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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***The 2 Things You Must Do to Eliminate a Nasal Voice - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen we hear the word nasality, we tend to think of New York City and her 5 boroughs. Excessive nasality is not limited just to New Yorkers though. I have found various forms of nasality common in certain pockets of both the United States and Canada. If you are from Philadelphia, Detroit, or ...
Views: 25624(6 votes) - ***How the Soft-Spoken Are Judged - by Submitted on May 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are soft-spoken, how do you think others judge you? Do you think they regard you as being confident, assertive, and self-assured? If you are concerned about the image you project, then your soft-spoken voice is definitely not projecting those qualities. Instead, your lack of volume is ...
Views: 23172(2 votes) - ***3 Steps for Overcoming Breathlessness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile fear of public speaking is the first major hurdle for many who must address an audience, breathlessness is most definitely the second. It is surprising how many people are affected by this easily remedied problem. When you are talking to your friends, your family, your colleagues or ...
Views: 17125(1 vote) - ***4 Methods for Closing Your Speech or Presentation That Will Leave a Lasting Impression - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe last thing you want in public speaking is to leave your audience abruptly hanging without the knowledge that you have concluded. In my previous article, I discussed the need for signaling the end of your talk. The 2nd criterion, however, involves reinforcing your central idea. The most ...
Views: 15429(7 votes) - ***5 Steps for Overcoming a Monotone Voice - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsA voice that lacks color is dull and uninteresting. It also says something about you, as the speaker, which may or may not be true. If you speak in a monotone, how do you think others perceive you? A few words that come to my mind are cold, indifferent, and unemotional. Do those words ...
Views: 15383 - ***Get Your Voice Out of Your Nose -- It Doesn't Belong There! - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating for me than listening to those who talk through their nose. And, you don’t have to be from New York to speak with excessive nasality. There are various pockets both in the United States and Canada where nasal talk is the norm. If you are plagued by too much nose, ...
Views: 14330(1 vote) - ***How To Get Rid of a Nasal Voice - by Submitted on May 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is nothing more frustrating than listening to someone who speaks with an excess of nasal sound. In a study done some years ago on how people react to a nasal voice, it was reported that it is frequently associated with less-than-average intelligence and a sign of immaturity. Ridding ...
Views: 14173(2 votes) - ***Does Your Voice Shake in Public Speaking? 5 Steps to Stop the Quiver - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYou are standing in front of an audience. Your knees and hands are shaking; your heart is pounding in your ears and in your cheeks; sweat has formed on your brow; your lips are quivering. If all of that isn’t bad enough, when you open your mouth to speak, the voice that results is quivering or ...
Views: 14077(6 votes) - ***The 5 Secrets Of Dynamic Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsAs A voice specialist, I teach people not only how to improve the sound of the speaking voice but also how to be a dynamic public speaker. Below are listed the 5 most important things you should do that will allow you to control your nervousness as well as deliver a dynamic presentation. ...
Views: 12723(1 vote) - ***Prolonged Yelling or Shouting Can Do Serious Damage to Your Vocal Folds and Throat - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe Super Bowl is fast approaching and there is one result that I can predict: hoarseness and sore throats. Some may even experience loss of voice by the end of the night. This problem is known as vocal abuse and it can lead to serious problems for your speaking voice. There are those who ...
Views: 12472(1 vote) - ***Think Your Voice Is Nasal? Try This Test - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt has been interesting for me to hear how many people think they have a nasal voice when in fact they do not. The reason this happens is because the voice they hear in their head when they speak (which is how they think they sound) is deeper in pitch than the one they hear on their answering ...
Views: 12431(1 vote) - ***The 4 Characteristics of a Good Introductory Speech - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are a member of a business or social organization, such as the Lions, the Rotary, a chamber of commerce, BNI or another type of leads or referral group, there is the possibility that you will be responsible for introducing a speaker at one of your meetings or functions. Known as the ...
Views: 12288(3 votes) - ***Get Your Voice Out of Your Throat and Let Your Chest Do Your Talking! - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThrough the years, I have been amazed at how many people are totally unaware that they have a richer, warmer, resonant, and even sexier speaking voice inside. Most people believe that the voice they are using out of habit is something they cannot change. Nothing could be further from the truth. ...
