Director's Notes: Slow Down – Why Great Speakers Don't Rush

One of the most common pieces of feedback we give in lessons (and get from examiners in the reports) isn't about remembering lines or speaking more loudly.

It's simply this:

Slow down.

It sounds easy enough, but it's one of the hardest skills to master. The moment we're nervous, excited or desperate to remember what comes next, our brains hit the accelerator. Before we know it, we've raced through an entire speech or poem, leaving our audience struggling to keep up.

Ironically, speaking more slowly doesn't make you sound less confident—it does exactly the opposite.

When you take your time, you communicate that you're in control. Your audience has space to absorb your ideas, appreciate your storytelling and enjoy your performance. Every word has a chance to land.

Think of your favourite actors or public speakers. Whether it's a Shakespearean soliloquy, a TED Talk or a memorable acceptance speech, the best communicators know that silence can be just as powerful as sound. They aren't afraid of the pause.

Pauses give your audience time to think, laugh, imagine or reflect. They also give you a valuable moment to breathe, reset and prepare for what comes next.

One exercise we often use in lessons is asking students to exaggerate their pace. Read a poem at half your normal speed. It feels painfully slow to the speaker—but surprisingly natural to everyone listening. That's because when we're performing, our internal clock runs much faster than reality.

A few simple tricks can help:

• Breathe before you begin each new idea.

• Let punctuation do its job—commas and full stops are there for a reason.

• Finish one thought before starting the next.

• Don't be afraid of a moment of silence. It often creates the biggest impact.

Whether you're preparing for a LAMDA exam, giving a presentation at school or performing on stage, remember this:

Your audience has only one chance to hear your words. Give them time to enjoy them.

Sometimes the most powerful performance isn't the fastest or the loudest.

It's the one that lets every word breathe.

Jo O'Ferrall

Co-Founder & Director, RM Drama