Stop repeating yourself: say it five ways
You explain something, it doesn't land, and you say it again in the same words. Here you take one thought and say it five different ways, each from a new angle.
You need to work on your speaking.
Say it 5 ways out loud
- 1A simple thought is on the screen. For example, “You need to work on your speaking.”
- 2Say it out loud in 5 different ways, changing the angle and the image. “Good speaking helps you express your thoughts more precisely.” “Speech is the packaging of thought.” “People trust those who speak clearly.”
- 3Each version is one complete sentence with its own angle. Next thought.
tip · Not “I couldn't explain it”, but “I haven't found the fifth way to say it”. There are always more than it seems.
check yourself · The 5 versions really differ in angle; it's not the same thing in other words.
Why it works
We repeat ourselves when we only have one way to say a thing. The listener didn't get it, so we say it again, louder or slower, and it still doesn't land. What helps isn't repetition but a new angle: an image, an example, a consequence.
Five versions of one thought feels impossible at first. After the second or third, the obvious wording is used up and you have to think differently, and that's the moment the drill is for. The next time you're explaining something, the second and third ways are already there.
Common mistakes
- Swapping words but keeping the angle. “You should work on your speech” and “you need to improve your speech” are the same sentence. Change the image, not the vocabulary.
- Making each version longer. Each one is a single complete sentence.
- Stopping at three. The fourth and fifth versions are where new angles appear.
- Hunting only for clever images. A plain example from life is a valid angle too.
Questions
- How do I stop repeating myself when I talk?
- Notice when you're about to say the same thing again and switch the angle instead: give an example, an image or what it means for the listener. Practicing several versions of one thought makes the switch quick.
- How can I say something in a different way?
- Change one thing: the image (“speech is the packaging of thought”), the point of view (the listener's, not yours) or the consequence (what happens if you don't). Each gives you a new sentence.
- Why do I keep using the same words?
- Habit and pressure. Under stress we reach for the most familiar phrase. Practicing alternatives out loud gives you more to reach for.
More exercises
- How to start and end a speech: strong phrasesSay a stock phrase that opens, builds or wraps up a point and continue it with your own thought, then open and close a talk of your own. 3 minutes.
- Speak clearly and concisely: the 3-point methodGet a question, open with “There are three reasons…” and give three points, one sentence each, plus a short summary. A 3-minute drill in concise answers.
- Pause instead of “um”: a filler words drillA 3–5 minute drill: read texts with pause marks, learn to hold silence, then speak freely and close your mouth instead of saying “um” or “like”.