Views: 12176(2 votes) - ***Do People Ask You to 'Tone It Down' or Speak More Softly? - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that when I write about volume, I talk more about the soft-spoken voice because lack of volume is much more common than too much. Those who are too loud, however, are just as difficult for the listener as the former. A loud voice is hard on your listeners’ ears. There is ...
Views: 12140(4 votes) - ***Stop Mumbling and Cure Lazy Lip Syndrome Today! - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThere is nothing more frustrating than having people ask you to repeat yourself because they did not hear what you were saying. There are several reasons why this may be happening: you may be soft-spoken; you may have an accent in which you are not enunciating your words clearly; or, you may ...
Views: 12100(1 vote) - ***Do You Know the Difference Between Your Throat Voice and Your Chest Voice? - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen most people speak, they power their voice by means of their voice box and throat. To a lesser extent, the mouth and nasal cavities are also acting as resonators, aiding in the production of voiced sound. And, of course, you probably think this is normal. It may be normal for you but, in ...
Views: 11546(2 votes) - ***The 3 Factors That Influence the Sound of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years in the voice business, I have learned more from my clients than any book or theory on voice. What has been extremely fascinating is what I have discovered as to why we sound the way we sound. It didn't start out as study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my ...
Views: 10899(3 votes) - ***How to Find Your 'Real' Speaking Voice in 60 Minutes or Less - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2010 from Nancy DanielsRecently, I read an article about improving your voice in 7 days. While I do not agree with the writer’s suggestions or methodology, the truth is that you can actually find your ‘real’ voice in about 1 hour. Admittedly, your ‘real’ voice will not be a habit in only 60 minutes, but one of the ...
Views: 9996(4 votes) - ***Tired of Sounding Like a Teenager or Even Younger? - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you answer the phone and the caller asks to speak to your mother, you might want to consider voice training in order to add some ‘years’ to your voice. Not that I want you to sound old. I don’t. Good voice training means that you will no longer sound like a teen or pre-teen. Instead, you ...
Views: 9685(5 votes) - ***Which World-Renowned Motivational Speaker Is Suffering from Severe Vocal Abuse? - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I heard a commercial with 2 motivational speakers and was appalled at how bad one of the voices sounded. Having not heard this particular man in several years, I was stunned by the amount of hoarseness with which he is afflicted. Considering that his voice is his meal-ticket, I ...
Views: 9514(1 vote) - ***Do You Know the Difference Between the Specific Purpose and Central Idea of Your Speech or Presentation? - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile much talk is given about the delivery of the speech or presentation and the controlling of nervousness, often what is lacking is how to begin the creation of your material. Where do you start? Let’s assume that you have your topic. Your 1st step is to select your general purpose which is ...
Views: 9002 - ***5 Rules for Reading a Speech and Not Sound Like You Are Reading It - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsTorture is sitting through a long-winded speech in which the presenter is staring at his/her notes on the lectern, focused entirely on reading to the audience. My feeling is that if you are going to read something to me – and I’m not attending a reading at the library or Barnes and Noble – then ...
Views: 8998(6 votes) - ***Is It Better to Speak Softly or Loudly? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNeither is correct. The voice that is too loud hurts the listeners' ears -- the voice that is too soft is not being heard. In both cases, the message is being lost because listeners are unable to focus and it all boils down to volume. I just received an email from a Public Speaking Forum ...
Views: 8826(11 votes) - ***The Negative Effects Stress Has On Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsStress is one of the most debilitating factors affecting our lives today. From the stress of losing a job to the frustration of finding a new job, from the strain of running a household to the additional pressure of handling a career, from the stress of raising children to the stress of trying ...
Views: 8693(2 votes) - The Soft-Spoken Voice: Is It a Strength or a Weakness? - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2015 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I first started my business, I had a most eye-opening experience that I will never forget. It happened on a consecutive Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, I had been working with a group from Nortel in voice and presentation skills. One of the men from the group told me that, ...
Views: 8459(2 votes) - ***What Is the Best Speed for Speaking? - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome people talk fast, some talk too slowly, and some are moderate. In public speaking, those who speak at a moderate rate are the easiest to follow over any given length of time. I knew of a speaker in Toronto who believed that talking as fast as you can was ideal. I beg to differ. ...
