Public Speaking Articles
Nancy Daniels is The Official SelfGrowth.com Guide to "Public Speaking". You can find complete information on Nancy Daniels and her products by visiting Voice Dynamic.
Public Speaking is speaking to a group of people in a structured manner with the intention to inform, influence, or entertain the audience. A good orator should be able to invoke emotion in their listeners, not just inform them.
The following content relating to Public Speaking has been reviewed by the editorial staff at SelfGrowth.com for quality and caliber.
All articles written by an Official SelfGrowth.com Guide are denoted by three asterisks (***) at the beginning of the title.
All articles written by an Official SelfGrowth.com Guide are denoted by three asterisks (***) at the beginning of the title.
Featured Article: The 5 Secrets Of Dynamic Public Speaking - By Nancy Daniels
- We Always Teach What We Need to Learn - by Submitted on Jul 03, 2009 from Rikki GreenLet me be frank: I have mixed feelings about getting up in public to speak before large groups. This should come as no surprise since the fear of public speaking tops almost everyone’s list—surpassing death itself! As Jerry Seinfeld puts it, “If you were invited to give a eulogy at a funeral, ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - Then and Now: Public Speaking in the Media Age - by Submitted on Jul 03, 2009 from Rikki GreenOnce upon a time, in the distant past, people did what they were trained to do: dancers danced, authors wrote, lawyers argued, doctors doctored, corporate heads led, and everyone lived happily ever after in their neat little niche. End of story! But times have changed. Now, it seems, everyone ...
Views: 6You must read the article to rate it. - Our Cranky Critic Self-Talk & Public Speaking: What One Reveals About the Other - by Submitted on Jul 03, 2009 from Rikki GreenThe stories we make up about ourselves will either support us or derail us. And most of us are masters of enabling our Cranky Critic—you know, the one who lives inside our head and stomps on our dreams. Our Cranky Critic always sounds as if it has woken up on the wrong side of bed, murmuring ...
Views: 8You must read the article to rate it. - How To Put Together a Short Speech – part one - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2009 from Mark GarnhamBecause high quality speech writing and presentation is quite a refined art, I have decided to write this article as a series so that all aspects of speech writing and presenting can be covered in suitable depth. The reader can then determine what level of requirement they have and reference the ...
Views: 11You must read the article to rate it. - Three Explosive Ways to Grab Your Audience’s Attention and Keep it! - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2009 from Arvee RobinsonSpeakers can open their presentation using one of a host of methods. So why do most non-professional speakers begin their speech with those attention-grabbing words, “Ah, I am so-in-so, ah . . . um”? Beginning your speech with filler words such as “ah” or “um” immediately tells your ...
Views: 14You must read the article to rate it. - Overcome Your Speaking Fear - by Submitted on Jul 02, 2009 from Anneesh ElizabethThe fear of speaking ranks higher than the fear of dying. A great many people shudder at the thought of addressing an audience. The primary reason for this reaction is that people are generally afraid of looking foolish under the spotlight. It is this concern about doing or saying something ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - ***Are Your Presentations Marred by a Lackluster Delivery? - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSometimes those who are normally very expressive in conversation, lose all emotion, animation, ‘life’ at the lectern. The result is a monotonous delivery that puts their audience to sleep. One of the most interesting people with whom I worked was Harris. A Canadian lawyer who was outgoing, ...
Views: 27You must read the article to rate it. - ***Have You Been Told That You Speak in a Monotone? - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOften those who speak in a monotone are not allowing their emotions to be heard or be seen. They have a tendency to repress their feelings, keeping them on the inside. Expressing emotion is normal; it is natural; and, it is referred to as color – the life, the animation, and the passion which ...
Views: 32You must read the article to rate it. - ***The 2nd Thing You Must Do for a Deeper, Richer Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile the single most important thing you need to do for a better speaking voice is to learn to breathe with the support of your diaphragm, the 2nd step will be to find the optimum pitch of your voice which is the one area in your vocal range in which your voice vibrates the most. (Pitch refers to ...
Views: 38You must read the article to rate it. - ***The 1st Thing You Must Do for a Deeper, Richer Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOf the thousands of people with whom I’ve worked and the thousands of ‘before’ and ‘after’ video clips I have recorded, the 1st thing that all are doing to sound more mature is to breathe with the support of their diaphragm. A muscular partition separating the chest from the abdomen, the ...
