How many words do you speak per minute? If you are like the average bear, you probably don’t know. You might assume that the speed may vary depending on how excited or uninterested you may be. The answer is somewhere between 130 and 180 words per minute, with 180 on the fast side, if you want to be understood.
The TED organization, is a clearing house of the world’s most inspired thinkers and speakers, and is credited with having created a TED speed for communication. To effectively communicate one must speak a rate that is understood and interesting. As I have said for years, we have far too much conversation and little communication.
And, of course, it is critical that one speak at a level that is comfortable for the listener. Too soft and communication goes away. Too loud and you get tuned out and turned off.
Pray tell then, why do many of the "elite" talking heads speak at the speed of light and as loud as the sound engineer can stand? Because they are the "all knowing" experts on anything and everything and they want to scream you into submission to their opinions.
Next time you watch or listen to "news" or some talk show, truly listen. See how they speed up and shout, dismissing any facts they don’t want to believe, to make sure you understand they are truly all knowing.
If they are all knowing, they would know that this behavior is the opposite of communication, if that is what they are trying to do.
Proud and loud is a slogan used over the years to get some people their way, they think.
When communication is scarce, it is speed of speech and volume that causes it to fail.
PMO
©2017
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