SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

About Log InLog In Browse Topics Create Professional AccountCreate Account

Home/
Articles

Browse SelfGrowth articles

Loading the searchable article library…

SelfGrowth.comThe Self Improvement Guide

Explore experts, guides, articles, videos, and events by topic.

Explore

All topics Experts Guides Articles Videos

Platform

About SelfGrowth Websites Newsletters Events Become an Official Guide Contact

Compliance

Legal

Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions Cookie Policy

Your choices

Privacy Requests

Help improve SelfGrowth

Accounts

Personal account Create Professional Account Become a Contributor

SelfGrowth helps readers explore personal growth topics with clear paths into guides, experts, and related resources.

Home/
Experts/
Nancy Daniels/
Articles

Articles by Nancy Daniels

Browse published articles attributed to Nancy Daniels, with full-archive search.

articles: 593

Explore

TopicsBrowse every topic ExpertsFind people ArticlesRead guidance WebsitesOpen resources EventsSee sessions VideosWatch clips

⌕

SortRecommended Most viewed Most recent Highest rated Alphabetical

Showing 551–593

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

A Voice Without Expression Is Like a Garden Without Color

For 5 months of the year, my garden is brown, lifeless, and dull. Were it to remain colorless through the rest of the year, I would have no passion or interest in gardening. That which makes the voice interesting to listen to – by means of your vocal variety, facial expression, and body language – is known as color. It is what all listeners want to see and hear. If those we watched on TV and in the movies had no expression, Hollywood would not exist.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,897 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***The Best Way to Lose Credibility with Your Audience

I recently heard a 'public speaker' who was marketing himself as one who had made a lot of money from a book he had written. I caught this on video on the internet and counted my blessings that I hadn't been in the audience, especially in the front row!

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,882 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Forget Perfection in Public Speaking - Seek Excellence!

When it comes to public speaking, my most difficult clients are those of the A-type personality who are seeking to deliver a perfect presentation. Let me ask you this. What is perfection in public speaking? Do you have a definition for such a thing? The art of oral communication with an audience is subjective.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,878 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***5 Questions You Need to Ask When Invited to Speak

Too often we conce ourselves with The How of public speaking and give much less thought to 5 other questions we should be asking of our host. Yes, your public speaking skills may be top notch, however, there are certain things you need to know before you do anything else.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,872 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Don't Push Your Voice - Empower It!

One of the difficulties people have with their speaking voice is that they have no control over it. They push hard from their throat and vocal cords to speak instead of allowing their sound to be powered by their chest cavity. And the difference between these two practices can be quite extreme.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,860 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Speaking with Color - You Don't Want Too Much Or Too Little

Color refers to those various effects in speech which give life to your delivery. Another way to describe color is the emotion and the animation heard in your voice and seen in your body language and facial expression when talking. The interesting thing about color is that you don’t want too much or too little. Similar to the fairy tale, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, you want the right amount of color when you speak to keep your audience’s attention on your words.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,860 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

3 Things You Must Do If You Want a Sexy Voice

Have you ever noticed that the best speaking voices in the business are deep, rich, and warm? Think of those actors – both men and women – who are known for having a great sound. Who is your favorite? James Earl Jones or Sean Connery or George Clooney? How about Angelina Jolie, Felicia Rashad, or Kathleen Turner? All of these voices are deep in pitch – not high. One of the greatest and definitely the sexiest of the voices was the late Barry White. Whether the man was speaking or singing, his voice was incredibly sensual and one of the most alluring sounds I’ve ever heard.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,857 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Your Speaking Voice and 'What Lies Beneath'

You have a much more dynamic voice inside of you. You have a voice that is probably deeper in pitch than your habitual voice. You have a voice that is rich, warm and resonant. How can I say these things and be confident in my analysis of your voice without ever having heard you? Because the majority of people throughout the world power their voice by means of their throat and voice box. And, if you are part of the majority – which is 99% of the population – then you are unaware that by changing your voice placement, you could discover a voice that is truly your best asset.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,856 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***The 5 Most Important Reasons to Make Eye Contact With Your Audience

One of the most important things you can do in public speaking is to make eye contact with your audience. Watching a clock on the wall, gazing above the heads of the audience, keeping your focus on your notes or a powerpoint presentation, or staring at just one person in the crowd is not making eye contact.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,851 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Just How Good Is Your Diction?

