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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***The 5 Biggest Mistakes Made in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsI recently had the opportunity to hear a world-renowned public speaker and was surprised as well as disappointed by his delivery. While his message was excellent, his means of delivering that message would have gotten him a C- in my college public speaking class. Without a doubt, content is ...
Views: 6290(2 votes) - ***A Pill for Nervousness in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently, I read about a pill you can take to eliminate your nervousness in public speaking. I was floored! Why would you take a pill to get rid of that which is so beneficial when delivering a speech or presentation? The problem for many people is that they are intent on ridding ...
Views: 6277(1 vote) - ***Do You Know the Difference Between an Anecdote and Story in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2011 from Nancy DanielsGood public speaking requires the use of anecdotes throughout your presentation and, in some cases, stories. All anecdotes are stories but not all stories are anecdotes. While the anecdote is usually shorter than a story, do you know what distinguishes the two? An anecdote is a true story; ...
Views: 6228 - ***The Differences between Speaking to a Large Group Versus a Small One - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIn addressing an audience, be it to 4 people or 400, one factor will remain the same: the format of your presentation. You will still have an opening, a development, and a closing. However, there are major differences in your delivery as well as your contact with your audience which is ...
Views: 6187(2 votes) - ***Does Your Voice Drop Off at the End of Your Sentences? - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you find that your voice drops off at the end of your sentences, you are probably male. While this problem is not confined to the male sex, it is much more common among men than women. Why this happens could be for a few different reasons. 1. Fear of Interruption. You are hoping ...
Views: 6160 - ***Is Your Choppy Speech Putting Your Audience to Sleep? - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2009 from Nancy DanielsChoppiness in speaking occurs when you pause too often. Pausing in conversational speech is normal; pausing during a speech or presentation is ideal. Pausing too often, however, is tedious for the listener and is referred to as choppy speech. The problem with choppy speech is that you ...
Views: 6054(2 votes) - ***3 Ways to Be More Expressive in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you find that you have difficulty speaking with emotion when addressing an audience, then your nervousness is in control and you are not. When that happens, it is not easy to allow for any expression in public speaking aside from the look of near death because you are allowing for your ...
Views: 6044(2 votes) - ***Discover The Best Way to Cure Mumbling Now! - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsTired of repeating yourself? Not sure if mumbling is the problem? If you are asked to repeat yourself a lot, you may be soft-spoken, you may be speaking unclearly because of an accent, you may be talking too fast, or you may be a mumbler. It is also possible that some or all of the above ...
Views: 6028(3 votes) - ***The 3 Factors That Determine the Quality of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years as a voice coach, I have learned more from my clients than any book or theory on voice. What has been extremely fascinating is what I have discovered as to why we sound the way we do. It didn't start out as a study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my clients ...
Views: 5981(3 votes) - ***Are Men With Deeper Voices More Attractive? - by Submitted on May 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that women judge a man’s attractiveness by more than just his looks. Two qualities that the female sex takes note of are a man’s confidence and his voice. A deep, rich sound is definitely more alluring to her ears than a high-pitched, nasal whine or a weak and wimpy squawk. ...
Views: 5930 - ***How Important Is the Image You Project to Others? - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIn today’s hectic, competitive world, image is something that you are probably concerned about. Be it your physical appearance or the content of what you say, you know that the person you project to the world matters. However, have you ever considered what the sound of your speaking voice is ...
Views: 5891(1 vote) - ***When Nervousness Makes Your Voice Quiver - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHas this ever happened to you? You stand to give your speech or presentation; and, when you begin speaking what comes out of your mouth is higher in pitch and quivering to boot. So what is to be done? In most cases, nervousness is the cause of the quiver. (There are some voices, however, ...
Views: 5865(2 votes) - ***4 Tips for Eliminating the Ums and Ahs in Public Speaking, You Know? - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most annoying traits among some public speakers, be they professional or novice, is verbal disfluency. According to Wikipedia, verbal disfluencies are, “any of various breaks, irregularities, or utterances that are often not consistent with any specific grammatical construction and ...
Views: 5856 - ***Why Men Mumble and Women are Afflicted with Lockjaw - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDo others often ask you to repeat yourself because they don’t understand you? If you are a man, it is possible that you mumble. Mumbling is easy to recognize: sound is definitely coming out of the mouth however the lips are not moving. if you are a woman, on the other hand, then it is more ...
Views: 5776(3 votes) - How to Train Your Voice to Be More Charismatic - by Submitted on Dec 02, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThere is an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal, by the same title, about the charismatic influence your voice can have in your professional life. Having analyzed the voices of leaders in countries such as Brazil, France, and Italy, scientists have found that those who exhibited ...
Views: 5770 - ***Losing Your Voice by the End of the Day? - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI cannot tell you how many people I meet who tell me that they are losing their voice by the end of the day. When this occurs, often they have little, if any, voice the following morning. And, it is not just happening to those on the campaign trail. This type of vocal abuse is common among ...
