Self Improvement Site
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
On The Internet! Take the Self Improvement Tour
Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***If You Look Like a Goddess, But Sound Like a Bimbo, He May Not Find You That Hot! - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYes, Fran Drescher is a beautiful woman, but when she opens her mouth to speak, it is hard to take her seriously. If you are hoping to meet the man of your dreams, have you ever considered what your speaking voice is saying about you? Do you sound nasal and high-pitched or whiny and irritating ...
Views: 5527(1 vote) - ***How Do You Exude Confidence and Composure in Public Speaking When You Are Dying a Thousand Deaths? - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYes, nervousness in public speaking may be man’s greatest fear but those nervous jitters do not mean you cannot exude confidence and composure in the process. We often wrongly believe that the secret to dynamic public speaking is to eliminate our nervousness. Nothing could be further from the ...
Views: 4097 - ***The Voice That Quivers in Your 40's Will Be Twice As Bad in Your 80's - by Submitted on Jan 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most embarrassing characteristics of the speaking voice is the wobble or the quiver, reminiscent of a turkey. While it affects women more so than men, it may happen when you are nervous or when you are giving a speech or presentation, for example. However, a voice that shakes can ...
Views: 3547(1 vote) - ***Why the Pause is Invaluable in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSometimes it appears that there is just too much to think about, to be aware of, and to focus upon in public speaking. While that may seem true at first, if you allow yourself to pause during your delivery, you will discover one of the most important aids when delivering a speech or ...
Views: 2432 - ***Why We Are Attracted to a Deep Voice - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to the speaking voice, those which are most appealing to your ear, tend to be deep in pitch. Think of James Earl Jones, Felicia Rashad, Diane Sawyer and Sean Connery. All of these voices have a depth and breadth that you do not hear with the likes of Fran Drescher or Don Johnson. ...
Views: 4098(3 votes) - ***Is Your Soft-Spoken Voice Holding You Back? - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen you look at your assets and liabilities in the business world, have you ever considered that your soft-spoken voice is not an asset but indeed a liability? If others cannot hear you, your message is not being received. Volume is a very tricky dynamic. A voice that is too loud is ...
Views: 3461 - ***Ladies, Interested in a More Mature-Sounding Voice? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are plagued with a voice that sounds like a teenager (or even younger), have you ever considered a course in voice improvement? Sounding like a teen or preteen when you are 21 is one thing – sounding young or childish when you are over 21 and possibly looking for a job or a promotion is ...
Views: 6595(1 vote) - ***Ladies, Interested in a More Mature-Sounding Voice? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are plagued with a voice that sounds like a teenager (or even younger), have you ever considered a course in voice improvement? Sounding like a teen or preteen when you are 21 is one thing – sounding young or childish when you are over 21 and possibly looking for a job or a promotion is ...
Views: 6595(1 vote) - ***In Public Speaking, How Much Value Do You Place on Your Voice? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYou have prepared your material and practiced it out loud. You are comfortable making eye contact with your audience and you speak with emotion, life and animation. Everything is a go or is it? Have you ever considered the vehicle that is transporting your message? Do you place any value on ...
Views: 1721(2 votes) - ***Honesty Is the Best Policy in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn addressing an audience, it is important to have researched your topic and to know your material extremely well. This is a no-brainer. However, is it possible to know everything about your topic? If you are young and new to the public speaking world, probably not. Even those with a lot of ...
Views: 5461(1 vote) - ***How Loud Is Too Loud in Speaking? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you find others recoiling when you speak, it could be that you talk too loudly. While those who speak too softly far outnumber those who are too loud, the difficulty with the loud voice is that it is offensive to your listener’s ears. How loud is too loud? If you have been told that ...
Views: 5141(2 votes) - ***A Pill for Nervousness in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently, I read about a pill you can take to eliminate your nervousness in public speaking. I was floored! Why would you take a pill to get rid of that which is so beneficial when delivering a speech or presentation? The problem for many people is that they are intent on ridding ...
Views: 6264(1 vote) - ***Think Your Mumbling Doesn't Matter? Think Again! - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are a mumbler, the chances are you a man. I know; I know. While generalizing may not be politically correct, from my vast experience and background, I have found that mumbling is more common among men – especially tall men; whereas, women tend to get lockjaw. The problem for those ...
Views: 4217(1 vote) - ***Improve Your Speaking Voice for the New Year and Watch What Happens to the Rest of Your Life! - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you want a New Year’s Resolution that can improve your life, both professionally and personally, you might consider voice training. I am sure that you are questioning how this is possible. What is fascinating about the techniques for discovering your ‘real’ voice is that those techniques ...
Views: 2711(1 vote) - ***If You Plan A Career in Public Speaking, Start With the 'Freebies' - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIn order to establish yourself in the business of public speaking, you should begin contacting local clubs and organizations in your area as soon as possible. It is important to understand that the majority of those engagements will not be paid. In fact, at this stage, I would doubt that any ...
