It's unfortunate that this article needs to be written, but it does: Ladies, when we walk up on the podium to give a public presentation, the audience is not on our side.
Study after study have demonstrated that people will--still--grant to men an automatic authority that is not granted to women.
(Sure, Hillary Clinton and Margaret Thatcher are exceptions...
) In other words, we have to work harder at gaining an audience's respect and attention.
Here are a few tips to help you become fabulous public speakers.
1.
Vocal control.
Aim for deeper tones.
No, you don't have to sound like a basso profundo, but you do need to listen to your voice, starting with the pitch.
Have you noticed that, unless the commercial is hawking baked goods, that announcers are usually male--an usually the male has a deeper voice? We associate deeper voices with power and authority.
Years ago, Maurice Ravel transcribed for orchestra Mussorgsky's piano piece "Pictures at an Exhibition".
One "picture" Ravel painted in music was a bustling marketplace, full of wheeling and dealing women.
Know how he did it? He gave us lots of high-pitched notes, performed in a babbling fashion, to represent all the eager, yet big-mouthed women.
Didn't say this is fair, but it's the way it is.
Women who speak quickly, and with high-pitched voices are often perceived as--well, nagging mothers who people love but have no problem overlooking.
So work on controlling your breathing and speaking sloowwwwly while you give your public presentation, and with your voice at least often in the lower vocal range.
This can make a huge difference in terms of audience response.
2.
Don't ask a lot of questions? More women than men will utter a lot more question tags: "It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" "That's a good idea, don't you think so?" During your speech, learn to utter declarative questions that show your mastery of the topic.
Make sure your voice often dips down at the end of a sentence during your talk so you don't give your phrases breathy, "Valley Girl" type intonation.
Certainly you'll want to engage the audience throughout the presentation, and to ask the questions; that's different.
Be receptive to audience questions, and engage the audience as much as possible.
Just make sure that the audience understands that you are in control.
I live in Asia (Singapore), and I have seen exquisitely dressed businesswomen cover their mouths while laughing.
No doubt this is based on centuries of cultural training.
All I can say is: Don't do it.
If you have bad teeth, get 'em fixed and brightened.
Covering your mouth will remind Westerners of a little girl.
If you're looking to win respect, let your confident humor shine through.