Views: 8151(1 vote) - ***3 Possible Reasons Why You Are Asked to Repeat Yourself (a Lot!) - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAre you frustrated because others constantly ask you to repeat yourself? Especially because you think they should have heard or understood you the 1st time? If you frequently hear, “What did you say?” then maybe it is time for you to discover exactly why your message is not being ...
Views: 8135(2 votes) - ***The Pros and Cons of Toastmasters - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for a means in which to practice your presentation skills in front of an audience on a weekly basis, then you should consider joining Toastmasters. According to Wikipedia, “Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for ...
Views: 8069(2 votes) - ***If Your Nose Vibrates When You Speak, You've Got Nasality! - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWould you like to test yourself for nasality? Gently place a finger on each side of your nose and say the word ‘greet.’ Did you feel any vibrations in your nose? Now say the word ‘great.’ Again, did you vibrate? If your answer is yes, then you have nasal issues. Those two sounds, the long ...
Views: 8001(2 votes) - ***Does Your Voice Shake When You're Nervous? 3 Tips for Eliminating the Quiver - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen addressing an audience, there is nothing more embarrassing than opening your mouth to speak and the voice that comes out is high in pitch and shaking to boot! The shaking is known as a quiver and it can happen even when you’re not nervous. If your voice is quivering when you’re nervous, ...
Views: 7847(3 votes) - ***Why Women Are Attracted to a Deep Voice - by Submitted on Nov 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThat’s right. Women find a deep voice sexy because it has a warm quality and sounds confident. It stirs something inside of us, without a doubt. The last time you heard your voice on voicemail, an answering machine or some other form of recording equipment, were you impressed? Remember, ...
Views: 7728(3 votes) - ***If Your Voice Feels Tight, The Problem May Be Your Jaw - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen I show my clients how to find their 'real' voice, the first order of business is to make sure that their jaw is relaxed. This is important because if the jaw is clenched, you will not be able to make the change. Whereas tension in the neck and shoulder regions is much more common in woman - ...
Views: 7707(2 votes) - ***Learn to Speak Distinctly -- The Best Tip for Those Who Mumble - by Submitted on Aug 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsMany times people are not being heard because they speak too softly. There is another group, however, who are not being heard because they are not speaking distinctly and clearly. They are known as the mumblers. If you are being asked to repeat yourself because your words are not being ...
Views: 7695 - ***What Shapes Your Voice -- Environment or Genes? - by Submitted on Dec 13, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSurprisingly, the answer to that question is actually your environment. While the innate quality of the speaking voice is something you inherit, there are numerous environmental factors that play a viable role in how you sound and speak. If you were raised in one of the southern states, it is ...
Views: 7626(1 vote) - ***Does Your LOUD Voice Make Your Listeners Cringe? - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever had a telephone conversation and the person on the other end of the line was speaking too loudly? What is your first reaction? Probably, to move the phone away from your ear. Talking too loudly is just as ineffective as speaking too softly except for one primary difference: the ...
Views: 7516(2 votes) - ***Discover How to Have a Deeper, Richer Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Apr 21, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen we think of the great speaking voices, those that come to mind are the likes of Vin Diesel, Kathleen Turner, James Earl Jones, Cher, Sean Connery, Morgan Freeman, Demi Moore, Barry White, and John Rhys-Davies. What distinguishes these particular voices from those of many other great ...
Views: 7450 - ***Do You Know the Similarities Between Public Speaking and Conversation? - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA lot of acting teachers believe that public speaking and acting are very similar and I would beg to differ. What I find more credible are the similarities between public speaking and conversation. Yes, in both cases, you are addressing an audience; but, that is where the similarities end. ...
Views: 7197 - ***5 Factors That Can Affect the Health of Your Voice - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2010 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever noticed that when you are extremely fatigued, your voice is much weaker than if you are energized? Not surprisingly, your vocal health is determined by the health of your entire body. Thus, if any of the following 5 factors are typical of your lifestyle, so too will the following ...
Views: 7168(2 votes) - ***Great Speaking Voice Vibrates in Your Chest – Not in Your Nose - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen you listen to the greats, like James Earl Jones, Julia Ormond, George Clooney and Diane Sawyer, one characteristic which they all share is that their voice vibrates in their chest when they speak. While everyone vibrates in the area directly below the vocal folds, as well in the throat, ...
