Voicemails unheard, calls not returned, the new generation of communicators are avoiding telephone communications in favour of texting.

A recent survey by Uswitch found a quarter of people aged 18 – 34 never answer the phone – they either have it turned to silent or ignore the ringing. They may also search the internet for the callers’ ID rather than speak. Nearly 70% of the 2,000 younger people surveyed said they prefer a text to a phone call.

This could be seriously limiting the communication skills of the next generation.

Speaking gives us the opportunity to express our thoughts and emotions in a full, rich and dynamic way. We can communicate so many emotions through our voice; hope, encouragement, displeasure, excitement, leadership, disgust, confidence to name just a few. All the emojis available on our mobile phones would not begin to do justice to the nuances of vocal variety.

Another potential drawback of not using a phone to use as a speaking channel (as opposed to a writing / texting channel) is the lack of practise of organising your thoughts.

Many of my clients ask for help with accent reduction and for help with speaking more clearly. Increasingly, clients are asking Voice Synergy for help with presentation skills. Having a central point to communicate, such as an office move, a reorganisation of the team or introducing a twelve-month plan requires careful thought and preparation.

Practising your speech to help with articulating your presentation is essential. The more you practise speaking aloud the better you will become as a professional speaker.

Speaking on the phone can be the first step in becoming a better speaker. It begins with trusting your voice to work to get your thoughts across to the other person. When the other person replies, there begins a verbal conversation and the joy and pleasure of speaking to a friend can be immense.

I have heard that in some universities, undergraduates are being excused from making presentations in front of their peers as they are too nervous to speak in public. These young students do not receive any coaching or tuition to help develop their communication skills.

Without forming the basic confidence of speaking with friends from a young age, the art of speaking, the art of oral communication can be severely hindered. Texting friends on a mobile phone develops rapid keyboard skills but it doesn’t activate the parts of the brain needed to converse.

To practise the basics of your presentation skills, talk to others. Talk to your friends, talk to your family, talk to your work-mates. Use your phone to have a telephone conversation and begin that journey to gain confidence to speak comfortably in front of others. Speaking is a great skill to master.

The more you practise speaking, the better you get. You can even practise speaking when you’re on your own, describe the room you are in, the weather outside, articulate how you are feeling. There are plenty of ways to improve your confidence to speak. Don’t give your phone the cold shoulder, use it as a real phone and speak to people on it!

For more information on how to improve your speech and presentation skills, please get in touch for a free chat.