Browse Public Speaking

Dfw Teen Voice " How to Attract Favor In Your Life" By Patricia Founder Teen Voice http://teenvoice.ws Attract Define as: at·tract v. at·tract·ed, at·tract·ing, at·tracts v.tr. 1. To cause to draw near or adhere by physical force: Magnetic poles are attracted to their opposites. 2. To arouse or compel the interest, admiration, or attention of: We were attracted by the display of lights. v.intr. To possess or use the power of attraction. Favor defined as:

Some 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.

I was asked a lot about this question. What kind of voice is sexy? I often hear people say, "I have a sexy voice when I'm having a cold, because it's low." Some say people who smoke, especially ladies, have a sexy voice. That can not be wrong enough. Smoking causes permanent damage to your vocal folds (vocal cords) and your voice can only get worse while you age. In both cases, it's an unhealthy voice.

We 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 in touch with you and asked you to speak to their company, their firm, their organization or club, their university, or possibly at a convention or expo. Perhaps you are toasting a bride, giving a eulogy or delivering a graduation speech.

If 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 inside your head, is unable to distinguish how you really sound because of distortion. Essentially, your voice is vibrating in the solid and liquid of your brain and is telling you that you sound a lot better than you really do.

Do 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, friends, colleagues and acquaintances and never give it a second thought. It is called moving. Now you may be questioning what moving has to do with public speaking. Everything. Moving is important for several reasons.

When 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 fundamental reason: if you want to discover your ‘real’ voice – which is the one you would power by means of your chest cavity instead of your throat – you must learn to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. It is this breathing that makes all the difference.

Recently 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 have been much easier to understand her; however, on the phone where there is no visual support for speech, much of what she was saying was lost.

Whenever 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 change in voice placement. Most people use 4 of their 5 resonators to produce voiced sound; and, of those 4 resonators, the 2 most heavily used are the throat (pharynx) and the voice box (larynx.) The other 2 resonators include the mouth and the nose.

Recently 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 normal.

I recently returned from Italy where I facilitated training in Rome for a global client – more than 50 employees came from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Portugal. I also spent a few days touring and sightseeing.

When 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 ...

Are 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 by the end of the day. Vocal abuse is caused by misplacement of your voice. While that may sound strange, what is happening is that you are placing too much wear and tear on your vocal folds (cords).

You 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 about it? 1. The problem is known as vocal abuse. 2. It is caused by overuse of your speaking and/or singing voice. 3. It cannot go away on its own unless you stop talking and/or singing.

Often 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 ...

As a professional speaker, you will have to abide by a dress code. It’s simple; dress well all the time. Now this doesn’t mean that you have to constantly go around in a suit and a tie everywhere you go. But, it does mean that you need to dress business casual at the very least. Being groomed, clean, and smelling good are absolute basics. Make sure you look good whenever you go out. It’s a fact that how people perceive you will make a difference in how you’re treated.

There 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.

So 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 have I seen anything regarding this, truly the most important secret if you want to capture your listeners’ attention and keep them captivated throughout. It is something we just don’t think about.

Are 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 ...

Gosh, 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 with age. It is happening to me as well as my clients.

Have 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 ...

Often 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.

Have 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 expression and body language add significantly to the delivery of your material. Without it, you are leaving your audience with much less enthusiasm or delight over your topic than if you would move, use your hands when you speak, and add some life or emotion to your voice.

Having spent many years in senior executive roles experience tells me that when it comes to succeeding at work it isn’t necessarily about how much experience you have, how many qualifications you hold or even how knowledgeable you are. It’s about how you speak! It’s clear to me that the skill employers covet more than anything else is the ability to interact, influence and inspire the people you work with.

That’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 sound of your speaking voice is what you are hearing through your headphones and not the familiar voice you hear in your head.

A problem for many novice public speakers is what to do with their hands during a presentation. Standing at a lecte 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 than the speech. Those who deliver presentations usually take advantage of the entire stage upon which they stand or the front of the classroom or the head of the boardroom table.

Did 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 sending a confusing or even possibly the wrong message. Part of that which makes for dynamic public speaking is being expressive when you speak.

