Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***What Your Chronic Hoarseness May Be Telling You - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI did damage to my own speaking voice some years ago when I was coaching my son’s soccer team. I will pay for that mistake for the rest of my life because I will never sing again. Considering my voice is my business, I am blessed that it did not do the same damage to my speaking voice. What ...
Views: 62(1 vote) - ***How Voice Training Can Improve Your Life As Well As Your Voice - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business, I had no idea the number of benefits that would result just by finding your ‘real’ voice. In fact, I never tire of hearing each and every new experience my clients tell me about. How can this type of training improve your life? For one very basic and ...
Views: 48(1 vote) - ***Why Your Use of Color and Language Is So Invaluable in the Commemorative Speech - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsOf all the various types of speeches and presentations we hear, that which stirs the most emotion, that which expresses the most passion, is the commemorative speech. For the sole purpose of paying tribute, the commemorative speech is dedicated to people, places, institutions, or ideas. ...
Views: 42 - ***What Differentiates the After-Dinner Speech from All Others? - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile the after-dinner speech is as old as mankind, this type of oratory became most popular in England in the early 1900’s. Although its purpose was originally intended to be a light-hearted speech after the evening meal, the after-dinner speech today is often given after a business lunch or ...
Views: 40 - ***5 Reasons Someone Else May Get the Job Instead of You - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsImagine that there are number of candidates for a particular job and all of the candidates have similar education and experience. Without a doubt, the choice is going to be difficult. Now let’s imagine that of all who are applying for the position, one candidate in particular has strong ...
Views: 109(2 votes) - ***Voice Training Can Do Wonders for Your Public Speaking Career - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsIt fascinates me how many people are seeking help in public speaking and presentation skills yet how few realize that their speaking voice is the vehicle for their message. Voice training is not just for actors and politicians. It is something you should strongly consider if you are looking to ...
Views: 60 - ***Speaking for Great Lengths of Time Is Taxing Your Throat -- Especially As You Age - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsGosh, that sounds depressing, doesn’t it? It needn’t be however. Yes, your voice ages just like the rest of your body does. The good news for the voice, however, is that you can not only eliminate the discomfort or hoarseness you are experiencing but you can also find your voice improving ...
Views: 76(1 vote) - ***Do Your Homework BEFORE Opening Your Mouth to Speak! - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWe tend to think that the creation of our speech or presentation and its delivery are the two most important considerations in public speaking. In truth, what you do before you even set pen to paper can have a tremendous effect on the outcome of your material. Imagine that someone has gotten ...
Views: 52 - ***Why Nervousness Is Your Best Friend in Public Speaking and Even the Job Interview - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI love all the articles and advice on the internet today which deal with quelling nervousness, combating nervousness, eliminating nervousness and ending those nervous jitters. Unfortunately, most of them do not discuss the benefits of nervousness in public speaking or in the job interview and ...
Views: 179(4 votes) - ***How Confident Do You Sound in the Interview? - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2012 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I was fresh out of graduate school, I applied for my first 'real' job in New York City at G. Schirmer, the largest publisher of classical sheet music in the States. What I didn't know then was that my speaking voice was my greatest asset in attaining employment with that ...
Views: 73(2 votes) - ***Public Speaking - Use Your Head But Speak from Your Heart - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile you can’t go very far in public speaking if you do not know your material well – and that means inside and out – what will capture your audience is your delivery. A colorful, dynamic delivery determines whether your audience will pay attention to you or not. That is not to say that your ...
Views: 96 - ***Do You Know the Difference Between the Informative and the Persuasive Presentation? - by Submitted on Jan 23, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhatever your reason for standing in front of an audience, it is important to identify your objective before you even outline your material. What is your primary goal? Are you being requested by your boss to give a report on your latest sales presentation? Are you taking a course in public ...
Views: 83 - ***Do These 3 Things and You Can Sound As Good As You Look! - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2012 from Nancy DanielsAre you concerned with the image you project? If you are like most people, your answer is probably ‘Yes.’ When you hear yourself on your voicemail, answering machine, or some other type of recording equipment, can you appreciate that that sound is part of the image you are projecting? ...