Views: 43You must read the article to rate it. - 7 Secrets to Speaking Like A Pro! - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2009 from Anneesh Elizabeth7 WAYS TO SPEAKING LIKE A PRO! The difference between the ranked beginner and the polished public speaker is what they know, and how they apply what they know. To ensure that you remain ‘in the know’, here are 7 things that you could start doing to boost your public speaking performance. 1. ...
Views: 44You must read the article to rate it. - ***The Best Kept Secret for Rehearsing Your Presentation - by Submitted on Jun 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThe 1st thing you must recognize and accept in practicing your presentation is that reading your script over in your mind or thinking about what you will be saying is not a practice or a rehearsal. Just like athletes must practice and musicians must rehearse, you must work on your material out ...
Views: 32You must read the article to rate it. - ***Why Memorization in Public Speaking is Dangerous - by Submitted on Jun 16, 2009 from Nancy DanielsFor both the speech and presentation, I do not recommend memorization except for your opening statement. Because your nervousness will be greatest in the beginning of your delivery, I do advocate memorizing your first 3 or 4 lines so that your opening flows as effortlessly as possible. Because ...
Views: 25You must read the article to rate it. - 7 Ways to Speak Like a Pro! - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2009 from Anneesh ElizabethThe difference between the ranked beginner and the polished public speaker is what they know, and how they apply what they know. To ensure that you remain ‘in the know’, here are 7 things that you could start doing to boost your public speaking performance. 1. Control your nerves – ...
Views: 25You must read the article to rate it. - ***Discover the 5 IF's of Dynamic Presentation Skills - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhat does it take to be successful in delivering a presentation? If you take my advice and follow the 5 Ifs below, I promise that your next speaking engagement will be easier, more enjoyable and less stressful. Will you still be nervous? I certainly hope so because nervousness is excellent. ...
Views: 249(1 vote)You must read the article to rate it. - What's the Purpose of Your Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2009 from Lisa BraithwaiteSometimes a speaker gets caught up in the need to give the audience too much information. In preparing a presentation, she starts working on her outline, and quickly realizes that there's no way she can share everything she knows on her topic. For that matter, there's no way to share everything ...
Views: 17You must read the article to rate it. - What to Look for When Choosing a Voice Over Coach - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2009 from Janet AultA voice over actor needs to be trained continually if he or she wants to maintain a robust career in voice over acting. The “Voice of Choice®”, Janet Ault explains that her dedication to become a better voice talent is an impetus for her to continue taking classes in different aspects of voice ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - How To Stand Out From The Herd And Be Heard! - by Submitted on Jun 12, 2009 from Eileen McDarghWhat makes the difference between an average presentation and one that rocks your world? What makes the difference between a memorable speech and one that fades into oblivion as soon as the presenter steps off the stage? The answer sits in four building blocks that are essential for crafting a ...
Views: 11You must read the article to rate it. - Eliminate the Fear of Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2009 from Arvee RobinsonWhy Do You Feel So Nervous? Feeling nervous before you speak in front of a room full of people is quite common among the majority of people today. According to surveys, many people would rather die than give a speech. However, remember no one has actually died from stage fright. It may help if you ...
Views: 15You must read the article to rate it. - ***What Distinguishes the Speech from the Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAt some time in your life there is the likelihood that you will or have given a speech. Throughout your education, it is quite possible that you were required to speak on a particular subject at one time or another. Perhaps you toasted the bride or groom at a wedding or were asked to give a ...
Views: 13You must read the article to rate it. - ***Why You Can't Ignore Vocal Abuse - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile my last article dealt with the causes and cure for vocal abuse, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the reason you must end this abuse as soon as possible. Simply put: where would you be without a voice? Whether you are suffering from discomfort, pain, or hoarseness to either your ...
Views: 16You must read the article to rate it. - ***The 3 Things You Must Do to Stop Vocal Abuse - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsCharacterized by chronic hoarseness, persistent sore throats and even loss of voice, vocal abuse is often the result of overuse and/or misuse of the speaking voice. While it can be caused by reflux or the use of certain prescriptive antihistamines, it is most common in those who use their voice ...
Views: 13You must read the article to rate it. - How to Rivet the Attention of Any Audience - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2009 from Susan BerkelyA boring speaker isn't just tedious for the audience. It's embarrassing for the speaker. If you've ever suspected you might be putting people to sleep, fear not. You don't need an elaborate bag of gimmicks to liven up your talks. All you need is a little more liveliness in your voice. While ...
Views: 22You must read the article to rate it. - How to Cure the Verbal Virus - A Five Step Treatment Plan - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2009 from Susan BerkelyWarning! You may be infected with a virus that could be lethal to your sales, your public relations and even your social life. I call it a "Verbal Virus. " Verbal viruses are meaningless fillers that speckle our speech, distract from our message, drain our impact and annoy listeners. I call them ...
