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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***The 5 Most Important Reasons to Make Eye Contact With Your Audience - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most important things you can do in public speaking is to make eye contact with your audience. Watching a clock on the wall, gazing above the heads of the audience, keeping your focus on your notes or a powerpoint presentation, or staring at just one person in the crowd is not making ...
Views: 1764 - ***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 - ***The Best Means Of Practicing Your Presentation - by Submitted on Feb 28, 2008 from Nancy DanielsOne of the best tools for improving your presentation skills is to video-record yourself as a means of practice. While you may think this is a bit extreme, it really isn’t: you will learn so much by watching yourself on video. A lot of people are recorded during their presentation, but ...
Views: 1965 - ***The Best Way to Eliminate Excessive Nasality in Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jan 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA few years ago, my son’s 7th grade teacher had the strange ability to increase the volume of her voice by means of her nose. While I have worked with thousands of people in voice and presentation skills, this particular ‘skill’ is something I had never heard before and haven’t heard since. ...
Views: 4041 - ***The Best Way to Lose Credibility with Your Audience - by Submitted on Jan 10, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI recently heard a 'public speaker' who was marketing himself as one who had made a lot of money from a book he had written. I caught this on video on the internet and counted my blessings that I hadn't been in the audience, especially in the front row! This man spoke for at least 20 minutes ...
Views: 1786 - ***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 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 - ***The Secret to Connecting with Your Audience - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the secrets of dynamic presentation skills is the ability to connect with your audience. In that sense, the idea is to make each person think you are talking directly to him/her. How is this possible if you have an audience of 50, 150 or 500 people? There are several things you can do ...
Views: 2134 - ***The Type A Personality and Public Speaking - by Submitted on Feb 27, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to public speaking, those who have the most difficulty permitting themselves to deliver a dynamic presentation are those of the Type A personality. Characterized by an intense drive for perfection, the Type A individual does not allow for mistakes. And, that is the crux of the ...
Views: 2870 - ***The Use Of Vulgarities, Obscenities & Swearing In Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2008 from Nancy DanielsBecause we as a people are losing our sense of decency, vulgarities are becoming the norm in our everyday life: we see it in people’s actions; we see it in the entertainment world; we hear it in conversation on a daily basis. So how do we judge what is appropriate in public speaking? The ...
Views: 4780 - ***The Value of Recording Yourself Before the Interview - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, the video recorder is one of the best pieces of equipment you have for honing your skills. The ability to see and hear yourself in action is a marvelous learning tool, especially if you can get someone to help you by asking the questions. There is no doubt that it is easier to ...
Views: 4024 - ***The Value Of The Anecdote - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2008 from Nancy DanielsIn public speaking, the anecdotes you include in your presentation can say a lot about you as the speaker. Simply put, the anecdote is a very brief retelling of a true account which can be humorous or interesting, but more importantly, is relevant to your topic. The value of the anecdote is ...
Views: 3177 - ***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 - ***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 - ***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 - ***Too Much Nose in Speaking Is Not a Good Thing! - by Submitted on Aug 23, 2013 from Nancy DanielsExcessive nasality or too much nose in speaking definitely has a negative impact on your listeners. A whiny voice can be shrill and is much akin to nails on a blackboard. The good news is that you can eliminate the excess nasal sounds in your voice if you practice and retrain your ‘inner ear’ ...
Views: 1847 - ***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 - ***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 - ***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 - ***Vocal Abuse: Unless You Change How You Place Your Voice, It Will Never Go Away - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI recently received an email from a man who runs a museum in Australia inquiring whether he could include my blog posts in his newsletters for his museum guides. Why would a museum guide need information on the voice? Because his employees often speak non-stop throughout their day. Anyone ...
Views: 1725 - ***Voice Training Can Do Wonders for Your Public Speaking Career - by Submitted on Jan 30, 2012 from Nancy DanielsIt fascinates me how many people are seeking help in public speaking and presentation skills yet how few realize that their speaking voice is the vehicle for their message. Voice training is not just for actors and politicians. It is something you should strongly consider if you are looking to ...
Views: 2083 - ***Voice Training Could Have Prevented Vocal Cord Surgery for Yankees Mariano Rivera - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIt is sad that Mariano Rivera underwent surgery on his vocal folds (cords) recently. The Yankees’ closer was diagnosed with severe vocal abuse in which polyps had developed on his vocal folds. A month prior to his surgery, he noticed a decrease in his ability to speak which was characterized ...
Views: 2394 - ***Voices That Crack, Quiver and Quake - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAre you plagued by a voice that cracks, quivers or just isn’t there when you need it? Often occurring at the most inopportune times, all three problems are usually caused by stress on the vocal folds (cords). Because your vocal folds are an organ, it is important to treat them well; and, ...
Views: 2606 - ***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 - ***What Differentiates the After-Dinner Speech from All Others? - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile the after-dinner speech is as old as mankind, this type of oratory became most popular in England in the early 1900’s. Although its purpose was originally intended to be a light-hearted speech after the evening meal, the after-dinner speech today is often given after a business lunch or ...
Views: 3356 - ***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 - ***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 - ***What is Your Most Valuable 'Commodity' in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Mar 30, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWith the wealth of information available at our fingertips, it is interesting to note how little is said about our most valuable asset or ‘commodity’ in public speaking. We are so consumed with learning the best means of creating and delivering our material that our focus often ignores our ...
