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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***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 ...
Views: 1965 - ***When Your Speech Is Too Fast, You're More Likely to Have an Accident! - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSpeed in public speaking, or for that matter, in any type of communication, is very similar to that in driving a vehicle. If you move along at 100 miles an hour, you stand a greater chance of having an accident than if you are doing 75 mph. While I am a strong advocate of learning how to ...
Views: 1962(5 votes) - ***Knowing Your Audience is Your 1st Step in Creating Your Speech or Presentation - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen you are asked, requested, or invited to speak, whether it is for your company, a business organization, a leads club, or some type of conference, how familiar are you with your audience and their needs? As much as you may want to deliver a stellar presentation, if you do not know to whom ...
Views: 1961(2 votes) - ***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: 1960(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: 1954 - ***5 Ways Your Voice May Be Sabotaging Your Success - by Submitted on Apr 29, 2014 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago, Barbara Walters interviewed Kathleen Turner, commenting on Turner’s “low, wonderful voice.” The actress responded that she could not understand how a woman could spend thousands of dollars on her clothing, hair, and makeup and not spend some of that money on her voice, as she ...
Views: 1951 - ***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: 1947 - ***Watch Your Body Language in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever considered what your body is saying when you are addressing an audience – even just talking in your living room or sitting at the kitchen table? Referred to as body language, non-verbal communication is expressed by the posture of your body, your gestures and even your face. ...
Views: 1945 - ***Mastering Movement While Presenting in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2012 from Nancy DanielsA problem you may have in public speaking is how to move effectively and what to do with your hands. There are no absolutes in being expressive in your delivery aside from exhibiting no expression, the latter of which is boring and most certainly the fastest way to put your audience to ...
Views: 1939 - ***Why You Should Not Seek Perfection in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen you have a job at hand, is your goal to do it perfectly or to the best of your ability? Be honest with yourself in answering that question because, in public speaking, it could mean the difference between a dynamic presentation and one that is so-so. Without a doubt, there are some ...
Views: 1935 - The Tone of Your Voice Tells a Story - What Is Yours Saying? - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2017 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. Were you to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than if you were ...
Views: 1927 - ***Color Is What Makes for a Dynamic Delivery in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most remarkable aspects of color – the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking – is that there is no right or wrong. Certainly your attitude can affect your color, which I discussed in my last article, but the true beauty of speaking with expression is that it is as ...
Views: 1918 - ***If You Are Looking For a Professional Image, Do Not Forget Your Voice - by Submitted on May 17, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYes, we take professional development courses of all shapes and sizes. And, there is no doubt that in today’s business world, having an edge over the other candidates for a job or a promotion or even a sales contract can bring the success you are seeking. Have you ever considered, however, the ...
Views: 1916(1 vote) - *** What Constitutes Perfection in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhat constitutes perfection in public speaking? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You can type a paper perfectly. You can have a perfect score on a test. You can sew or cut a perfectly straight line. But who is to say that a presentation or a speech is delivered perfectly? Perfection in such a ...
Views: 1906(1 vote) - ***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: 1902(1 vote) - Hate How You Sound on a Recording? - by Submitted on Nov 25, 2014 from Nancy DanielsDoes this sound familiar? You hear a recording of your voice and you cringe? Perhaps you are embarrassed. Well, you are not alone. Most people do not recognize what they hear on the recording because it does not sound like the voice they hear in their head. Unfortunately, the voice on the ...
Views: 1896 - ***Are Your Projecting Your Voice or Are You Shouting? - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI had a wonderful experience recently as the proud parent of an officer in training in the United States Army. 137 young men and women were given their branching orders. They walked onto the stage alone, faced the audience and said “I’m Intermediate Officer Candidate,” followed by their last ...
Views: 1890 - ***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: 1889 - ***Do You Know the Most Valuable Part of Your Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, your audience is your most important commodity, your most valuable asset, in public speaking. Without an audience, you have no presentation or speech; therefore, it is crucial that you, as the speaker, value your audience in both the creation and presentation of your ...
