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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***Those Who Teach Voice and Those Who Think They Teach Voice - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI 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. ...
Views: 2937(2 votes) - ***Do You Know the 5 Most Important Benefits of Voice Training? - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile you may think that voice training is just for politicians and actors, today, people in business are becoming much more aware of its value. Courses are offered by means of books, CDs, and even video, as well as workshops and private consultations. Originally, recording the speaking ...
Views: 2595(1 vote) - ***One of the Best Kept Secrets of Dynamic Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what one of the best kept secrets is in public speaking? It has nothing to do with your material but is vital in your delivery. All the great speakers do it while many novices do not. It is easy to do and natural. In fact, you do it in normal conversation with your family, ...
Views: 2678(1 vote) - ***How Good Are Your Storytelling Skills in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jul 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe value of storytelling in public speaking is undeniable. Audiences love true stories especially if they are recounted with a good description. You may use them in your opening, your closing, or place them in the development of your delivery as long as they are relevant to your ...
Views: 2208 - ***If You Are Soft-Spoken, Try These 5 Steps for Being Heard the 1st Time You Say It - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo 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 ...
Views: 2994(3 votes) - ***Want More Color and Life in Your Voice? - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 ...
Views: 2888(2 votes) - ***Watch Your Body Language in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever considered what your body is saying when you are addressing an audience – even just talking in your living room or sitting at the kitchen table? Referred to as body language, non-verbal communication is expressed by the posture of your body, your gestures and even your face. ...
Views: 1937 - ***The 3 Step Approach for a Deeper Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile there are various methods and suggestions as to how to make your voice deeper in pitch, the difference between those approaches and the one that is correct lies in the word make. As soon as you make your voice do something it shouldn’t, you are forcing it. When you force your voice into ...
Views: 1988 - ***3 Steps for Eliminating a Nasal Voice - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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. If you are from Philadelphia, Detroit, or ...
Views: 3020 - ***Tips for Controlling Your Rate of Speed in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsNothing 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 ...
Views: 3125 - ***Is Your Voice Telling on You? - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHaving worked with the speaking voice for more than 25 years, I have heard them all. What does your voice say about you? Does it say you are weak or strong? Does it say that you are soft-spoken or too loud? Does it say that you speak in a monotone or does it exude color, life and emotion? Do ...
Views: 2535(1 vote) - ***The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response in Public Speaking -- Which Reaction Describes You? - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSo, 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 ...
Views: 3644(1 vote) - ***The 3 Factors That Determine the Quality of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jul 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThrough 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 ...
Views: 5968(3 votes) - ***If You Clip Your Words, Your Message Can Get Lost - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently I was talking to a woman on the phone 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. Admittedly, had I been facing her in conversation, it would ...
Views: 2690(2 votes) - ***10 Benefits of Voice Training That Have Nothing to Do with Your Voice - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started teaching voice improvement, I had no idea how many fantastic benefits would result just by discovering your ‘real’ voice. Yes, the voice that is powered by means of your chest cavity versus your throat and vocal folds (cords) is richer, warmer, deeper and mature-sounding. ...
Views: 3395(1 vote) - ***The Human Touch of Public Speaking - Do You Know What It Is? - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Nancy Danielsever listened to a speaker deliver a rote or memorized presentation and were left feeling empty? A memorized delivery, be it for a speech, a presentation, or even someone in telesales is definitely a performance; but, it is not a means of communication. And, it is cold to boot! The other ...
Views: 2786 - ***How to Combat Those Nervous Jitters in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile public speaking may seem like a war in which you are doing battle, it really isn’t. In truth, it is not that different from standing at your desk among a group of people and explaining to them how you successfully won a long sought-after account. It is not unlike sharing a story about a ...
Views: 3312(1 vote) - ***If You Sound Like a Wimp, You Are Guaranteed Not to Get the Job or the Girl! - by Submitted on Jun 29, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI 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 ...
Views: 3661 - ***Stop Yelling - Start Projecting - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsTrying to run a business from your home with children underfoot requires that you are in control of them, of yourself, and of your business as well. That control is much more likely when you can use your voice to keep your kids in line. But it doesn’t mean yelling at them. In raising my ...