Views: 5738(2 votes) - ***The Benefits of Your Adrenaline Rush Far Outweigh Your Nervousness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf nervousness is keeping you from making that ‘dreaded’ presentation, might I suggest a different approach to your thought process? Instead of focusing on your nerves or your fear, why not focus on your success? Whether you are scheduled to speak for your boss, for your own business, or for ...
Views: 5700 - ***Is the Tone of Your Voice Distant or Inviting? - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to the speaking voice, tone deals with the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, your tone can have a surprising influence on how your topic or subject is perceived. If you were to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than were you ...
Views: 5655(1 vote) - ***A Monotone Voice Does Not Sell in Public Speaking or Anywhere Else for That Matter! - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking in monotone is more than just a problem. It is boring. There is no other way to say it. The problem with a monotone delivery is that it puts your audience to sleep and it does so very quickly. If actors were to speak in monotone, television, movies and theaters would not be one of ...
Views: 5639(4 votes) - ***How to Find Anecdotes for Your Speech or Presentation - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsFor many of us who have spent years in business, our anecdotes are many and varied. There is no doubt that experience is not only the best teacher, but affords us many stories and anecdotes throughout our business careers. What does the novice speaker do, however, when his/her experience is ...
Views: 5608(2 votes) - ***The Value of a Smile in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Nancy DanielsImagine standing at the lectern. You see the many smiling faces of those in your audience. Your countenance, however, says anything but that you are glad to be there. While you may not be thrilled at the prospect of giving that speech or presentation, if your face displays your displeasure, ...
Views: 5595(3 votes) - ***What Is Your General Purpose in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, it is important to establish your general purpose before you even begin the creation of your material. What is your reason for speaking? Have you been asked to speak at a business convention or give the convocation speech at your alma mater? Maybe you are ...
Views: 5593 - ***If You Look Like a Goddess, But Sound Like a Bimbo, He May Not Find You That Hot! - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYes, Fran Drescher is a beautiful woman, but when she opens her mouth to speak, it is hard to take her seriously. If you are hoping to meet the man of your dreams, have you ever considered what your speaking voice is saying about you? Do you sound nasal and high-pitched or whiny and irritating ...
Views: 5537(1 vote) - ***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: 5518 - ***Furtive Glances Are Not the Same As Making Eye Contact with Your Audience - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you have trouble making eye contact with your audience, I suggest you make every attempt to change that practice. A young lawyer with whom I was working would glance about the room, briefly looking at someone and then immediately glancing at someone else, never actually seeing any of us in ...
Views: 5477(4 votes) - ***Honesty Is the Best Policy in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn addressing an audience, it is important to have researched your topic and to know your material extremely well. This is a no-brainer. However, is it possible to know everything about your topic? If you are young and new to the public speaking world, probably not. Even those with a lot of ...
Views: 5474(1 vote) - ***The Truth About Chronic Hoarseness and Voice Loss - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsMany people suffer from chronic hoarseness, sore throats and even loss of voice; and, most of these people do so because of misuse of the speaking voice. It is common; it is world wide; and, it is a growing concern. Through the years that I’ve had a website on voice improvement, 40% of those ...
Views: 5387(3 votes) - ***Why Recording Yourself in Public Speaking is Priceless - by Submitted on May 04, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen you practice your material for your speech or presentation, do you record yourself by means of a camcorder? If not, then you should definitely consider this important step in the process of preparing for your delivery. Camcorders today are not that expensive. Look at the purchase of this ...
Views: 5380 - ***Content Or Delivery - What Counts The Most? - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2008 from Nancy DanielsWhile some academics may argue that one’s content is more important than one’s delivery, I beg to differ. If one’s delivery is of lesser value than one’s content, why not copy the speech, pass it out, and then everyone can go home or back to work? Assuming your audience is there to hear you ...
Views: 5293 - ***If You Clip Your Words, Your Message Can Get Lost - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsRecently I was talking on my cell phone to a woman from my credit card company and I was continually asking her to repeat herself. When our business was completed, I told her that because of the way she clipped her words, I had missed much of what she was saying. Admittedly, had I been facing ...
Views: 5254 - ***Public Speaking: The Positive Effects of Nervousness - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIt never ceases to amaze me how many people want to get rid of their nervousness in public speaking. In truth, they should embrace that wonderful rush of adrenaline. If you’re not nervous when presenting, then I am because being overly confident is never a good thing in public speaking or any ...
Views: 5253 - ***The 3 Benefits of Nervousness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile you may not think that nervousness is beneficial in public speaking or for that matter in any other type of live performance, be it in the performing arts or in professional sports, the truth is that there are wonderful bonuses of the dreaded adrenaline rush. Many people, however, are ...
Views: 5218(6 votes) - ***Troubled by Hoarseness or a Persistent Sore Throat? - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou have been to a specialist and been told that there is nothing medically wrong but you still suffer from hoarseness and/or a persistent sore throat. You may even lose your voice by the end of the day. Yet the doctor sees nothing wrong with your throat or vocal cords aside from some redness. ...
