Public Speaking Articles

A common complaint for those giving presentations or speeches is that they run out of air and can never seem to catch up on their air supply. The biggest problem with breathlessness is that your body is starved for oxygen because you are not allowing yourself the luxury of breathing. Instead, you are waiting until the last moment to take a breath; and, at that particular stage in respiration, the breath you inhale will largely be ineffective because it will only increase your stress rather than decrease it. When you are in normal conversation, do you ever wonder when to breathe?

While it is definitely easier to speak to female audiences, you can have as much success with male audiences if you understand the differences between the two. In addition, knowing the makeup of the particular male audience you are addressing will be to your advantage.

Becoming an effective public speaker is certainly not something that happens overnight. There are no shortcuts to becoming a great public speaker. It's a journey that takes time, patience and effort. Since my professional rugby career came to an end back in 2001, public speaking now plays a major role in my life. Was it easy for me when I started? Certainly not!!! But the more I did the better I became. We've all heard the old adage of practice makes perfect. Well this certai

When clients tell me they want to be like Anthony Robbins or Zig Ziglar, my first question is why? Yes, I understand that they may want to be as famous or as rich or as talented, but why would they want to imitate either one of them?

Unless you are planning to become an actor, I see no reason to try to get rid of your accent as long as you speak clearly. This is a prerequisite for success. It does not matter where you live or what language is your mother tongue.

I just got back from my Toastmasters’ club meeting. We had so much fun that I had to share with you the experience and the lessons we learned. As background, there were only eleven of us there, including three guests at this Saturday morning meeting, the beginning of a beautiful, sunny, “Chamber of Commerce” Florida day. Why we chose to be cooped up in a library meeting room for ninety minutes is a mystery, except that we felt we had made a commitment to each other, and expected to learn a little more about speaking in public.

One of the most thrilling, challenging (and for many people) frightening opportunities is that of public speaking. Whether your job requires it, or you find yourself in a position where you have to give a public presentation, you may be overcome with nerves at the thought of standing in front of ...

Getting a job is not easy with today’s high rate of unemployment. It is certainly to your advantage to not only have the right education and experience but also the best presentation skills as well. When you think about the image you project, what does your voice say about you? In order to answer this question, however, you must base your answer on the voice you hear on your voicemail or answering machine and not the sound you hear in your head.

If you are plagued by a great deal of stress on a daily basis, do you know what it is doing to your speaking voice? You are probably aware that it is affecting your sleep, your diet, your mental health, your physical health and your overall well-being. But what do you think it is doing to your voice? Possibly you notice a strangled sound or tightness in your jaw that becomes more apparent as the day wears on.

One of the most common complaints I hear from clients is that they run out of air at the lectern. If this is a problem for you, let me ask you a question. Do you experience breathlessness in normal conversation? Your answer is probably No. If you do not run out of air when you are speaking to friends, family or co-workers, then you should not be breathless at the lectern. The causes of lack of air are as follows: 1. You do not think to breathe. 2. You are waiting until you come to the end of a sentence to take a breath. 3. Nervousness is sapping your air supply.

If others continually ask you to repeat yourself, what do you think that says about you? If you are striving to achieve success in your career, do you think your soft-spoken voice might be jeopardizing your goals? Have you ever considered that your lack of volume is possibly what could be holding you back? I would never advocate for a loud voice. Admittedly, I would prefer that someone spoke too softly than too loudly because a loud voice can be offensive; however, that is not a justification for being too soft in volume.

While there is no doubt that a loud voice can be most painful to your listeners’ ears, have you ever considered how your loud voice affects the image that you project? We are all conce ed about image. Look at the number of articles and books written today on image and what it means for your success, both professionally and personally. While a loud voice can be overbearing, it is important to recognize that other people may be judging you unfairly because you happen to speak with too much volume.

When it comes to image, everyone is conce ed about how they look, how they project themselves, what they say and what they wear. Yet few are aware that the sound of their speaking voice accounts for a large part of that image. So, my question to you is, do you like hearing your voice on your voicemail or your answering machine? Most people do not.

With the start of the New Year and the resolutions we vow to keep, there is one change that can improve your life – both professionally and personally – simply by discovering your ‘real’ voice. Easy to accomplish and guaranteed to get better with age, your ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch, warmer in quality and will sound more mature than your habitual voice. You have a better voice inside but you were probably unaware of that fact.

Last week I was not looking forward to my upcoming 2-day workshop in Chicago. I had gotten a cold/flu the previous Sunday, after attending my high school reunion the night before – and hopefully not infecting everyone who was there. In any event, I so wanted to cancel the workshop because I didn’t know how I was going to get through it. 8 hours of talking for 2 consecutive days is rough on the speaking voice when you’re healthy, let alone when you’re sick. It is also the 1st time I have ever been sick for a 2-day workshop.

The experts agree that having uncomfortable conversations is the best way to succeed in your business. Timothy Ferriss, author of The Four Week Work Week talks about the importance of having uncomfortable conversations in this current economy and how it relates to small business ...

