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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***If Your Voice Feels Tight, The Problem May Be Your Jaw - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen I show my clients how to find their 'real' voice, the first order of business is to make sure that their jaw is relaxed. This is important because if the jaw is clenched, you will not be able to make the change. Whereas tension in the neck and shoulder regions is much more common in woman - ...
Views: 7706(2 votes) - ***Discover Your 'Real' Voice and Listen to What Happens to Your Nasality! - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNasality, whether it is excessive as in the Brooklyn or Bronx sound, a little more gutteral like Philly talk, twangy as we hear in Texas or only slightly exaggerated as in the speech of Detroit or the Midwest, occurs when voiced sounds travel through the nose. While not all nasality is bad, too ...
Views: 4101 - ***Follow These 2 Steps to Discover Your Deeper, Richer Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWe all have one – a voice that has resonance and depth. It sounds more mature but not old. It is ageless. In fact, it will continue to improve as you age. Unfortunately, 99% of the population is unaware that they have a better voice inside; and, that same percentage is unaware that their ...
Views: 3766 - ***In Public Speaking, Nervousness Is a Stumbling Block Only If You Allow It to Be! - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe angst, the agony, the sleepless nights. The overwhelming dread that pervades your life knowing you are scheduled to speak, either for your business or personal life. It could be toasting the groom at your best friend’s wedding or giving the quarterly budget report for your company. It ...
Views: 2297(1 vote) - ***Easy, Effective, Efficient - 5 Steps for Improving Your Presentation Skills - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsPublic speaking is only as difficult as you allow it to be. Unfortunately, many people make it more difficult than it is because their fear or their nervousness is in control. If such is the case with you, then you should consider changing your approach so that you have the upper hand over your ...
Views: 3473 - ***3 Steps for Eliminating Valley GirlEse - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf your speech is symptomatic of the Valley Girl sound, you need to break the habit. Unless you are at a bar, speaking in Valley Girl-Ese gives the wrong impression, especially to prospective employers. They are looking for professionalism. Inflecting the pitch of your voice up at the end of ...
Views: 4479 - ***Valley GirlEse Doesn't Sell -- Professionalism Does - by Submitted on Sep 02, 2010 from Nancy DanielsRecently, I had the opportunity of working with a group of young professionals in a corporate workshop on voice and presentation skills. Comprising six women and one man, the group was under 30 years of age except for one woman who was 32. Smart, savvy, outgoing and most able, this group took ...
Views: 3376 - ***If You Are Built Like Adonis But Sound Like a Wimp, She May Not Find You That Attractive! - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou work out every day. You eat the right foods. Your hair is in the latest style. Your clothes speak well of you. However, when you open your mouth to speak, what comes out is anything but what your visual image is saying. Women are attracted to a deep voice and if you have a high-pitched, ...
Views: 4462(6 votes) - ***The Benefits of Your Adrenaline Rush Far Outweigh Your Nervousness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf nervousness is keeping you from making that ‘dreaded’ presentation, might I suggest a different approach to your thought process? Instead of focusing on your nerves or your fear, why not focus on your success? Whether you are scheduled to speak for your boss, for your own business, or for ...
Views: 5692 - ***Let Your Chest Do Your Talking and Your Childlike Sound Will Be Gone - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt always amazes me when I hear someone on the phone who sounds like a teenage, pre-teen, or younger still, and am later surprised to discover a mature individual who is well over 21. If your voice sounds like that of a child, what image do you think you project, not only over the phone but in ...
Views: 4048 - ***Get Your Voice Out of Your Nose -- It Doesn't Belong There! - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating for me than listening to those who talk through their nose. And, you don’t have to be from New York to speak with excessive nasality. There are various pockets both in the United States and Canada where nasal talk is the norm. If you are plagued by too much nose, ...
Views: 14329(1 vote) - ***How Important Is the Image You Project to Others? - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIn today’s hectic, competitive world, image is something that you are probably concerned about. Be it your physical appearance or the content of what you say, you know that the person you project to the world matters. However, have you ever considered what the sound of your speaking voice is ...
Views: 5881(1 vote) - ***5 Common Misconceptions about Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt is fascinating to listen to others explain why they sound the way they do. I am sure that I have heard it all in my many years teaching voice improvement. What I have found, however, is that you have a better voice inside no matter how you hear yourself or how others recognize your ...
Views: 4625 - ***The #1 Secret of Dynamic Public Speaking That Is Seldom – If Ever – Discussed - by Submitted on Aug 20, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSo many articles, books, programs and CDs on presentation skills cover all aspects on the creation and delivery of your script. They may be discussing nervousness and how to conquer your fears, giving advice on dynamic public speaking, or talking about the value of your audience. Yet never ...
Views: 2625(2 votes) - ***3 Steps for Stopping Vocal Abuse Once and For All - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou know you have vocal abuse but you don’t know what to do about it. Some may tell you to whisper (truly a no-no!) while others tell you to stop talking. Neither is the answer. Whispering is very hard on your vocal folds (cords) and should never be done. And, most people are not in a ...
