Public Speaking Articles

Without a doubt, the video recorder is one of the best pieces of equipment you have for honing your skills. The ability to see and hear yourself in action is a marvelous learning tool, especially if you can get someone to help you by asking the questions. There is no doubt that it is easier to speak to a living, breathing person than just to the lens of the camcorder.

A few years ago, my son’s 7th grade teacher had the strange ability to increase the volume of her voice by means of her nose. While I have worked with thousands of people in voice and presentation skills, this particular ‘skill’ is something I had never heard before and haven’t heard since. The majority of people who have excessive nasality when speaking are not amplifying their sound by means of their nose. As much as their voice may be making its final descent through the nasal passages, their increase in volume generally comes from their throat and voice box.

Recently I have been reading some questionable articles about the various ways in which you can gain a deeper voice and I am appalled at the number of people who are giving advice. People who have no understanding of or training in the speaking voice. In addition, their tips and tricks are wrong and can produce serious damage to the vocal folds.

If you suffer from chronic hoarseness and are not sick, then you are likely in the throes of vocal abuse. While it is possible that certain antihistamines or other types of medications can produce irritation in your throat, for many people, prescribed drugs are not the cause. Vocal abuse is. These same people may go to an ENT specialist, be given a clean bill of health, and leave not knowing what is causing the problem or what to do about it.

It always amazes me when I hear someone on the phone who sounds like a teenage, pre-teen, or younger still, and am later surprised to discover a mature individual who is well over 21. If your voice sounds like that of a child, what image do you think you project, not only over the phone but in person as well?

Nothing is more humiliating then answering the phone and having the caller ask to speak to your mom or your dad and you are 20 or 40 or 60-years-old! While this problem is generally more common among women than men, it is demoralizing to have others think you are a child over the phone. In person, you obviously don’t look like a child, but the image you are projecting if you sound like an 8-year-old is definitely not an image that lends credibility to you or instills confidence in your listeners.

Speakers can open their presentation using one of a host of methods. So why do most non-professional speakers begin their speech with those attention-grabbing words, “Ah, I am so-in-so, ah . . . um”? Beginning your speech with filler words such as “ah” or “um” immediately tells your audience that you are an untrained speaker. In a flash, you’ve lost credibility as a speaker, or even worse, as an expert in your field, and your audience has taken a mental exit. Yo

That is such an interesting question and I am confident were I to do a study on the subject I would receive just as many 'no' answers as 'yes.' Telling your audience a ‘fish story’ may be seemingly harmless, but even a little white lie can lead to others questioning your credibility.

Without a doubt, The King’s Speech deserved its Oscars and I would recommend it to all. Yes, I enjoyed the biographical aspects and the acting; but, what is even more insightful is how this man was able to overcome a debilitating vocal ‘handicap’ in order to deliver speeches during his reign as King of England.

Does this sound like you? You spend a few hours at a football game and find you have no voice afterwards. Or perhaps you are coaching your kid’s soccer team and, after an hour of practice, you have a sore throat. Or maybe you have been providing some training sessions and your voice is hoarse ...

Each of us has qualities that make us unique. Each of us is unlike anyone else on the planet. So why, as a speaker, would you want to model yourself after someone else? I enjoy watching speakers who are engaging, entertaining, moving, intense, funny, bold, serene, and/or just plain brilliant. ...

Toastmasters does not want you to be a great speaker. That’s right. Toastmasters does not want you to be a great speaker. I know what you are screaming. “That’s ludicrous,” you say. “Doesn’t Toastmasters have a ‘World Champion of Public Speaking’ every year?” Yes. It is always good to have role models. “Don’t we have the Competent Communicator manual to make us great speakers? We work on vocabulary, gestures, eye contact, and even visual aids.” It is good to have training.

Whatever your reason for standing in front of an audience, it is important to identify your objective before you even outline your material. What is your primary goal? Are you being requested by your boss to give a report on your latest sales presentation? Are you taking a course in public speaking and it is your turn to deliver a speech? Maybe you are interested in pursuing public speaking as a career.

Fear of failure is the single most powerful reason so many people fail to find happiness. They try something once, maybe twice, and then give up. For them, it’s a two times and you are out approached to life. Yet, failure is a natural aspect of life. Failures are something everyone has to deal with. They are not options. Failures are our teachers - - we are supposed to learn from them, not repeat them.

My first piece of advice is to relax and enjoy it. With a doubt, an all-female audience is much easier to address than an all-male audience. Women are quicker to voice their approval and to express laughter. And, it is their response to your words or your message that can boost your confidence and make your presentation that much easier and fun to deliver.

In the internet world, the amount of information on public speaking or presentation skills is overwhelming – from choosing a topic and then preparing and creating your speech or presentation to the best means of delivering your material with enthusiasm and passion. What is often neglected, however, is the idea of integrity in public speaking, a subject that could be a book in itself. What is meant by integrity? Total honesty with your audience, which can only be accomplished if you know your topic extremely well, respect those in attendance and value their presence.