Views: 11You must read the article to rate it. - Do You Have a High "SQ"? Take This Quiz and Find Out… - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2009 from Susan BerkelyYour "SQ" is your “Speaker's Quotient.” It's a measure of your ability to communicate your ideas in an effective and memorable manner. ANSWER YES OR NO When you give a presentation, do you: 1) Feel as if the audience is scrutinizing you and judging your performance? 2) Compare yourself to ...
Views: 13You must read the article to rate it. - ***That's My Voice on My Voicemail? Help! - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsYou have probably heard the statistics: 55% of the image you project is visual; 8% is your content; but, 37% of the image is the sound of your speaking voice. To make matters worse, that 37% is referring to the voice you hear on your answering machine or voicemail – not the sound you hear in ...
Views: 21You must read the article to rate it. - ***Discover the Best Approach to Sound More Mature - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago a woman phoned me and asked if she could attend a presentation I was holding in Detroit. The woman sounded like a child on the phone and I wondered if she was old enough to drive herself to the hotel. She then asked if she could bring her daughter and my first thought was that she ...
Views: 18You must read the article to rate it. - Speaking to Grow Your Business: Why You Need to Conquer the Fear - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2009 from Ann Ronan, Ph.D.When I do workshops on marketing ...and mention that speaking is one of the most effective strategies for building a list of contacts who can’t wait to buy from them, most people in the audience look at me with that “no way in hell am I gonna do that” look. What is it about speaking that ...
Views: 9You must read the article to rate it. - ***Even President Obama Uses the 'Um' Word - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsRecently I read a review about a 321-page book on the use of 'ums' and 'ahs' and questioned how and why anyone could or would write that much about a simple verbal tic. 321 pages on the use of 'um' is a verbal tic in itself! What is fascinating about this habit, however, is that it is common in ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - ***Conquering Your Fear at the Lectern - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIn my last article, I discussed the fact that diaphragmatic breathing is the single most important thing you can do to take control your nervousness in any form of public speaking. I refer to it as the physical component of public speaking. There are 4 other factors, however, that can help you ...
Views: 9You must read the article to rate it. - ***Stomach in Knots When You Stand at the Lectern? - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDoes this sound familiar? Your knees are shaking as you face the audience, your white-knuckled hands are gripping the lectern, and your feet are nailed solidly in one spot on the floor. Perhaps your lips shake or your voice quivers as you attempt to speak while your heart races and sweat beads ...
Views: 10You must read the article to rate it. - The Um's Have It - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2009 from Joan CurtisI recently noted an entire book on the misuse of fillers in public speaking. Can you imagine that? Someone actually filled up 320 pages talking about um’s and ah’s and other verbal stumbles. The book title: Ums: Slips, Stumbles and Verbal Blunders and What They Mean by Michael Erard. ...
Views: 10You must read the article to rate it. - How to Train to Become an Efficient Motivational Speaker - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2009 from Sarah JoseYou cannot become an excellent motivational speaker as fast as you would like. Becoming an excellent reputed motivational speaker may take at least two to ten years or even more. The following tips enable you to become a motivational speaker: Get a good tutor or guide - Get the guidance from a ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - Transforming Your Fear of Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 31, 2009 from Loren FogelmanWorry is a thin stream of fear trickling through the mind. If encouraged, it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained. Arthur Somers Roche "Karen" had a strong desire to overcome her fear of public speaking. She wanted to begin presenting workshops to build her business. She admits ...
Views: 14You must read the article to rate it. - Articulation Matters: How Good Is Yours? - by Submitted on May 31, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen you address an audience, do you think your articulation has value? The only answer is most definitely yes. If your audience cannot understand you or misses a word or a phrase here and there, then they are missing your message. And, if they are missing your message, then it doesn’t matter ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - ***Visual Aids Should Be an Added Bonus -- Not Your Entire Presentation! - by Submitted on May 31, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile visual aids can have a tremendous impact on your delivery, the danger in their use lies in placing your entire script on PowerPoint, a slide presentation or even a white board. What is fascinating about the overuse of this feature is that I have seen it not only with amateur speakers but ...
Views: 13You must read the article to rate it. - Be a Powerful Voice! - by Submitted on May 28, 2009 from Suzann RyeI believe that anything is possible, that anything you set your heart and mind to achieve, you can. And I believe that we are all born with infinite wisdom. If we don’t get too distracted, if we don’t forget what we know and intuitively feel to be true, we will instinctively understand what ...
