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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***The Value of Listeniing in Good Public Speaking - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsYou talk; they listen. You move; they watch. You make a joke; they laugh. You say something profound; they muse or applaud or frown. My question to you is whether you ‘listen’ to your audience or not. As much as you are the center of attention when addressing an audience, are you aware of ...
Views: 2241(2 votes) - ***Is It Good to 'Wing It' in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf there is one thing I would never recommend for the novice in public speaking, it would be to ‘wing it’ or, in other words, to speak without note cards or some form of visual aid. You must have something to help keep you on track. If, however, you have been speaking about the same topic for ...
Views: 2240(1 vote) - ***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 - ***Are Pacing and Speed the Same in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThat is an interesting question. While I often use those two words interchangeably, there is a difference. I liken pacing to your overall speed. Do you generally speak slowly, quickly or at a moderate rate of speed? In North America, a good pacing is moderate. If you speak too fast, you will ...
Views: 2236 - ***If You Expect to Hear What You Are Saying, They Must Be Able to 'Hear' You Saying It! - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating than not hearing the person who is speaking. The problem for the soft-spoken, however, is that they do no recognize this problem for what it is. If you are soft-spoken, the reason you are being interrupted or talked over is because others tire of straining to hear ...
Views: 2230 - ***Without Practice, Your Presentation is Doomed! - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, so much attention is given to the preparation and ensuing delivery of your material that the practice of your speech or presentation is often overlooked. I am amazed at how many people go over their script or their outline in their head and never say their ...
Views: 2230(1 vote) - ***How to Avoid Public Speaking Excuses - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI love to hear the excuses my clients give for why they did not do well at their last speaking engagement. Whatever the excuse, in most cases, the real reason for this problem is lack of preparation. I cannot tell you how many people tell me that they went over their material several times and ...
Views: 2226 - ***Why Nervousness in Public Speaking Is a Good Thing - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2008 from Nancy DanielsAll the talk about eliminating your nervousness, putting a stop to nervousness, or defeating your nervousness, misses the boat on one basic fundamental: nervousness is a bonus. It can give you an edge that is an asset if you learn how to control it. Early in my career, one of my clients ...
Views: 2224 - ***Do You Breathe - I Mean Really Breathe? - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Nancy DanielsDo you know the difference between diaphragmatic breathing and what you are doing right now? The chances are good that you are a shallow or lazy breather because the majority of the population breathes in this manner. What do I mean by shallow or lazy breathing? Using the upper chest for ...
Views: 2223(2 votes) - ***Be Yourself in Public Speaking Because Everyone Else Is Taken! - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago, two radio broadcasters were studying voice improvement with me. One, in particular, wanted me to make him sound like Paul Harvey. Paul Harvey was an icon and an original in the radio business. Part of his greatness was his originality. Wanting to emulate this announcer was ...
Views: 2222 - ***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 - ***You Do Not Need to Speak for a Living for Voice Training to Be Part of Your Ongoing Development - by Submitted on May 03, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhether it is for personal reasons or professional, improving the sound of your speaking voice is something people are becoming aware of because they realize it is part of the image they project. What does your voice (the one you hear on your answering machine) say about you? In today's ...
Views: 2209 - ***How Good Are Your Storytelling Skills in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe value of storytelling in public speaking is undeniable. Audiences love true stories especially if they are recounted with a good description. You may use them in your opening, your closing, or place them in the development of your delivery as long as they are relevant to your ...
Views: 2208 - ***Public Speaking Will Not Improve Your Voice But Voice Training Will Improve Your Public Speaking - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThe search for good public speaking or presentation skills is on the rise. People want to know how to improve or hone their abilities to address an audience. One thing that is often overlooked, however, is training for the speaking voice. When you hear yourself on an answering machine, ...
Views: 2207 - ***What Distinguishes the Speech from the Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAt some time in your life there is the likelihood that you will or have given a speech. Throughout your education, it is quite possible that you were required to speak on a particular subject at one time or another. Perhaps you toasted the bride or groom at a wedding or were asked to give a ...
Views: 2207(1 vote) - ***The Conversation of Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe last thing I want to hear when I’m in attendance for a 50-minute presentation is a speaker reading to me. My feeling is that if you are going to read your material, why not zerox it, pass it out and we can all go home or back to work. Better yet, email it to me! The next to the last ...
Views: 2178(1 vote) - ***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 - ***When the Pause Becomes Ineffective - by Submitted on May 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I heard a speaker who was very dynamic in his delivery except in one respect. He paused too often and for too long. Without a doubt, pausing is one of the most important characteristics of good public speaking: pausing that is excessive or predictable is not. The beauty of the ...
