Why breathing correctly is essential in effectively public speaking.
If you ask actors to list the most important techniques they use in their jobs, “breathing” will be high on the list.
In the same way, breathing correctly plays a key role in public speaking.
Breathing properly allows you to considerably improve the power and quality of your voice. It helps you modulate your voice more easily, and to get the right pace and pitch. And it also means that you can pause more effectively.
Deep, regular breathing reduces tension. You feel more confident and can focus better. Controlled breathing will help you cope with criticism better, deal with tricky questions and argue your point.
Delivering a talk requires many skills, but perhaps the starting point is knowing how to breathe properly. And just like other skills, it’s something you can learn.
So, if you want to speak effectively in public, you’d better practise your breathing. Not only when you are speaking, but also when you’re singing, doing sports or other physical activities. You will soon realize that if you can control your breathing, you will perform better when you are giving talks, too.
