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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***If You Clip Your Words, Your Message Can Get Lost - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently I was talking to a woman on the phone 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 her in conversation, it would ...
Views: 2698(2 votes) - ***Voice Training Can Change Your Life - Both Professionally and Personally - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsIf you are like most people, you probably don't like hearing yourself on your voicemail or answering machine. Did you know, however, that what you hear on any type of recording equipment is exactly how everyone else recognizes you? Your inner ear, the means by which you hear your own voice ...
Views: 2696(2 votes) - ***Why the Soft-Spoken Voice Does Not Sell - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen people ask you to repeat yourself, do you think that you have been speaking loudly enough? Do you often get interrupted when you are talking? Do you feel that no one is listening to you? If you are soft-spoken, I’m sure that I just hit a nerve. You are being talked over or interrupted ...
Views: 2691 - ***One of the Best Kept Secrets of Dynamic Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what one of the best kept secrets is in public speaking? It has nothing to do with your material but is vital in your delivery. All the great speakers do it while many novices do not. It is easy to do and natural. In fact, you do it in normal conversation with your family, ...
Views: 2690(1 vote) - ***Is There a Difference Between Fear and Nervousness in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSome people are terrified just by the thought of public speaking; other people are nervous right before and during the opening of their speech or presentation. Is there a difference between the two? Most definitely. Fear is debilitating while I find nervousness to be a blessing. Webster’s ...
Views: 2686(4 votes) - ***If 37% of the Image You Project is the Sound of Your Voice -- Uh-Oh! - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsBefore the invention of equipment that could capture the sound of the speaking voice, people really had no way of telling how their voice sounded to others. When I first heard my voice, back in the '70's, I was horrified. What I could not understand was why my friends' voices on the tape sounded ...
Views: 2684(10 votes) - ***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: 2678(1 vote) - ***Do Your Homework BEFORE Opening Your Mouth to Speak! - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWe tend to think that the creation of our speech or presentation and its delivery are the two most important considerations in public speaking. In truth, what you do before you even set pen to paper can have a tremendous effect on the outcome of your material. Imagine that someone has gotten ...
Views: 2676 - ***Speaking Too Softly Does Not Speak Well of You - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsRecently I held a 2-Day Voice & Presentation Skills Workshop in which one of the attendees, named Mohammad, was quite soft-spoken. He came to the seminar not just to work on his presentation skills, but more specifically to learn how to speak in a normal volume of sound. Notice I said ...
Views: 2673 - ***Nasality Puts a Real Damper on a Sexy Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhenever I hold a 2-day workshop, my clients do a ‘before & after’ video which is not only eye-opening but most definitely ear-opening as well. What is striking is the decrease in nasality no matter the background, the language or the culture of the individual. This change occurs because of a ...
Views: 2672 - ***Vocal Abuse: Causes & Cure - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou know the problem; however, you don’t know how to solve it. You have chronic hoarseness or a pain in your throat. Possibly you are losing your voice by the end of the day. And, one of the qualifiers with the above problems is that you are not sick. What is happening and what can you do ...
Views: 2671 - ***How Voice Training Can Improve Your Life As Well As Your Voice - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business, I had no idea the number of benefits that would result just by finding your ‘real’ voice. In fact, I never tire of hearing each and every new experience my clients tell me about. How can this type of training improve your life? For one very basic and ...
Views: 2667(1 vote) - ***Had Enough of Chronic Hoarseness or Persistent Sore Throats? - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAre you experiencing chronic hoarseness or a persistent sore throat and you are not sick? If so, it is called vocal abuse and it will not go away on its own. In fact, it will more than likely get worse. There are some who suffer with these symptoms to the point that they even lose their voice ...
Views: 2660(4 votes) - ***Captivate Your Audience with Your Voice, Your Facial Expression and Your Body Language - by Submitted on May 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever watched someone give a speech or presentation who does not move a muscle and speaks in a monotone voice? It is pretty devastating to be subjected to such an ordeal but it happens. And, when it does, one can only pray that it will last 10 minutes and not 50! Your facial ...
Views: 2658(1 vote) - ***Are You a Whisperer? - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAre you one who often reverts to whispering or speaks consistently in a soft voice instead of a normal volume of sound? I am not talking about the horse whisperer or the dog whisperer in this particular case, but the individual who speaks in a whisper even when his/her throat is not sore or ...
Views: 2654 - Help -- I'm 35 But I Sound Like A 12-Year-Old! - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2008 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever considered the sound of your speaking voice and what it says about you? Have you given any thought to the fact that your speaking voice could be holding you back from landing a particular job or getting that promotion? Take this scenario for example. There are two candidates ...
Views: 2652 - ***Discover Your Deeper, Sexier Voice - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt about it. You’ve got one: a richer, warmer speaking voice that, given the right tone, can be very, very hot. It is merely a matter of finding it. Most speaking voices need work because most voices are higher in pitch than they should be. (Pitch deals with the highness ...
