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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***Why the Valley Girl Sound is Sabotaging Your Job Interviews - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIf there are 2 candidates for a job in which one sounds like a Valley Girl and the other does not, I guarantee that the candidate who speaks with normal inflection will win that battle. When your answers, remarks, or statements are on the upswing, it sounds like you are asking a question. ...
Views: 1600 - ***If You're Not Being Understood, Is It Because of Your Diction? - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIf your diction is difficult to understand, it could be due to an accent. Please understand that accents are not a problem. They are part of your culture; part of what makes you, you. If you have an accent, I do not recommend trying to eliminate it. Instead, I suggest you work on speaking ...
Views: 1891(1 vote) - ***Public Speaking: How Connectives Make Your Presentation More Interesting and Easier to Follow - by Submitted on Jun 04, 2013 from Nancy DanielsImagine that you are listening to a speaker at a conference or even at the head of the boardroom table and you begin to notice that every sentence is connected with the word and. Have you ever heard this before? Nothing could be less interesting than listening to this dull, unimaginative style ...
Views: 5122 - ***If You Are Soft-Spoken, We Can't Hear You! - by Submitted on May 28, 2013 from Nancy DanielsYou know others ask you to repeat yourself (a lot) and you know that you lose control of the conversation when people talk over you. You know you have great ideas but those ideas are not being heard because you are often interrupted. You know you are frustrated when you hear, “What did you ...
Views: 1789 - ***Speaking Like a Valley Girl Does Not Speak Well of You - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking to make the best impression possible, sounding like a Valley Girl is not helping that objective. When you raise the pitch of your voice at the end of every sentence, you lose all semblance of credibility because your statements sound like questions. You may be very ...
Views: 1486 - ***A Voice Like That of George Clooney or Kathleen Turner Is Within Your Reach - by Submitted on May 13, 2013 from Nancy DanielsImagine standing out from the crowd when you speak. Is it possible? Everyone has a better voice inside of them; unfortunately, most people are unaware of it. What is a better voice? One that vibrates in your chest when you speak and grabs your listeners’ attention with its warmth and ...
Views: 3657(2 votes) - ***When You (Unknowingly) Say Something Offensive to Your Audience - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2013 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago, I was in London, Canada, speaking to a very large group of lawyers and their spouses about the power of the speaking voice. Part of my presentation on voice deals with color, which is the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking. In talking about this aspect of ...
Views: 1712 - ***If You Are Seeking Perfection, You Just Failed Public Speaking 101! - by Submitted on Apr 15, 2013 from Nancy DanielsWhat do you think constitutes perfection in public speaking? Is it saying every word perfectly without a mistake? Is it never losing your train of thought or emphasizing a particular word in a particular sentence or smiling at the right moment? There is no such thing as perfection in ...
Views: 1576 - ***If Communication Is Your Bread and Butter, Voice Training Should Be on Your To-Do List - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2013 from Nancy DanielsSo many people rely on their voice for their business – yet so many people are unaware that their voice can have a tremendous impact on the success of their business. When you hear yourself on recording equipment or an answering machine, for example, what is your reaction? While your 1st ...
Views: 2099(3 votes) - ***How Confident Do You Sound If You Are Soft-Spoken? - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2013 from Nancy DanielsVolume is an aspect of your personality that can say a lot about you. Yes, there was a time when women spoke in a very soft voice. It was considered a feminine trait: demure, coy, flirtatious. It was also a time when women were treated as 2nd class citizens. In today’s highly ...
Views: 2380(1 vote) - ***If Your Voice Is a Monotone, Think Energy - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2013 from Nancy DanielsRecently I was working with one of my clients, describing how to add more color to her voice. Color is the emotion, the life, the animation one expresses in speaking. Her response to me was, “You want me to speak with more energy.” While I certainly want speakers to have an energetic ...
Views: 2090 - ***The 5 Most Important Reasons to Make Eye Contact With Your Audience - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most important things you can do in public speaking is to make eye contact with your audience. Watching a clock on the wall, gazing above the heads of the audience, keeping your focus on your notes or a powerpoint presentation, or staring at just one person in the crowd is not making ...
