Why We Talk Too Fast and How to Slow Down

March 2, 2026|Mary Jane Copps

Woman wearing sunglasses speaking with letters flying from her mouth, representing fast or overwhelming speech.

In 2013, I worked part-time as a sales manager for one of my favorite clients. The youngest and most energetic team member had a very challenging deadline and the hardest quota. This, combined with her enthusiasm for both her prospects and her clients, led her to talk too fast. I knew that slowing down would consistently improve her performance. 

Speed derails conversations.

It limits understanding, often creating both stress and distrust. For those in sales and customer service, the reasons for talking quickly range from looming deadlines and the persistent beep of a waiting call to anxiety about the outcome of the conversation.

For prospects/customers, speed occurs because they are busy, distracted, want a fast outcome, are stressed and anxious.

While it can feel like a “win” to finish a conversation, if the content has zipped by like an Indy 500 race car, no communication has taken place. Important details are missed, questions go unanswered, and assumptions are created.

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”
 — Lao Tzu

This pattern is easy to change. When you speak with someone, know that you can control the pace of the conversation. If you talk fast, the prospect/customer will mirror that back to you. If you are calm, even the fastest talker will often begin to slow down and mirror your pace.

To be the calmest person in the conversation, slow your breathing, lower your voice slightly, and pause before responding to a question or comment. Know that you are creating clarity and portraying thoughtfulness, ideal elements of valuable conversations. 

If you suddenly notice you’re speaking quickly, you can pause, even briefly, and say, “Let me slow that down.” 

Talking quickly is not a character flaw. It’s influenced by what’s happening in our lives, and in the lives of our prospects and customers. Yet slowing down is what creates the trust, relationships and outcomes we seek.

And that young salesperson I mentioned at the beginning? Coaching, recognition and practice worked. She continued to discover her enthusiasm for helping local business owners and organizations reach their target markets. This led her to start her own business, become a recognized champion of all things local, and serve as a mentor, speaker, and facilitator. You can learn more about Kerra Aucoin HERE.

Try this this week: Notice the pace of your next few conversations. If the rhythm starts to accelerate, slow your breathing and your voice slightly. See what changes.

Read next: Say It Clearly: Why Enunciation Builds Trust

If you’d like to build conversations that feel steady, confident, and clear, let’s talk: https://calendly.com/thephonelady

Real-time conversation skills directly impact leadership effectiveness, customer experience, collaboration, and business growth.

As communication becomes increasingly digital, many professionals spend less time practicing and using the skills required for clear, confident and effective real-time conversations. Explore new options for improvement.

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