When I first began teaching voice improvement many years ago, I was unaware that once you began using your chest to power or amplify the voice, your volume would normalize on its own. It was quite an 'ear-opening' discovery for me because so many other voice teachers or coaches were providing exercises specifically designed for increasing volume or decreasing it.

Many people gain tremendous emotional, spiritual and physical benefits from yoga. Its value is undeniable. I would like to posture a question to you. If you find the deep breathing advantageous in reducing your stress during yoga, why not make it a habit and do it all day long?

The phone rings and suddenly you are confronted with leaving a message on someone’s voicemail. Panic ensues and you become tongue-tied or speechless. My first question would be to ask you what is your fear? Had someone indeed answered the phone, would you have been prepared to address that individual? For some people, just the thought of making that important phone call and possibly being confronted with voicemail on the other end is frightening enough not to make the call. If such is the case, then the business you are hoping to introduce and/or sell will not happen.

Is your communication full of clichés and tired old expressions? In public speaking, frequently using phrases like "you know" and "see what I mean" can be just as distracting to your listeners as frequently using filler words like "um" and "ah." These tired and overused words and phrases dilute the power of the message you are trying to convey.

Your project go-live date has changed – now what? Regardless of the reasons for the change (and let's face it, "the date has changed" usually is interpreted as "the date has slipped"), there are six steps you should take when communicating a change in your project's go-live date: 1. Consider ...

One of the most common complaints I hear from novice public speakers is lack of air while public speaking. It doesn’t matter whether you are delivering a speech, giving a presentation, or introducing the next speaker. It also doesn’t matter how long or how short your talk. Lack of air in public speaking is a huge problem that can be rectified immediately if you learn to do one thing and implement it in your next talk. - Pause and take a supplemental breath before you run out of air – not afterwards.

I have discovered a new formula for my speeches and articles. It is a simple, realistic and neat recipe. It does not require me to change my main points. I still apply everything I learned in Toastmasters. The difference – I get attentive listeners who “buy-in” to my message. It will work for you, too!

We all have one – a voice that has resonance and depth. It sounds more mature but not old. It is ageless. In fact, it will continue to improve as you age. Unfortunately, 99% of the population is unaware that they have a better voice inside; and, that same percentage is unaware that their ‘real’ voice will be a vast improvement over their habitual one.

Voice power is something many are lacking. Some people can talk all day without a problem but many of us cannot. Do you find your voice getting weaker as the day progresses? Do you sometimes lose your voice by the end of the day and you are not sick? If so, then you should consider voice training because the problem will not go away on its own.

Imagine watching a speaker who has wonderful words of advice, encouragement, experience and/or success and that speaker never once looks in your direction – in fact, that speaker never acknowledges you or anyone filling those seats to hear his/her wonderful words. Does that happen? More often than you may think. I have seen, as well as worked with, many people who have strong delivery skills but are lacking in one particular area. They are unable to make eye contact with their audience.

You are probably not comfortable hearing your voice on your voicemail or your answering machine and yet you may not realize that if you hear your voice that way, so does everyone else. Because the manner in which you hear yourself is vastly different than what the recording equipment is telling you, might it not be an idea to consider improving your vocal image? The other day I received a phone call from a man in the New York area who said he had found me through my website. His intention was to sell me on the idea that his company would produce and distribute my video products.

Some of the adjectives that come to mind when I hear someone who has excessive nasality are whiny, strident, shrill, and grating. And, given the right volume, tone, and duration, it can lead some listeners to develop a headache.

Far too often we entrepreneurs haven't quite moved beyond the corporate mode for success. We get sucked up into that desire to climb "the ladder." We want to get to the top. But in a recent experience with my Sales, Authenticity & Success (Sassy) Diamond Mastermind members, I discovered that lateral moves can be just as powerful -- in fact, sometimes even more powerful for making quantum leaps. We were at Miraval for one of our Diamond retreats, and I surprised them with a rock-climbing experience.

There is nothing worse than sitting in the audience, checking your watch as you wait for the speaker to close, knowing your presenter still has 8 more main points to cover and you have already heard 14 of them! When this happens it is interesting to note that the speaker usually seems totally ...

A real Smile is one of the most effective means to capture the trust, attention, and rapport of an audience. It is an essential part selling when meeting people. It has added benefits as a stress reducer. This is true if speaking to an audience of one or one thousand. You can reap these benefits if you know what a real smile is and learn how to create one. In basic training, a salesman is taught to master smiling and have it end just as eye contact is made with the clientel

While being overconfident in public speaking is not common, there are some who tell me that they are not nervous when standing at the lectern. My question to them is, “Why not?” If you do not experience nervous jitters, a racing heartbeat, or some bit of anxiety, then I pity your audience.