Views: 1765 - ***3 Steps for Finding Your Deeper, Sexier Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt about it. You have a deeper, sexier speaking voice. Even if your voice is nasally, there is a remedy. All it takes is the knowledge of how to discover your true voice and some practice in making it a habit. 1. Your first step is to learn to breathe with the support of ...
Views: 1801 - ***The Problem May Not Be Your English, It Might Be Your Diction - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsMany of my clients speak English as a second language, initially contacting me because they are not being understood when they speak. Of course, they question if their English skills are lacking. In 99% of the cases, I have found that their English is good; it is their diction that is the ...
Views: 1464(2 votes) - ***Nasality: Too Much Nose Can Ruin a Great Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsIf your voice is plagued with too much nose, then what is hiding inside could be a truly amazing instrument. And since the majority of the population is not aware of and thereby not using their ‘real’ voice, the majority of the population does not know just how great their speaking voice may ...
Views: 1613(2 votes) - ***Speaking From Your Heart Is a Fundamental in Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsIf you listen to the great presenters, you will find that they share one attribute in common: they speak from their heart. While they may have given the same presentation hundreds of times, their material sounds fresh and new with each delivery. If you memorize your presentation, the ...
Views: 1166(2 votes) - ***Presentation Skills: To Whom Are You Speaking? - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsSometimes we get so caught up in the idea of public speaking – be it from nervousness or excitement – that we often do not have a clear idea about those to whom we will be addressing. In truth, you cannot even begin to create your presentation until you know about your audience. And, the best ...
Views: 2444 - ***Accents Are Not a Problem As Long As Your Speech Is Understandable - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsA lot of people contact me because they want to speak more clearly, more distinctly. What I explain to my clients and customers is that my goal for them is not to eliminate their accent – merely to have them be understood the 1st time they say it. I like accents. An accent or even a dialect ...
Views: 1743 - ***Attention Mumblers: Speaking Clearly Is Much Easier Than You May Think - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsOne of the biggest frustrations when trying to communicate with those who mumble is the fact that we, the listeners, cannot understand their diction. What generally results is that we will ask that oft-repeated question, "What did you say?" Recently, a young man called me and wanted to ...
Views: 1644(1 vote) - ***The 2 Best Ways to Control Your Speed When Speaking - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsOften I find that unclear or poor diction is due to talking at 100 mph. It is certainly not uncommon to hear it in people in which English is not their 1st language; however, it can also occur for speakers in any language whether it is their mother tongue or a 2nd language. Bear in mind that ...
Views: 1669(2 votes) - ***The 2 Best Ways to Control Your Speed When Speaking - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsOften I find that unclear or poor diction is due to talking at 100 mph. It is certainly not uncommon to hear it in people in which English is not their 1st language; however, it can also occur for speakers in any language whether it is their mother tongue or a 2nd language. Bear in mind that ...
Views: 1669(2 votes) - ***I Never Yelled at My Kids -- I Projected! - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2012 from Nancy DanielsDo you know the difference between projecting your voice and yelling? The latter hurts your throat and can be painful to your listeners’ ears. The latter also does not make your children sit up and take notice of what you are saying. Instead, they either cower in fear or stop listening to ...
Views: 2491(1 vote) - ***A Smile Goes a Long Way in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2012 from Nancy DanielsDo you ever think about smiling when addressing an audience? If not, you should. Did you know that it takes 43 muscles to frown but only 17 to smile? Therefore, when you consider energy consumption, it is much wiser to smile than it is to show fear no matter how bad your nervousness. In ...
Views: 1944 - ***Stop Obsessing About Public Speaking and Just Do It! - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsAh, the perfectionist and public speaking. Without a doubt, those who seek perfection when addressing an audience are chasing an elusive dream. There are no sports played perfectly, no concerts performed without a flaw and no theater productions that are delivered without a mistake. While ...
Views: 1579 - ***Why the Pause Is Invaluable in Public Speaking and When to Do It - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI recently worked with a woman who spoke at 100 mph and seldom paused to take a breath – even in normal conversation. Most people, yes, the majority of the population, pause while talking to friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances and even the clerk in the grocery store. Unfortunately, the ...
Views: 1812 - ***Why Not Address Your Fears of Public Speaking Instead of Being Consumed by Them - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYes, man’s greatest fear is public speaking. The statistics tell us so. Instead of being part of those statistics, however, why not address those fears and learn how to put your nervousness to good use? Of course your first response is to question how that is possible. How do you take your ...
