Breathing is hugely important as a speaker
Right now, the UK is getting hammered by storms. Winds have been ripping through at ridiculous speeds, and my fence has taken a bit of a hit. Two panels down. Nothing major, but annoying enough.
I was out earlier, chatting to my neighbour about it. We both agreed—there’s no point fixing anything until spring. It’s one of those things you just have to ride out.
And I wondered back inside I thought “can I connect wind and storms to speaking?”
Of course the answer is yes.
Plus I had a blog post I wanted to write.
Breathing is everything.
When you’re speaking, your breath is everything. It’s the engine that powers your voice. It’s how you control your energy, your pace, and whether your words land—or just disappear, like a fart in a storm.
The thing is - your audience feels it when your breathing’s off.
Even if they don’t know why, they’ll pick up on your tension.
If you’re tight, shallow breathing, rushing your words—they feel that in their own bodies.
The opposite is true too.
When your breathing is steady and intentional, it calms them. It creates space for them to really hear you.
So, How Do You Get It Right?
It starts with awareness. Most of us don’t think about how we’re breathing, but when you’re speaking, it’s worth paying attention.
Here’s something simple you can try before stepping on stage (or into a tough meeting):
Breathe in for four counts.
Hold it for four counts.
Exhale for four counts.
Hold it again for four counts.
That’s box breathing. It’s great for calming nerves and getting your head in the game.
When you’re actually speaking, focus on letting your breath drop down into your belly—diaphragm level—not just your chest. It sounds small, but it makes a massive difference.
Speaking Is More Than Words
There’s a lot to speaking.
It’s more than just the words.
It’s how you say them and how you show up as a speaker.
Your breath is what ties it all together. It’s what helps you pause, emphasise, and connect. It’s the thing that makes your audience not just hear you, but feel you.
And honestly, that’s it.
No big revelations.
Just… breathe better, and your speaking will get better too.