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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***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) - ***How Would You Describe Your Speaking Voice? - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you had to choose, which word – or words – from the following list describes your voice? Whiny – high in pitch - nasal - hoarse - throaty - gravelly - scratchy - whispery - soft - loud - shrill - strident - thick - thin - childlike - old - muddy - chirpy – sharp - raspy - tight - wispy - ...
Views: 2737(2 votes) - ***One Simple Technique That Can Change Your Life Forever - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2013 from Nancy DanielsWhen I was in graduate school studying music composition, my singing professor told me that I was not using my ‘real’ voice when I spoke. I had no idea what she was talking about. I thought the voice you had was the voice you would always have. She then explained that the pitch of my ...
Views: 1818(2 votes) - ***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) - ***The Most Important Thing You Can Do to Conquer Your Fear of Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile I believe there are 5 things you must do to gain control of your nervousness and actually put it to good use, the most important of those 5 is something many people do not do and never think to do. To make matters worse, the only time many speakers are aware of it is when they have ...
Views: 3301(2 votes) - ***What Your Chronic Hoarseness May Be Telling You - by Submitted on Feb 06, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI did damage to my own speaking voice some years ago when I was coaching my son’s soccer team. I will pay for that mistake for the rest of my life because I will never sing again. Considering my voice is my business, I am blessed that it did not do the same damage to my speaking voice. What ...
Views: 3075(2 votes) - ***Your Body Is Talking -- What Is Yours Saying? - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsBody 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 ...
Views: 2934(4 votes) - ***A New Voice for 2010 Could Be Your Best New Year's Resolution - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWith the start of the New Year and the resolutions we vow to keep, there is one change that can improve your life – both professionally and personally – simply by discovering your ‘real’ voice. Easy to accomplish and guaranteed to get better with age, your ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch, ...
Views: 3228(3 votes) - ***If Deep Breathing Is One of the Principal Foundations of Yoga, Why Not Breathe That Way 24/7? - by Submitted on Aug 06, 2011 from Nancy DanielsMany people gain tremendous emotional, spiritual and physical benefits from yoga. Its value is undeniable. I would like to posture a question to you. If you find the deep breathing advantageous in reducing your stress during yoga, why not make it a habit and do it all day long? If you ...
Views: 3856(3 votes) - ***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) - ***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) - ***How to Find Your 'Real' Speaking Voice in 60 Minutes or Less - by Submitted on Jan 25, 2010 from Nancy DanielsRecently, I read an article about improving your voice in 7 days. While I do not agree with the writer’s suggestions or methodology, the truth is that you can actually find your ‘real’ voice in about 1 hour. Admittedly, your ‘real’ voice will not be a habit in only 60 minutes, but one of the ...
Views: 9996(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) - ***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) - ***Get Your Elevator Speech Ready Today! - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDo you know how many opportunities are missed by not striking up a conversation with someone in an elevator for example? How about when you are waiting in line at a popular restaurant? Maybe you are sitting at the airport in preparation for your flight. Perhaps you are waiting for the doors ...
Views: 2782(5 votes) - ***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) - ***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) - ***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) - ***Allowing Nervousness to Work for You in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDry mouth, sweaty palms, heart racing, wobbly knees, jittery hands, stomach in knots, quivering lips. How many of these symptoms are typical of you before you even walk to the podium? Hopefully, at least one! Yes, I want you nervous because if you aren’t excited, agitated, stressed, or ...
Views: 2725(4 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) - ***Are You Nasal, Denasal, or Possibly Both? - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile everyone recognizes a nasal voice in which excessive sound is traveling through the nose while speaking, many are unaware of the opposite extreme known as denasality. When you are congested or if you suffer from allergies, often the result is a voice in which little or no sound is able to ...
Views: 4259(5 votes) - ***Can You Be Both Composed and Nervous in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Apr 21, 2011 from Nancy DanielsAbsolutely. While it may not seem possible to be both composed and nervous at the lectern, it is most definitely what happens when you take control of your nervousness and let it work for you and not against you. Therein lies the problem for many novice speakers. When you are nervous, the ...
Views: 3521(1 vote) - ***Captivating Your Audience Means Speaking From Both Your Head and Your Heart - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsEver wonder why the best in the business are so successful when addressing an audience? Is it their message? How about their delivery? In truth, it is both of these components. While you may have an excellent message, without a dynamic delivery, your message will not be heard. Likewise, ...
Views: 1949(1 vote) - ***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) - ***Does Your High-Pitched Voice Do Justice to the Rest of Your Image? - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhen someone looks at you, your visual image is obviously the first thing they see. And, that image has an impact on the other person – your attire, your figure, your face, your hair – everything that is presenting the picture of you. But what happens when you open your mouth to speak? ...