Views: 2346 - ***When the Caller Thinks You're a Female -- And You're Not! - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing 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 ...
Views: 2934(1 vote) - ***Your Speaking Voice and 'What Lies Beneath' - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou have a much more dynamic voice inside of you. You have a voice that is probably deeper in pitch than your habitual voice. You have a voice that is rich, warm and resonant. How can I say these things and be confident in my analysis of your voice without ever having heard you? Because ...
Views: 1797 - ***Do You Know the Similarities Between Public Speaking and Conversation? - by Submitted on Dec 27, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA lot of acting teachers believe that public speaking and acting are very similar and I would beg to differ. What I find more credible are the similarities between public speaking and conversation. Yes, in both cases, you are addressing an audience; but, that is where the similarities end. ...
Views: 7196 - ***Vocal Abuse: Causes & Cure - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou know the problem; however, you don’t know how to solve it. You have chronic hoarseness or a pain in your throat. Possibly you are losing your voice by the end of the day. And, one of the qualifiers with the above problems is that you are not sick. What is happening and what can you do ...
Views: 2660 - ***How to Address an All-Male Audience - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile 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. If the group to whom ...
Views: 3263 - ***How to Address an All-Female Audience - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2010 from Nancy DanielsMy 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 ...
Views: 3889 - ***Too Much Confidence in Public Speaking Is Just As Bad As Too Little! - by Submitted on Dec 10, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile 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 ...
Views: 3715 - ***Discover 7 Benefits of Voice Training That Have Nothing to Do with Your Voice - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsFor all the years that I have been teaching people how to find their ‘real’ voice, what never ceases to amaze me are the numerous benefits that can result which have nothing to do with the speaking voice. The reason is simple; however, unless you are pointed in the right direction for finding ...
Views: 3414(2 votes) - ***Take the Color Test and See What Your Voice Is or Isn't Saying - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsComedian and actor Ben Stein has a wonderful shtick in which he speaks in a monotonous, sing-song style. His droll manner makes him a lot of money for the commercials he does as well as some of the parts he has played in movies. Watching him is entertaining because his lack of color or ...
Views: 4476(1 vote) - ***What Is Your Face Expressing in Public Speaking? Delight or Dismay? - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThink about the last time you addressed an audience. It may have been a requirement for your job, for your presentation skills class, for Toastmasters, or for your leads group. Maybe you toasted the bride or groom or were introducing a guest speaker at your Rotary or Lions Club. What was the ...
Views: 2856 - ***If You Absolutely, Positively Cannot Face an Audience, Try This Exercise - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWithout 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. ...
Views: 2906 - ***Good Voice Training Is the Best Preventative for Vocal Abuse - by Submitted on Dec 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhat many people may not understand about vocal abuse is that changing only one aspect of your vocal delivery will stop vocal abuse in its tracks. Done. Over. Finished. It is truly amazing when you realize that, aside from abuse which may be caused by certain prescriptive medications, ...
Views: 2148 - ***Target Your Smilers in Public Speaking -- They Will Bolster Your Confidence - by Submitted on Nov 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen you look into the sea of faces in your audience, have you noticed that there are some people who smile? Whatever the reason, every audience has smilers and they can be found throughout the room when you are speaking. It just happens. Whether you are presenting to 5 people or 500, there are ...
Views: 2335 - ***Discover One of the Little Known Secrets of Voice Training - by Submitted on Nov 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOne 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. ...
Views: 2961 - ***If You Don't Know Your Material Well, You Are Selling Your Audience Short! - by Submitted on Nov 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOne of the secrets of good public speaking is to know your material very, very well. You may not think it a secret but you would be surprised how many people approach the lectern, the stage, or the boardroom table and do not know their script. And, the only way that can happen is if you ...
Views: 2466 - ***If Your Nervousness Is in Control in Public Speaking, You Will Lose the Battle - by Submitted on Nov 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOf 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 ...
Views: 2881 - ***Looking for a Way to Boost Your Confidence? Try This! - by Submitted on Nov 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOften you can tell someone is lacking in confidence just by their posture or how they walk. Sometimes you can hear it in their voice or see it in their facial expression. It is even possible to feel their insecurity in the way they shake your hand. Were I to poll my clients, the ...
Views: 2611(1 vote) - Why the Pause Is Both a Luxury and a Necessity in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsToo often, novice speakers do not appreciate or make use of the pause because they are too intent on getting their speech or presentation over with as quickly as possible. The result for the audience is a barrage of constant verbiage which is exhausting for both the listeners and the speaker. ...
Views: 2013 - ***If Your Voice Is the Vehicle for Your Words, Are You Driving a Cadillac or a Jalopy? - by Submitted on Nov 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNo 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 ...