Views: 2154 - ***Good Voice Training Is the Best Preventative for Vocal Abuse - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhat many people may not understand about vocal abuse is that changing only one aspect of your vocal delivery will stop vocal abuse in its tracks. Done. Over. Finished. It is truly amazing when you realize that, aside from abuse which may be caused by certain prescriptive medications, ...
Views: 2149 - ***Face 10 - Figure 10 - Voice 3? - by Submitted on May 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYes, we are a people very concerned with the image we project. We exercise on a regular basis; we are more aware of the foods we are eating; we try to get a good night’s sleep. As women, we want to look good; and, as we age, we know it takes more work. Our clothing is of the latest fashion; ...
Views: 2138 - ***The Secret to Connecting with Your Audience - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the secrets of dynamic presentation skills is the ability to connect with your audience. In that sense, the idea is to make each person think you are talking directly to him/her. How is this possible if you have an audience of 50, 150 or 500 people? There are several things you can do ...
Views: 2134 - ***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) - ***3 Steps for Overcoming a Voice That Is Monotone - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsIf you have been told that you speak in a monotone or if you have heard yourself on a recording and find your voice lacking in expression, it is time to do something about it. This is important for reasons both personal and professional. Boring doesn't sell; boring isn't interesting; and boring ...
Views: 2094(4 votes) - ***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 - ***Voice Training Can Do Wonders for Your Public Speaking Career - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsIt fascinates me how many people are seeking help in public speaking and presentation skills yet how few realize that their speaking voice is the vehicle for their message. Voice training is not just for actors and politicians. It is something you should strongly consider if you are looking to ...
Views: 2084 - ***Speaking in Living Color - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThey say that variety is the spice of life and the same holds true for the voice which has color, those various and vivid effects in speech which give life to the voice. Good pacing, pause, force, duration, inflection, variety of pitch and your attitude characterize a truly dynamic speaking ...
Views: 2081 - ***Your Real Voice Is Deeper in Pitch and More Mature in Sound - by Submitted on Jun 18, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIn an article I wrote about the value of diaphragmatic breathing in public speaking, what I did not discuss was how this type of breathing is what you must do in order to find your ‘real’ speaking voice. And that ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch, warmer in quality and resonant in sound. So ...
Views: 2081 - ***Why Public Speaking Is NOT Acting - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2008 from Nancy DanielsHaving read Jane Andrew’s article entitled Public Speaking is Acting, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why the best public speakers are not acting: they are communicating. Acting requires memorization of a script that has been marked by the actor; i.e., pause here, smile ...
Views: 2074(1 vote) - ***Your Presentation Skills Determine Whether You Will Get the 2nd Interview - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you think your presentation skills are not as important as your education and aptitude, consider this one point: you get your 1st interview because of your education and ability. You get your 2nd interview, however, because of your presentation skills. Employers look at resumes and ...
Views: 2072 - ***Dynamic Public Speakers Grab Their Audience with Their Opening and Never Let Go! - by Submitted on Apr 03, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI recently watched a brief video of a woman who was entering a public speaking content and was looking for feedback from other speakers. Her ‘performance’ looked rehearsed, static and flat, lacking in enthusiasm and passion. And, my remarks were just that. What this woman failed to ...
Views: 2063(1 vote) - ***The 'Conversation' in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIn teaching public speaking, I find that many of my clients, as well as my students, stand at the lectern or on the podium and try to be someone or something they are not. The result is a forced delivery that does not sound natural. The best in the business – and not necessarily the most ...
Views: 2062 - *** If You Are Not Nervous in Public Speaking, Then I Am! - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I first started my business, one of my clients, a woman billing herself as a professional speaker, was quite adamant in her disagreement with me about nervousness. She said that she was never nervous making a presentation and did not think nervousness was good. Had I been ...
Views: 2061(1 vote) - ***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 - ***The 2 Best Audiences for Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhat I have found with the various groups I have addressed through the years, whether it is a business versus an organization or a club, is that the there are two groups of people who are very good at listening. Their job or the purpose of their organization almost guarantees that they have ...
Views: 2056 - ***The 5 Things You Must Do BEFORE Opening Your Mouth to Speak - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2008 from Nancy DanielsWhen invited (or ordered!) to give a presentation or a speech, most of us think that what comes out of our mouth during that 5, 10, or 45 minute delivery is the ‘piece de resistence’ when in fact, without proper preparation, it may be a disaster. I liken good preparation to the 5 Ws of good ...