While it is true that most people do not like to hear themselves on recording equipment because they do not like or recognize the sound of their speaking voice, there is another group of people who are also surprised by their lack of clear diction. And it does not just happen to those in which English is not their first language. It happens to those in which English is their native tongue. - Being able to speak the language of the country in which you are living is very important.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,846 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Vocal Abuse: Unless You Change How You Place Your Voice, It Will Never Go Away

I recently received an email from a man who runs a museum in Australia inquiring whether he could include my blog posts in his newsletters for his museum guides. Why would a museum guide need information on the voice? Because his employees often speak non-stop throughout their day.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,835 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***When You (Unknowingly) Say Something Offensive to Your Audience

Some years ago, I was in London, Canada, speaking to a very large group of lawyers and their spouses about the power of the speaking voice. Part of my presentation on voice deals with color, which is the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking. In talking about this aspect of the voice, I mentioned a lawyer from London who was very well-known for being expressive – a most colorful man – by the name of Julius Melnitzer.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,831 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Accents Are Not a Problem As Long As Your Speech Is Understandable

A lot of people contact me because they want to speak more clearly, more distinctly. What I explain to my clients and customers is that my goal for them is not to eliminate their accent – merely to have them be understood the 1st time they say it. I like accents. An accent or even a dialect is part of what makes you, you.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,829 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Believing In Yourself At The Lecte

One of the characteristics of dynamic public speakers is that they believe in themselves. We all know that public speaking is man’s greatest fear; however, if you approach the lecte doubting yourself, how successful do you think you will be? Believing you cannot do it is a recipe for ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,815 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Is a Sexy Voice More Attractive Than a Pretty Face?

I read an article in Psychology Today entitled, Is a Sexy Voice More Attractive Than a Pretty Face? My question with the statistics and the studies is not whether a sexy voice is more attractive than one’s face but how they judged their findings. There is no doubt that women find men with a deep voice both sexy and attractive – the late great Barry White had not only an incredibly rich, warm sensual singing voice but his speaking voice was just as alluring. We swooned over this man.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,808 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Losing Your Voice in the Club Scene?

Does this sound familiar? You go to a loud club and your friends tell you that they can’t hear you even though you’ve been talking in a louder voice. Your throat feels raw and sore or perhaps you have lost your voice after an hour or two of straining to be heard. What you are experiencing is vocal abuse. You’ve been pushing your voice, which is not only straining your vocal cords and throat, but is not being heard in the process. This is tiring, frustrating and can lead to permanent damage. - Your friends don’t have this problem so why do you?

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,793 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***To Memorize or Not in Public Speaking? That Is the Question

Some coaches advocate memorization; others do not. While I want your opening statements memorized so that you are able to get through the beginning of your presentation or speech without flaw, I am not an aficionado of memorizing the remainder of your script or material. And, my reasoning is two-fold: - You stand a chance of forgetting where you are.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,784 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Don't Just Talk to Your Audience -- Captivate Them!

There are so many people with so many great messages but the moment they open their mouth to speak, the sound that emanates from their lips is anything but captivating. All too often, we are so preoccupied with the message and subsequent delivery, that we never take into account the vehicle which transports our words.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,783 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***When You Stop Pushing Your Voice, You Will Stop the Vocal Abuse

I hear from many people about their chronic hoarseness, a persistent sore throat, and even loss of voice by the end of the day. This is called vocal abuse and until you change how you produce voiced sound, you will not stop this abuse.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,782 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Does Your Voice Complete Your Profressional Image or Detract from It?

As a people, we are conce ed about the image we project. Certainly in business we want to project a professional image. Does your speaking voice complete that image or does it detract? By the way, I’m not talking about the voice you hear in your head. I’m referring to the sound you hear on your voicemail – the sound by which everyone else recognizes you.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,781 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Superman or Clark Kent - Which One Are You?