Views: 1887(1 vote) - ***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: 1879 - ***Do Not Ignore a Persistent Sore Throat - by Submitted on Dec 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIf a persistent sore throat or chronic hoarseness is something you are experiencing, your 1st step is to find out the cause. If left unattended, it will likely get worse and possibly result in permanent damage to your speaking voice. What I am talking about is known as vocal abuse and it is ...
Views: 1875 - ***Public Speaking Is the Art of Communicating WITH an Audience - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for the best means of delivering a speech or presentation, the first thing you need to understand is that public speaking is a form of oral communication with an audience. Too often, speakers do not recognize that this form of delivery is a 2-way street. They assume that the ...
Views: 1873(1 vote) - ***How to End Breathlessness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is that they run out of air in public speaking. And, not surprisingly, breathlessness at the lectern often goes hand in hand with nervousness. Let’s look at the picture in its entirety. Nervousness does not cause breathlessness. It ...
Views: 1863 - ***Too Much Nose in Speaking Is Not a Good Thing! - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2013 from Nancy DanielsExcessive nasality or too much nose in speaking definitely has a negative impact on your listeners. A whiny voice can be shrill and is much akin to nails on a blackboard. The good news is that you can eliminate the excess nasal sounds in your voice if you practice and retrain your ‘inner ear’ ...
Views: 1861 - ***Freezing, Forgetting, & Other Foibles In Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2008 from Nancy DanielsNo matter what your phobia in addressing an audience, there is a reason that man’s greatest fear is public speaking: we don’t want to make a fool of ourselves. And, no matter how many courses or programs you take, no matter which techniques you use to control, eliminate, or ignore your ...
Views: 1859 - ***Who Makes the Better Audience - Men or Women? - by Submitted on May 29, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business some years ago, I was told that, “insurance people think they’re perfect but realtors know it.” While this was an interesting tidbit I stored away for future reference, I have found that audiences vary far beyond those in the insurance or real estate ...
Views: 1851 - ***The Eulogy - Allowing for Your Emotions - by Submitted on Sep 23, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI recently attended my uncle’s memorial service and it was wonderful to watch 4 of his 6 children talk about him. There is no doubt that all were experiencing butterflies as they stood at the lectern but they did an excellent job controlling their nervousness. The expression of their emotions, ...
Views: 1848(1 vote) - ***Public Speaking: Should You Thank Your Audience Or Not? - by Submitted on Aug 11, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThere is much debate as to the idea of thanking your audience. Some suggest never doing it while others recommend it be done as your parting words. There are even those who prefer that you thank your audience twice, both in your introduction and in your closing. Thanking your audience in ...
Views: 1844 - Imagine the Audience Is in Their Underwear? You Must Be Kidding! - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2014 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first heard the phrase, ‘imagine your audience is sitting in their underwear,' I thought the speech coaches who suggested this were kidding. But they’re not. They are serious. They believe that by focusing on this visualization, you will eliminate your nervousness. The last thing ...
Views: 1839 - ***What Causes Debilitating Fear At The Lectern? - by Submitted on Feb 20, 2008 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years teaching voice and presentation skills, I have found that those who experience truly debilitating, gut-wrenching fear of public speaking have had a bad experience sometime during their elementary or even middle school years when they’ve been required to stand and speak. ...
Views: 1835(1 vote) - ***One Simple Technique That Can Change Your Life Forever - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2013 from Nancy DanielsWhen I was in graduate school studying music composition, my singing professor told me that I was not using my ‘real’ voice when I spoke. I had no idea what she was talking about. I thought the voice you had was the voice you would always have. She then explained that the pitch of my ...
Views: 1828(2 votes) - ***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: 1821 - ***Forget Perfection in Public Speaking - Seek Excellence! - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, my most difficult clients are those of the A-type personality who are seeking to deliver a perfect presentation. Let me ask you this. What is perfection in public speaking? Do you have a definition for such a thing? The art of oral communication with an ...