Views: 214(4 votes) - ***Increasing Your Volume Correctly Is Called Projection -- Anything Else is Shouting - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2012 from Nancy DanielsIt never ceases to amaze me how many people yell or shout doing great damage to their throats and vocal folds. In addition, a voice produced by yelling hurts your listeners’ ears. There is a technique, however, which saves both your throat and everyone else’s ears. It is called ...
Views: 135(2 votes) - ***Ladies, Is Your Face a 10 and Your Speaking Voice a 2? - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYes, we are a sex very concerned with the image we project. We exercise on a regular basis; we are more aware of the foods we are eating; we try to get a good night’s sleep. As women, we want to look good; and, as we age, we know it takes more work. Our clothing is of the latest fashion; we ...
Views: 186(4 votes) - ***Move on Stage But Don't Pace! - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThere is a big difference between moving on stage and pacing; and, I am a huge advocate of the former. The latter, however, is something you must stop if you want your audience to pay attention to your words. Moving on Stage Those who move effectively treat their audience as if in ...
Views: 108 - ***A Dynamic Delivery Involves Not Just Vocal Variety But Body Language As Well - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsColor refers to the life, the emotion, the animation you express in speaking. Whether it is for the purposes of public speaking, a sales presentation or just in normal conversation, those who speak with color are more dynamic than those who do not. In fact, those who do not are called boring. ...
Views: 97 - ***How Credible Are You As a Public Speaker? - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, age is a factor in establishing credibility with an audience. I am sure that many people think that if you are older and being paid to address an audience, you must have something valuable to say. But what about novice speakers? How do these individuals, who may still be in ...
Views: 119 - ***Acting and Public Speaking? Worlds Apart - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2012 from Nancy DanielsActing and public speaking have only two things in common: both need an audience and both involve words coming out of your mouth. That is where the similarities end however. Actors who teach public speaking often disagree with me on this point because they fail to recognize that public ...
Views: 116 - ***The Best Way to Lose Credibility with Your Audience - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI recently heard a 'public speaker' who was marketing himself as one who had made a lot of money from a book he had written. I caught this on video on the internet and counted my blessings that I hadn't been in the audience, especially in the front row! This man spoke for at least 20 minutes ...
Views: 103 - ***Does Your Voice Shake When You're Nervous? 3 Tips for Eliminating the Quiver - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen addressing an audience, there is nothing more embarrassing than opening your mouth to speak and the voice that comes out is high in pitch and shaking to boot! The shaking is known as a quiver and it can happen even when you’re not nervous. If your voice is quivering when you’re nervous, ...
Views: 175(2 votes) - ***Learn to Breathe Correctly: It Will Make Your Voice and Your Presentations Stand Out! - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsAs a voice coach, the first thing I teach my clients is how to breathe with the support of the diaphragm. The reason is because you cannot discover your ‘real’ voice until you learn this simple technique. When I discuss your ‘real’ voice, I am not talking about using different words or ...
Views: 151(1 vote) - ***Discover the Best Means of Increasing Your Volume If You Are Soft-Spoken - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are soft-spoken, there is a right way and a wrong way to increase your volume. Just speaking 'louder' is not the answer. In fact, the difficulty for those who speak softly is that when they do try to increase their volume, they think that they are shouting. As a voice coach, I ...
Views: 229(1 vote) - ***Are You Aware That Your Soft-Spoken Voice Is a Liability? - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn today’s fast-paced business world, speaking in a soft-spoken voice is definitely not to your advantage: you need to be heard the 1st time you say it. While softer levels of volume may be culturally correct in some countries, here in the States, we tend to talk in a volume that is ...
Views: 215(1 vote) - ***If You Don't Believe in Yourself, Why Should Your Audience? - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most important skills you need in public speaking is the ability to believe in yourself; otherwise, why should your audience? Many people approach the lectern or the head of the boardroom table, thinking they are going to fail. If that is your approach, then your chances of success ...
