Infographic: 7 smart public speaking tips

The intonation of your voice along with your passion and understanding of your presentation’s subject can make a huge difference in how your audience perceives your speech. Use this guide.

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The way we speak has a significant impact on how we’re perceived—often much more than the actual content of what we say.

For example, there are few things in the business world that I have a harder time tolerating than “uptalk.” It’s the vocal tick that some people have?—which makes them end sentences?—and even sentence clauses?—with question marks.

A 2012 study from Quantified impressions reported that only 11 percent of people said the content of a speakers message had a the biggest influence over their perception of that speaker.

More important factors in speaking tend to be passion, presence and an understanding of the subject matter.

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