A perfectly poised and polished speaker or a panic-stricken prattler - it's your choice!nnEffective PowerPoint presentation skills elevates a good speech to a phenomenal and remarkable keynote address. Take note of our "Top Ten Perfectly Poised Pointers" and make a concerted effort to avoid the "Panic-Stricken Pitfalls". They'll soon have you delivering a speech with poise and apparently effortless ease.nnFirst and foremost - give your PowerPoint Presentation the KISS effect

When you meet someone or present to an audience, do your words match your non-verbal communications? If there is a disconnect between verbal and non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals. Studies show that more than 90% of our communication is non-verbal. For example, imagine that a speaker shuffles to the podium, fumbling with his pen and folder. He stares down at his notes, frowns slightly and says in a lifeless monotone so soft that you can barely hear him, "I am excited to be here with you today.

Many people who speak in front of groups could be more effective communicators if they used a microphone. If the audience has to struggle to hear you, it will be difficult for you to communicate your message effectively. Many things can make it difficult for the audience to hear you, such as a noisy air conditioner or a loud group in the adjoining room. Hearing and understanding you can also be difficult if the people in the audience are not native speakers of the language you're presenting in, or if you're presenting new and technically complicated information.

Are 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, ...

There 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.

Your fear can hinder you, or it can help you! One of the greatest fears among people is public speaking. Some people are natural on a stage, relaxed, in control, comfortable. But countless others are terrified at the thought of even standing in front of a crowd, much less talking to an ...

Most 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 as you are. Many may be just as talented as you in fulfilling the duties required for the position. This is when having the knowledge and necessary skills in presenting yourself professionally could be the deciding factor in who gets the job.

They 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 ...

While 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.

During 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 loudly is not nearly as common as speaking too softly, it does happen. And, for your listeners, it can be painful to their ears. If you find others recoiling when you talk, you should consider voice training in order to learn how to lessen your volume to a comfortable level.

With 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 tours to Hawaii, Mexico, and Califo ia over the telephone. While my boss, Harry, was an excellent salesman, his speaking voice was definitely his greatest asset. Deep, rich, and resonant, Harry’s voice was captivating and his success at Your Man Tours was outstanding.

If 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 treating your audience as if you were having a conversation in your living room. Lengthy sentences, long words, flowery speech, or highly technical terms do not lend themselves to plain speaking.

While 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 is vital if you want to keep the attention of your audience on you.

For 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 message are you sending if no one hears your words? There are only so many times others will ask you to repeat yourself before taking over the conversation or directing the conversation to someone else. And, what that does for your self-confidence is certainly not positive.

While 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 class or at Toastmaster, deliver a 10-minute presentation to your leads group, or have been volunteered to give the quarterly budget report to the CEO, instead of approaching the date with dread, try looking at the event positively.

The 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.

The other day, my amazing copywriting director, Michele PW, shared something that really got me thinking. She told me that the tide has turned and that beauty has finally come into its own. The reason? Women. Ugly Used to Sell In the old days, copywriters, like Michele PW, who studied under the Dan Kennedy School of Copywriting, were taught that ugly sold better. He was referring to those long, page sales letters with typewriter style fonts and arrows pointing everywhere.

There 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 you are like most people, however, excessive nasality is indeed not an asset and could jeopardize your success, both professionally and personally.

Recently I’ve shown you how to get comformation product, mentorship, etc. Today I’m going share with you three principles for a powerful close so that you can inspire on-the-spot action in your ideal clients—those people who are perfectly matched to you—without being salesy. You can give them everything they need to be able to make a decision on the spot, yes or no. These 3 principles come directly from my Invisible Close Speak-to-Sell Formula™. 1. Focus on the outcome or transformationr

Having 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 you speed through your sentences at a 100 mph or dawdle at 50? If you are curious as to the image your voice projects, record yourself during a normal conversation by means of a camcorder or some other type of recording equipment. Then play it back and listen to it.

If 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 the voice you don’t know you have. And, that can be very exciting.

"Everything in life cannot be grasped by the logic-centered left brain." D.T.Suzuki Sometimes you need more than your own dynamic self to get your message across. Just standing there and talking is not very creative and not much of a strategy. You might be a great speaker or think you’re ...

I 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. The problem is you don’t know where it is – but it is in there. I guarantee it. I can’t tell you the hundreds of women with whom I have worked who have found their ‘real’ voice and then seen their life improve dramatically.