Views: 194 - ***The Secret to Connecting with Your Audience - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the secrets of dynamic presentation skills is the ability to connect with your audience. In that sense, the idea is to make each person think you are talking directly to him/her. How is this possible if you have an audience of 50, 150 or 500 people? There are several things you can do ...
Views: 200 - ***Stop Yelling for Your Favorite Team -- Try Projecting Your Voice Instead! - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen I hear a raspy, gravelly, hoarse voice, I know what the problem is. It is called vocal abuse; and, I also know that it will not get any better on its own unless the speaker changes how he or she produces voiced sound. Those who suffer from chronic hoarseness, a persistent sore throat or ...
Views: 175 - ***Voice Training Could Have Prevented Vocal Cord Surgery for Yankees Mariano Rivera - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIt is sad that Mariano Rivera underwent surgery on his vocal folds (cords) recently. The Yankees’ closer was diagnosed with severe vocal abuse in which polyps had developed on his vocal folds. A month prior to his surgery, he noticed a decrease in his ability to speak which was characterized ...
Views: 211 - Public Speaking: What Many Novice Speakers Never Think To Do - by Submitted on Nov 28, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe one thing that many new speakers don’t think about and never have enough of is something that has a negative impact on their delivery skills. It is actually very simple, basic, and a necessity. Without it, there are no words; thus, no message. It is called breathing. Because of ...
Views: 213 - ***Storytelling in Public Speaking Is a Vital Part of Your Presentation - by Submitted on Nov 28, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen you give a speech or presentation, do you include stories or anecdotes in your material? If not, you should. Anecdotes and stories are not only interesting for your audience but they also lend credibility to you as a speaker; and, one of your goals as a speaker is to establish this ...
Views: 242 - ***Hearing Only Half the Sentence Is Not Quite As Good As Hearing the Whole Thing! - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsFor those of you refuse to interrupt your sentences to breathe, you have a mass of listeners who are frustrated because they do not catch the 2nd half of your sentences. Do you know why this is? I’ll give you a clue. It’s got something to do with oxygen. Without air, there is no voice. ...
Views: 265(2 votes) - ***Why Women Are Attracted to a Deep Voice - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThat’s right. Women find a deep voice sexy because it has a warm quality and sounds confident. It stirs something inside of us, without a doubt. The last time you heard your voice on voicemail, an answering machine or some other form of recording equipment, were you impressed? Remember, ...
Views: 335(3 votes) - ***Discover Your Deeper, Sexier Voice - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt about it. You’ve got one: a richer, warmer speaking voice that, given the right tone, can be very, very hot. It is merely a matter of finding it. Most speaking voices need work because most voices are higher in pitch than they should be. (Pitch deals with the highness ...
Views: 252(2 votes) - ***When the Caller Asks to Speak to Your Mother - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI hear it time and time again. Women emailing me or phoning to ask me what they can do about their childlike voice, wondering if it is possible to change that sound. Absolutely. You have a voice inside of you that sounds more mature and can even improve with age no matter how old you are. ...
Views: 231(1 vote) - ***One of the Most Important Things You Should Do in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIt is something your audience would appreciate. It is something your body would be thankful for. And, it is something your mind could use. It is called the pause and it is something many novice speakers (and even some renowned ones) do not do. If your goal is to get your presentation over ...
Views: 265 - ***Getting Rid of the Um's and Ah's Is Easier Than You Think - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile the phrase ‘you know’ has not yet replaced the verbal tics ‘um’ and ‘ah,’ it is gaining momentum both in the delivery of presentations and in normal conversation. If you are aware that you use one of more of these fillers, it really is not difficult to eliminate them if you willing to ...
Views: 226 - ***Would You Consider Your Speaking Voice An Asset or a Liability? - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI recently listened to a webinar in which the speaker’s voice was so nasal, it gave me a headache. And I use Bose speakers on my computer! Is this man’s voice an asset? No. In his case, it is most definitely a liability. The problem with his overly nasal voice is that he does not sound ...
