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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***The Use Of Vulgarities, Obscenities & Swearing In Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2008 from Nancy DanielsBecause we as a people are losing our sense of decency, vulgarities are becoming the norm in our everyday life: we see it in people’s actions; we see it in the entertainment world; we hear it in conversation on a daily basis. So how do we judge what is appropriate in public speaking? The ...
Views: 4780 - ***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: 4769(2 votes) - ***3 Steps for Stopping Vocal Abuse Once and For All - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou know you have vocal abuse but you don’t know what to do about it. Some may tell you to whisper (truly a no-no!) while others tell you to stop talking. Neither is the answer. Whispering is very hard on your vocal folds (cords) and should never be done. And, most people are not in a ...
Views: 4766(1 vote) - 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: 4759 - ***A Dynamic Delivery Can Make Even a Mediocre Speech Soar - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIdeally, it should be your goal to deliver an excellent speech or presentation with enthusiasm and passion. However, if you had to choose, which one do you think would be better? A great speech with a boring delivery? Or a mediocre speech given with expression and emotion? There is no simple ...
Views: 4755 - ***Help! I Don't Want to Sound Like My Mother! - by Submitted on Jan 15, 2011 from Nancy DanielsAs a child or a teenager, how many times did you say to yourself, “I will never say or do that which my mother is saying or doing?” Many of us can certainly testify to that statement; however, my question to you is not the words your mom may have used but the actual sound of her speaking voice. ...
Views: 4676(3 votes) - ***Man's Greatest Fear Need Not Be Yours! - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever questioned what you are truly afraid of in public speaking? Personally, I am glad that you are nervous; if you’re not, then something is wrong. All the greats – from professional athletes to entertainers are nervous. And, they will tell you so. It is their nervousness, however, ...
Views: 4632(1 vote) - ***Public Speaking: Using FORCE on a Word for Emphasis - by Submitted on Sep 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile there are various means of being expressive in speaking, one of the most common components is the use of force. Force refers to expending extra energy or strength on a particular word, phrase, or sentence for emphasis. The majority of the population use force at one time or another in ...
Views: 4629(1 vote) - ***5 Common Misconceptions about Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt is fascinating to listen to others explain why they sound the way they do. I am sure that I have heard it all in my many years teaching voice improvement. What I have found, however, is that you have a better voice inside no matter how you hear yourself or how others recognize your ...
Views: 4626 - ***Does Your Voice Quiver, Shake or Skip an Octave Just at the Thought of Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsImagine that you are standing in front of an audience. Your hands are cold and clammy, your knees are wobbly, and your stomach is in knots. You manage to smile but you can feel your lips twitching. You open your mouth to speak, praying that your trembling lips allow for your voice to come ...
Views: 4616(2 votes) - How to Deliver a Speech (And Not Sound Like You Are Reading It!) - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2015 from Nancy DanielsWhile you may be giving presentations in your business or your public speaking career, there are times in which you may be called upon to give an actual speech and not a presentation. One of the differences between the speech and the presentation is that the former should be read and the latter ...
Views: 4564 - ***3 Steps for Eliminating Valley GirlEse - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf your speech is symptomatic of the Valley Girl sound, you need to break the habit. Unless you are at a bar, speaking in Valley Girl-Ese gives the wrong impression, especially to prospective employers. They are looking for professionalism. Inflecting the pitch of your voice up at the end of ...
Views: 4480 - ***Take the Color Test and See What Your Voice Is or Isn't Saying - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsComedian and actor Ben Stein has a wonderful shtick in which he speaks in a monotonous, sing-song style. His droll manner makes him a lot of money for the commercials he does as well as some of the parts he has played in movies. Watching him is entertaining because his lack of color or ...
Views: 4476(1 vote) - ***If You Are Built Like Adonis But Sound Like a Wimp, She May Not Find You That Attractive! - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou work out every day. You eat the right foods. Your hair is in the latest style. Your clothes speak well of you. However, when you open your mouth to speak, what comes out is anything but what your visual image is saying. Women are attracted to a deep voice and if you have a high-pitched, ...
