Triple Take #24: vocal variety, non-verbal cues and 'one thought, one person' when presenting

Voice Confident's Triple Take - your fortnightly trio of tips!

Introduction

When we speak, our voice and body language carry messages beyond the words we choose. The most effective speakers use these tools deliberately; they vary their tone, align their gestures with meaning and direct their attention purposefully to connect with every listener.

In this issue, we’ll explore how to use vocal contrast to highlight key ideas, how to curate non-verbal cues that reinforce your words and how to use a simple focus technique to calm nerves and deepen connection.

Voice - variety is the spice of life

Your tone is a key part of how meaning lands; it signals importance, energy and intention. The best speakers use variation to guide their audience. For your key messages, aim for a slower, more measured tone; resonant, clear and free from fillers (if you can!). It helps the audience recognise these moments as important.

For storytelling or conversational sections, shift gears. Let your pace and pitch rise and fall more naturally; sound like you’re chatting, not reading. Speak WITH the audience, not AT them. This contrast keeps listeners engaged and helps key points stand out against lighter moments.

👉 Try this: highlight your key messages in your notes and practise saying them in a slower, steadier tone. Then switch to a livelier, more expressive style for your anecdotes/explanations. Notice how the variety makes your content more dynamic and memorable.

Presence - are you backing up your words with your body?

Your words are powerful, but your non-verbal communication can make them four times as effective. Open arms and hands convey warmth and openness; a gentle head tilt invites conversation or a response to a question; using your fingers to count through a list helps structure your points and makes them easier to follow.

Every gesture you use either reinforces or distracts from your message. When gestures match your words, your delivery feels natural and confident; when they don’t, your message can lose clarity. The goal is not to overdo it, but to make your movements intentional.

👉 Try this: rehearse a short section of your next presentation in front of a mirror. Practise matching your gestures to your words; for example, opening your arms when introducing yourself. Subtle alignment makes a big impact. When watching someone else speak, start to notice when their body language matches what they are saying - and when it doesn't!

Confidence - personal connection with an audience

Speaking to a roomful of faces can feel daunting; our brains are wired to connect one-to-one, not one-to-many. A simple mindset shift can help; focus on one person at a time. Deliver a full sentence or thought while maintaining eye contact with one person, then move your gaze to someone else for the next.

This technique makes your delivery feel more personal and conversational. It also helps regulate nerves because your brain interprets it as a series of friendly exchanges rather than performing to a crowd.

And even if you can't get round everyone, for example with a big audience, using this technique means that everyone feels included, because when someone is part of an audience they identify as part of the whole; so if the speaker looks at the person next to them or near them, they feel that attention themselves.

👉 Try this: in your next talk, consciously practise the “one thought, one person” rule. Pick someone on your left, share a phrase/sentence, then turn your attention to someone in the centre, then the right. You’ll appear more connected and feel calmer too.