Views: 3443(2 votes) - ***Want to Sound As Good As You Look? - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2011 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: 3202(3 votes) - ***Do You Suffer From Chronic Hoarseness or Persistent Sore Throats and You're Not Sick? - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome people can yell or talk non-stop all day and never experience hoarseness or sore throats; others cannot. Your voice is as individual to you as are your fingerprints: no two are alike. They may be similar but not exact. In that sense, your vocal apparatus is also unique. For 60 years, ...
Views: 3442(3 votes) - ***Displaying Confidence in Your Interview Is a Strength -- Being Overly Confident Is Not! - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that potential employers are looking for confidence in those whom they will hire. Seeing assuredness in how you handle yourself, how you dress, how you answer questions and even the way you sound says a lot to the person determining your future. Do you handle yourself ...
Views: 2614 - ***Your Presentation Skills Determine Whether You Will Get the 2nd Interview - by Submitted on Jun 20, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you think your presentation skills are not as important as your education and aptitude, consider this one point: you get your 1st interview because of your education and ability. You get your 2nd interview, however, because of your presentation skills. Employers look at resumes and ...
Views: 2072 - ***Without Integrity in Public Speaking, You Have Nothing to Offer - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn 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, ...
Views: 3886 - ***Being Overlooked in Business Because of Your Childlike Voice? - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsA big complaint I hear from many women is that when they answer the phone, the caller asks to speak to their mother. Does that ever happen to you? There is no doubt that this is a problem for the woman who is looking to succeed in her career. Women have enough difficulty competing with ...
Views: 3368(2 votes) - ***Your Presentation Skills May Be Great, But What About Your Voice? - by Submitted on Jun 13, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI have belonged to a public speaking network for some time now and it never ceases to amaze me that the members do not talk about the actual sound of the speaking voice. From topics covering the value of content versus delivery to the elimination of nervousness and even ways to find speaking ...
Views: 2487 - ***Is Your Diction a Stumbling Block to Your Success? - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhy 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 ...
Views: 2979 - ***Do You Know the Most Valuable Part of Your Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, your audience is your most important commodity, your most valuable asset, in public speaking. Without an audience, you have no presentation or speech; therefore, it is crucial that you, as the speaker, value your audience in both the creation and presentation of your ...
Views: 1878(1 vote) - ***Color Is What Makes for a Dynamic Delivery in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most remarkable aspects of color – the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking – is that there is no right or wrong. Certainly your attitude can affect your color, which I discussed in my last article, but the true beauty of speaking with expression is that it is as ...
Views: 1912 - ***Get Your Voice Out of Your Throat and Let Your Chest Do Your Talking! - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 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 truth. ...
Views: 12176(2 votes) - ***To Memorize or Not in Public Speaking? That Is the Question - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome coaches advocate memorization; others do not. While I want your opening statements memorized so that you are able to get through the beginning of your presentation or speech without flaw, I am not an aficionado of memorizing the remainder of your script or material. And, my reasoning is ...
Views: 1723 - ***Is the Tone of Your Voice Distant or Inviting? - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 ...
Views: 5642(1 vote) - ***Want to Heard in the Club Scene? - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYes, your lack of volume is the issue. I can’t tell you how many people get in touch with me because of this problem. And, it doesn’t just affect those who are soft-spoken. The amount of volume needed in a loud bar or club (or even a wedding) is at least 50% more that what I refer to as ...
Views: 2305(3 votes) - ***Horrified By What Comes Out of Your Mouth When You're Nervous? - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever stood at the lectern 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 ...
Views: 2956(1 vote) - ***If You Hail from New Jersey or New York, How's Your Diction? - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYou know what this article is not about? Nasality. I know, New Yorkers, you have heard it over and over again. Have you ever considered how fast you talk, however? While there is much to be said about diminishing, lessening or even eliminating nasality, one of the greatest problems for ...