Views: 4463(6 votes) - ***Stop 'Screaming at the Top of Your Lungs' -- Start Projecting! - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSeveral years ago I made one of the greatest mistakes of my life. In coaching and rooting for my son’s soccer team, I felt my voice rip. I cannot explain the sensation, but, from that day on, I was unable to sing again. As one who teaches voice improvement, I did something which I know not to ...
Views: 4445(4 votes) - ***Stop Pushing Your Voice -- There Is a Better Way! - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I spoke to 2 individuals with the exact same problem. They were pushing their voices from their throats. In both cases, I had to move the phone away from my ear because they were so loud that it hurt. If you are pushing hard from your throat when you talk, not only is it ...
Views: 4432(1 vote) - ***Your Soft-Spoken Voice Is Impressing No One! - by Submitted on May 05, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most frustrating things for a listener is not hearing what the other person is saying. They are listening but they’re not hearing. After repeated attempts asking the speaker to increase his/her volume, they stop listening. If you want others to hear your message, then you must ...
Views: 4417(2 votes) - ***4 Steps for Eliminating a Verbal Tic - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2011 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more annoying for an audience than to be subjected to a verbal tic over and over and over again. Instead of paying attention to your message, your audience begins to count the tics. Verbal tics include the sounds um, ah, uh, or the words like or you know. If your message is ...
Views: 4352 - ***When the Pause Becomes Sing-Song in Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsFor all my talk, my articles, and the advice I give about the wonderful, marvelous pause in public speaking, a difficulty for some is that it can become rhythmic, taking on a sing-song effect. The one thing you never want from the pause is for your audience to know in advance when it is ...
Views: 4299 - ***Why You Need to Build Credibility in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Nancy DanielsLet’s say that you are interested in pursuing a career in public speaking. Or maybe you have a presentation due in your public speaking class. Possibly you are a member of Toastmasters and you are scheduled to speak at your next meeting. Why should people listen to you? Why should others ...
Views: 4287(6 votes) - ***When You Speak in a Monotone, You May Be Sending the Wrong Impression - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhether it is in public speaking, the sales presentation, or just normal conversation, speaking in a monotone does not captivate, enthuse, or even interest your listeners. If you know that you exhibit this trait, then it is important to realize that your delivery is flat, lifeless and dull, all ...
Views: 4282(1 vote) - ***What Is Color in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsColor is the life, the emotion, the animation, and the passion you express in speaking. Whether you are in conversation, holding a conference call, or giving a speech or presentation, not expressing color when you talk is referred to as speaking in monotone. Another way of saying it is ...
Views: 4279(6 votes) - ***Take the Test to See If Your Speaking Voice Is Plagued by Excessive Nasality - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen you think of Fran Drescher in her role as The Nanny, what thought first comes to mind? Her beauty or her nasal voice? For many people, their first thought is her whiny voice which, over time, can be quite annoying, even nerve-wracking, for her listeners. While Drescher’s infamous sound ...
Views: 4278 - ***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 ...
Views: 4273(1 vote) - ***Good Voice Training Means Discovering the Voice You Don’t Know You Have - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThere are various approaches to voice training that you should be aware of if you are interested in improving your vocal image. Even some coaches who are published will not teach you the basic fundamental of good voice improvement because they are working with the voice you already have. Good ...
Views: 4271 - ***3 Steps for Making Your Speaking Voice One of Your Greatest Assets - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsMost people who hear themselves on their voicemail or answering machine do not like what they hear. How do you feel when you hear yourself on some form of recording equipment? When you think about the image you project, be it in person or over the phone, would you consider your recorded voice ...
Views: 4270 - ***Why Men Don't Listen! - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI am about to be politically incorrect. When you reach a certain point in life, however, you discover from experience that some generalizing is correct. From my many years teaching voice improvement, I have found that women tend to be more expressive in speaking. I have also discovered that ...