Views: 2644(2 votes) - ***Just How Good Do You Sound in Your Webinar or Teleseminar? - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThat’s a leading question, isn’t it? With teleseminars there is definitely no visual and with webinars, there may be a picture of you, but more than likely, your listeners will be focusing on the visuals; i.e. slides, videos, or webpages as well as the sound of your speaking voice. And, the ...
Views: 2635 - ***The #1 Secret of Dynamic Public Speaking That Is Seldom – If Ever – Discussed - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSo many articles, books, programs and CDs on presentation skills cover all aspects on the creation and delivery of your script. They may be discussing nervousness and how to conquer your fears, giving advice on dynamic public speaking, or talking about the value of your audience. Yet never ...
Views: 2635(2 votes) - ***Speaking for Great Lengths of Time Is Taxing Your Throat -- Especially As You Age - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsGosh, that sounds depressing, doesn’t it? It needn’t be however. Yes, your voice ages just like the rest of your body does. The good news for the voice, however, is that you can not only eliminate the discomfort or hoarseness you are experiencing but you can also find your voice improving ...
Views: 2627(1 vote) - ***Looking for a Way to Boost Your Confidence? Try This! - by Submitted on Nov 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOften you can tell someone is lacking in confidence just by their posture or how they walk. Sometimes you can hear it in their voice or see it in their facial expression. It is even possible to feel their insecurity in the way they shake your hand. Were I to poll my clients, the ...
Views: 2621(1 vote) - ***Displaying Confidence in Your Interview Is a Strength -- Being Overly Confident Is Not! - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that potential employers are looking for confidence in those whom they will hire. Seeing assuredness in how you handle yourself, how you dress, how you answer questions and even the way you sound says a lot to the person determining your future. Do you handle yourself ...
Views: 2620 - ***How Much Value Do You Place on Your Visual Presentation in Getting a Job? - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2011 from Nancy DanielsMost people in business today are eager to learn and improve their business skills. They read articles; they listen to webinars; and, they attend bootcamps in the hopes of securing a better future for themselves. Your competition is fierce. Other candidates are just as hungry for the job ...
Views: 2617(3 votes) - ***Voices That Crack, Quiver and Quake - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAre you plagued by a voice that cracks, quivers or just isn’t there when you need it? Often occurring at the most inopportune times, all three problems are usually caused by stress on the vocal folds (cords). Because your vocal folds are an organ, it is important to treat them well; and, ...
Views: 2616 - ***Don’t Know What to Do with Hands in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA problem for many novice public speakers is what to do with their hands during a presentation. Standing at a lectern giving a speech is the not the same as addressing an audience for 20, 30 or 40 minutes without benefit of a scripted text or lectern. The presentation is a different animal ...
Views: 2609(3 votes) - ***Do You Know the 5 Most Important Benefits of Voice Training? - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile you may think that voice training is just for politicians and actors, today, people in business are becoming much more aware of its value. Courses are offered by means of books, CDs, and even video, as well as workshops and private consultations. Originally, recording the speaking ...
Views: 2606(1 vote) - ***What Your Face Is Expressing in Public Speaking – Or Isn’t! - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDid you know that your face and body talk? What are those two elements of your image saying about you when you deliver a speech or presentation? No matter how great your words, if your facial expression and body language are saying one thing but your voice is saying another, then you are ...
Views: 2605(3 votes) - ***Fear of Public Speaking: Is It Justified? - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThey say that man’s greatest fear is public speaking and that his second greatest fear is dying. According to Jerry Seinfield that means, "that most people at a funeral would rather be in the coffin than give the eulogy!" To my knowledge no one has died from public speaking. Your hands may ...
Views: 2596 - ***Is your Voice Holding You Back from Landing That Coveted Job? - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWith the high level of unemployment today, landing a job with any company is highly competitive. What is the possibility that your voice is not an asset but indeed a liability? Before pursuing graduate studies, I worked for a company in the Philadelphia area in which we sold pre-arranged ...
Views: 2594 - ***If Your Listeners Pull Back When You Are Talking, Then You Are Too Loud - by Submitted on Aug 16, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDuring a recent 2-day workshop I was holding, one of the participants was a lovely woman by the name of Angie who had a big, nasal voice. When she got excited, not only did the pitch of her speaking voice rise, but her volume increased as well. Does that sound familiar? While speaking too ...
Views: 2588(2 votes) - ***Plain Speaking is the Best Speaking in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are scheduled to give a speech or presentation, plain speaking should be your choice so as not to appear affected, superior, or on exhibit. Plain speaking, simply put, is the ability to speak and be easily understood by all in attendance. And, it goes hand-in-hand with the theory of ...
Views: 2578(3 votes) - Public Speaking: Make It Move to Make It Memorable - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile I cannot take credit for the title of this article, those words have haunted me since I discovered them a few months ago in which the writer was discussing animating your PowerPoint presentations, certainly good advice. I was fascinated by those words because movement in public speaking ...
Views: 2575(2 votes) - ***Is Your Soft-Spoken Voice Sending the Right Message? - by Submitted on Oct 03, 2011 from Nancy DanielsFor many people who speak in a normal volume of sound, straining to hear someone who speaks too softly is very frustrating. If you are soft-spoken and refuse to increase your volume to be heard comfortably (notice I didn’t say to speak loudly), then your message is not being heard. What ...