Views: 3691(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 Confident Do You Sound If You Are Soft-Spoken? - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2013 from Nancy DanielsVolume is an aspect of your personality that can say a lot about you. Yes, there was a time when women spoke in a very soft voice. It was considered a feminine trait: demure, coy, flirtatious. It was also a time when women were treated as 2nd class citizens. In today’s highly ...
Views: 2379(1 vote) - ***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) - ***How to Create Imagery When You Speak - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what imagery means in public speaking? While it is not quite the same as speaking with vocal variety, it does involve using color, facial expression and body language when you communicate with an audience and it is an important basis for dynamic public speaking skills. Imagery, ...
Views: 2838(2 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) - ***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) - ***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) - ***Is It Good to 'Wing It' in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf there is one thing I would never recommend for the novice in public speaking, it would be to ‘wing it’ or, in other words, to speak without note cards or some form of visual aid. You must have something to help keep you on track. If, however, you have been speaking about the same topic for ...
Views: 2240(1 vote) - ***Is There a Difference Between Fear and Nervousness in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSome people are terrified just by the thought of public speaking; other people are nervous right before and during the opening of their speech or presentation. Is there a difference between the two? Most definitely. Fear is debilitating while I find nervousness to be a blessing. Webster’s ...
Views: 2679(4 votes) - ***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) - ***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) - ***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) - ***Paint a Picture With Your Voice and Your Audience Will See It! - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsDo you know what it means to paint a picture with your voice? Sean Connery can do it and so can Kevin Spacey. Kathleen Turner can do it as well as Diane Sawyer. And, in the world of public speaking, no one does it better than Zig Ziglar. When Kevin Spacey does the car commercials, you can ...
Views: 2768(1 vote) - ***Plagued By Tension in Your Shoulder and Neck Regions? - by Submitted on Jan 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf your answer is ‘yes’ to that question, then the chances are good that you are female and that you are juggling family, career and everything else that is being thrown at you. At least 95% of the women with whom I work complain of tension in their shoulder and neck regions on a daily basis. ...
Views: 3193(3 votes) - ***Prolonged Yelling or Shouting Can Do Serious Damage to Your Vocal Folds and Throat - by Submitted on Feb 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe Super Bowl is fast approaching and there is one result that I can predict: hoarseness and sore throats. Some may even experience loss of voice by the end of the night. This problem is known as vocal abuse and it can lead to serious problems for your speaking voice. There are those who ...
Views: 12471(1 vote) - ***Speaking for Great Lengths of Time Is Taxing Your Throat -- Especially As You Age - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsGosh, that sounds depressing, doesn’t it? It needn’t be however. Yes, your voice ages just like the rest of your body does. The good news for the voice, however, is that you can not only eliminate the discomfort or hoarseness you are experiencing but you can also find your voice improving ...
Views: 2617(1 vote) - ***Speaking From Your Heart Is a Fundamental in Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsIf you listen to the great presenters, you will find that they share one attribute in common: they speak from their heart. While they may have given the same presentation hundreds of times, their material sounds fresh and new with each delivery. If you memorize your presentation, the ...
Views: 1166(2 votes) - ***Speaking from Your Heart Is a Fundamental of Dynamic Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen you address an audience, are your more concerned with speaking from your head or your heart. While knowledge of your material is undeniably important, if it doesn't come from your heart, then you are missing a fundamental of dynamic public speaking. Those who speak from their head often ...
Views: 1449(1 vote) - ***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) - ***The 2 Things You Must Do to Eliminate a Nasal Voice - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2009 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. I have found various forms of nasality common in certain pockets of both the United States and Canada. If you are from Philadelphia, Detroit, or ...
Views: 25623(6 votes) - ***The 5 Things You Must Do BEFORE Opening Your Mouth to Speak - by Submitted on Apr 18, 2008 from Nancy DanielsWhen invited (or ordered!) to give a presentation or a speech, most of us think that what comes out of our mouth during that 5, 10, or 45 minute delivery is the ‘piece de resistence’ when in fact, without proper preparation, it may be a disaster. I liken good preparation to the 5 Ws of good ...
Views: 2056(1 vote) - ***The Conversation of Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe last thing I want to hear when I’m in attendance for a 50-minute presentation is a speaker reading to me. My feeling is that if you are going to read your material, why not zerox it, pass it out and we can all go home or back to work. Better yet, email it to me! The next to the last ...
Views: 2178(1 vote) - ***The Pros and Cons of Toastmasters - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for a means in which to practice your presentation skills in front of an audience on a weekly basis, then you should consider joining Toastmasters. According to Wikipedia, “Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for ...
Views: 8068(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) - ***The Value of Body Language in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIn 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 ...
Views: 2898(4 votes)