Public Speaking Articles

If you find that you have difficulty speaking with emotion when addressing an audience, then your nervousness is in control and you are not. When that happens, it is not easy to allow for any expression in public speaking aside from the look of near death because you are allowing for your ‘flight’ response to have the upper hand instead of your ‘fight’ response.

Tired of repeating yourself? Not sure if mumbling is the problem? If you are asked to repeat yourself a lot, you may be soft-spoken, you may be speaking unclearly because of an accent, you may be talking too fast, or you may be a mumbler. It is also possible that some or all of the above affect your speech. If you are unsure if you mumble, a simple test would be to record yourself saying something you know from memory and then listen to the playback. What did you hear? Or better yet, what did you not hear?

Through my many years as a voice coach, 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 do. It didn't start out as a study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my clients and asking them one specific question, "Do you sound like your mom or your dad?" Just like fingerprints, voices are very individual: no two are exactly alike but they can be very similar. There are three factors that affect why you sound the way you do: 1. Genetics; 2. Environment; and,r

There is no doubt that women judge a man’s attractiveness by more than just his looks. Two qualities that the female sex takes note of are a man’s confidence and his voice. A deep, rich sound is definitely more alluring to her ears than a high-pitched, nasal whine or a weak and wimpy squawk.

In today’s hectic, competitive world, image is something that you are probably conce ed about. Be it your physical appearance or the content of what you say, you know that the person you project to the world matters. However, have you ever considered what the sound of your speaking voice is saying to your listeners? - If you know, for example, that you speak in a monotone, what is the image you are projecting? - If you sound like a 12-year-old and you are over 21, what is your voice saying about you?r

Has this ever happened to you? You stand to give your speech or presentation; and, when you begin speaking what comes out of your mouth is higher in pitch and quivering to boot. So what is to be done? In most cases, nervousness is the cause of the quiver. (There are some voices, however, that quiver whether one is nervous or not.) There is a means of eliminating the quiver that works even when you are nervous.

One of the most annoying traits among some public speakers, be they professional or novice, is verbal disfluency. According to Wikipedia, verbal disfluencies are, “any of various breaks, irregularities, or utterances that are often not consistent with any specific grammatical construction and occur within the flow of otherwise fluent speech." What is important to note is the fact that disfluencies interrupt smooth speech.

There is an interesting article in the Wall Street journal, by the same title, about the charismatic influence your voice can have in your professional life. Having analyzed the voices of leaders in countries such as Brazil, France, and Italy, scientists have found that those who exhibited charisma “use their voices to dominate, rouse and influence a large audience.”

Do others often ask you to repeat yourself because they don’t understand you? If you are a man, it is possible that you mumble. Mumbling is easy to recognize: sound is definitely coming out of the mouth however the lips are not moving. if you are a woman, on the other hand, then it is more likely that you have a tight jaw, in which the lips are moving but the jaw is not. In both of these cases, one’s diction is difficult to understand because the words are not being articulated clearly.

Are you a confident speaker? Many may think that they are but when looking at their body language it tells a whole different story. The real problem with being a confident speaker is not how well you prepare or how well you string sentences together. Its absolutely about what you project as you stand up in front of people. Body language is critically important and you have to project strength, confidence and self assurance if you really want to command attention. Very few sp

I cannot tell you how many people I meet who tell me that they are losing their voice by the end of the day. When this occurs, often they have little, if any, voice the following morning. And, it is not just happening to those on the campaign trail. This type of vocal abuse is common among trainers, teachers, coaches, professional speakers, moms, and even those who spend much of their day on the phone.

Non-verbal communication, or body language, is an important part of public speaking. Your body language includes your posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and voice. At the very least, your body language should not distract the audience and with a little practice, it can help you convey confidence and help the audience see your message more clearly. Here are the most common gesture, movement, posture and facial expression mistakes: GESTURE MISTAKES • Not using gestures at all.

