Browse Public Speaking

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.

What does it mean to connect? In computer terms, a “connection” occurs when we are joined with others through a communication link. To connect with your customers and colleagues is to join with them in a shared experience. It involves sharing ideas and information by coming ...

If you are an A-type personality, public speaking can be most frustrating for you because of your need to make your delivery perfect. One of the definitions of perfection is to be entirely without fault. Have you ever seen a theater performance or listened to a concert that was entirely without fault? Were no mistakes made? While you in the audience for the concert or the play may not have been aware of the wrong note from the band or orchestra or the flubbing of a line by one of the actors, mistakes are made.

Yes, we are a sex very conce ed with the image we project. We exercise on a regular basis; we are more aware of the foods we are eating; we try to get a good night’s sleep. As women, we want to look good; and, as we age, we know it takes more work. Our clothing is of the latest fashion; we moisturize and wear makeup; and, our hair must make a statement as well.

The first time I heard myself on a recording was many years ago when I was in college. I had a small portable Sony tape recorder and I was with my friends when we recorded ourselves. I was horrified when I heard my own speaking voice. What is fascinating about that experience is that while all of my friends sounded exactly the same on the recording as they did off, I was sure that my voice was a mistake. I even blamed Sony for what I heard, attributing the quality of my voice to cheap equipment.

We’ve all seen – and given – poor presentations. It’s inevitable if we are involved in speaking on even a somewhat regular basis. What is avoidable, however, are the five worst mistakes that presenters make that doom their talks to being anxiety-ridden, boring, forgettable time-wasters. From my ...

If you find that you are clearing your throat frequently when you speak, it may be a sign of vocal abuse. Ignoring it will not make the abuse go away because the process of talking is creating the problem. Therefore, the more you talk, the more you are irritating your throat and vocal folds (cords). While it is quite possible that post nasal drip or Gerd is the cause, I would suggest that you first go to a doctor and see if you have medical issues. If the physician finds no physiological reason for the irritation, then you need to change the way you are producing voiced sound.

There is a lot of debate right now at a popular social media site whether there is a difference between the speech and the presentation. In truth, the answer might depend on what country you live in. Here in the States, we look at the speech as something that is probably ‘written’ out. Whether it is given word-for-word is another issue. Eulogies, toasts at weddings, sermons, graduation speeches, the State of the Union Address, and all those speeches we are hearing in the political scene are formal deliveries in which the speaker is most likely standing at a lectern.

While we tend to equate nasality with New Yorkers, this issue is not just their problem. It is found in many parts of the United States and Canada as well. In the English language, there are 3 sounds known as nasals which should vibrate in your nose. They are the n, the m, and the ng sounds. Notice that true ‘nasal’ sounds are all consonants.

Perhaps you've been there yourself. You are listening to a speaker drone on with facts and figures… and figures and facts. At that moment your eyes are rolling towards the back of your head. As I always say - audiences will forgive a lot of things from you -- but they will never forgive a boring speaker. The speakers job is to engage and capture an audience's mind and tug at his heart strings. You always want to keep them listening… a great way to do that is chuck the fact and figures and use effective stories during your public speaking engagements.

When we hear the word nasality, we tend to think of New York City and her 5 boroughs. Excessive nasality is not limited just to New Yorkers though. You can find various forms of nasality in certain pockets of both the United States and Canada.

Do you believe that the image you project has an impact on your professional or business life? I would imagine that your answer is yes. I would also imagine that you have heard yourself on some type of recording equipment - your voicemail, an answering machine, a camcorder, or maybe even an old audio tape recorder.

No public speaker should ever forget this important fact! “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” You have most likely heard that quote before, and it is true. If you are a speaker who wants to be a dynamic and exceptional communicator, then you need to start ...

Do you find that others have difficulty taking you seriously because you sound like a 12 year-old or worse still, an 8-year-old? Yes, ladies, I am talking about answering the phone and the caller asks to speak to your mother!

In public speaking or any other type of live performance, the idea of trying to get rid of your nervousness is definitely not the right approach. Nervousness is that wonderful rush of adrenaline that can make you sharper, more alert and more focused. In fact, the benefits of nervousness are so powerful that trying to eliminate it is a huge mistake. - If you’re not nervous, then you lose that wonderful edge.

Recently, I worked with an NFL player in voice and presentation skills. During his 3rd session, he discovered the techniques for increasing his volume without shouting which I refer to as projection. He was stunned. It did not hurt his throat; it sounded better; and, his voice carried with more depth and breadth.

Do others ask you to repeat yourself a lot? If so, do you realize how much time and energy you waste saying your message a 2nd or 3rd time? In today’s fast-paced world, being heard the 1st time you say it is vital to your success. If others continually ask you to repeat yourself, eventually they will stop asking and stop listening. What this means is that your words and your ideas are not going to be heard.