Views: 1811 - ***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: 1809 - ***The Best Way to Conquer Nervousness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 29, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThere is a lot of information on the internet today about eliminating your nervousness in public speaking. I suggest learning how to control it instead, allowing your nervousness to work for you and not against you which can take your delivery to new heights. What I offer is not a tip or a ...
Views: 1804(1 vote) - ***Your Speaking Voice and 'What Lies Beneath' - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou have a much more dynamic voice inside of you. You have a voice that is probably deeper in pitch than your habitual voice. You have a voice that is rich, warm and resonant. How can I say these things and be confident in my analysis of your voice without ever having heard you? Because ...
Views: 1802 - ***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: 1799 - ***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: 1795 - A Voice Without Expression Is Like a Garden Without Color - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2014 from Nancy DanielsFor 5 months of the year, my garden is brown, lifeless, and dull. Were it to remain colorless through the rest of the year, I would have no passion or interest in gardening. That which makes the voice interesting to listen to – by means of your vocal variety, facial expression, and body ...
Views: 1783 - ***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: 1773 - ***Don't Push Your Voice - Empower It! - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2014 from Nancy DanielsOne of the difficulties people have with their speaking voice is that they have no control over it. They push hard from their throat and vocal cords to speak instead of allowing their sound to be powered by their chest cavity. And the difference between these two practices can be quite ...
Views: 1760 - ***Believing In Yourself At The Lectern - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2008 from Nancy DanielsOne of the characteristics of dynamic public speakers is that they believe in themselves. We all know that public speaking is man’s greatest fear; however, if you approach the lectern doubting yourself, how successful do you think you will be? Believing you cannot do it is a recipe for ...
Views: 1757 - ***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: 1753 - Speaking with Color - You Don't Want Too Much Or Too Little - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2014 from Nancy DanielsColor refers to those various effects in speech which give life to your delivery. Another way to describe color is the emotion and the animation heard in your voice and seen in your body language and facial expression when talking. The interesting thing about color is that you don’t want too ...
Views: 1753 - ***5 Questions You Need to Ask When Invited to Speak - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2013 from Nancy DanielsToo often we concern ourselves with The How of public speaking and give much less thought to 5 other questions we should be asking of our host. Yes, your public speaking skills may be top notch, however, there are certain things you need to know before you do anything else. All 5 questions ...
Views: 1751 - 3 Things You Must Do If You Want a Sexy Voice - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2014 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever noticed that the best speaking voices in the business are deep, rich, and warm? Think of those actors – both men and women – who are known for having a great sound. Who is your favorite? James Earl Jones or Sean Connery or George Clooney? How about Angelina Jolie, Felicia ...
Views: 1749 - ***Voice Training: Hate Hearing Yourself on Your Voicemail? - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2013 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt about it. Most people not only dislike hearing themselves on recording equipment, but they also don’t want to believe what they hear. The unfortunate truth about what you hear on your voicemail, camcorder, or some other form of recording is that that sound is exactly how ...
Views: 1744(1 vote) - Just How Good Is Your Diction? - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2014 from Nancy DanielsWhile it is true that most people do not like to hear themselves on recording equipment because they do not like or recognize the sound of their speaking voice, there is another group of people who are also surprised by their lack of clear diction. And it does not just happen to those in which ...
Views: 1737 - ***Vocal Abuse: Unless You Change How You Place Your Voice, It Will Never Go Away - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI recently received an email from a man who runs a museum in Australia inquiring whether he could include my blog posts in his newsletters for his museum guides. Why would a museum guide need information on the voice? Because his employees often speak non-stop throughout their day. Anyone ...
Views: 1736 - ***In Public Speaking, How Much Value Do You Place on Your Voice? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYou have prepared your material and practiced it out loud. You are comfortable making eye contact with your audience and you speak with emotion, life and animation. Everything is a go or is it? Have you ever considered the vehicle that is transporting your message? Do you place any value on ...
Views: 1732(2 votes)