Views: 2955 - ***Is There a Difference Between Male and Female Audiences? - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou 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. Studies done ...
Views: 3092(1 vote) - ***5 Tips for Improving Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, it never ceases to amaze me how many people profess a desire to improve their presentation skills, learn how to create their material or script properly, and work on their delivery skills, yet never concern themselves with the sound of their speaking voice. In ...
Views: 3588(2 votes) - ***What Stress Does to Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf 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 ...
Views: 2829 - ***4 Tips for Eliminating the Ums and Ahs in Public Speaking, You Know? - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most annoying traits among some public speakers, be they professional or novice, is verbal disfluency. According to Wikipedia, verbal disfluencies are, “any of various breaks, irregularities, or utterances that are often not consistent with any specific grammatical construction and ...
Views: 5845 - ***Do You Know the 1 Thing People Never Think to Do in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt does not seem possible that this one commonality exists among so many people in public speaking. Whether it is for the presentation or the speech, it happens quite frequently and is both visible and audible to an audience. It may only occur in the opening; although, it often continues ...
Views: 2401 - ***Breathe Life Into Your Words When You Speak - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSomething 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 ...
Views: 2971 - ***If You Expect to Hear What You Are Saying, They Must Be Able to 'Hear' You Saying It! - by Submitted on Oct 12, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating than not hearing the person who is speaking. The problem for the soft-spoken, however, is that they do no recognize this problem for what it is. If you are soft-spoken, the reason you are being interrupted or talked over is because others tire of straining to hear ...
Views: 2230 - ***Nervousness Is the Charm in Public Speaking - Do You Feel Lucky? - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you know your material really well, make eye contact with your audience, speak as if in conversation, breathe before and during your delivery, and believe in yourself, then your nervousness is the charm. Trying to eliminate it, stop it, or end that wonderful rush of adrenaline is not the ...
Views: 2773(1 vote) - ***When You Speak in a Monotone, You May Be Sending the Wrong Impression - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhether it is in public speaking, the sales presentation, or just normal conversation, speaking in a monotone does not captivate, enthuse, or even interest your listeners. If you know that you exhibit this trait, then it is important to realize that your delivery is flat, lifeless and dull, all ...
Views: 4281(1 vote) - ***Forget Perfection in Public Speaking - Seek Excellence! - by Submitted on Oct 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, my most difficult clients are those of the A-type personality who are seeking to deliver a perfect presentation. Let me ask you this. What is perfection in public speaking? Do you have a definition for such a thing? The art of oral communication with an ...
Views: 1800 - ***3 Ways to Be More Expressive in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 29, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you find that you have difficulty speaking with emotion when addressing an audience, then your nervousness is in control and you are not. When that happens, it is not easy to allow for any expression in public speaking aside from the look of near death because you are allowing for your ...
Views: 6030(2 votes) - ***Color at the Lectern Doesn't Just Refer to What You Are Wearing! - by Submitted on Sep 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsHave you been told that you speak in a monotone when delivering a speech or presentation? You may have been surprised to hear that description about yourself because in normal conversation you are quite animated, displaying a lot of emotion. What happens at the lectern, however, is that you ...
Views: 2457 - ***3 Possible Reasons Why You Are Asked to Repeat Yourself (a Lot!) - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAre you frustrated because others constantly ask you to repeat yourself? Especially because you think they should have heard or understood you the 1st time? If you frequently hear, “What did you say?” then maybe it is time for you to discover exactly why your message is not being ...
Views: 8134(2 votes) - ***Public Speaking Is the Art of Communicating WITH an Audience - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for the best means of delivering a speech or presentation, the first thing you need to understand is that public speaking is a form of oral communication with an audience. Too often, speakers do not recognize that this form of delivery is a 2-way street. They assume that the ...
Views: 1584(1 vote) - ***Public Speaking Is the Art of Communicating WITH an Audience - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for the best means of delivering a speech or presentation, the first thing you need to understand is that public speaking is a form of oral communication with an audience. Too often, speakers do not recognize that this form of delivery is a 2-way street. They assume that the ...
Views: 1867(1 vote) - ***Use Your Mind, But Speak From Your Heart at the Lectern - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile knowledge of your speech or presentation is invaluable in public speaking, if you are unable to speak from your heart, then all your knowledge is for naught. The best in public speaking are those who are able to excite, captivate, and enthrall their listeners. And, none of those ...
Views: 4799(3 votes) - ***If Your Eyes Are the Window to Your Soul, What Do Yours Reveal in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen I work with my clients in color – the life, the emotion, the animation we express in speaking – one of the many exercises we cover is one in which they must say, “She said yes,” in a fearful manner. Many people have difficulty saying those three words as if they were in fear. Of course, I ...
Views: 4848(1 vote)