When I was in graduate school studying music composition, my singing professor told me that the pitch of my speaking voice was too high and proceeded to show me my ‘real’ voice. Deeper in pitch, warm and resonant, my ‘real’ voice no longer exhibited whiny, young-sounding qualities. At the same time, I was waiting on tables at an exquisite restaurant in Columbia, Maryland, by the name of King’s Contrivance. Upon discovering my real voice, I knew I was going to sell more food. And, it worked. I sounded more mature; I sold the higher-priced items; and, my tips went up.

Filler words include "um," "ah," and words such as "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as a verbal bridge to the next word. These words just fill in space while you remember or think of something to say next. Rather than being effective bridges, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message. These filler words weaken your presentation and give the impression that you don't know what you're talking about.

If your answer is ‘yes’ to that question, then the chances are good that you are female and that you are juggling family, career and everything else that is being thrown at you. At least 95% of the women with whom I work complain of tension in their shoulder and neck regions on a daily basis. And, generally it is at its worst by the end of the day. The cure is easy, effective and efficient; however, if you do not make it a habit, the tension will return. It requires breaking an old habit and establishing a new one.

You have probably heard the statistics: when you meet someone in a face-to-face situation, 37% of the image you project is attributed to your speaking voice; 55% of your image is the visual and a mere 8% your content. Whether those percentages are true is not the issue. The issue is whether your voice speaks positively or negatively about your image.

When you are delivering a presentation, do you know that your body is speaking as well as your voice? Watch all great presenters and you will see that they use their bodies to express their feelings, their thoughts, and, most importantly, their confidence. If you walk to the podium with ...

What is vocal variety? Vocal variety refers to the proper variations in volume, pitch, rate, pace, etc. throughout your presentation. The purpose of incorporating vocal variety is to add meaning, interest, involvement, and impact in your presentation. What's the opposite of vocal variety? You may think it is monotone. Monotone is more related with lack of emotions. In fact, it's just part of the answer. The opposite of vocal variety is sameness.

In Shakespeare’s King Lear, Lear is carrying the dead Cordelia and says, “her voice was ever soft, gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.” Those words epitomized the image of how a woman handled herself in society and is in direct contrast to the loud, outspoken and sharp-tongued Kate, from his earlier play, The Taming of the Shrew.

As a voice specialist, I have known for many years that a good voice improvement course can be an excellent means of accent reduction. Yesterday, I received an email from a Taiwanese man studying in Boston. His 1st language is Mandarin Chinese; and, he has been enrolled in an accent reduction course for the past 4 months.

Do you know what an elevator speech is? An elevator speech is an introduction about your business that you can encapsulate in 30 seconds or less. The idea for this type of speech is based on the average length of time one spends in an elevator. The value of the elevator speech is not just when traveling from one floor to another however. Elevator speeches can be used in more situations than you may think which is why it is to your benefit to have one ready at a moment’s notice.

All the buzz is about manifesting these days. But what many who are new to the metaphysical scene don’t realize that manifesting is more than just acquiring stuff. Not that acquiring stuff is necessarily bad. But in the end if that’s your only aim then the emptiness that your were trying to ...

In public speaking, the anecdotes you include in your presentation can say a lot about you as the speaker. Simply put, the anecdote is a very brief retelling of a true account which can be humorous or interesting, but more importantly, is relevant to your topic. The value of the anecdote is ...

For those of you refuse to interrupt your sentences to breathe, you have a mass of listeners who are frustrated because they do not catch the 2nd half of your sentences. Do you know why this is? I’ll give you a clue. It’s got something to do with oxygen. Without air, there is no voice. What is happening when you do not supplement your air supply in speaking (especially on the podium) is that you are unable to finish your thoughts with enough volume to be heard comfortably.

Whether it’s presenting to your manager, a team of colleagues, or pitching for new business the success of any presentation is dependent on structuring a clear message and delivering that message with confidence and conviction. nnObviously, confidence is a crucial element but if for you (like many others), the mere thought of having to give a presentation can lead to nerves taking over, what then happens to the clear, well structured message that you were hoping to pres

If there is one thing that cannot happen in public speaking, it is the possibility of delivering a perfect presentation. What skills would you need to make your words or your manner of speaking perfect? Can you answer that honestly? Your presentation may be great; it may be excellent; it may be the best you have ever done; but, that doesn’t make it perfect. Perfection is subjective in this particular venue. In fact, any live performance, be it music, theatre, or even in the sports arena, cannot be judged by that one particular word – perfection.

The poet Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art is of ending.” While this 19th century poet was referring to the poem, his words are equally applicable to public speaking. Many great presentations and speeches are less than stellar because of a weak or non-existent finish. Yes, you must grab your listeners’ attention with your opening. It is a must if you want to capture your audience from the moment you begin.

When giving a speech, you should sound fluid and professional. Sounding professional, takes practice and often. You may not realize just how many times you say "uh," or "um" throughout your speech. Known as vocal fillers, these short little utterances can actually detrimentally affect your credibility as a professional speaker. Read on for some great speaker training tips on how you can lessen or eliminate vocal fillers in your speech, on stage and off. No matter what type of

You bet. Generally speaking, women make better audiences for one specific reason: they laugh more. Male audiences, on the other hand, are more difficult because of ego. And, it does not matter whether you, as the speaker, are male or female. The results are the same either way.