Views: 4765(1 vote) - ***Troubled by Hoarseness or a Persistent Sore Throat? - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou have been to a specialist and been told that there is nothing medically wrong but you still suffer from hoarseness and/or a persistent sore throat. You may even lose your voice by the end of the day. Yet the doctor sees nothing wrong with your throat or vocal cords aside from some redness. ...
Views: 5199(1 vote) - ***Does a Hot, Sexy Voice Matter? - by Submitted on Jul 28, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf the numbers are correct and 37% of the image you project is the sound of your speaking voice, then without a doubt, having a hot, sexy voice that exudes warmth and sensuality is a turn-on. For both men and women, deeper voices are much more attractive to the listeners’ ears than a ...
Views: 5186(1 vote) - ***Think Your Voice Is Nasal? Try This Test - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt has been interesting for me to hear how many people think they have a nasal voice when in fact they do not. The reason this happens is because the voice they hear in their head when they speak (which is how they think they sound) is deeper in pitch than the one they hear on their answering ...
Views: 12430(1 vote) - ***Good Voice Training Means Discovering the Voice You Don’t Know You Have - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThere are various approaches to voice training that you should be aware of if you are interested in improving your vocal image. Even some coaches who are published will not teach you the basic fundamental of good voice improvement because they are working with the voice you already have. Good ...
Views: 4271 - ***A Dynamic Delivery Can Make Even a Mediocre Speech Soar - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIdeally, it should be your goal to deliver an excellent speech or presentation with enthusiasm and passion. However, if you had to choose, which one do you think would be better? A great speech with a boring delivery? Or a mediocre speech given with expression and emotion? There is no simple ...
Views: 4754 - ***Your Soft-Spoken Voice Is Not an Asset – It Is a Liability! - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking in a normal volume of sound can be especially tricky for the soft-spoken. If you are asked to repeat yourself or are often interrupted, then you should consider remedying the problem if you expect others to hear what you have to say. Those who are unable to hear you, tire of asking ...
Views: 4935(1 vote) - ***If Only One Voice Matters, What Is Yours Saying? - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen 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 ...
Views: 3189 - ***The 5 Biggest Mistakes Made in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jul 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsI recently had the opportunity to hear a world-renowned public speaker and was surprised as well as disappointed by his delivery. While his message was excellent, his means of delivering that message would have gotten him a C- in my college public speaking class. Without a doubt, content is ...
Views: 6281(2 votes) - ***3 Steps for Making Your Speaking Voice One of Your Greatest Assets - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsMost people who hear themselves on their voicemail or answering machine do not like what they hear. How do you feel when you hear yourself on some form of recording equipment? When you think about the image you project, be it in person or over the phone, would you consider your recorded voice ...
Views: 4270 - ***Keep It Simple in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsHow often had you heard the premise in public speaking that you should tell your audience what you want them to hear, tell them again what you want them to hear and finally tell them once more what you have already told them? The reasoning behind this advice is that your listeners will only ...
Views: 3671(1 vote) - ***An Occasional Mistake in Public Speaking Is Not a Problem – Seeking Perfection Is - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsTake two internationally renowned speakers. One speaker who I will refer to as Mr. X occasionally forgets where he is because he adds anecdotes pertinent to his main points throughout his presentation. In doing so, he sometimes forgets where he was since he is not using any visual aids. He is ...
Views: 3685 - ***If You Clip Your Words, Your Message Can Get Lost - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsRecently I was talking on my cell phone to a woman from my credit card company 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 ...
Views: 5243 - ***The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response in Public Speaking – Which Reaction Describes You? - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 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: 5173 - ***The 3 Factors That Influence the Sound of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years in the voice business, 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 sound. It didn't start out as study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my ...
Views: 10899(3 votes) - ***What Image Do You Project When Approaching the Lectern? - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOften 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 lectern 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 ...
Views: 3101(1 vote) - ***Which World-Renowned Motivational Speaker Is Suffering from Severe Vocal Abuse? - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I heard a commercial with 2 motivational speakers and was appalled at how bad one of the voices sounded. Having not heard this particular man in several years, I was stunned by the amount of hoarseness with which he is afflicted. Considering that his voice is his meal-ticket, I ...
Views: 9513(1 vote) - ***Does Your Voice Quiver, Shake or Skip an Octave Just at the Thought of Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsImagine that you are standing in front of an audience. Your hands are cold and clammy, your knees are wobbly, and your stomach is in knots. You manage to smile but you can feel your lips twitching. You open your mouth to speak, praying that your trembling lips allow for your voice to come ...
Views: 4615(2 votes) - ***When You Answer the Phone, Does the Caller Ask to Speak to Your Mother or Father? - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more humiliating then answering the phone and having the caller ask to speak to your mom or your dad and you are 20 or 40 or 60-years-old! While this problem is generally more common among women than men, it is demoralizing to have others think you are a child over the phone. ...
Views: 3996(4 votes) - ***Why You Should Not Memorize the Body of Your Speech or Presentation - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAt a workshop I was holding in Toronto, one of the participants proceeded to deliver part of a rote, memorized persuasive presentation. This man, who I will call Bill, told us that he was a ‘professional’ speaker and that his presentations lasted 90 minutes. Luckily for us, he was only allowed ...
