Express yourself clearly

This post came out from The Straits Times (18 Jan 2012)
Title - Express yourself clearly - Three secrets to help you land your dream job

Some pointers that I've got are:
1. Finish your words
2. Articulate constant sounds
3. Slow down

On Finish your words

• If you do not take the time and effort to articulate your words fully, what might be expected of the way you tackle projects? Do you work as sloppily as you speak? Word endings that are often dropped are "EDs", "INGs" and "Ss".
• You will find that when you remember your word endings, your interviewer will be better able to understand you and your message will make a greater impact.

On Articulate constant sounds

• If people often misunderstand what you are saying, it could be because you are not pronouncing consonant sounds correctly, or are confusing similar sounds. Some commonly confused sounds are ones that the only difference in their pronunciation is whether or not you use your voice. For example, B and P are voiced and unvoiced sounds, respectively. Other voiced and unvoiced pairs to watch our for are: D and T, Z and S, G and K, and V and F.
• It is important for you to be aware of sounds that could be holding you back and make a conscious effort to articulate them clearly. Polishing your speech in this way will make you easier to understand and show that you work towards perfection in every detail.

On Slow down

• I am sure you would agree that interviews are nerve-wracking situations. When you get nervous and anxious, it is quite common that your speech quickens. When this happens, there are two negative results: Your speech suffers and you come across as lacking self-confidence. These are two things that absolutely can't happen during an interview!
• Manage your speed by focusing on articulating all the sounds in a word. This will naturally force you to speak at a slightly slower pace. Pause between key points and when you want to grab the interviewers' attention. Pauses also give your interviewers a chance to think about what you have just said and take any notes they feel are important. 
• You can also control your nerves by thinking about your breathing. Take long, deep breaths during pauses so that you don't feel out of breath when you're speaking. Sit up straight to enhance voice projection and sound more confident.
• By speaking in a strong tone at a relaxed pace, you will come across as confident and controlled, just the kind of person your interviewer is looking for. 

Yours,
Something Small Thinking Big