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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***Are You Aware of Your Vocal Shortcomings? - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHow many times have you spoken to a stranger on the phone and formed a mental picture of that individual only later to be surprised when you met that person face to face? How we speak and how we sound often conflict with our education, our cultural background, and even our intelligence. Your ...
Views: 2336(2 votes) - ***The Value of a Smile in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Nancy DanielsImagine 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, ...
Views: 5583(3 votes) - ***Could Your Speaking Voice Use Some Work? - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen you hear yourself on your voicemail, chances are good that you don’t recognize what you hear. Chances are even better that you not only don’t recognize the sound but that you find it embarrassing, shocking, or revolting. Because you are unable to hear yourself the way everyone does, the ...
Views: 3815(6 votes) - ***How to Stand Out From the Crowd in Your Job Interviews - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsToday, unemployment is higher than it has been for quite some long time and, in many cases, older workers are looking for a job after years of security in their former positions. For some, just the idea of being interviewed is a frightening experience. With the high number of applicants ...
Views: 2393 - ***What Is the Difference Between a Good Presentation and One That Is Electrifying? - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsImagine you have just spoken for 10 minutes or 40 minutes about your business, an idea, your book or your products and you are receiving good applause. Yes, you just gave a good presentation. My question to you is whether your good presentation was electrifying? What is the difference? Many ...
Views: 2789(5 votes) - ***The Negative Effects Stress Has On Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsStress is one of the most debilitating factors affecting our lives today. From the stress of losing a job to the frustration of finding a new job, from the strain of running a household to the additional pressure of handling a career, from the stress of raising children to the stress of trying ...
Views: 8692(2 votes) - ***Addressing a Small Group Has Its Own Rewards in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile many public speakers ideally want to speak to the masses and are looking for large audiences with which to market their knowledge, their opinions, or their products, there are definite rewards in addressing small groups. And while your format will be the same, your delivery will be ...
Views: 2507(2 votes) - ***The Differences between Speaking to a Large Group Versus a Small One - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIn addressing an audience, be it to 4 people or 400, one factor will remain the same: the format of your presentation. You will still have an opening, a development, and a closing. However, there are major differences in your delivery as well as your contact with your audience which is ...
Views: 6176(2 votes) - ***Want to Sound As Good As You Look...Or Even Better? - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to image, everyone is concerned 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 ...
Views: 3518(3 votes) - ***Don't Make Public Speaking More Difficult Than It Is! - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile 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 ...
Views: 2548(4 votes) - ***Do Little White Lies Hurt in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThat 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. And, ...
Views: 3941(2 votes) - ***How I Fell Asleep during a Double Stereotactic Breast Biopsy - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsLadies, 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 ...
Views: 3654(3 votes) - ***The Art of Storytelling in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever considered opening your speech or presentation with a story? If done well, a true story is an attention-grabber. It can be humorous, suspenseful, thrilling, provocative, or dramatic, any of which immediately lends credibility to you as the speaker. Don't stop there, however: good ...
Views: 2517(2 votes) - ***Nervousness in Public Speaking Is Not Selective! - by Submitted on Oct 06, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 lectern or at the head of the boardroom table to give that all-important presentation. There is no doubt that practice ...
Views: 2973(3 votes) - ***The 4 Best Means of Persuasion in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIn the world of public speaking, there are only 2 reasons for giving a speech or presentation (not counting the ‘after-dinner’ speech which is a topic unto itself). You are addressing an audience to either inform or persuade. That being said, if your subject is informative in nature, your job ...
Views: 2894(3 votes) - ***Why You Need to Build Credibility in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Nancy DanielsLet’s say that you are interested in pursuing a career in public speaking. Or maybe you have a presentation due in your public speaking class. Possibly you are a member of Toastmasters and you are scheduled to speak at your next meeting. Why should people listen to you? Why should others ...
Views: 4286(6 votes) - ***Humility in Public Speaking Triumphs Over Bravado - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile nervousness or fear of the speech or presentation is researched frequently on the internet, some of the finer points of one’s personality and delivery are often excluded. Once you are able to control your nervousness, it is important to recognize some of these finer points, the most ...
Views: 3425(4 votes) - ***Discover The Best Way to Cure Mumbling Now! - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsTired 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 ...
