Improving Your Speech Delivery (Beyond the Words): How to Command a Room Without Saying a Thing

Kamohelo Makwela
May 20
4 min read

We often obsess over what to say.

The perfect opening line. The most impactful statistic. That closing quote that will leave the audience in awe.

But here’s the truth:

Your delivery is what people remember, not just your words.

You could have the most beautifully written speech in the world, but if your delivery is flat, rushed, or disconnected, the message won’t land.

The reverse? A solid message delivered with presence, emotion, and energy can move a room, even if the words are simple.

This article is your guide to mastering the non-verbal side of speaking: the body language, voice, pacing, energy, and presence that turn good speakers into unforgettable ones.

The Myth of “Content Is King”

Words matter, yes. But delivery is the throne.

Studies show that:

55% of communication is body language
38% is tone of voice
Only 7% is actual words

That doesn’t mean your content isn’t important. It means your delivery is the gateway. If people can’t feel you, they won’t fully hear you.

The goal? Align your words, voice, and body in a way that sends a clear, powerful message, with or without a script.

Voice: Your Most Underrated Tool

Most speakers underestimate their voice. They think: I’ll just speak how I normally do.

But normal isn’t memorable. Your voice is an instrument. Use it.

Volume:

Use natural projection, not shouting.
Drop your voice for impact. Whisper a key phrase. It draws people in.
Raise it with energy when you need to lift the room.

Pace:

Slow down. Nervous speakers rush. Great speakers pause.
Speed up in moments of urgency or passion, then pull back.

Pausing:

Pauses are power.
Pause before a big idea. After a punchline. During a transition.
Silence gives your message space to breathe, and your audience time to absorb it.

Tone:

Let your emotions come through. Excitement, wonder, gravity, compassion.
Avoid monotone delivery, it drains even the best content.

Speaker tip: Record yourself reading your script with exaggerated tone and pacing, then dial it back to natural. It’s easier to trim drama than to add energy later.

Body Language: Speak with Your Whole Self

Your body tells a story before your words do. Here’s how to make it count.

Eye Contact:

Don’t scan. Connect.
Lock eyes with individuals for 2–3 seconds before moving on.
Online? Look into the camera, not at your notes.

Movement:

Move with purpose. Not aimlessly.
Step forward on important points.
Use stillness for power. A grounded stance can hold more weight than pacing.

Gestures:

Use open gestures to build trust.
Illustrate concepts with your hands: “three things,” “big picture,” “uphill battle.”
Don’t overdo it, aim for natural, expressive movement.

Posture:

Stand tall. Shoulders relaxed. Feet grounded.
Don’t sway or fidget. Your presence is your anchor.

Speaker tip: Record a video of yourself on mute. Watch your posture, gestures, and energy without the distraction of words. Ask: Would I want to listen to this person?

Presence: The X-Factor No One Talks About

Presence is that magnetic quality you can’t always define, but you know it when you feel it.

It’s the speaker who owns the space. Who feels comfortable in silence. Who makes you feel like they’re talking directly to you, even in a crowd of 500.

How to Build It:

Be fully present. Not in your notes. Not in your nerves. Here.
Practice mindfulness before speaking. One deep breath, one grounding phrase.
Rehearse with emotion, not just logic. Feel your message. Embody it.

Presence doesn’t come from being perfect. It comes from being real, grounded, and connected.

Emotion: The Shortcut to Connection

People don’t remember every point you make. But they remember how you made them feel.

That means you need to feel something when you speak.

If you’re moved, inspired, amused, your audience will feel it too.

How to Deliver with Emotion:

Share personal stories, they carry emotional resonance.
Match your tone to the content. Let your voice tremble when something’s hard.
Smile when something’s joyful. Laugh when it’s funny.
Don’t perform emotion. Invite it.

“If it matters to you, it will matter to them.” - Every great speaker, ever.

Energy: The Room Rises to Meet You

Want to transform your delivery immediately?

Raise your energy.

Not by bouncing off the walls, but by speaking with purpose, vitality, and enthusiasm for your message.

Energy is contagious. And the audience takes their cue from you.

If you’re flat, they’ll be flat. If you’re alive, they’ll lean in.

Ways to Boost Your Energy Before Speaking:

Jump. Shake out tension. Move.
Power pose for two minutes before going on.
Visualize impact: Who needs to hear this? Why now?
Remind yourself: “I’m here to serve, not perform.”

Rehearsal: Where Great Delivery Is Built

No great delivery happens by accident. It’s rehearsed, with intention.

But not just memorization. Instead, rehearse for:

Flow (Can you move naturally between points?)
Emotion (Are you feeling it?)
Body use (Are you grounded or twitchy?)
Voice (Are you too fast, too quiet, too flat?)

Record yourself. Watch it back, not to criticize, but to observe.

Then rehearse again. But looser. More relaxed. Make it your own.

Speaker tip: Rehearse in front of one trusted friend or a mirror. Or walk through your speech while doing something physical, it helps embed it in your body, not just your brain.