Views: 2759(1 vote) - ***All Great Speaking Voices Have One Thing in Common - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThere is one word I use to describe the resonance I am looking for in each every ‘real’ voice I discover. While all voices that have had training exhibit a greater depth and breadth of sound – a fuller, rounder quality – some voices will be deeper in pitch, some brighter in tone, others may be ...
Views: 1598 - ***Is Your Fear of Public Speaking Hindering Your Advancement? - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsI am amazed at the number of people who confide in me that their fear of speaking at a lectern or even at the head of a boardroom table is jeopardizing their career advancement. This is so unfortunate because their fear is control of them instead of the other way around. Everyone is nervous ...
Views: 2932 - ***Why Your Soft Spoken Voice Wastes Their Time and Yours! - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThere is only one problem with being soft-spoken. It is that you are constantly being asked to repeat yourself. And, if it happens often enough, your listeners will stop listening or interrupt you and take over the conversation. Yes, your partner may not seem to be listening but have you ever ...
Views: 1880 - ***How Breathlessness and Nervousness Go Hand-in-Hand in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Oct 01, 2012 from Nancy DanielsOne of the greatest problems for the novice in public speaking is nervousness which often results in lack of air. While nervousness should be one of your greatest benefits when addressing an audience, breathlessness is not. The problem with the latter is that it increases your stress which in ...
Views: 2752 - ***Lose the Childlike Voice and Mannerisms and Watch What Happens to Your Career - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI am working with a woman who taught kindergarten for many years and is now in the process of changing her career. Susan would like to become a professional public speaker and consultant. Regarding her voice and presentation skills, her delivery is similar to that of a kindergarten teacher ...
Views: 3338 - ***When Your Inflection Sounds Like That of a Valley Girl! - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I watched an interesting documentary on military planes and the man describing the different parts of the plane ended every, single sentence on the up-swing. What this means is that the inflection he used with every statement sounded like a question. (Inflection refers to changes ...
Views: 2165 - ***How Fast Is Too Fast in Speaking - Be It in Conversation or at the Lectern? - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2012 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking too quickly is a problem not just for those of us who hail from one of the Mid-Atlantic States, it is a problem as well for many whose 1st language is not English. One of the fastest talkers I’ve encountered in the thousands with whom I have worked was a man from Portugal. But India ...
Views: 2060 - ***What Your Voice Is or Isn't Saying - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2012 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating for your listeners then when they are unable to distinguish what you really mean by what your voice is or isn’t doing. Given the wrong tone, the wrong inflection, the wrong volume or a total lack of vocal variety and your voice could be saying one thing when you mean ...
Views: 2240 - ***A Speaker Who Never Studied Voice Is Like a Surgeon Who Never Studied Biology - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI sometimes voice my opinion on a forum that deals with public speaking issues and it never fails to amaze me how few understand that the untrained speaking voice can be an absolute liability. When you are trying to deliver a presentation and are unable to control your speed, your breathing, ...
Views: 1869 - ***Approaching the Lectern With Grace and Composure - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThe first time I had to introduce myself professionally was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. I remember sitting, waiting for my turn to stand and walk to the lectern amidst 150 members of the London, Canada Chamber of Commerce. At first I was relaxed until it dawned on me ...
Views: 3052 - ***Public Speaking: What Novice Speakers Never Think to Do - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2012 from Nancy DanielsIt is simple, it is basic, it is fundamental, and, it is a necessity. It is something we do every day without a 2nd thought. At the lectern, however, it is something we do not allow to happen and yet it is something we cannot do without. It is called breathing. The 1st thing your body did ...
Views: 2757 - ***Excessive Nasality Smothers a Deep, Masculine Voice - by Submitted on Sep 04, 2012 from Nancy DanielsSo, you’re looking for a deeper, sexier speaking voice but you’ve got a nasal twang. Does this mean that you’re stuck with a high-pitched voice? No. Is it possible to have a better sound? You bet! Most people are not speaking at their optimum pitch or within their optimum range. The ...