Views: 5210(1 vote) - ***If You Are Soft-Spoken, Your Message Is Not Being Heard - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsI once met a man who told me that his soft-spoken voice made others become quiet and pay attention to him. It took everything in my power not to laugh in his face. In today’s loud, fast-paced, hectic world, being soft-spoken is definitely not a strength, especially in America. To be ...
Views: 5201(4 votes) - ***Does a Hot, Sexy Voice Matter? - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf the numbers are correct and 37% of the image you project is the sound of your speaking voice, then without a doubt, having a hot, sexy voice that exudes warmth and sensuality is a turn-on. For both men and women, deeper voices are much more attractive to the listeners’ ears than a ...
Views: 5196(1 vote) - ***The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response in Public Speaking – Which Reaction Describes You? - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSo, you have been scheduled, invited, or commanded to speak. It could be the quarterly budget report for your firm. Maybe you are a member of Toastmasters. You could be enrolled in a local public speaking course. Perhaps it is your best friend’s wedding. Whatever the reason for your ...
Views: 5184 - ***How Loud Is Too Loud in Speaking? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you find others recoiling when you speak, it could be that you talk too loudly. While those who speak too softly far outnumber those who are too loud, the difficulty with the loud voice is that it is offensive to your listener’s ears. How loud is too loud? If you have been told that ...
Views: 5154(2 votes) - ***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: 5133 - Why Speaking Louder Is Not the Answer If You Are Soft-Spoken - by Submitted on Nov 04, 2014 from Nancy DanielsAs a voice coach, I hate the word loud when it is used in conjunction with the speaking voice. Loud hurts your listeners’ ears; and, over time, loud can hurt your throat. I don’t want you to speak louder – I want you to speak with more power, with an increase in your volume which is not ...
Views: 5133 - ***Kevin Spacey Is Proof That You Don't Need a Deep Voice to Have a Great Voice - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2010 from Nancy DanielsMany men wish that the pitch of their speaking voice was deeper – similar to that of James Earl Jones or Vin Diesel. You don’t need to be a bass, however, to have a great speaking voice; and, Kevin Spacey is proof of it. Warm, resonant, rich and melodious, Spacey’s voice is very soothing and, ...
Views: 5129(1 vote) - ***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: 5059 - ***Next Time You Give Your Personal Introduction, Why Not Stand Out From the Crowd? - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOh, how I dislike the business lunch or dinner meeting in which everyone must stand and introduce themselves. What we tend to hear, one after the other, is a name, a profession, and a place of business that becomes sing-song after the 1st introduction. Not only is it spoken in a lilt, but ...
Views: 4979 - ***Plagued by Tightness, Soreness, or Tension in Your Jaw? - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile this particular problem can affect men, tension in the jaw is much more common in women. Women carry stress differently than men and it usually affects us in our shoulders, neck and/or jaw regions. If you are experiencing tightness or soreness in your jaw, it is more than likely that it ...
Views: 4951(5 votes) - ***Your Soft-Spoken Voice Is Not an Asset – It Is a Liability! - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking in a normal volume of sound can be especially tricky for the soft-spoken. If you are asked to repeat yourself or are often interrupted, then you should consider remedying the problem if you expect others to hear what you have to say. Those who are unable to hear you, tire of asking ...
Views: 4946(1 vote) - Do You Sound Like a Valley Girl When You Speak? - by Submitted on Dec 19, 2014 from Nancy DanielsEnding your sentences on the upswing is what I call the Valley Girl sound. Basically, it means that your statements sound like questions. It may be cute for 16-year-olds, but it definitely does not lend credibility to a professional image. If you are ending your sentences on a pitch higher ...
Views: 4910 - ***3 Tips for Addressing a Mixed Audience - by Submitted on Jan 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsAs a speaker, there are times you might be addressing an all-female audience or an all-male audience. Unless your topic is geared to just women or just men, however, you will find that, in most instances, your audiences are mixed. The question is how mixed are they and does it matter? The ...
Views: 4886(1 vote) - ***If Your Eyes Are the Window to Your Soul, What Do Yours Reveal in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen I work with my clients in color – the life, the emotion, the animation we express in speaking – one of the many exercises we cover is one in which they must say, “She said yes,” in a fearful manner. Many people have difficulty saying those three words as if they were in fear. Of course, I ...
Views: 4859(1 vote) - ***Use Your Mind, But Speak From Your Heart at the Lectern - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile knowledge of your speech or presentation is invaluable in public speaking, if you are unable to speak from your heart, then all your knowledge is for naught. The best in public speaking are those who are able to excite, captivate, and enthrall their listeners. And, none of those ...
Views: 4812(3 votes) - ***3 Things You Must Do to Improve the Sound of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for answers when it comes to improving the sound of your speaking voice, there are 3 things you should seek in your training because there are sseveral different approaches. You will find articles, books, CDs, and DVDs all promising to improve your voice. Which approach is ...
Views: 4806(8 votes) - ***Speaking In Monotone - How To Be More Expressive In Your Delivery - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2008 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years teaching voice improvement and presentation skills, I have found some interesting correlations between personality types and the degree of expressiveness heard and seen in people. While I am about to be most ‘politically incorrect,’ those who tend to be more expressive in ...
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