With the unrelenting pressure and time constraints of
litigation, it’s easy to forget certain basics of persuasive trial
communication. One of those is the judicious use of pace.
Pace refers to the speed of your voice. If you speak too
quickly, jurors will have trouble following what you are saying, and will
eventually stop trying. If you speak too slowly, everyone in the courtroom will
fall asleep. Neither is conducive to making a convincing point.
A desirable pace is one that is easy to follow but quick
enough to remain interesting. Good pace
reflects good energy, Good pace, reflecting good energy, is the vocal
equivalent of walking at a brisk pace. Use this as your basic rate of speech.
Anything done the same way for long periods of time,
however, becomes monotonous. Vary your basic pace by:
1. slowing
it down
- when you wish to
appear thoughtful
- when you have
something particularly important or serious to impart
- when you wish to
show great respect.
2. speeding
it up
-
when you review information you have already covered
-
when you wish to make something seem unimportant.
Persuasion is grounded in a variety of factors, including
good vocal pace.