Views: 360(2 votes) - ***Whispering Is Not the Answer When You Have a Sore Throat or Laryngitis - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are suffering a sore throat, laryngitis, or strep throat, a common fallacy is that you should whisper. Nothing could be further from the truth. Whispering requires your vocal folds to become your only source of voiced sound. And that is a problem because it can lead to vocal ...
Views: 294(1 vote) - ***Do You Know the Difference Between Your Throat Voice and Your Chest Voice? - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen most people speak, they power their voice by means of their voice box and throat. To a lesser extent, the mouth and nasal cavities are also acting as resonators, aiding in the production of voiced sound. And, of course, you probably think this is normal. It may be normal for you but, in ...
Views: 277(2 votes) - ***Why You Cannot Find Your 'Real' Voice With a Book or CD - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo you think Michael Jordon became a great basketball player by reading a book on the subject? How about Lionel Messi? Do you think he became one of the world’s greatest soccer players by listening to a pile of CDs? In both cases, these athletes might have become more motivated or more ...
Views: 257(2 votes) - ***I Can't Believe He Said the D-Word! - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently I had the opportunity to hear an international speaker address a large group of women. The women’s ages ranged from their 20’s to their 60’s. While the speaker used the F-word once, the silence in the large ballroom was much more palpable when he then used a 4-letter word that begins ...
Views: 203 - ***Are Pacing and Speed the Same in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThat is an interesting question. While I often use those two words interchangeably, there is a difference. I liken pacing to your overall speed. Do you generally speak slowly, quickly or at a moderate rate of speed? In North America, a good pacing is moderate. If you speak too fast, you will ...
Views: 204 - ***Is Rooting for Your Favorite Team Causing Hoarseness or Even Loss of Voice? - by Submitted on Oct 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWe’re in the midst of American Football season and I can tell you, in no uncertain terms, that there are a lot of people who experience chronic hoarsesness, a sore throat, or even loss of voice by the end of the game. If this happens only occasionally, there may not be a problem. However, if ...
Views: 239 - ***The Value of Good Diction in Business Today - by Submitted on Oct 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever noticed when watching a movie or a primetime television show that you can always understand the diction of those actors in which English is not their ‘mother tongue?’ We see and hear actors with German, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arab and African accents, ...
Views: 332(1 vote) - ***Once You Have Selected Your Topic, What Is Your Next Step for the Persuasive Presentation? - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn my previous article I discussed the often difficult task of selecting a topic for your persuasive presentation. Your next step is not the creation of your presentation but the research for it. Yes, you have a particular belief, idea, or theory which you feel is correct or better or easier ...
Views: 237(1 vote) - ***How to Select a Topic for a Persuasive Presentation - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating than finding a topic for a persuasive presentation for your public speaking class or for Toastmasters, especially if you are not one to voice your opinion on subjects that could be controversial. If you are stymied for a topic, do some soul searching and make a list ...
Views: 171 - ***Don't Just Talk to Your Audience -- Captivate Them! - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere are so many people with so many great messages but the moment they open their mouth to speak, the sound that emanates from their lips is anything but captivating. All too often, we are so preoccupied with the message and subsequent delivery, that we never take into account the vehicle ...
Views: 224 - ***Why Voice Training Is the Fundamental - Part 2 - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn an earlier article, I discussed the reason why you need to breathe with the support of your diaphragm in order to find your ‘real’ voice. The second part of my training deals with volume and projection, the latter involving the increase of your volume without shouting. Trust me, if you are ...
Views: 229 - ***Voice Training Is the Fundamental -- Everything Else Is the Icing on the Cake! - by Submitted on Oct 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business many years ago, someone commented that voice training was the icing on the cake. Obviously this woman had missed the basis of my presentation because good voice training is the cake. Everything and anything else is the icing. And, I told her so. I likened ...
Views: 274 - ***5 Steps for Delivering an Excellent Presentation -- Not a Perfect One! - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf there is one thing that cannot happen in public speaking, it is the possibility of delivering a perfect presentation. What skills would you need to make your words or your manner of speaking perfect? Can you answer that honestly? Your presentation may be great; it may be excellent; it may ...
Views: 315(2 votes)