If nervousness is keeping you from making that ‘dreaded’ presentation, might I suggest a different approach to your thought process? Instead of focusing on your nerves or your fear, why not focus on your success? Whether you are scheduled to speak for your boss, for your own business, or for some other occasion, your inability to stand at the lecte could be jeopardizing your career. What is holding you back is exactly what could make your speech or presentation a success.

When it comes to the speaking voice, tone deals with the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, your tone can have a surprising influence on how your topic or subject is perceived. If you were to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than were you to speak to a master’s level course on horticulture. While tone is somewhat dependent upon the color in your speech, in your facial expression and in your body language, your mood or emotional state can convey a different message from what you are actually trying to say.

Speaking in monotone is more than just a problem. It is boring. There is no other way to say it. The problem with a monotone delivery is that it puts your audience to sleep and it does so very quickly. If actors were to speak in monotone, television, movies and theaters would not be one of our greatest forms of entertainment. The other problem if you speak in a monotone is that it gives the wrong impression to your listeners. It says that you do not care because no emotion is being seen, heard, or felt. I worked with a lovely woman by the name of Dawn.

For many of us who have spent years in business, our anecdotes are many and varied. There is no doubt that experience is not only the best teacher, but affords us many stories and anecdotes throughout our business careers. What does the novice speaker do, however, when his/her experience is minimal?

When you've giving a presentation, your words can affect your ability to communicate your message to your audience. If you want to be a more effective presenter, avoid these four types of words: FILLER WORDS Filler words are words such as "um," "ah," "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as verbal bridges to the next word. Rather than being effective bridges, however, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message. These filler words also make you look and sound nervous. Instead of using them, just pause and take a breath instead.

When it comes to public speaking, it is important to establish your general purpose before you even begin the creation of your material. What is your reason for speaking? Have you been asked to speak at a business convention or give the convocation speech at your alma mater? Maybe you are enrolled in a public speaking course or are a member of Toastmasters. Possibly you belong to a leads organization and it is your turn to give a 10-minute overview of your business. Of course, it is also possible that you are looking to establish yourself in the business of public speaking.

Imagine standing at the lectern. You see the many smiling faces of those in your audience. Your countenance, however, says anything but that you are glad to be there. While you may not be thrilled at the prospect of giving that speech or presentation, if your face displays your displeasure, how enjoyable will your delivery be for those who are in attendance? If you read most articles and books on the subject of public speaking, they will tell you that there are only 3 reasons for public speaking: to entertain, to inform, or to persuade.

Yes, Fran Drescher is a beautiful woman, but when she opens her mouth to speak, it is hard to take her seriously. If you are hoping to meet the man of your dreams, have you ever considered what your speaking voice is saying about you? Do you sound nasal and high-pitched or whiny and irritating when you speak? If so, then your words will not be quite as inviting as you may think. Demi Moore, Cher, Kate Beckinsale, Ashley Judd, and Julia Ormond have voices that match their beauty. Each one of these voices is warm and, given the right tone, can be very, very sexy.

Acting and public speaking have only two things in common: both need an audience and both involve words coming out of your mouth. That is where the similarities end however. Actors who teach public speaking often disagree with me on this point because they fail to recognize that public speaking is the art of communicating with an audience whereas acting is a means of entertaining an audience.

If you have trouble making eye contact with your audience, I suggest you make every attempt to change that practice. A young lawyer with whom I was working would glance about the room, briefly looking at someone and then immediately glancing at someone else, never actually seeing any of us in his audience. At first, you would think he was making eye contact but as he continued in this pattern, you realized that he saw no one in his audience. A furtive glance tells your listeners that you have something to hide.

In addressing an audience, it is important to have researched your topic and to know your material extremely well. This is a no-brainer. However, is it possible to know everything about your topic? If you are young and new to the public speaking world, probably not. Even those with a lot of experience may not know everything there is to know about their particular topic.

Many people suffer from chronic hoarseness, sore throats and even loss of voice; and, most of these people do so because of misuse of the speaking voice. It is common; it is world wide; and, it is a growing concern.