Views: 1632 - ***What Language Is Your Body Speaking at the Lectern? - by Submitted on May 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsBody language. The nonverbal communication of your body that can tell your audience you are speaking with confidence or cowardness, delight or disingenuity. Do you know which language your body is speaking? Something as simple as an arm gesture could be telling your audience one thing ...
Views: 2855 - ***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 - ***What Stress Does to Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on May 01, 2011 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: 3227 - ***What Your Voice Is or Isn't Saying - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2012 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating for your listeners then when they are unable to distinguish what you really mean by what your voice is or isn’t doing. Given the wrong tone, the wrong inflection, the wrong volume or a total lack of vocal variety and your voice could be saying one thing when you mean ...
Views: 2239 - ***When Public Speaking, Supplement Your Air Supply BEFORE You Run Out Of It! - by Submitted on Mar 14, 2012 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most common complaints I hear from novice public speakers is lack of air while public speaking. It doesn’t matter whether you are delivering a speech, giving a presentation, or introducing the next speaker. It also doesn’t matter how long or how short your talk. Lack of air in ...
Views: 3785 - ***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 - ***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 - ***When the Pregnant Pause Goes into Labor! - by Submitted on May 14, 2012 from Nancy DanielsRecently I was interviewed on a blog radio program and the host paused so long after every comment I made that I wondered how many listeners she really had. Yes, the internet station of which she is a member has an excellent listenership, but I seriously question whether this particular woman ...
Views: 2304 - ***When You (Unknowingly) Say Something Offensive to Your Audience - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2013 from Nancy DanielsSome years ago, I was in London, Canada, speaking to a very large group of lawyers and their spouses about the power of the speaking voice. Part of my presentation on voice deals with color, which is the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking. In talking about this aspect of ...
Views: 1711 - ***When You Stop Pushing Your Voice, You Will Stop the Vocal Abuse - by Submitted on Jul 01, 2013 from Nancy DanielsI hear from many people about their chronic hoarseness, a persistent sore throat, and even loss of voice by the end of the day. This is called vocal abuse and until you change how you produce voiced sound, you will not stop this abuse. Most people are using only 4 of their 5 resonators to ...
Views: 1656 - ***When Your Inflection Sounds Like That of a Valley Girl! - by Submitted on Sep 24, 2012 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I watched an interesting documentary on military planes and the man describing the different parts of the plane ended every, single sentence on the up-swing. What this means is that the inflection he used with every statement sounded like a question. (Inflection refers to changes ...
Views: 2164 - ***Who Makes the Better Audience - Men or Women? - by Submitted on May 29, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen I first started my business some years ago, I was told that, “insurance people think they’re perfect but realtors know it.” While this was an interesting tidbit I stored away for future reference, I have found that audiences vary far beyond those in the insurance or real estate ...
Views: 1839 - ***Why Nervousness in Public Speaking Is a Good Thing - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2008 from Nancy DanielsAll the talk about eliminating your nervousness, putting a stop to nervousness, or defeating your nervousness, misses the boat on one basic fundamental: nervousness is a bonus. It can give you an edge that is an asset if you learn how to control it. Early in my career, one of my clients ...
Views: 2224 - ***Why Nervousness Increases Your Breathlessness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Oct 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that for many novice speakers, breathlessness is an annoying problem. It goes hand-in-hand with a voice that rises in pitch and a speed that goes faster and faster. None of these ‘qualities’ are beneficial in public speaking. Obviously, without air there is no voice. The ...
Views: 2809 - ***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 - ***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 the Pause Is Invaluable in Public Speaking and When to Do It - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI recently worked with a woman who spoke at 100 mph and seldom paused to take a breath – even in normal conversation. Most people, yes, the majority of the population, pause while talking to friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances and even the clerk in the grocery store. Unfortunately, the ...
Views: 1812 - ***Why the Soft-Spoken Voice Does Not Sell - by Submitted on Jan 16, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhen people ask you to repeat yourself, do you think that you have been speaking loudly enough? Do you often get interrupted when you are talking? Do you feel that no one is listening to you? If you are soft-spoken, I’m sure that I just hit a nerve. You are being talked over or interrupted ...
Views: 2683 - ***Why the Valley Girl Sound is Sabotaging Your Job Interviews - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIf there are 2 candidates for a job in which one sounds like a Valley Girl and the other does not, I guarantee that the candidate who speaks with normal inflection will win that battle. When your answers, remarks, or statements are on the upswing, it sounds like you are asking a question. ...
Views: 1600 - ***Why We Find a Deep Voice Sexy - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsConsider the actors who have great voices: George Clooney, Cher, Vin Diesel, Julia Ormond, Kathleen Turner, Sean Connery, Peter Coyote, Morgan Freeman, Catherine Zeta Jones, Kate Beckinsale, James Earl Jones, Ashley Judd and the late great Barry White, to name a few. Now think about the voices ...
Views: 4084 - ***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 - ***Why You Need an Elevator Speech! - by Submitted on Apr 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever stood in line waiting for service? Stupid question, right? Have you ever used that time to introduce yourself, your product or your services to the individual in front of you, in back of you, or along side of you? If not, then you are missing a golden opportunity for potential ...
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