[Book Sip] To Add Weight to Your Words, "Pause for 1-2 Seconds Between Sentences"

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire essence of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers and create a connection with the text. Here, we introduce meaningful sentences selected from various books.

Author Park Suyeon, an attorney, draws on her experiences as an announcer at TBC and Ulsan KBS, a university lecturer, and a top-ranked law school graduate to realistically examine moments when speech determines evaluation and outcomes. The key message is that speaking skills are not innate talents but techniques that can be sufficiently acquired through training. This book defines effective speaking not as flashy rhetoric, but as the ability to clearly convey the core message according to the situation and audience. It provides checklists, real-life examples, and practice exercises to help readers structurally improve their speaking skills for immediate use in interviews, presentations, meetings, and negotiations in the workplace. The book introduces concrete methods such as the OBC presentation structure, the three-step keyword framework, and breathing and vocalization exercises for relaxation, approaching speaking as a learnable skill rather than a matter of personality. It offers practical guidance for those who want to avoid setbacks due to poor communication and seize opportunities through effective speech.

The most enduring branding in your career is your words. Few tools leave as clear an impression as what you say. You may not master it instantly, but once you learn it, you can use it for a long time. Accurately expressing your strengths and appeal through words is the hallmark of those who gain an edge in their careers. - p.32, from "Is Your 'Speaking Resume' Ready?"

Same team, same work, similar years of experience-yet some people stand out. Even when presenting the same content, their presentations are more concise, and their reports receive different reactions despite being submitted in the same way. Their tone may be neutral, but they earn the trust of those around them, and even those who are quiet and inconspicuous are chosen at critical moments. What creates this difference is the 'details of speech.' It takes less than five seconds to refine a word or expression, but these details are judged as competence by some, and as lack of skill by others. - p.128, from "The Details of Speech That Shape Reputation"

A good voice is not simply a 'pretty sound.' It requires stable breathing, clear pronunciation, and resonance that captivates the listener. This structure is built on three pillars: muscle, breathing, and resonance. It may seem difficult, but by practicing steadily for just 10 minutes a day, anyone can develop a clear and stable voice like an announcer. Even someone like me, who once had a nasal, bleating voice, succeeded-so you can trust that it works. - p.154, from "How to Speak Like an Announcer"

Dale Carnegie says that making the other person feel valuable and that their opinion is accepted is the fastest and most accurate way to move them in the desired direction. By shifting from a commanding tone to a suggestive one, and from making definitive statements to opening up possibilities, you help the other person feel that their opinion has not been ignored. As this sense of reassurance builds, they will want to listen to you and will unconsciously try to meet your expectations. - p.236, from "Comfortable Words Come Before Good Words"

It is natural to feel nervous in important situations. However, if nervousness causes your words to lose weight, it becomes difficult to build trust. Especially for those evaluating you, such as clients or interviewers, first impressions are often linked to your professional attitude. To maintain the gravitas of your words, you need to be conscious of your pace and breathing. Speaking at a comfortable, steady pace and pausing for one to two seconds between sentences makes your words sound much more stable. Word choice is also important. Unnecessary filler words like "I guess...", "just...", or "well..." can undermine the weight of your words. Instead, use expressions that provide evidence, such as "In my judgment," or "According to the data." - p.258, from "Speaking Strategies That Lead to Positive Relationships from the First Meeting"

You Will Speak Well Starting Today | Written by Park Suyeon | Hyeonik Publishing | 264 pages | 21,000 won