Views: 4267(1 vote) - ***If Your Voice Is Wimpy, Weak or Soft, What Message Is It Sending? - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2012 from Nancy DanielsDo you think that the sound of your speaking voice effects how others perceive you? If the voice you hear on your voicemail or some other form of recording equipment has any of the above traits, then the image you are projecting is quite possibly that you are characteristic of those ...
Views: 4264(1 vote) - ***Are You Nasal, Denasal, or Possibly Both? - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile everyone recognizes a nasal voice in which excessive sound is traveling through the nose while speaking, many are unaware of the opposite extreme known as denasality. When you are congested or if you suffer from allergies, often the result is a voice in which little or no sound is able to ...
Views: 4260(5 votes) - ***Instead of Trying to Have the Deepest Voice, Why Not Strive for the Best? - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you do a bit of research on the internet, you will discover a number of websites promising to teach you how to have a deep voice. What is interesting about these ‘quack’ sites and even more questionable ‘authorities,’ is that not everyone has the ability to be a bass. It just isn’t ...
Views: 4234(4 votes) - ***Did You Know That Voice Training Will Improve Your Diction Automatically? - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business, I was showing my husband the 'before & after' video clips of my clients. A German-speaking Austrian, he was amazed at how much better he understood their words in the 'after' takes. What is fascinating is that I did not work with my clients on their diction - ...
Views: 4231 - ***Think Your Mumbling Doesn't Matter? Think Again! - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are a mumbler, the chances are you a man. I know; I know. While generalizing may not be politically correct, from my vast experience and background, I have found that mumbling is more common among men – especially tall men; whereas, women tend to get lockjaw. The problem for those ...
Views: 4217(1 vote) - ***Animal Magnetism and the Male Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 13, 2009 from Nancy DanielsConsider the following scenario: there are two men both equally attractive. One has a voice that is warm, rich and deep. The other man has a voice that is soft, high-pitched, wimpy. Which man do you think women will find more attractive? If you guessed the man with the dynamic voice then ...
Views: 4169 - ***What is Your Greatest Fear in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWith all the articles written on nervousness in public speaking, I thought I would approach this topic from a different perspective. Everyone gets nervous in public speaking (or should). There is a reason why it is man’s greatest fear. The question I would like to ask you is what is the one ...
Views: 4131(7 votes) - ***Discover Your 'Real' Voice and Listen to What Happens to Your Nasality! - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNasality, whether it is excessive as in the Brooklyn or Bronx sound, a little more gutteral like Philly talk, twangy as we hear in Texas or only slightly exaggerated as in the speech of Detroit or the Midwest, occurs when voiced sounds travel through the nose. While not all nasality is bad, too ...
Views: 4102 - ***Good Diction Could Be the Deciding Factor in Who Gets the Job - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2011 from Nancy DanielsToday, good diction is on the decline. We are a nation of people who mumble, speak too quickly, or are generally too lazy to make the effort to speak clearly. In addition, we are the world’s largest melting pot with millions of people whose accent may be difficult to understand. If you ...
Views: 4101(1 vote) - ***Why We Are Attracted to a Deep Voice - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to the speaking voice, those which are most appealing to your ear, tend to be deep in pitch. Think of James Earl Jones, Felicia Rashad, Diane Sawyer and Sean Connery. All of these voices have a depth and breadth that you do not hear with the likes of Fran Drescher or Don Johnson. ...
Views: 4099(3 votes) - ***How Do You Exude Confidence and Composure in Public Speaking When You Are Dying a Thousand Deaths? - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYes, nervousness in public speaking may be man’s greatest fear but those nervous jitters do not mean you cannot exude confidence and composure in the process. We often wrongly believe that the secret to dynamic public speaking is to eliminate our nervousness. Nothing could be further from the ...