I always say when it comes to speaking or performing, you must adhere to Murphy's Law. What can wrong … will. I don't know who this Murphy was, but perhaps he should get in touch with Montezuma (and his revenge.) Please note, dear reader, I am not a fatalist. I am more of a realist. Yes, you can fix the lighting the sound… even the proximity of the platform to the stage. But the challenging part is getting the host, (or organizer) who hired you -- to give you the proper introduction.

You can have the greatest voice in the world but if your delivery is not colorful then you are boring. There is no other way to say it. Speaking in a monotone does not sell, no matter what your business is.

Imagine the CEO of a company sounding like Fran Drescher in her role as “The Nanny” or the bimbo voice Melanie Griffith. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? In fact, when Melanie Griffith played in the movie “Working Girl” in which she takes over for her boss, she enrolls in voice training in order to sound more mature. One of the best means of improving your life is to discover your ‘real’ or true voice because the one you are presently using is probably not it. (Isn’t it a shame that Griffith didn’t keep that more mature sound in her real life?)

If you want to be an exceptional speaker, and ignite your audience, you must learn the fine art of storytelling. Have you ever wished you could captivate an audience? Ever felt the desire to grip a crowd in such a way that you could move them to action? Nothing grabs our attention, holds ...

Something we never think to do in public speaking is to breathe. We never think about our air supply and yet we find we are constantly running out of it as we struggle to get the words out of our mouth. Without air, you have no voice; and, yet, one of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is that they are breathless in public speaking.

When it comes to public speaking, most people are aware that it is man’s greatest fear. Thus, it is not selective in who it affects nor how it affects those who stand at the lecte or at the head of the boardroom table to give that all-important presentation. There is no doubt that practice can be one of your best tools in conquering your fear; but, there is something else that most people are unaware of that can allow you to take your nervousness and let it work for you and not against you. Simply put, it is learning to breathe with the support of your diaphragm.

Imagine this: an audience of employees and stockholders gathers to hear what inspiring words their esteemed CEO has for them. On cue, the CEO strides to the microphone, puts his hands on the lectern, squints into the teleprompter and launches into a monotone presentation: “It’s ...

One of the little known secrets of a good voice training course is that it will change your life for the better, both personally and professionally. Yes, your confidence will be bolstered and you will certainly sound more mature, but the improvements in your life will go far beyond your voice. - The reason is because you will have to learn to breathe with the support of your diaphragm.

Why does everyone else seem to get the promotion and not you? Is it possible that your diction is getting in the way? Speaking clearly today is now more important than ever because business has become global – from the largest corporations to those who run their own business out of their homes. Video and audio have made a huge difference in how we do business today and being understood the 1st time you say it may mean the difference between a raise, promotion or even a new job.

Have you ever stood at the lecte or were sitting for an interview and when you opened your mouth to speak, the sound emanating from your lips was much higher in pitch than you expected, wanted, or appreciated? While the raising of the pitch of the voice is common when nervous, it is also something that can happen in normal conversation. Just getting excited can take some voices up several steps and for many people it is more than disconcerting. It can be embarrassing and humiliating.

I am amazed at the number of people who confide in me that their fear of speaking at a lecte or even at the head of a boardroom table is jeopardizing their career advancement. This is so unfortunate because their fear is control of them instead of the other way around. Everyone is nervous in public speaking – or should be. Personally, I want you nervous because it makes you more alert and more focused. The secret, however, lies in harnessing that nervousness and putting it to good use.

Your voice has the ability to convey an incredible range of meaning and emotion when you present. It's an important part of your non-verbal communications, or body language, and can help you can communicate your message clearly and effectively to your audience. Avoid these five common mistakes in order to tap into the full power of your voice: Voice Mistake #1 - Speaking Too Fast How fast is too fast? It depends. You have to speak slowly enough so you can enunciate your words and the audience can understand you.

Nothing is more distressing than for the person on the other end of the line to think you are a woman – or worse yet, to ask to speak to your mother – and you are a man. Rest assured that you are not alone but that does not make it any easier to bear. Being mistaken for a female over the phone is awkward but there is an answer to your problem. Why the pitch of your voice is so high is either because: 1. you have excessive nasality, which tends to make the voice higher-pitched than it actually is; or, 2. you are imitating a loved one whose pitch is also high.

I had an interesting experience recently when I had new photos taken. One of the shots showed my shoulders drawn in – not back and straight. Whether I had liked the smile on my face or not was irrelevant, because the position of my shoulders did not speak of confidence which is something I teach in my own business.

It is interesting to note the diverse opinions when it comes to marking your speech with pauses and smiley faces and underlining particular words for emphasis. My questions to you follow. Do you want to give a speech that is akin to delivering a script as if you were acting on a stage? Or, do you want to deliver your speech as if you were having a conversation in your living room? Your answer will determine whether you should mark script or not.

One of the great mistakes made in public speaking is trying to be someone or something that you are not. Your audience is not in attendance, giving of their time, to hear or watch you be something other than yourself. They came to hear you be you. As a voice specialist, I have found that some of my most difficult clients were those who wanted to sound like a famous broadcaster or a professional speaker, for instance. As great as Zig Ziglar is (and he really is terrific), the last thing you want to do is to imitate him. Learn from him but don’t try to copy him.