Views: 6784(7 votes) - ***If You Are Soft-Spoken, Your Message Is Not Being Heard - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsI once met a man who told me that his soft-spoken voice made others become quiet and pay attention to him. It took everything in my power not to laugh in his face. In today’s loud, fast-paced, hectic world, being soft-spoken is definitely not a strength, especially in America. To be ...
Views: 5188(4 votes) - ***Furtive Glances Are Not the Same As Making Eye Contact with Your Audience - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you have trouble making eye contact with your audience, I suggest you make every attempt to change that practice. A young lawyer with whom I was working would glance about the room, briefly looking at someone and then immediately glancing at someone else, never actually seeing any of us in ...
Views: 5466(4 votes) - ***4 Methods for Closing Your Speech or Presentation That Will Leave a Lasting Impression - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe last thing you want in public speaking is to leave your audience abruptly hanging without the knowledge that you have concluded. In my previous article, I discussed the need for signaling the end of your talk. The 2nd criterion, however, involves reinforcing your central idea. The most ...
Views: 15428(7 votes) - ***An Effective Closing is Just as Valuable as Your Opening in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe 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 ...
Views: 3125(3 votes) - ***Discover 5 Ways to Open Your Presentation That Are Guaranteed to Capture Their Attention - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen I was teaching public speaking at the college level, I would fail any student who opened his or her presentation with the words, “Today I am going to talk about….” That is not a memorable opener and that is not the way to begin a speech or presentation. If those words are typical of ...
Views: 2699(5 votes) - ***Great Speaking Voice Vibrates in Your Chest – Not in Your Nose - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen you listen to the greats, like James Earl Jones, Julia Ormond, George Clooney and Diane Sawyer, one characteristic which they all share is that their voice vibrates in their chest when they speak. While everyone vibrates in the area directly below the vocal folds, as well in the throat, ...
Views: 7150(4 votes) - ***Preparation Is the Key in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsI cannot tell you how many of my clients have admitted to me that they do not prepare for their presentations. When I hear that I am always stunned. If you know in advance that you are to speak to a group of people for whatever reason, how can you not prepare in advance? This is a no-brainer ...
Views: 3210(8 votes) - ***Public Speaking Is Not about You, It Is about Them - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what the purpose of public speaking is? Think about that for a moment. Too often, we are so consumed by our fear, our topic, or our delivery, that we often miss our reason for public speaking. You could be standing on a stage or in the front of a classroom or at the head of the ...
Views: 2542(8 votes) - ***What Is Color in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2010 from Nancy DanielsColor is the life, the emotion, the animation, and the passion you express in speaking. Whether you are in conversation, holding a conference call, or giving a speech or presentation, not expressing color when you talk is referred to as speaking in monotone. Another way of saying it is ...
Views: 4279(6 votes) - ***Discover a Means to Improve Dyslexia That No One Knows About - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years teaching voice improvement, I have made some startling discoveries regarding dyslexia, stuttering and even spasmodic dysphonia. Because my approach deals with learning how to breathe with the support of the diaphragm, my clients have benefited in ways unimaginable; and, ...
Views: 3471(5 votes) - ***Is It Better to Speak Softly or Loudly? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNeither is correct. The voice that is too loud hurts the listeners' ears -- the voice that is too soft is not being heard. In both cases, the message is being lost because listeners are unable to focus and it all boils down to volume. I just received an email from a Public Speaking Forum ...
Views: 8825(11 votes) - ***5 Rules for Reading a Speech and Not Sound Like You Are Reading It - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsTorture is sitting through a long-winded speech in which the presenter is staring at his/her notes on the lectern, focused entirely on reading to the audience. My feeling is that if you are going to read something to me – and I’m not attending a reading at the library or Barnes and Noble – then ...
Views: 8998(6 votes) - ***Are You Losing Your Voice BEFORE the End of the Sermon? - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA frequent problem that is coming to my attention is the number of ministers, rabbis, those in the clergy, who get in touch with me because of voice loss. For many of these people, they are sometimes losing their voice before the end of the sermon. Unfortunately, microphones are not the answer ...
Views: 3022(6 votes) - ***Don’t Know What to Do with Hands in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA problem for many novice public speakers is what to do with their hands during a presentation. Standing at a lectern giving a speech is the not the same as addressing an audience for 20, 30 or 40 minutes without benefit of a scripted text or lectern. The presentation is a different animal ...
Views: 2597(3 votes) - ***When “Um’s” & “Ah’s” Are Part of Your Vocabulary -- You Know? - by Submitted on Mar 24, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most annoying traits in speaking is the use of verbal tics. We have all heard them at one time or another. If you are aware that your speech is plagued with these filler words, it would be a good idea to work on eliminating them because they take away from your message: your ...
Views: 3075(5 votes) - ***Life, Emotion, Animation – Just How Colorful Are You in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2010 from Nancy DanielsYou 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. From all my years of experience, I have found that there are primarily three types ...
Views: 2995(4 votes)