Views: 4098 - ***Why We Find a Deep Voice Sexy - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsConsider the actors who have great voices: George Clooney, Cher, Vin Diesel, Julia Ormond, Kathleen Turner, Sean Connery, Peter Coyote, Morgan Freeman, Catherine Zeta Jones, Kate Beckinsale, James Earl Jones, Ashley Judd and the late great Barry White, to name a few. Now think about the voices ...
Views: 4084 - ***3 Steps for Adding Color to a Monotone Voice - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are plagued with a voice that puts your listeners to sleep, it might be an idea to learn how to add some color – some life – some emotion to your delivery. Because we are unable to hear our own voice as others do, we are also unable to recognize when our delivery is less than expressive. ...
Views: 4053(1 vote) - ***The Right Attitude in Public Speaking is the Right Approach - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHow you feel effects how you speak, and, if you are feeling poorly, either physically or emotionally, it may be heard in your voice. Another situation that can affect your attitude in public speaking is if you are not pleased with the material you are presenting. If such is the case, then your ...
Views: 4050(4 votes) - ***Let Your Chest Do Your Talking and Your Childlike Sound Will Be Gone - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt always amazes me when I hear someone on the phone who sounds like a teenage, pre-teen, or younger still, and am later surprised to discover a mature individual who is well over 21. If your voice sounds like that of a child, what image do you think you project, not only over the phone but in ...
Views: 4049 - ***The Best Way to Eliminate Excessive Nasality in Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA few years ago, my son’s 7th grade teacher had the strange ability to increase the volume of her voice by means of her nose. While I have worked with thousands of people in voice and presentation skills, this particular ‘skill’ is something I had never heard before and haven’t heard since. ...
Views: 4041 - ***Are You Ready to End Your Chronic Hoarseness and Persistent Sore Throats? - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you suffer from chronic hoarseness and are not sick, then you are likely in the throes of vocal abuse. While it is possible that certain antihistamines or other types of medications can produce irritation in your throat, for many people, prescribed drugs are not the cause. Vocal abuse is. ...
Views: 4036(3 votes) - ***The Value of Recording Yourself Before the Interview - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, the video recorder is one of the best pieces of equipment you have for honing your skills. The ability to see and hear yourself in action is a marvelous learning tool, especially if you can get someone to help you by asking the questions. There is no doubt that it is easier to ...
Views: 4025 - ***If You Want A Deeper Speaking Voice, Do Not Do This! - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently I have been reading some questionable articles about the various ways in which you can gain a deeper voice and I am appalled at the number of people who are giving advice. People who have no understanding of or training in the speaking voice. In addition, their tips and tricks are ...
Views: 4013(3 votes) - ***What is Your Greatest Fear in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWith all the articles written on nervousness in public speaking, I thought I would approach this topic from a different perspective. Everyone gets nervous in public speaking (or should). There is a reason why it is man’s greatest fear. The question I would like to ask you is what is the one ...
Views: 3998(8 votes) - ***When You Answer the Phone, Does the Caller Ask to Speak to Your Mother or Father? - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more humiliating then answering the phone and having the caller ask to speak to your mom or your dad and you are 20 or 40 or 60-years-old! While this problem is generally more common among women than men, it is demoralizing to have others think you are a child over the phone. ...
Views: 3997(4 votes) - ***Stop Shouting -- Learn the Power of Projection - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDoes this sound like you? You spend a few hours at a football game and find you have no voice afterwards. Or perhaps you are coaching your kid’s soccer team and, after an hour of practice, you have a sore throat. Or maybe you have been providing some training sessions and your voice is hoarse ...
Views: 3983(1 vote) - ***If the Thought of Public Speaking Gives You Heart Palpitations, You Must See The King's Speech - by Submitted on Mar 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, The King’s Speech deserved its Oscars and I would recommend it to all. Yes, I enjoyed the biographical aspects and the acting; but, what is even more insightful is how this man was able to overcome a debilitating vocal ‘handicap’ in order to deliver speeches during his reign as ...
Views: 3949(2 votes)