Body language. It is a term we hear much about from articles, books, and the media. There is even a crime show, called Lie to Me, in which the main character specializes in interpreting the microexpressions and body language of others, cleverly changing his own body language to further unsettle the suspect. Do you know what your body language is saying when you are speaking? Is it conveying confidence and assuredness or is it telling another story?

No matter how great your message or how powerful your delivery, have you ever considered the vehicle or instrument that is transporting your words? What does the sound of your speaking voice say about you? If you are over 21 and sound like a teen or preteen, do you know that you image you are projecting will not be one of maturity or confidence? On the other hand, having a voice that is reminiscent of your grandmother is most definitely giving the wrong impression of your age, especially if your grandmother is still alive!

I recently read an article by a man who teaches presentation skills. He was discussing the fact that most people hate their voice on recording equipment because it is unfamiliar to their ear. What 'floored me' about his message was that he was suggesting you accept it and live with it. While I would assume that this man probably shows others how to speak with more color and more life (gosh I hope he at least is doing that if he is teaching presentation skills!), he has no idea what voice training is about. None whatsoever.

When you think of voice training, your first thought may be that it is something for actors or politicians. Presently voice training is something more and more people are becoming aware of because of YouTube, webinars, and the marketing of themselves by means of video. In truth, video is one of your greatest marketing tools today.

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.

Actors wow us, amaze us, and inspire us but one, in particular, displays a level of confidence that I would wish for all in public speaking. The actor I am referring to is Clint Eastwood. In all the roles he plays, he never doubts himself. It is that level of belief in yourself and your abilities which you need in order to wow, amaze, and inspire your audience. Fear of failure, fear of looking foolish, or fear of forgetting your material are the 3 main reasons many people approach the lecte with such trepidation. With that fear comes a lack of confidence that is formidable.

Activate Your Goal Setting Magic Plan: #You have it inside of you; you have already many times heard this repeated "You already have what you need inside of you". Yes, you already have your Magic Plan activate it think, write it down with goal setting.

Passion drives us! It is what makes us get up in the morning, ready to conquer another day. Passion is that desire that pushes us to go beyond what anyone else thinks is possible. It is an unquenchable thirst to do what we love. Passion could be described as “doing what you love and loving what ...

One of the most common questions I hear from my clients when they are practicing their presentation skills, is what should they do with their hands? That is a good question, so let me answer that question with a question to you? What do you do with your hands when you are in conversation?

For many people, just the thought of public speaking is enough to cause extreme panic. When you consider that it is man’s greatest fear, this is not surprising. While you may regard the act of standing in front of an audience and delivering a speech or presentation as a war that you will lose, might I suggest that you regard the process as a battle instead? In order to win the war, you must first win the battle.

In my last article I discussed the importance of using your face to express emotion in public speaking. In addition to your facial expression, though, is the language of your body because the latter talks as well during your presentation. The question is, ‘what is it saying?’ Standing perfectly still, rigid, or immobile during a presentation (or even a speech where you are somewhat limited by the presence of a lectern) says one thing to your audience. That you are most uncomfortable and would rather be somewhere else!

I met a website designer named Donna at a business expo who had a wonderful, eye-catching display that was drawing large crowds of visitors. Unfortunately for Donna, she lost her voice after having spoken to perspective clients for only 1 hour. It was 10 o’clock in the morning and the expo was not going to close for 8 more hours. While her booth was bringing great traffic, she was struggling to speak. Her voice was very hoarse and very soft in volume. In addition, her throat was sore.

Are you conce ed with the image you project? If you are like most people, your answer is probably ‘Yes.’ When you hear yourself on your voicemail, answering machine, or some other type of recording equipment, can you appreciate that that sound is part of the image you are projecting?

Without a doubt, most people experience some type of nervousness in delivering a speech or presentation. It is normal; it is natural; and, in truth, it is beneficial. There are others, however, who are filled with such fear and dread at just the thought of public speaking, that panic ensues. When you absolutely, positively cannot stand and face an audience, you need more than a few tips to enable you to accomplish your goal. When I work with clients who have difficulty addressing a group of people, I take them through an exercise that is most successful. And it is simple, to boot.

In an article some months ago, I talked about the value of storytelling in public speaking and why a descriptive retelling of a story is much more interesting than a brief quip. Audiences love true stories especially if they involve you and have a good ending. They must be pertinent to your topic, however.

When I teach my clients or my students how to speak with emotion, I emphasize that there is no right or wrong answer with color. Color is the life, the emotion, the animation you express in speaking. Color is determined by your topic as well as your mood or attitude. The only thing that would be considered wrong would be to deliver a speech or presentation without any life or emotion. That is called speaking in monotone and it is boring.

Of all the articles written on public speaking, the most frequent subject deals with nervousness and how to get rid of it. And while you may find that you are able to eliminate those nervous jitters after the first 5 minutes of your presentation, the problem is that your audience judges you the moment you open your mouth to speak – not 5 minutes later, after you have ‘warmed up’.