Views: 2056(1 vote) - How You Sound Is Who You Are - True or False? - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2015 from Nancy DanielsThe answer is maybe. As an example, let's say that you are soft-spoken. If you are asked to repeat yourself a lot, others may think you lack confidence. This is just one description which comes to mind when I hear someone who doesn't speak at a normal volume level in conversation. However, I ...
Views: 2053 - ***A Dynamic Delivery Involves Not Just Vocal Variety But Body Language As Well - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsColor refers to the life, the emotion, the animation you express in speaking. Whether it is for the purposes of public speaking, a sales presentation or just in normal conversation, those who speak with color are more dynamic than those who do not. In fact, those who do not are called boring. ...
Views: 2036 - ***Public Speaking Is More About Your Audience and Less About You - by Submitted on May 05, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYou’ve been invited or requested to speak and while your immediate reaction may be debilitating fear, at some point, you begin to focus on your material and/or your delivery. My question to you is what is goal? Are you aware that unless you know your audience, your goal cannot be fully ...
Views: 2034 - ***Keep Your Accent - Just Learn to Speak More Clearly - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2014 from Nancy DanielsWith the world becoming a huge melting pot, we are hearing accents wherever we go and whatever we listen to. This article is not about getting rid of your accent. Accents are part of what makes you, you. I would never advocate trying to eliminate it. The only problem with an accent or even ...
Views: 2023 - Why the Pause Is Both a Luxury and a Necessity in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsToo often, novice speakers do not appreciate or make use of the pause because they are too intent on getting their speech or presentation over with as quickly as possible. The result for the audience is a barrage of constant verbiage which is exhausting for both the listeners and the speaker. ...
Views: 2014 - ***3 Steps for a More Mature-Sounding Voice - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2014 from Nancy DanielsThe number of adult voices I hear which sound like teenagers, preteens, or younger still is astounding. Add the familiar Valley Girl sound to the picture and you have an image which does not project maturity. I am not talking about sounding old. I am talking about a voice which you would call ...
Views: 2007 - ***Never Let Them 'Hear' You Sweat - by Submitted on Jan 01, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDoes your voice ‘shake, rattle and roll’ when you stand to introduce yourself or address an audience at the lectern or the boardroom table? When I started my voice improvement business back in 1989, I joined the local chamber of commerce and attended a new members’ orientation. The room was ...
Views: 2007 - ***Why You Need an Elevator Speech! - by Submitted on Apr 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever stood in line waiting for service? Stupid question, right? Have you ever used that time to introduce yourself, your product or your services to the individual in front of you, in back of you, or along side of you? If not, then you are missing a golden opportunity for potential ...
Views: 2007 - ***Why Your Use of Color and Language Is So Invaluable in the Commemorative Speech - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsOf all the various types of speeches and presentations we hear, that which stirs the most emotion, that which expresses the most passion, is the commemorative speech. For the sole purpose of paying tribute, the commemorative speech is dedicated to people, places, institutions, or ideas. ...
Views: 1995 - ***Move on Stage But Don't Pace! - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThere is a big difference between moving on stage and pacing; and, I am a huge advocate of the former. The latter, however, is something you must stop if you want your audience to pay attention to your words. Moving on Stage Those who move effectively treat their audience as if in ...
Views: 1990 - ***The 3 Step Approach for a Deeper Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile there are various methods and suggestions as to how to make your voice deeper in pitch, the difference between those approaches and the one that is correct lies in the word make. As soon as you make your voice do something it shouldn’t, you are forcing it. When you force your voice into ...
Views: 1989 - ***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 - How to Increase Your Volume without Yelling - by Submitted on Oct 14, 2014 from Nancy DanielsWhen you increase your volume, does your throat hurt? If you root for your favorite sports team, is your voice hoarse the next day? Perhaps you have no voice by the next day. All three of these situations are known as vocal abuse. If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then you are not ...
Views: 1984 - ***Visual Aids Should Be an Added Bonus -- Not Your Entire Presentation! - by Submitted on May 31, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile visual aids can have a tremendous impact on your delivery, the danger in their use lies in placing your entire script on PowerPoint, a slide presentation or even a white board. What is fascinating about the overuse of this feature is that I have seen it not only with amateur speakers but ...
Views: 1978 - ***The Best Means Of Practicing Your Presentation - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2008 from Nancy DanielsOne of the best tools for improving your presentation skills is to video-record yourself as a means of practice. While you may think this is a bit extreme, it really isn’t: you will learn so much by watching yourself on video. A lot of people are recorded during their presentation, but ...
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