Views: 6016(3 votes) - ***Plagued by Tightness, Soreness, or Tension in Your Jaw? - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile this particular problem can affect men, tension in the jaw is much more common in women. Women carry stress differently than men and it usually affects us in our shoulders, neck and/or jaw regions. If you are experiencing tightness or soreness in your jaw, it is more than likely that it ...
Views: 4944(5 votes) - ***Why Men Mumble and Women are Afflicted with Lockjaw - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDo 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 ...
Views: 5765(3 votes) - ***Stop 'Screaming at the Top of Your Lungs' -- Start Projecting! - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSeveral years ago I made one of the greatest mistakes of my life. In coaching and rooting for my son’s soccer team, I felt my voice rip. I cannot explain the sensation, but, from that day on, I was unable to sing again. As one who teaches voice improvement, I did something which I know not to ...
Views: 4444(4 votes) - ***The Right Attitude in Public Speaking is the Right Approach - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHow you feel effects how you speak, and, if you are feeling poorly, either physically or emotionally, it may be heard in your voice. Another situation that can affect your attitude in public speaking is if you are not pleased with the material you are presenting. If such is the case, then your ...
Views: 4050(4 votes) - ***Can You Be Good at Public Speaking If You Are Shy? - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAbsolutely. I have worked with many, many people who were not outgoing or extroverted but were able to 'bite' the bullet, so to speak, and address an audience with great success. The question is, how do you 'face' the crowd the first time and conquer your fear, your inhibitions, your ...
Views: 3473(5 votes) - Public Speaking: Make It Move to Make It Memorable - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile 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 ...
Views: 2564(2 votes) - ***Hiring People for Tele-Sales? Why Not Select Those Who Speak Intelligibly! - by Submitted on Aug 29, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIt is Saturday morning and I just received a phone call on my business line from a man who was doing a survey. The person he wanted to speak to had to be male and had to be over 21. [Thankfully, I was able to respond politely that I did not ‘fit the bill’ and proceeded to quickly end the call. ...
Views: 3577(2 votes) - ***Who Is In Control at the Lectern, You or Your Nervousness? - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Nancy DanielsNervousness is wonderful. In fact, I will take that one step further and tell you that nervousness is a blessing. How can it be a blessing, you ask? Because that rush of adrenaline can give you an edge. It can take your presentation to an entirely new level if you learn how to control ...
Views: 2487(3 votes) - ***What Are Your Options If You Forget While Public Speakiing? - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAdmittedly, part of the difficulty for many in presenting is just this fear. It happens to lots of speakers; it has certainly happened to me. Even with notes or some form of visual aid upon which to refer, however, you may find yourself at a total loss as to how to continue. What is the ...
Views: 2382(1 vote) - ***Without Practice, Your Presentation is Doomed! - by Submitted on Aug 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, so much attention is given to the preparation and ensuing delivery of your material that the practice of your speech or presentation is often overlooked. I am amazed at how many people go over their script or their outline in their head and never say their ...
Views: 2229(1 vote) - ***Do Your Presentation Skills Pass the Color Test? - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking with expression, emotion, life, animation – whatever you call it – is one of your most important characteristics in delivering a dynamic presentation or speech. Just how colorful are you at the lectern? If you would like to test your ‘color’ skills, record yourself reading the ...
Views: 2695(1 vote) - ***What You Can Learn from Clint Eastwood for Improving Your Presentation Skills - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsActors 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 ...
Views: 2932(1 vote) - ***What Should You Do With Your Hands When Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Aug 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOne 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? ...
Views: 2942(1 vote) - ***How Important Is Your Walk to the Lectern? - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThis past April when Susan Boyle walked onto the stage and approached the microphone on Britian’s Got Talent, the Irish singer was judged entirely on her appearance. Her audience assumed that her performance would be a disaster and responded to her entrance most negatively and with laughter. ...
Views: 1650(1 vote) - *** What Constitutes Perfection in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhat constitutes perfection in public speaking? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You can type a paper perfectly. You can have a perfect score on a test. You can sew or cut a perfectly straight line. But who is to say that a presentation or a speech is delivered perfectly? Perfection in such a ...
Views: 1899(1 vote) - *** 3 Steps to End Breathlessness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsA 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, ...