Views: 7151(4 votes) - ***How to Define Tone in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsTone is the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, tone is determined by your topic or your subject. If you are giving the after-dinner speech at a conference, it is quite possible that your talk will be funny; thus, your tone is going to be quite different than if ...
Views: 7146(1 vote) - ***The Right Way to Increase Your Volume Without Shouting - by Submitted on May 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the difficulties many people have is to the ability to increase their volume without hurting their throat or their listeners’ ears. The right way to do this is known as projection and is only possible if you are powering your voice from your chest cavity. There is a right way to ...
Views: 6920(2 votes) - ***Do You Want a Deeper Voice, a Bigger Voice, or Both? - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThere is a commercial in which an announcer is looking for a speaker who has a big voice. What is unnerving about this commercial is that the terminology regarding the voice is wrong. As the commercial plays, you hear someone saying the lines in a progressively deeper voice. So what is the ...
Views: 6840 - ***The Value of Public Speaking Today - by Submitted on Mar 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThey say that man’s greatest fear is public speaking; his second greatest fear is dying. Imagine that – most people would rather be dead than stand and give a speech! But did you know that man’s 3rd greatest fear is dying while public speaking? No one has yet died on the podium to my ...
Views: 6828(2 votes) - ***Why You Should Not Memorize the Body of Your Speech or Presentation - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAt a workshop I was holding in Toronto, one of the participants proceeded to deliver part of a rote, memorized persuasive presentation. This man, who I will call Bill, told us that he was a ‘professional’ speaker and that his presentations lasted 90 minutes. Luckily for us, he was only allowed ...
Views: 6785(7 votes) - ***Think Your Nasal Voice Is Sexy? Think Again! - by Submitted on Nov 30, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIt never ceases to amaze me the number of people who are so concerned with their visual image, watching their weight, working out, donning the most recent style of clothing, and yet are totally in the dark when it comes to the sound of their speaking voice. If you are plagued with a voice that ...
Views: 6754(7 votes) - ***A Simple Exercise to Overcome a Monotone Voice - by Submitted on Feb 13, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYou can do it. You can end a vocal delivery that is flat, insipid, and lackluster. But first you will have to give yourself permission to do so. This does seem like a strange suggestion, doesn’t it? If you speak in a monotone, however, you probably keep your emotions bottled up inside of ...
Views: 6647 - ***Ladies, Interested in a More Mature-Sounding Voice? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are plagued with a voice that sounds like a teenager (or even younger), have you ever considered a course in voice improvement? Sounding like a teen or preteen when you are 21 is one thing – sounding young or childish when you are over 21 and possibly looking for a job or a promotion is ...
Views: 6596(1 vote) - ***Ladies, Interested in a More Mature-Sounding Voice? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are plagued with a voice that sounds like a teenager (or even younger), have you ever considered a course in voice improvement? Sounding like a teen or preteen when you are 21 is one thing – sounding young or childish when you are over 21 and possibly looking for a job or a promotion is ...
Views: 6596(1 vote) - ***Be a Chest Talker and Watch What Happens When You Speak! - by Submitted on Apr 21, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo you find that people do not pay as much attention to you as you might wish? Does you voice trail off at the end of your sentences, leaving your listeners struggling to understand what you are saying? Maybe the sound of your voice is strident and irritating or perhaps you speak so softly ...
Views: 6430(1 vote) - *** Get Your Voice Out of Your Throat and Let Your Chest Do Your Talking - by Submitted on Jul 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThrough the years, I have been amazed at how many people are totally unaware that they have a richer, warmer, resonant, and even sexier speaking voice inside. Most people believe that the voice they are using out of habit is something they cannot change. Nothing could be further from the ...
Views: 6389(6 votes) - A Better Voice is Just a Breath Away - by Submitted on Jan 19, 2007 from Nancy DanielsA Better Voice is Just a Breath Away The number of people looking for information, books, CDs, and seminars on self-improvement is staggering. Ever concerned with honing our business skills, improving the image we project, feeling good about ourselves, juggling jobs and family…we are all on ...
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