Recently I worked with a wonderful young man from Qatar by means of Skype. When I first started working with him, his voice was soft-spoken and he did not exude much confidence. After a few sessions, I showed him a video clip from Superman which really opened his eyes – not only for the difference in Christopher Reeve’s voice but also in the actor’s posture and comportment.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,774 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Voice Training Not Only Improves Your Voice But Your Diction As Well

One of the most fascinating things I find on television or in the movies is that everyone’s speech is clear and understandable. Whether the actors are playing hoodlums or heroes, whether the characters are from Harlem or Park Avenue, they all speak distinctly. This particular characteristic is a prerequisite for actors whether they are on stage or in front of the camera.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,773 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Your Voice Is Your Calling Card - Is That Good or Not So Good?

One of the 1st things you do when you start a new business is to create a business card. While the purpose of the card is to identify you and your business, your goal with that card is to project a positive image of that business. In fact, you should probably hire a creative talent to design your card because you want an image that looks professional and successful.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,761 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Persistent Sore Throats More Than Just a 'Pain in the Neck'

Some people can yell or talk non-stop all day and never experience hoarseness or sore throats; others cannot. Your voice is as individual to you as are your fingerprints: no two are alike. They may be similar but not exact. In that sense, your vocal apparatus is also unique. For 60 years, ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,742 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Is There Such a Thing As a Performance Voice in Public Speaking?

Absolutely Not! I recently read a quip from a man on a public speaking social media website who is working with a voice coach. He said that “her normal talking voice in a one on one situation is massively different to her ‘performance’ speaking voice.”

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,740 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***I Can't Believe He Said the D-Word!

Recently I had the opportunity to hear an international speaker address a large group of women. The women’s ages ranged from their 20’s to their 60’s. While the speaker used the F-word once, the silence in the large ballroom was much more palpable when he then used a 4-letter word that begins with ‘d’ and ends with 'k.' Trust me, he was not referring to a duck!

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,732 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Is a Voice Improvement Workshop Something You Should Consider?

Today there are numerous ways you can improve the sound of your speaking voice. There are books, CDs, DVDs, webinars, private sessions, group sessions and even Skype. I find that one of the most effective means of discovering your ‘real’ voice is the 2-day workshop. While voice training is very successful by means of video, I seriously doubt that you can improve the sound of your speaking voice with a book or a CD because you must both see and hear how to do it and how not to do it. A good video program will cover both of those prerequisites.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,728 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Your Diction Has a Direct Influence on Your Success

In watching TV or the movies, I am always impressed with the dictio I hear from the actors. It doesn't matter what characters they are playing. And, it doesn't matter which nationality they are, their articulation is clear and concise. It is part of their training. Can you say the same about your diction?

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,714 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***All Great Speaking Voices Have One Thing in Common

There is one word I use to describe the resonance I am looking for in each every ‘real’ voice I discover. While all voices that have had training exhibit a greater depth and breadth of sound – a fuller, rounder quality – some voices will be deeper in pitch, some brighter in tone, others may be darker in quality.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,700 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Must You Be an Expert to Get on the Public Speaking Circuit?

The answer really depends on your topic. There is one situation in which the answer would be, ‘no.’ Let’s say, for example, that you have survived a death-defying event and are being interviewed on TV to talk about your experience. Labeling yourself as an expert is a non-issue. However, if your goal in public speaking is to talk about motivation, social media, marketing, sales, etc., then the answer would most definitely be, ‘yes.’ Otherwise, why would an audience be drawn to listen to you if you were not an expert?

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,687 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Stop Obsessing About Public Speaking and Just Do It!

Ah, the perfectionist and public speaking. Without a doubt, those who seek perfection when addressing an audience are chasing an elusive dream. There are no sports played perfectly, no concerts performed without a flaw and no theater productions that are delivered without a mistake. While you may believe that the game was thrilling, or the concert was sublime, or the play was excellent, none of those adjectives mean perfection.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,686 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***What is Your Most Valuable 'Commodity' in Public Speaking?

With the wealth of information available at our fingertips, it is interesting to note how little is said about our most valuable asset or ‘commodity’ in public speaking. We are so consumed with learning the best means of creating and delivering our material that our focus often ignores our ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,686 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***If You Are Seeking Perfection, You Just Failed Public Speaking 101!

What do you think constitutes perfection in public speaking? Is it saying every word perfectly without a mistake? Is it never losing your train of thought or emphasizing a particular word in a particular sentence or smiling at the right moment?