You already have your signature speech down, but sometimes you need to go beyond that. As a public speaker, it’s time to get moving and stretch yourself. It’s time to speak up, stand out and step out of your comfort zone. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Recently, I received the opportunity to speak on a cruise ship to the Mediterranean for eleven days. I had to create four NEW speeches outside of my normal speaking topic. After reviewing the best-selling books on Amazon, I

When you practice your material for your speech or presentation, do you record yourself by means of a camcorder? If not, then you should definitely consider this important step in the process of preparing for your delivery. Camcorders today are not that expensive. Look at the purchase of this ...

It never ceases to amaze me how many people want to get rid of their nervousness in public speaking. In truth, they should embrace that wonderful rush of adrenaline. If you’re not nervous when presenting, then I am because being overly confident is never a good thing in public speaking or any live venue for that matter.

n n Voice Training/Vocal Technique nnVocal Technique is the practice of using the voice in a particular way when singing or speaking. Vocal Technique is a rehearsed way of adjusting the voice both musically and non-musically; to create different sounds or voice qualities. The techniques required to control the voice are physical, and can concern a person's posture whilst singing or speaking; or the way in which they actually produce the sound. This article is primarily concer

While some academics may argue that one’s content is more important than one’s delivery, I beg to differ. If one’s delivery is of lesser value than one’s content, why not copy the speech, pass it out, and then everyone can go home or back to work? Assuming your audience is there to hear you ...

Recently I was talking on my cell phone to a woman from my credit card company 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.

You have been to a specialist and been told that there is nothing medically wrong but you still suffer from hoarseness and/or a persistent sore throat. You may even lose your voice by the end of the day. Yet the doctor sees nothing wrong with your throat or vocal cords aside from some redness. What is causing the redness, the hoarseness, or the pain and how can you put an end to it?

I once met a man who told me that his soft-spoken voice made others become quiet and pay attention to him. It took everything in my power not to laugh in his face. In today’s loud, fast-paced, hectic world, being soft-spoken is definitely not a strength, especially in America. To be constantly asked to repeat yourself is one of the reasons others take over the conversation. Imagine watching a movie and the volume is not quite loud enough to be able to understand the actors’ words. That is exactly what is happening when you speak and others cannot hear you.

If the numbers are correct and 37% of the image you project is the sound of your speaking voice, then without a doubt, having a hot, sexy voice that exudes warmth and sensuality is a turn-on. For both men and women, deeper voices are much more attractive to the listeners’ ears than a high-pitch, whiny, nasal, reedy, or wimpy sound. If you look at the voices used to portray sensuality in Hollywood, two of the biggest stars are Kathleen Turner and George Clooney. Other voices that display this quality are Julia Ormond, Sean Connery, and Ashley Judd.

Have you ever thought something was going to happen just because its what you thought you deserved? Or that somebody else knew something because you knew it? “Yes, I have, Mike. What’s the big deal?

So, you have been scheduled, invited, or commanded to speak. It could be the quarterly budget report for your firm. Maybe you are a member of Toastmasters. You could be enrolled in a local public speaking course. Perhaps it is your best friend’s wedding. Whatever the reason for your upcoming speech or presentation, what is your reaction to public speaking? Fight? Flight? Freeze?

If you find others recoiling when you speak, it could be that you talk too loudly. While those who speak too softly far outnumber those who are too loud, the difficulty with the loud voice is that it is offensive to your listener’s ears. How loud is too loud? If you have been told that you are shouting or have been requested to speak more softly, then it would be a wise decision to learn how to decrease your volume. This would involve retraining your inner ear to know when you are speaking with too much volume.

Imagine that you are listening to a speaker at a conference or even at the head of the boardroom table and you begin to notice that every sentence is connected with the word and. Have you ever heard this before? Nothing could be less interesting than listening to this dull, unimaginative style of addressing an audience except possibly hearing you know at the end of every sentence!

