Maybe you can recall a time when you were speaking to an audience and had the sensation that they weren’t following what you were saying. You were talking, but they didn’t seem to hear you. You noticed quizzical looks on their faces or they had pulled out their phones. There can be many reasons why audience members tune out, and one of them is “listenability.”
Being listenable is speaking in a way that makes it easy for your audience to take in what you are saying; they can follow you and are not distracted by the way you are speaking. Listenability is about both what you say, and how you say it— it’s about how you use the language, for example the structure and order of your sentences, and using correct grammar. It’s also about how you deliver your message, specifically, the speed at which you speak, intonation patterns and distracting small words and sounds.
Listenability is most important when you are relying solely on your voice to get your message across, like when you are on a podcast or being interviewed on the radio. That is when your listeners will notice and be distracted by repetitive filler words, up-intonation, or speaking too fast.
If your message is scattered, and drags on without direction, people’s attention will start to slip away. And, like it or not, using correct grammar is fundamental to clear, effective communication. Languages have structures for a reason and if we don’t follow the rules, we risk being misunderstood or tuned out.
So how can you ensure your audience not only listens, but really hears what you are saying —and remembers it?
Start with clarity. Clear, grammatically correct sentences are easier for your listener to follow and can also feel more intentional as you speak them. Think of each sentence as one idea, and each idea as a stepping stone, guiding your listener through your entire message. If sentences are too complicated or constructed randomly, your listeners are walking on a crooked path—they may get lost along the way.
Make sure your key points stand out. Deliver your most important ideas using short, concise sentences. By avoiding complex sentences that string a number of ideas together, you risk your message becoming buried under too many words. When you speak in shorter sentences, your ideas become easier to digest and more impactful.
Grammar matters. It might sound basic, but correct grammar helps your message sound polished and professional. Using correct grammar also shows respect for your audience. Even in casual settings, good grammar can make the difference between sounding thoughtful and sounding careless. It shows you’re intentional in the way you use your words, which makes your listeners take you seriously.
Delivery makes all the difference. Of course, great grammar and sentence structure can’t make up for poor delivery. “Uhmming” or “ahhing” when you are thinking, starting every sentence with “so” or saying “you know” every 5 seconds will drive your listeners crazy. And going up at the end of every sentence will make you sound tentative and sure of yourself.
By varying your tone, taking your voice down at the end of sentences (unless they are questions), and cutting out repetitive small words and sounds, you can keep your audience engaged. If you are speaking in person or virtually, intentional body language and gestures will also help.
Being listenable means making your message both easy to understand and engaging to listen to.
When was the last time you heard a speaker who was not listenable? What made that speaker so painful to listen to? Hint: think of podcasts or radio interviews you’ve listened to. Without calling anyone out by name, share your thoughts in the comments.
Barbara is a transformative communication coach who empowers introverted leaders to become authentic, impactful speakers. Through her unique approach she combines anxiety-reduction techniques, like Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) with strategic communication skills training to help her clients move from feeling unseen to confidently representing themselves and their organizations.
In a safe, supportive environment, clients gradually build confidence while mastering the essentials of clear, persuasive communication. Drawing from 20+ years of experience working internationally with professionals from over 35 countries, Barbara has an extraordinary ability to identify why a message is not connecting. Whether it’s due to unclear language, structural issues, or delivery flaws, she helps her clients reshape how they communicate so their messages resonate.
Barbara’s expert coaching allows introverted leaders to build their confidence and channel their natural strengths into clear, authentic expression, which elevates their leadership presence and allows them to achieve their business objectives.
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