Views: 11You must read the article to rate it. - ***How Your Voice Can Improve with Age When the Rest of Your Body Isn't! - by Submitted on May 25, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most amazing benefits of voice training is that you will find your voice improving as you age. If you are over 40, you are beginning to discover that nothing on your body is getting better as you get older. This is difficult to accept because you slowly begin to notice that you have ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - ***The 2 Things You Must Do When Introducing Yourself - by Submitted on May 23, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOne of the worst things we do as a people is our personal introduction. How many times have you attended a business lunch, a networking breakfast, or a chamber event in which everyone in attendance must stand and introduce himself/herself and you hear the same thing from each and every ...
Views: 16You must read the article to rate it. - ***Limit Your Caffeine Intake Before Public Speaking! - by Submitted on May 23, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWith all the material on the internet about public speaking, there is scant information about what you should put into your body before your walk to the lectern. Should you eat, should you drink, should you have a meal before your speech or presentation? While this is very individual, by and ...
Views: 11You must read the article to rate it. - ***Do You Need a Voice Coach or a Voice Therapist? - by Submitted on May 20, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago in reading a book on voice therapy, I was stunned by the writer’s assessment that most people speak too low in pitch – pitch is the highness or lowness of sound – not the volume which is the loudness or softness of sound. Having worked with thousands of voices, I have found ...
Views: 14You must read the article to rate it. - Public Speaking 101: Overcoming Your Fear of Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 19, 2009 from Marc AdamsYour fear can hinder you, or it can help you! One of the greatest fears among people is public speaking. Some people are natural on a stage, relaxed, in control, comfortable. But countless others are terrified at the thought of even standing in front of a crowd, much less talking to an audience. ...
Views: 13You must read the article to rate it. - ***Calling All Church Lectors: Just How Good is Your Delivery? - by Submitted on May 18, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen you read the lessons in your church or synagogue, do the congregants have their heads buried in their bulletins or Bibles or are they focused on you? The lessons are an integral part of every service but too often their messages are lost due to poor reading skills, a boring delivery, ...
Views: 9You must read the article to rate it. - ***Are You Constantly Being Shushed? Discover the Best Means of Speaking in a Normal Volume of Sound - by Submitted on May 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most fascinating aspects of good voice training is that the techniques used to solve the problem for those who are soft-spoken are the exact same techniques used for the loud voice. Take the two extremes, apply the same method for both, and the volume for those who speak softly will ...
Views: 12You must read the article to rate it. - ***Always Leave Your Audience Wanting More! - by Submitted on May 16, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThere is nothing worse than sitting in the audience, checking your watch as you wait for the speaker to close, knowing your presenter still has 8 more main points to cover and you have already heard 14 of them! When this happens it is interesting to note that the speaker usually seems totally ...
Views: 10You must read the article to rate it. - ***The Damage Hillary Clinton Has Done -- To Her Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 16, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDuring her run for President, Hillary Clinton spent more than a year and a half campaigning daily which resulted in permanent damage to her speaking voice. The stress she placed on her vocal folds (cords) has changed not only the quality of her voice but has left her unable to increase her volume ...
Views: 11You must read the article to rate it. - ***How the Soft-Spoken Are Judged - by Submitted on May 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are soft-spoken, how do you think others judge you? Do you think they regard you as being confident, assertive, and self-assured? If you are concerned about the image you project, then your soft-spoken voice is definitely not projecting those qualities. Instead, your lack of volume is ...
Views: 30You must read the article to rate it. - Top Ten Perfectly Poised Pointers for PowerPoint Presentations - by Submitted on May 12, 2009 from Lianne MarshA perfectly poised and polished speaker or a panic-stricken prattler - it's your choice! Effective PowerPoint presentation skills elevates a good speech to a phenomenal and remarkable keynote address. Take note of our "Top Ten Perfectly Poised Pointers" and make a concerted effort to avoid the ...
Views: 42You must read the article to rate it. - ***When the Pause Becomes Ineffective - by Submitted on May 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I heard a speaker who was very dynamic in his delivery except in one respect. He paused too often and for too long. Without a doubt, pausing is one of the most important characteristics of good public speaking: pausing that is excessive or predictable is not. The beauty of the ...
Views: 9You must read the article to rate it. - Public Speaking 101: Owning the Stage - by Submitted on May 11, 2009 from Marc AdamsNo public speaker should ever forget this important fact! “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” You have most likely heard that quote before, and it is true. If you are a speaker who wants to be a dynamic and exceptional communicator, then you need to ...
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