Views: 2219 - ***3 Steps for Eliminating Nasality - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that excessive nasality can be most annoying for your listeners. Voices which possess excessive nasality sound like Fran Drescher, Don Johnson, and pro golfer, Jack Nicklaus. Of course, Fran Drescher has made a fortune on her sound which is akin to nails on a blackboard. If ...
Views: 2521(1 vote) - ***Just How Passionate Are You in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Aug 24, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThe one characteristic that all great public speakers possess is passion – intense, driving emotion that colors their speech, their facial expression and their body language. You hear it in their words; you see it in their actions; and, you can feel it in your soul. Their passion can motivate ...
Views: 2825 - ***3 Steps for Effectively Acknowledging Your Audience - by Submitted on Aug 24, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile the value of making eye contact with your audience is one of the most important things you can do in public speaking, it doesn’t mean that you should begin this process after you begin your delivery. It starts before you open your mouth to speak and is part of the confident posture you ...
Views: 5047 - ***How Professional Do You Sound If Your Voice Is Childlike? - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2012 from Nancy DanielsDo you find that others have difficulty taking you seriously because you sound like a 12 year-old or worse still, an 8-year-old? Yes, ladies, I am talking about answering the phone and the caller asks to speak to your mother! Some years ago, I worked with Janice who not only sounded like an ...
Views: 3006(1 vote) - ***Should You Warm Up Your Voice for Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2012 from Nancy DanielsUnless you are scheduled to speak at 7 in the morning, I would suggest not warming up the speaking voice. Since you use your speaking voice throughout your day, my question is ‘What is there to warm up?’ The speaking voice is not like the singing voice where you will be using several octaves, ...
Views: 1988 - ***Paint a Picture With Your Voice and Your Audience Will See It! - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what it means to paint a picture with your voice? Sean Connery can do it and so can Kevin Spacey. Kathleen Turner can do it as well as Diane Sawyer. And, in the world of public speaking, no one does it better than Zig Ziglar. When Kevin Spacey does the car commercials, you can ...
Views: 2769(1 vote) - ***Captivating Your Audience Means Speaking From Both Your Head and Your Heart - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsEver wonder why the best in the business are so successful when addressing an audience? Is it their message? How about their delivery? In truth, it is both of these components. While you may have an excellent message, without a dynamic delivery, your message will not be heard. Likewise, ...
Views: 1950(1 vote) - ***Public Speaking Is NOT About You - It Is About Them! - by Submitted on Jul 23, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYou’ve been invited to speak or perhaps your boss has ‘requested’ you speak. Whatever your reason for speaking, if you are like most people, nervousness takes over as you begin the process of anxiously awaiting the date. Hopefully, you create your speech or presentation well in advance and ...
Views: 3408(1 vote) - ***Is There Such a Thing As a Performance Voice in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsAbsolutely Not! I recently read a quip from a man on a public speaking social media website who is working with a voice coach. He said that “her normal talking voice in a one on one situation is massively different to her ‘performance’ speaking voice.” When I coach my clients, I explain ...
Views: 1657 - ***Do You Know the Difference Between the Specific Purpose and Central Idea of Your Speech or Presentation? - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile much talk is given about the delivery of the speech or presentation and the controlling of nervousness, often what is lacking is how to begin the creation of your material. Where do you start? Let’s assume that you have your topic. Your 1st step is to select your general purpose which is ...
Views: 9002 - ***The Best Training for Your Speaking Voice Means Learning to Breathe - The Right Way - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2012 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking to improve your speaking voice, your first priority is to find a coach who will teach you how to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. Breathing with this support is something most people are not doing. In fact, 99% of the population is renowned for being lazy or ...
Views: 3079(2 votes) - ***If Your Voice Is Childlike, What Image Are You Projecting? - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI hear it all the time: women phoning me and complaining that their voice sounds like that of a child. If you have this problem, then the image you are projecting is not one of confidence or maturity. The good news is that you have a better voice inside of you which is resonant and more ...
Views: 2329(6 votes) - ***Learn How to Increase Your Volume Without Shouting - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2012 from Nancy DanielsTo yell or shout is offensive to your listeners’ ears and can be offensive to your throat and vocal folds (cords) as well. Over time, continual yelling can do untold damage to both your pharynx and larynx. So what is the answer when you need to increase your volume? Learn how to speak with ...
Views: 2269(3 votes)