As a voice coach, I hate the word loud when it is used in conjunction with the speaking voice. Loud hurts your listeners’ ears; and, over time, loud can hurt your throat. I don’t want you to speak louder – I want you to speak with more power, with an increase in your volume which is not painful to your throat or your listeners' ears.

Many men wish that the pitch of their speaking voice was deeper – similar to that of James Earl Jones or Vin Diesel. You don’t need to be a bass, however, to have a great speaking voice; and, Kevin Spacey is proof of it. Warm, resonant, rich and melodious, Spacey’s voice is very soothing and, given the right tone, sensual. The voiceover for Honda, Spacey ‘sells’ their TV commercials because his voice instantly creates trust, integrity, class and value for their cars. Whether Honda’s vehicles are worthy of such praise is not the issue. Spacey’s voice makes it believable.

While the value of making eye contact with your audience is one of the most important things you can do in public speaking, it doesn’t mean that you should begin this process after you begin your delivery. It starts before you open your mouth to speak and is part of the confident posture you assume in your walk.

Oh, how I dislike the business lunch or dinner meeting in which everyone must stand and introduce themselves. What we tend to hear, one after the other, is a name, a profession, and a place of business that becomes sing-song after the 1st introduction. Not only is it spoken in a lilt, but everyone takes their voice up at the end of each statement so that it sounds like they are asking a question.

Speaking in a normal volume of sound can be especially tricky for the soft-spoken. If you are asked to repeat yourself or are often interrupted, then you should consider remedying the problem if you expect others to hear what you have to say. Those who are unable to hear you, tire of asking you to repeat yourself. And, in most cases, you will be interrupted because those with bigger voices will take over the conversation.

Ending your sentences on the upswing is what I call the Valley Girl sound. Basically, it means that your statements sound like questions. It may be cute for 16-year-olds, but it definitely does not lend credibility to a professional image. If you are ending your sentences on a pitch higher than that with which you started, you should make the change. Careers are built on ability, credibility, and sounding mature – not too old – not too young. When your inflection makes you sound like you are questioning yourself, you are not projecting a professional image. Nor do you sound credible.r

As a speaker, there are times you might be addressing an all-female audience or an all-male audience. Unless your topic is geared to just women or just men, however, you will find that, in most instances, your audiences are mixed. The question is how mixed are they and does it matter? The answer is yes.

When I work with my clients in color – the life, the emotion, the animation we express in speaking – one of the many exercises we cover is one in which they must say, “She said yes,” in a fearful manner. Many people have difficulty saying those three words as if they were in fear. Of course, I jokingly tell them to imagine that their mother-in-law is coming to stay with them for 6 months! Upon hearing this, many are then able to express those words admirably.

While knowledge of your speech or presentation is invaluable in public speaking, if you are unable to speak from your heart, then all your knowledge is for naught. The best in public speaking are those who are able to excite, captivate, and enthrall their listeners. And, none of those adjectives are possible if your heart is not involved in the process.

Because we as a people are losing our sense of decency, vulgarities are becoming the norm in our everyday life: we see it in people’s actions; we see it in the entertainment world; we hear it in conversation on a daily basis. So how do we judge what is appropriate in public speaking? The ...

It’s an often cited fact that when most people are asked what their greatest fear is, they list public speaking more often than anything else. Even though daily business life requires us to give presentations to coworkers, clients, and superiors, most of us will never really overcome our fear of public speaking. However, if we develop the right skills and practice the right techniques, we can become more comfortable and efficient at delivering our message. Following are som

You know you have vocal abuse but you don’t know what to do about it. Some may tell you to whisper (truly a no-no!) while others tell you to stop talking. Neither is the answer. Whispering is very hard on your vocal folds (cords) and should never be done. And, most people are not in a position to stop talking for months or even a year to stop the discomfort or pain. The real problem with vocal abuse is that if you can alleviate it by not speaking or singing for a certain amount of time, it will only return if you continue with the same vocal habits that started it in the first place.r