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,682 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Why the Valley Girl Sound is Sabotaging Your Job Interviews

If there are 2 candidates for a job in which one sounds like a Valley Girl and the other does not, I guarantee that the candidate who speaks with normal inflection will win that battle. When your answers, remarks, or statements are on the upswing, it sounds like you are asking a question. This is the reason questions are posed with the pitch of the voice on the rise. (Incidentally, pitch refers to the highness or lowness of sound and is not similar to volume which deals with the loudness or softness of sound.)

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,675 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Zero In On Your Smilers

Recently I gave a presentation at a Summit Conference in New York City and was confronted with a very ‘tight’ audience. I was blessed, however, to have two women in the large ballroom who smiled throughout, nodding their heads in agreement with everything I said. The second blessing was that ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,647 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Public Speaking: What Is the Bottom Line?

If you desire to be a public speaker, then you have a goal that needs to be met if you are going to be successful in your career. I am not talking about the wedding toasting, the valedictorian speech, or a travel presentation to a senior citizens group. I am talking specifically about the persuasive presentation. Your goal with this type of presentation is to satisfy the needs of your audience. They came to hear you speak for a reason. Whatever their issue, their problem, or their pain, your job is to ‘ease their pain.’ That is the bottom line.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,608 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Speaking Like a Valley Girl Does Not Speak Well of You

If you are looking to make the best impression possible, sounding like a Valley Girl is not helping that objective. When you raise the pitch of your voice at the end of every sentence, you lose all semblance of credibility because your statements sound like questions. You may be very credible; unfortunately, a rise in the pitch of your voice at the end of statements does not sound that way. - Generally speaking, questions go up and statements go down. It is as simple as that.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,585 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Did You Know That Your Speaking Voice Could Be a Fantastic Tool for Your Business?

The first time I heard those specific words was from one of my clients many, many years ago. She had found her ‘real’ voice and told me that her she couldn’t believe what a fantastic tool her voice was for her business. Let me ask you a simple question. Would you rather listen to a high-pitched, nasal, weak or wimpy speaking voice or a captivating, resonant one? If you are like most people, you probably would prefer the latter.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,574 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Conquering Your Fear at the Lecte

In my last article, I discussed the fact that diaphragmatic breathing is the single most important thing you can do to take control your nervousness in any form of public speaking. I refer to it as the physical component of public speaking. There are 4 other factors, however, that can help ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,556 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Sounding Like a Valley Girl Doesn't Sell - Professionalism Does!

In working with a group of young professionals some years ago, I was stunned to hear all the participants ending their sentences on the upswing as if they were asking a question. I had often heard this type of speech inflection at the business lunch during the personal introductions, but this was the first time I had heard it while someone was giving an actual presentation. And it wasn’t just one individual. All seven in the group did the same thing.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,285 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Vocal Abuse: Causes, Characteristics, & Cure

Vocal Abuse is the misuse of the voice which can lead (or already has led) to permanent damage to the vocal cords. Teachers, trainers, coaches, and politicians are the most likely candidates for vocal abuse. However, anyone who uses their voice heavily throughout the day can experience the symptoms: chronic sore throats, hoarseness, and even loss of voice. For the last several weeks, I’ve been working with 3 particular individuals who are all experiencing some form of vocal abuse.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,123 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Why Men Are Attracted to a Deep Voice No Matter What the Psychologists Say!

It seems that studies done on the speaking voice say that men prefer women with higher-pitched voices. These studies report that men ‘see’ women with higher-pitched voices as being younger and thinner. I beg to differ! In all the movie in which the directors specifically want an attractive (and yes, sensual) sound, they don’t choose high-pitched voices for the roles.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,076 views

By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

COVID-19 Masks and Your Muffled Voice

Today we are living in a precarious situation because of COVID-19 in which we need to stay 6 feet away from others when we are outside of our homes. Have you considered what is happening to your voice when you are wearing a mask and need to be heard when speaking? Most likely, your voice will be softer in volume and muffled because the mask is preventing clear sound.

Primary topic: Public Speaking

Public Speaking

1,049 views

Previous pagePage 12

Back to top ↑