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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***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: 2144(1 vote) - ***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: 2138 - ***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: 2136 - ***What Should You Do with Your Hands in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 03, 2011 from Nancy DanielsA lot of people ask me what they should do with their hands when they are addressing an audience. My answer to them is simple. “What do you do with your hands when you are talking to your family, your friends or your colleagues?” If you are not sure of the answer to the above question, ...
Views: 2131(1 vote) - ***The #1 Injury Super Bowl Fans Will Experience This Sunday - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDefinitely the biggest day of the year when it comes to sporting events in America, Sunday’s Super Bowl game will result in thousands of injuries for fans that most will not take seriously. No, it is not overeating, gastric reflux, or drunken stupors. It does not involve your legs, your arms ...
Views: 2106(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: 2089(1 vote) - ***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: 2086(2 votes) - ***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: 2083(1 vote) - ***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: 2082 - ***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: 2080 - ***Nervous in Public Speaking? Good! - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDid you know that nervousness in public speaking is beneficial? While many articles are written to help you try to eliminate or stop those nervous jitters, I want the exact opposite. Yes, I want you nervous. However, I want you to learn how to take control of it. When you can put your ...
Views: 2076(1 vote) - ***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: 2072 - ***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: 2071 - ***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: 2066 - ***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: 2064 - ***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: 2035(2 votes) - ***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: 2034 - ***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: 2029 - ***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: 2029(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: 2006 - ***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: 2006 - ***3 Steps for Overcoming a Voice That Is Monotone - by If 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: 2002 - ***The 'Conversation' in Public Speaking - by In 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: 1996 - *** If You Are Not Nervous in Public Speaking, Then I Am! - by Many 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: 1989 - ***Speaking in Living Color - by They 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: 1989 - ***Why Public Speaking Is NOT Acting - by Having 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: 1985 - ***The 5 Things You Must Do BEFORE Opening Your Mouth to Speak - by When 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: 1973 - ***The Secret to Connecting with Your Audience - by One 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: 1973 - ***A Dynamic Delivery Involves Not Just Vocal Variety But Body Language As Well - by Color 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: 1971 - ***If Communication Is Your Bread and Butter, Voice Training Should Be on Your To-Do List - by So 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: 1945 - Why the Pause Is Both a Luxury and a Necessity in Public Speaking - by Too 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: 1940 - ***Voice Training Can Do Wonders for Your Public Speaking Career - by It 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: 1929 - ***Never Let Them 'Hear' You Sweat - by Does 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: 1926 - ***Why You Need an Elevator Speech! - by Have 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: 1925 - ***Visual Aids Should Be an Added Bonus -- Not Your Entire Presentation! - by While 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: 1924 - ***The 3 Step Approach for a Deeper Speaking Voice - by While 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: 1916 - ***If Your Voice Is a Monotone, Think Energy - by Recently 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: 1915 - ***The 2 Best Audiences for Public Speaking - by What 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: 1914 - ***How Fast Is Too Fast in Speaking - Be It in Conversation or at the Lectern? - by Speaking 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: 1913 - ***Dynamic Public Speakers Grab Their Audience with Their Opening and Never Let Go! - by I 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: 1907 - ***Your Real Voice Is Deeper in Pitch and More Mature in Sound - by In 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: 1902 - ***The Best Means Of Practicing Your Presentation - by One 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 ...
Views: 1898 - ***Public Speaking Is More About Your Audience and Less About You - by You’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: 1896 - ***When Your Speech Is Too Fast, You're More Likely to Have an Accident! - by Speed 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: 1896 - ***Move on Stage But Don't Pace! - by There 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: 1895 - ***Why You Can't Ignore Vocal Abuse - by While 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: 1888 - How You Sound Is Who You Are - True or False? - by The 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: 1886 - ***Keep Your Accent - Just Learn to Speak More Clearly - by With 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: 1866 - ***Watch Your Body Language in Public Speaking - by Have 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: 1865 - ***Storytelling in Public Speaking Is a Vital Part of Your Presentation - by When 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 ...
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