Views: 3318(3 votes) - *** If You Are Not Nervous in Public Speaking, Then I Am! - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I first started my business, one of my clients, a woman billing herself as a professional speaker, was quite adamant in her disagreement with me about nervousness. She said that she was never nervous making a presentation and did not think nervousness was good. Had I been ...
Views: 2061(1 vote) - *** Get Your Voice Out of Your Throat and Let Your Chest Do Your Talking - by Submitted on Jul 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThrough the years, I have been amazed at how many people are totally unaware that they have a richer, warmer, resonant, and even sexier speaking voice inside. Most people believe that the voice they are using out of habit is something they cannot change. Nothing could be further from the ...
Views: 6389(6 votes) - ***Have You Been Told That You Speak in a Monotone? - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOften 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 ...
Views: 2668(1 vote) - ***What Distinguishes the Speech from the Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAt some time in your life there is the likelihood that you will or have given a speech. Throughout your education, it is quite possible that you were required to speak on a particular subject at one time or another. Perhaps you toasted the bride or groom at a wedding or were asked to give a ...
Views: 2206(1 vote) - ***Why You Can't Ignore Vocal Abuse - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile my last article dealt with the causes and cure for vocal abuse, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss the reason you must end this abuse as soon as possible. Simply put: where would you be without a voice? Whether you are suffering from discomfort, pain, or hoarseness to either ...
Views: 1959 - ***Discover the Best Approach to Sound More Mature - by Submitted on Jun 06, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago a woman phoned me and asked if she could attend a presentation I was holding in Detroit. The woman sounded like a child on the phone and I wondered if she was old enough to drive herself to the hotel. She then asked if she could bring her daughter and my first thought was that ...
Views: 4273(1 vote) - ***Conquering Your Fear at the Lectern - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIn my last article, I discussed the fact that diaphragmatic breathing is the single most important thing you can do to take control your nervousness in any form of public speaking. I refer to it as the physical component of public speaking. There are 4 other factors, however, that can help ...
Views: 1495 - Articulation Matters: How Good Is Yours? - by Submitted on May 31, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen you address an audience, do you think your articulation has value? The only answer is most definitely yes. If your audience cannot understand you or misses a word or a phrase here and there, then they are missing your message. And, if they are missing your message, then it doesn’t ...
Views: 2843 - ***Visual Aids Should Be an Added Bonus -- Not Your Entire Presentation! - by Submitted on May 31, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile visual aids can have a tremendous impact on your delivery, the danger in their use lies in placing your entire script on PowerPoint, a slide presentation or even a white board. What is fascinating about the overuse of this feature is that I have seen it not only with amateur speakers but ...
Views: 1978 - ***Always Leave Your Audience Wanting More! - by Submitted on May 16, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThere 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 ...
Views: 3786 - ***How the Soft-Spoken Are Judged - by Submitted on May 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are soft-spoken, how do you think others judge you? Do you think they regard you as being confident, assertive, and self-assured? If you are concerned about the image you project, then your soft-spoken voice is definitely not projecting those qualities. Instead, your lack of volume is ...
Views: 23171(2 votes) - ***Animal Magnetism and the Male Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 13, 2009 from Nancy DanielsConsider the following scenario: there are two men both equally attractive. One has a voice that is warm, rich and deep. The other man has a voice that is soft, high-pitched, wimpy. Which man do you think women will find more attractive? If you guessed the man with the dynamic voice then ...
Views: 4169 - ***When the Pause Becomes Ineffective - by Submitted on May 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I heard a speaker who was very dynamic in his delivery except in one respect. He paused too often and for too long. Without a doubt, pausing is one of the most important characteristics of good public speaking: pausing that is excessive or predictable is not. The beauty of the ...
Views: 2154 - ***Does Your Body Language Convey Confidence, Diffidence or Indifference? - by Submitted on May 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 ...
Views: 3232 - ***Why Recording Yourself in Public Speaking is Priceless - by Submitted on May 04, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 ...
Views: 5370 - ***Does Your Voice End BEFORE Your Sentence Does? - by Submitted on May 02, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThere is an interesting lesson we learned in our early elementary school years that has managed to cause more negative results than the positive results for which it was intended. In 2nd or 3rd grade, our teachers taught us to wait until we came to the end of the sentence before taking a ...
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