Three Ways to Keep Yourself From Rambling 

If you find yourself “getting into the weeds” by using long sentences when sharing information or opinions….You might be a rambler!

If your friends and colleagues dread hearing you speak…. You might be a rambler!

If your clients, customers, or direct reports seem uncomfortable when you talk.…You might be a rambler!

If you find your neighbors or even family members keep avoiding your talks…. You might be a rambler!

Many of our clients are brilliant and interesting people. Even if you are all these things…You might be a rambler!

How do you put an end to this agony for yourself and others? As an Executive Communication Coach, I wish I could tell you an instant fix, but there is none. Instead, it takes some purposeful self-awareness and time with a speech coach that offers new strategies and mindsets to develop a more concise and effective speaking style. To move from monologues to dialogue, here are three quick tips:

  1. Use purposeful pauses. Most ramblers talk and talk and talk with no breaks, making it difficult for the listener to absorb all the information. Instead, use a few intentional pauses to add impact and allow room for thinking and content retention.
  2. Lean on a trusted framework. Many of our clients use the frameworks we teach them, such as H.E.C (Headline, Example, Comment), to become crisp and concise, especially on-the-spot, and the Four Step Outline for organizing content.
  3. Change your Rate and Pace. Rate and Pace are two different elements of speed. Your Rate is how many words you say in a given amount of time. Your Pace is how many thoughts are presented in a given amount of time. Adjust your Rate and Pace for maximum impact and understanding.

Use these techniques to increase your effectiveness and the impression you make on listeners. There is so much more that could be said here, but I don’t want to be a rambler. You get the idea.  

Author

Spread the love

Authors

Laura Mathis

MORE POSTS

Man holding up his hand to stop a one-on-one conversation

Don’t Tell People What They Want to Hear

One of the quickest ways for a leader to lose credibility is to start telling people what they want to hear. It usually begins with good intentions. You sense what someone values. You notice what they want the answer to be. And you shape the message to match it. In the moment, it can feel persuasive. But it isn’t persuasion. It’s manipulation. Real persuasion works differently. It doesn’t tell people what they want to hear.

Spread the love

How Well Do You Communicate? A Self-Assessment

How well do you communicate? For a brief self-assessment, ask yourself the following questions (and be honest!): Do you get along with all your coworkers, your boss, your direct reports? Is it easy to talk to them? Are you successful in working with any “challenging” coworkers (we all have one!)? Does everyone understand what you mean the first time? If you use AI to generate content, does following an AI script work well in conversation?

Spread the love
Woman being confident when presenting in front of a group

More Speak with Confidence Tips

Tip: #1 Do you or someone you know struggle with ADHD and find it difficult to explain how or why you have done something?As an Executive Communication Coach, I have noticed more and more clients sharing their struggles with ADHD. Often, this can lead to not receiving credit for their work or having a hard time explaining to others how to replicate their process. If you resonate with this, try using a pen-and-paper mind map or audio recording app

Spread the love

QUESTIONS? NEED HELP?

Tell us what’s on your mind:

    434 Old Connecticut Path  Suite 2B | Framingham (Boston), MA 01701 USA 

    Phone: +1 (617) 739-3330 | Email: [email protected]

    Copyright 2016-2026 The Speech Improvement Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.