip, judging, negativity, complaining, excuses, exaggeration, and dogmatism, which can make the speaker less credible or engaging.

What are the seven deadly sins of speaking mentioned in the script?

The seven deadly sins of speaking mentioned are gossip, judging, negativity, complaining, excuses, embroidery/exaggeration, and dogmatism.

What is the definition of 'gossip' in the context of the script?

In the script, gossip is defined as speaking ill of someone who is not present, which is considered a negative habit as the gossiper may also talk about others in the same way.

How does the speaker describe the national sport of the U.K.?

The speaker humorously describes complaining as the national sport of the U.K., indicating that it is a widespread cultural habit to express dissatisfaction about various aspects of life.

What is the term used to describe someone who constantly blames others and avoids responsibility?

The term used to describe such a person is 'someone with a blamethrower', implying that they deflect blame onto others instead of taking responsibility for their actions.

What are the four cornerstones suggested for powerful and impactful speech?

The four cornerstones suggested for powerful speech are honesty (H), authenticity (A), integrity (I), and love (L), which together spell the word 'hail'.

What does the acronym 'HAIL' stand for in the context of the speech?

In the context of the speech, 'HAIL' stands for Honesty, Authenticity, Integrity, and Love, which are the four foundations for making a speech powerful and impactful.

Why is 'love' included as a cornerstone for powerful speech?

Love is included as a cornerstone for powerful speech because it encourages speakers to temper honesty with kindness and to genuinely wish well for others, which can prevent judgment and foster understanding.

What is the significance of the word 'hail' in the speech?

The word 'hail' is significant because it represents a positive and enthusiastic reception of words, which is the desired outcome when speakers adhere to the four cornerstones of honesty, authenticity, integrity, and love.

What are some tools in the 'toolbox' of the human voice that can increase the power of speaking?

Some tools in the 'toolbox' of the human voice include register, timbre, prosody, pace, pitch, and volume, all of which can be used to enhance the effectiveness of communication.

What is the purpose of the six vocal warm-up exercises demonstrated in the script?

The purpose of the six vocal warm-up exercises is to prepare the voice for speaking engagements, ensuring that the voice is warmed up and ready to communicate effectively and powerfully.

How does the speaker suggest improving the timbre of one's voice?

The speaker suggests improving the timbre of one's voice through training with a voice coach, and by practicing breathing, posture, and specific exercises designed to enhance vocal quality.

What is 'prosody' and why is it important in communication?

Prosody refers to the sing-song quality or the rhythm and intonation of speech, which is important in communication as it helps to impart meaning and make speech more engaging and easier to understand.

Why is it recommended not to fill silence with 'ums' and 'ahs' during a talk?

It is recommended not to fill silence with 'ums' and 'ahs' because silence can be powerful and does not necessarily need to be filled. It allows for emphasis and can give the audience time to process the information.

What is the concept of 'sodcasting' mentioned in the script?

'sodcasting' refers to the act of broadcasting one's voice loudly and inconsiderately, imposing sound on others around without regard for their comfort or needs.

What impact could speaking powerfully and being listened to consciously have on the world according to the speaker?

According to the speaker, if people spoke powerfully and were listened to consciously, it could lead to a world that is more understanding and where communication is more effective, ultimately creating a sound-beautiful world.