While my last two articles dealt with the elevator speech, I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the differences between the elevator speech and the personal introduction. You may think that the two are one and the same, but they are not. One of the factors that differentiate the two is ...

If you are interested in improving your presentation skills, one route is the workshop. You would be amazed at the transformation possible; however, it is important to understand that not all workshops are alike. In this article, I list the 5 things you should look for if you are serious about improving your skills in public speaking and having several opportunities to present your material in front of an audience.

The GROW model is a coaching model that describes a very simply process that can be followed to help you work towards and to achieve your goals. GOAL The first step is to understand what your goal is. Understanding your goal gives you a concrete objective towards which you can work, and the ...

Take two internationally renowned speakers. One speaker who I will refer to as Mr. X occasionally forgets where he is because he adds anecdotes pertinent to his main points throughout his presentation. In doing so, he sometimes forgets where he was since he is not using any visual aids. He is speaking from both his head and his heart. His delivery is dynamic and exciting. The other individual, Mr. Y, talks perfectly word-for-word. His memorized delivery is very fast and includes no anecdotes as he is saying each word directly from his PowerPoint presentation.

When someone looks at you, your visual image is obviously the first thing they see. And, that image has an impact on the other person – your attire, your figure, your face, your hair – everything that is presenting the picture of you. But what happens when you open your mouth to speak? Have you ever considered whether your speaking voice does justice to the visual image you project? Or whether the content of what you are saying is being well-served by the sound of your speaking voice?

How often had you heard the premise in public speaking that you should tell your audience what you want them to hear, tell them again what you want them to hear and finally tell them once more what you have already told them? The reasoning behind this advice is that your listeners will only remember between 10% and 30% of your message; thus, it is to your advantage to repeat the information which you want them to remember.

I am ever amazed at the number of people in public speaking who never give any consideration to their speaking voice. Conce ed about their physical image, their content, and their delivery skills, they have yet to realize that the vehicle for transmitting their message is the voice. And, it is not the one they hear inside their head; it is the one they hear on their voicemail.

Tomorrow’s the day and you’re dreading it. You’re scheduled to give a presentation to the senior management team about the new program you’re proposing. You’re excited and enthusiastic about the program but nervous and anxious about the presentation. You don’t know how you’ll manage to sleep ...

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?

Imagine standing out from the crowd when you speak. Is it possible? Everyone has a better voice inside of them; unfortunately, most people are unaware of it. What is a better voice? One that vibrates in your chest when you speak and grabs your listeners’ attention with its warmth and resonance. Unfortunately, the only resonance most people hear when they speak is that which is coming through their nose. That is not the resonance I am talking about.

Ladies, I want you to imagine lying on a table on your stomach, your breast is dangling through a huge hole in the table, and a mammography machine proceeds to squeeze your breast in the exact same manner it does during a mammogram. Now I want you to imagine that instead of being in that ‘squished’ position for 20 or 30 seconds, you are relegated to that pressure for 45 minutes! According to the Radiological Society of America, “stereotactic mammography pinpoints the exact location of a breast mass by using a computer and x-rays taken from two different angles.

Do you think the ability to speak effectively is important in your career? Whatever your job, be it working for someone else or starting your own company, presentation skills today are at the top of the ladder when it comes to business. And, you have the internet to thank for that. Video-conferencing, webinars, teleconferences, and workshops are on the rise even with our ‘sluggish’ economy as some might refer to it. People want answers and they want them yesterday. As a result, we are getting more and more information by means of the internet.

I just received a phone call from a young man who asked if I was hiring. I am not hiring; however, were I looking for help with my business, this man would definitely not be on my list of candidates. He sounded like a wimp; and, while I did not use those exact words, I suggested that in his future cold calls, he should speak with confidence. Not aggressive by any means, but certainly not wimpy!

The first part of connecting with the audience is to do the proper research for the event. And by that I mean, you have to do your homework. You have to consult with the client and event planner and truly understand the reason your presentation has been arranged-- and why they chose you! You see, past experience has shown me that a poorly prepared speaker cannot properly connect with his audience.

n nThis book review is part of a series that covers the topic of Public Speaking. Public Speaking is speaking to a group of people in a structured manner with the intention to inform, influence, or entertain the audience. A good orator should be able to invoke emotion in their listeners, not just inform them. Nancy Daniels is the Official Guide to Public Speaking . International Speaker and Voice Specialist, Nancy Daniels, also known as The Voice Lady, has been involved in vo

What should I do with my hands when I'm presenting?" is a common question that I hear when I'm teaching public speaking. Your hands form an important part of your non-verbal communication, or body language, and can help you convey confidence and communicate more effectively to your audience. Here are 5 tips for what to do with your hands: 1. Be Aware of What Your Hands Are Doingr The first step in preventing your hands from distracting your audience is to become conscious of what your hands are doing. Are you cracking your knuckles, playing with your pen or twisting your note cards?