Episode #342: Speak Louder When Presenting

Why do brilliant experts sometimes fail on stage, even with a microphone?

You’ve probably been in this situation: a luncheon event, a high-level panel, three experts on stage. One man and two women. The content is strong. The credentials are impressive. Yet one panellist — often a soft-spoken, highly professional woman — cannot be heard, even with a microphone in hand.

Her insights are valuable, but her impact disappears somewhere between her mouth and the audience. Meanwhile, the other speakers with stronger voices fill the room with ease.

For 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies) in 東京 (Tokyo), this is more than a technical glitch. It’s a brand issue. Every time a leader cannot be heard, the audience unconsciously questions their confidence, credibility, and even the professionalism of their entire organisation.

Mini-summary: When executives are not heard clearly, their message, personal brand, and company reputation suffer — even if their ideas are excellent.

Most business leaders are not audio engineers. Microphone technique feels “optional” — until the audience cannot hear you.

Common issues include:

• Waving the microphone around
  Moving the microphone away from the mouth breaks the audio signal. When the mic drifts down to the chest or off to the side, volume drops dramatically.

• Speaking “into the room,” not across the mic
  The ideal is to hold the microphone slightly below and in front of the mouth and speak across the mesh, not directly down into it or far away from it.

• Ignoring distance and elevation
  A mic held too low or too far from the mouth forces the sound technician to raise volume, which increases noise and feedback — without giving you a strong, clear voice.

A powerful but simple rule for presenters in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies):
Don’t wave the microphone. Hold it steady, close, and consistent.

Mini-summary: Microphone technology only helps if you use it properly. Stable position, correct distance, and speaking across the mic dramatically improve how clearly you are heard.

Many talented leaders have naturally soft voices. In one-on-one conversations, this can feel thoughtful and sophisticated. But on a stage, in a boardroom, or during プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), it often fails.

The core issue is mindset, not just technique:

• Their “normal” feels right — even when it’s too soft.
  When asked to increase volume, many presenters adjust only 5–10%. To them, anything more feels like shouting, even when the audience still hears them as “quiet.”

• Internal comfort vs. external impact.
  Softly spoken leaders focus on their own comfort level, not the audience’s experience. They underestimate how much more energy and volume are needed to reach the back of the room.

• Cultural habits.
  In some cultures, including many professionals in 日本企業 (Japanese companies) in 東京 (Tokyo), being overly loud may be seen as rude. Yet in global settings, especially with 外資系企業 (multinational companies), a stronger voice is often interpreted as confidence and leadership.

In our training, when participants finally see their video playback, they realise a key truth:
What feels “too loud” to you often sounds just “clear and confident” to your audience.

Mini-summary: Softly spoken leaders usually need a mindset shift. Their comfort zone is too quiet for public speaking, and what feels loud to them sounds normal to everyone else.

When you present, you are not just sharing information — you are representing your entire organisation.

Audience members make quick, powerful judgments:

• “If this executive sounds unsure, is the company unsure?”

• “If the presenter seems weak, is their team also weak?”

• “If the message is unclear, can we really trust this partner or supplier?”

In business settings across 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies), audiences rarely separate the individual from the brand. If you come across as a “dud,” they assume “everyone down at your shop is a dud.” If you are strong, composed, and audible, they extend that positive impression to your entire organisation.

A stronger voice:

• Signals confidence and authority

• Makes your message sound more considered and intentional

• Increases the chance that the audience will actually remember what you said

In other words, volume is not about ego. It is about credibility, trust, and influence.

Mini-summary: Your voice is a key part of your professional and corporate brand. Strong, clear volume communicates confidence and raises trust in you and your organisation.

At Dale Carnegie Tokyo, we see this pattern constantly in our プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training), リーダーシップ研修 (leadership training), 営業研修 (sales training), エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching), and DEI研修 (DEI training) for both 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies).

Our approach includes:

• Real-time coaching on volume and presence
  Trainers ask participants to increase their volume. Most only adjust slightly. So we involve the class:
  “Does this sound too loud? Does it feel like shouting?”
  The group almost always answers, “No, it’s fine.” This social proof helps participants break through their mental ceiling.

• Video recording and review
  Presentations are recorded and reviewed with a separate coach. Participants hear the trainer’s instructions on the video (“Please speak louder”) and compare it to what the audience hears. They quickly realise:

  • Their “too loud” is actually “just right.”

  • Small changes in volume create big changes in impact.

• Practical, Japan-appropriate techniques
  We help leaders find a style that feels authentic in a Japanese context while still effective in global business settings. The goal is not to become someone else, but to adopt a stronger, more credible version of yourself.

With over 100 years of global experience and more than 60 years supporting clients in 東京 (Tokyo), Dale Carnegie Training understands how to help leaders adapt their communication style without losing cultural sensitivity.

Mini-summary: Structured training, coaching, and video feedback help leaders in Japan push beyond their comfort zone and adopt a confident, culturally appropriate speaking style.

What should every executive do before their next presentation in Tokyo?

Whether you’re speaking at an internal town hall, industry conference, or client event, a few practical habits make a big difference:

1. Arrive early and test the microphone.
   Check distance, angle, and volume. Make sure you know how loud you need to speak for the back of the room to hear you clearly.

2. Ask for honest feedback.
   Have a colleague sit in different areas of the room and confirm:

   • “Can you hear me clearly?”

   • “Does my volume sound natural, or too soft, or too strong?”

3. Use the equipment as designed.
   Hold the mic steady. Speak across the mesh. Avoid looking away from the microphone while talking.

4. Practice “10–20% louder than feels natural.”
   Use your rehearsal to get used to a stronger voice. Remember, your internal sense of “too loud” is often still “too soft” in reality.

5. Treat every presentation as a brand moment.
   Your voice is part of your leadership toolkit. Each speaking opportunity is also a branding opportunity for your company.

Mini-summary: A few simple habits — early arrival, mic testing, feedback, and practicing stronger volume — dramatically improve how you sound and how you are perceived.

• Your voice is part of your brand. Clear volume and steady microphone technique communicate confidence, credibility, and professionalism.

• Soft-spoken leaders can adapt. With mindset shifts, practice, and coaching, even naturally quiet speakers can project strength without feeling fake.

• Training accelerates change. Structured プレゼンテーション研修 (presentation training) and エグゼクティブ・コーチング (executive coaching) help leaders see themselves clearly and build new habits faster.

• Dale Carnegie Tokyo is your partner. With 100+ years of global experience and 60+ years in 東京 (Tokyo), we support 日本企業 (Japanese companies) and 外資系企業 (multinational companies) in building leaders who can be heard — and trusted.

Founded in the U.S. in 1912, Dale Carnegie Training has supported individuals and companies worldwide for over a century in leadership, sales, presentation, executive coaching, and DEI. Our Tokyo office, established in 1963, has been empowering both Japanese and multinational corporate clients ever since.