Number 14 of 52 Compelling Communicators: Christiane Amanpour
April 08, 2013
International
news correspondent Christiane Amanpour has
one of the strongest, most compelling voices.
Listen to
this interview about her life’s work from the Harvard Business Review. The
clarity of each word commands your full attention.
Pace is another key to being compelling. Talk too fast and you can lose people; talk too slow and they will be finishing your thoughts as they drift off. From my calculation Christiane speaks at approximately 80 to 100 words a minute. I tend to ramp up to around 120 or 130 words and am constantly working to slow it down.
Listen to
this interview about her life’s work from the Harvard Business Review. The
clarity of each word commands your full attention.
Tone
plays an enormous role in conveying information and connecting with an
audience. The depth of her vocals gives the listener a feeling of strength and
conviction. She oozes confidence.
We can
change the pitch of our voices with practice. I swear many politicians don’t
succeed as they come off sounding shrill. Little girl voices belong to
little girls. This is not gender
specific; men and women can be challenged with high tones. Lower octaves are
more appealing to the ear. That is not to say we should all strive to be
baritones.
Broadcasters
use the “Ding Dong, King Kong, Bing Bong” technique to deepen their voices.
Repeat this phrase a few times a day in lower ranges of your vocal chords with your
head titled back. This will help get away from the Mickey Mouse sounds squeaking out of you.
Pace is another key to being compelling. Talk too fast and you can lose people; talk too slow and they will be finishing your thoughts as they drift off. From my calculation Christiane speaks at approximately 80 to 100 words a minute. I tend to ramp up to around 120 or 130 words and am constantly working to slow it down.
Obviously,
Ms. Amanpour commands attention because she interviews world leaders and
reports on big news items. However, I doubt she would have half the appeal if
she had a jarring high-pitched tongue.
There is
much to learn from this seasoned pro. Her speeches are personal and
provocative. Imagine that magical voice
with her elegant prose and you have a highly engaging combination.
Take a
moment to read this speech she gave at the Edward R. Murrow Awards in
2000. Try reading it out loud in a
slightly lower tone.
Christiane Amanpour is CNN’s chief international correspondent and anchor of the nightly foreign affiaris interview program, Amanpour, on CNN International. She is the global affairs anchor for ABC News.
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