Often we are so consumed by our speech or presentation, our delivery, or our nervousness, that we fail to recognize the value of composure in approaching the lecte or the head of the boardroom table. You are judged not only when you begin to speak but also during your walk to the front of the room or onto the stage of the auditorium or the hall. If your shoulders are slouched, your head hanging low and your eyes staring at your feet, how confident do you look?

One of the best courses I had in college was an English class on the 18th Century Novel. My professor assigned one book per week and would ask one question per book for which we were allowed to answer on only one typewritten, double-spaced page. The problem was that the question asked could be ...

If you want to tap the full potential of your speaking voice, do your homework first and research what is out there. The question you need to ask yourself is whether you want to improve the voice you already have or would you prefer to discover the voice you don’t know you have?

If you are looking to improve your speaking voice, your first priority is to find a coach who will teach you how to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. Breathing with this support is something most people are not doing. In fact, 99% of the population is renowned for being lazy or shallow breathers. When you breathe in that manner, you are using only the upper portion of your lungs for your air intake.

The first time I had to introduce myself professionally was one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of my life. I remember sitting, waiting for my turn to stand and walk to the lecte amidst 150 members of the London, Canada Chamber of Commerce. At first I was relaxed until it dawned on me that my voice, my own personal introduction, was my business. And then I began to sweat!

Nothing is more frustrating than listening to a public speaker deliver a speech or presentation at 100 mph. A few minutes at this speed is one thing; however, 50 minutes or more at that pace can easily lose your listeners. Talking too fast is tiring for both you as the speaker and your audience as well. 2 other factors that you should take into account regarding speaking too quickly are: 1. the faster you talk, the more likely you are to trip over your words; and,r

In my last article, I discussed what you should be seeking if you are interested in improving your presentation skills. In this article, I have added 5 more tips if you are planning to attend a workshop that covers both voice improvement and public speaking skills. 1. Make sure the company will be recording you and also providing you a copy of your own materials upon completion of the workshop. Having a record of how you sounded before you started the course is vital for voice training and will be an excellent reference and reminder for you in the months and years to follow.

I did damage to my own speaking voice some years ago when I was coaching my son’s soccer team. I will pay for that mistake for the rest of my life because I will never sing again. Considering my voice is my business, I am blessed that it did not do the same damage to my speaking voice.

“Emotional Resonance.” Those words ring loudly in my head, even three years after hearing them in a Toastmasters’ context. This is what happened:

Absolutely. In fact, given the right approach, you could enter the workshop in the morning with your ‘old’ voice and have lunch with your ‘new’ one. It happens that quickly. Of course, it is not a habit at that point, but it is the beginning of an amazing change in your life, both professionally and personally.

Do you know the #1 thing most novice speakers never think to do when delivering a presentation? It never crosses their mind and yet it is the one thing they are in desperate need of throughout their talk. And, once they lose it, they are in a constant race to catch up on it. No, I am not talking about your train of thought, your words, your ideas, your speed or any other technique to help in your delivery. I am talking about what you need to take in – physically – in order to support your spoken words. It is called air.

A key component of non-verbal communications is your voice. Along with eye contact, gestures, movement and facial expression, your voice can communicate meaning and help your audience focus on your message. Your voice has an incredible range and ability to convey meaning and emotion, yet most of us use only a small part of that range. Use the following guidelines to unleash the power of your voice so you can deliver your message effectively and connect to the audience: Speak loudly enough. How loudly? Loudly enough that people can hear you without having to strain.

One of the requirements for dynamic speaking, whether it is at the lecte or just in normal conversation, is to be expressive when you talk. This is known as color and refers to your vocal variety, facial expression, and body language. All three elements work hand-in-hand to make your delivery more interesting.

Have you ever noticed when watching a movie or a primetime television show that you can always understand the diction of those actors in which English is not their ‘mother tongue?’ We see and hear actors with German, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arab and African accents, to name just a few, who all speak clearly and distinctly.

If you have ever owned or been around an aggressive or dominant dog, then you know the importance of getting control of him or her. Good obedience training will help keep the dog, other dogs and people safer. You need to understand something about aggressive dogs: Most dog aggression (unless the dog has been bred and trained to be aggressive) comes from one of two places…dominance or fear. If professional dog training is not in your budget, or you simply don’t have the time, here are some suggestions that may help you deal with your aggressive dog. 1.

We are hearing it more and more each day. We hear it with politicians, ministers, professional speakers, coaches, trainers, singers, aerobics instructors, and even the guy next door. It is called vocal abuse and it results from unnecessary wear and tear on the vocal folds (cords).

I receive emails on a daily basis regarding vocal abuse – not just from those who are experiencing difficulty in talking but from singers as well. The only piece of advice I give them is to take the pressure off of the throat and vocal folds (cords) and allow their chest to become their primary sounding board. This piece of advice may sound strange but it is the only means of eliminating vocal abuse. Whispering is not the answer, nor is being silent for a year.