Views: 2814 - ***Why Your Vocal Abuse Will Not Go Away on Its Own - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2011 from Nancy DanielsAs much as you may wish you did not have chronic hoarseness or a persistent sore throat, wishing it away will not solve the problem. The unfortunate truth about vocal abuse is that it will only get worse in time unless you stop what is causing it. There are no drugs you can take to end the ...
Views: 2820(3 votes) - ***4 Steps for Eliminating a Verbal Tic - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2011 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more annoying for an audience than to be subjected to a verbal tic over and over and over again. Instead of paying attention to your message, your audience begins to count the tics. Verbal tics include the sounds um, ah, uh, or the words like or you know. If your message is ...
Views: 4351 - ***How to Define Tone in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsTone is the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, tone is determined by your topic or your subject. If you are giving the after-dinner speech at a conference, it is quite possible that your talk will be funny; thus, your tone is going to be quite different than if ...
Views: 7145(1 vote) - ***Did You Know That Voice Training Will Improve Your Diction Automatically? - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business, I was showing my husband the 'before & after' video clips of my clients. A German-speaking Austrian, he was amazed at how much better he understood their words in the 'after' takes. What is fascinating is that I did not work with my clients on their diction - ...
Views: 4231 - ***Man's Greatest Fear Need Not Be Yours! - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever questioned what you are truly afraid of in public speaking? Personally, I am glad that you are nervous; if you’re not, then something is wrong. All the greats – from professional athletes to entertainers are nervous. And, they will tell you so. It is their nervousness, however, ...
Views: 4631(1 vote) - ***Speaking in Living Color - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThey say that variety is the spice of life and the same holds true for the voice which has color, those various and vivid effects in speech which give life to the voice. Good pacing, pause, force, duration, inflection, variety of pitch and your attitude characterize a truly dynamic speaking ...
Views: 2080 - ***What Is Your General Purpose in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 ...
Views: 5582 - ***Instead of Trying to Have the Deepest Voice, Why Not Strive for the Best? - by Submitted on May 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you do a bit of research on the internet, you will discover a number of websites promising to teach you how to have a deep voice. What is interesting about these ‘quack’ sites and even more questionable ‘authorities,’ is that not everyone has the ability to be a bass. It just isn’t ...
Views: 4234(4 votes) - ***When the Pause Becomes Sing-Song in Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsFor all my talk, my articles, and the advice I give about the wonderful, marvelous pause in public speaking, a difficulty for some is that it can become rhythmic, taking on a sing-song effect. The one thing you never want from the pause is for your audience to know in advance when it is ...
Views: 4299 - ***Painting a Picture with Your Voice - by Submitted on May 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the best pieces of advice I give to my clients is to paint a picture with your voice, with your facial expression, and with your body language when speaking. Those who read audio books are marvelous in this respect because their job is to depict everything they are saying so that the ...
Views: 3444(3 votes) - ***Podium Power: Finding Composure When Addressing an Audience - by Submitted on May 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIs it possible to be composed when your heart is racing, your knees are shaking, and your stomach is in knots? Most definitely. When you look at the great speakers like Jack Canfield, Zig Ziglar, and Mark Victor Hansen, do you think they are not nervous? They are, but all you see is ...
Views: 3509 - ***Your Childlike Voice Does Not Lend Credibility in Your Business Dealings - by Submitted on May 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo 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 ...
Views: 3006 - ***Why You Should Include True Stories in Your Next Presentation - by Submitted on May 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn 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 ...
Views: 2877 - ***How to Tap the Full Potential of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking voices come in all shapes and sizes – literally. And, while you can attribute your vocal apparatus to genes, it is not just your genetic makeup that entirely determines the quality of your speaking voice. Your environment helps shape the sound of your voice as well. If you study ...
Views: 2524 - ***Captivate Your Audience with Your Voice, Your Facial Expression and Your Body Language - by Submitted on May 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever watched someone give a speech or presentation who does not move a muscle and speaks in a monotone voice? It is pretty devastating to be subjected to such an ordeal but it happens. And, when it does, one can only pray that it will last 10 minutes and not 50! Your facial ...
Views: 2651(1 vote)