Views: 2573(3 votes) - ***Your Speaking Voice and the Image It Projects - by Submitted on Oct 04, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe other day a woman phoned me and her volume was so loud that I had to move the phone away from my ear. My immediate opinion of the caller was that she was overbearing. Her loud volume was making a statement about her that may or may not have been true. Another recent voice was by a ‘man’ ...
Views: 2566(2 votes) - ***Don't Make Public Speaking More Difficult Than It Is! - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile public speaking may be man’s greatest fear, often those who are scheduled to speak waste too much energy worrying about their talk and not enough energy in the planning, creating and delivery of their material. Whether you have been scheduled to speak at your next presentation skills ...
Views: 2559(4 votes) - ***Why Learning to Breathe Correctly Is Your 1st Step in Training Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are interested in discovering your real speaking voice but do not want to learn the proper breathing techniques in order to do so, then do not read any further. Some people provide various exercises to improve the voice you presently have; and, there are a few others who will show you ...
Views: 2557(4 votes) - ***Public Speaking Is Not about You, It Is about Them - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what the purpose of public speaking is? Think about that for a moment. Too often, we are so consumed by our fear, our topic, or our delivery, that we often miss our reason for public speaking. You could be standing on a stage or in the front of a classroom or at the head of the ...
Views: 2552(8 votes) - ***Confidence Is the Name of the Game in Securing the Job - by Submitted on Feb 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe last thing some people think about when heading out the door for a job interview is confidence. Too often, there is such trepidation and fear, that their vision lacks this one thing the employer is looking for. Why should someone hire you if you do not look and sound confident? Trust ...
Views: 2551(9 votes) - ***Is Your Voice Telling on You? - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHaving worked with the speaking voice for more than 25 years, I have heard them all. What does your voice say about you? Does it say you are weak or strong? Does it say that you are soft-spoken or too loud? Does it say that you speak in a monotone or does it exude color, life and emotion? Do ...
Views: 2550(1 vote) - ***Is Your Personal Introduction Something Worth Remembering? - by Submitted on Apr 03, 2008 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever been to a business meeting in which all in attendance had to stand and introduce themselves and you heard basically the same thing from each and every individual? One of the worst things we do as a people is our personal introduction. While the names and the businesses will be ...
Views: 2533 - ***How to Tap the Full Potential of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking voices come in all shapes and sizes – literally. And, while you can attribute your vocal apparatus to genes, it is not just your genetic makeup that entirely determines the quality of your speaking voice. Your environment helps shape the sound of your voice as well. If you study ...
Views: 2532 - ***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: 2530(1 vote) - ***The Art of Storytelling in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever considered opening your speech or presentation with a story? If done well, a true story is an attention-grabber. It can be humorous, suspenseful, thrilling, provocative, or dramatic, any of which immediately lends credibility to you as the speaker. Don't stop there, however: good ...
Views: 2525(2 votes) - ***Stop Worrying About the WHAT IF’s in Public Speaking and Start Focusing on the WHY NOT’s! - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSo much time is wasted worrying about what could go wrong in public speaking that the tremendous opportunities provided by speaking to an audience are often overlooked. No matter what your reason for speaking – be it a requirement of your job; be it the chance to introduce your new business, ...
Views: 2523(4 votes) - ***Addressing a Small Group Has Its Own Rewards in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile many public speakers ideally want to speak to the masses and are looking for large audiences with which to market their knowledge, their opinions, or their products, there are definite rewards in addressing small groups. And while your format will be the same, your delivery will be ...
Views: 2517(2 votes) - ***When the Caller Asks to Speak to Your Mother - by Submitted on Nov 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI hear it time and time again. Women emailing me or phoning to ask me what they can do about their childlike voice, wondering if it is possible to change that sound. Absolutely. You have a voice inside of you that sounds more mature and can even improve with age no matter how old you are. ...
Views: 2512(1 vote) - ***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: 2501(1 vote) - ***When to Memorize (& When Not To) in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI am not an advocate of memorization in public speaking except for your opening and possibly your closing. Because the opening is the most difficult part of the delivery, I recommend memorizing the first 3-4 lines. If ever there was a time when I wanted you to be flawless and smooth, it is ...
Views: 2497(1 vote) - ***Who Is In Control at the Lectern, You or Your Nervousness? - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Nancy DanielsNervousness is wonderful. In fact, I will take that one step further and tell you that nervousness is a blessing. How can it be a blessing, you ask? Because that rush of adrenaline can give you an edge. It can take your presentation to an entirely new level if you learn how to control ...
Views: 2496(3 votes) - ***Your Presentation Skills May Be Great, But What About Your Voice? - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI have belonged to a public speaking network for some time now and it never ceases to amaze me that the members do not talk about the actual sound of the speaking voice. From topics covering the value of content versus delivery to the elimination of nervousness and even ways to find speaking ...
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