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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***There Is No Reason for Breathlessness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 28, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most common complaints I hear from my clients is that they run out of air in public speaking. This may be a problem for you as well. Do you know why this is happening? Many who teach public speaking will tell you it is because you are nervous. Certainly nervousness exacerbates the ...
Views: 2316(2 votes) - ***Watch What Your Face Is (Or Isn't) Saying in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsBefore your give your next presentation or speech, can I make a suggestion? Why don’t you video-record yourself, study the playback, and watch your facial expressions. Are they in line with what you are discussing? Does your face display enthusiasm if you are excited about your message? Does ...
Views: 2416(1 vote) - ***What Distinguishes the Speech from the Presentation? - by Submitted on Jun 11, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAt some time in your life there is the likelihood that you will or have given a speech. Throughout your education, it is quite possible that you were required to speak on a particular subject at one time or another. Perhaps you toasted the bride or groom at a wedding or were asked to give a ...
Views: 2206(1 vote) - ***What Is the Image You Are Projecting If You Speak Too Loudly? - by Submitted on Feb 12, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile there is no doubt that a loud voice can be most painful to your listeners’ ears, have you ever considered how your loud voice affects the image that you project? We are all concerned about image. Look at the number of articles and books written today on image and what it means for your ...
Views: 3216(4 votes) - ***What is Your Greatest Fear in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWith all the articles written on nervousness in public speaking, I thought I would approach this topic from a different perspective. Everyone gets nervous in public speaking (or should). There is a reason why it is man’s greatest fear. The question I would like to ask you is what is the one ...
Views: 3998(8 votes) - ***What Should You Do with Your Hands in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on May 03, 2011 from Nancy DanielsA lot of people ask me what they should do with their hands when they are addressing an audience. My answer to them is simple. “What do you do with your hands when you are talking to your family, your friends or your colleagues?” If you are not sure of the answer to the above question, ...
Views: 2279(1 vote) - ***What Your Face Is Expressing in Public Speaking – Or Isn’t! - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsDid you know that your face and body talk? What are those two elements of your image saying about you when you deliver a speech or presentation? No matter how great your words, if your facial expression and body language are saying one thing but your voice is saying another, then you are ...
Views: 2594(3 votes) - ***When Others Can’t Hear You, Your Message is Lost! - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA problem that affects a surprising number of people is that of speaking too softly. If you are not able to be heard, then much is being lost in your life because your communication skills are not being recognized. In short, you are not effective – either professionally or personally. On the ...
Views: 2711(6 votes) - ***When to Memorize (& When Not To) in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI am not an advocate of memorization in public speaking except for your opening and possibly your closing. Because the opening is the most difficult part of the delivery, I recommend memorizing the first 3-4 lines. If ever there was a time when I wanted you to be flawless and smooth, it is ...
Views: 2487(1 vote) - ***Which is Better in Public Speaking - Impressing or Expressing? - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that public speaking is a battle, a battle often lost because the speaker is trying to be something or someone he is not. What is interesting about public speaking is that you stand a much better chance of winning the battle if you would stop trying to impress your audience. ...
Views: 2430(2 votes) - ***Why Men Don't Listen! - by Submitted on Apr 27, 2011 from Nancy DanielsI am about to be politically incorrect. When you reach a certain point in life, however, you discover from experience that some generalizing is correct. From my many years teaching voice improvement, I have found that women tend to be more expressive in speaking. I have also discovered that ...
Views: 4266(1 vote) - ***Why Men Mumble and Women are Afflicted with Lockjaw - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsDo others often ask you to repeat yourself because they don’t understand you? If you are a man, it is possible that you mumble. Mumbling is easy to recognize: sound is definitely coming out of the mouth however the lips are not moving. if you are a woman, on the other hand, then it is more ...
Views: 5765(3 votes) - ***Why Not Address Your Fears of Public Speaking Instead of Being Consumed by Them - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYes, man’s greatest fear is public speaking. The statistics tell us so. Instead of being part of those statistics, however, why not address those fears and learn how to put your nervousness to good use? Of course your first response is to question how that is possible. How do you take your ...
Views: 2758(1 vote) - ***Why Public Speaking Is NOT Acting - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2008 from Nancy DanielsHaving read Jane Andrew’s article entitled Public Speaking is Acting, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you why the best public speakers are not acting: they are communicating. Acting requires memorization of a script that has been marked by the actor; i.e., pause here, smile ...
Views: 2074(1 vote) - ***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) - ***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) - ***3 Things You Must Do to Improve the Sound of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are looking for answers when it comes to improving the sound of your speaking voice, there are 3 things you should seek in your training because there are sseveral different approaches. You will find articles, books, CDs, and DVDs all promising to improve your voice. Which approach is ...
Views: 4791(8 votes) - ***What is Your Greatest Fear in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWith all the articles written on nervousness in public speaking, I thought I would approach this topic from a different perspective. Everyone gets nervous in public speaking (or should). There is a reason why it is man’s greatest fear. The question I would like to ask you is what is the one ...
Views: 4131(7 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) - ***The 3 Benefits of Nervousness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Nancy DanielsWhile you may not think that nervousness is beneficial in public speaking or for that matter in any other type of live performance, be it in the performing arts or in professional sports, the truth is that there are wonderful bonuses of the dreaded adrenaline rush. Many people, however, are ...
Views: 5204(6 votes) - ***Can You Be Good at Public Speaking If You Are Shy? - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2009 from Nancy DanielsAbsolutely. I have worked with many, many people who were not outgoing or extroverted but were able to 'bite' the bullet, so to speak, and address an audience with great success. The question is, how do you 'face' the crowd the first time and conquer your fear, your inhibitions, your ...
Views: 3473(5 votes) - ***Take Your Nervousness For a Ride During Your Next Presentation! - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsInstead of trying to eliminate or put an end to your nervousness, would you be interested in one simple remedy that will allow you to grab on to your nervousness and take it for a ride? That is the feeling you get when you are in control of those nervous jitters and not the other way around. ...
Views: 2480(5 votes) - ***Telling Someone They Need Voice Improvement Is Like Handing Them a Bottle of Scope! - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2010 from Nancy DanielsOne of the most frequent questions I hear is how do I tell my spouse, my friend, or a colleague that they need to improve their speaking voice? This really is a tough issue because if you approach someone advising them that their speaking voice needs some work, they are probably going to be ...
Views: 3337(5 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) - ***Don't Make Public Speaking More Difficult Than It Is! - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile public speaking may be man’s greatest fear, often those who are scheduled to speak waste too much energy worrying about their talk and not enough energy in the planning, creating and delivery of their material. Whether you have been scheduled to speak at your next presentation skills ...
Views: 2548(4 votes) - ***Had Enough of Chronic Hoarseness or Persistent Sore Throats? - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAre you experiencing chronic hoarseness or a persistent sore throat and you are not sick? If so, it is called vocal abuse and it will not go away on its own. In fact, it will more than likely get worse. There are some who suffer with these symptoms to the point that they even lose their voice ...
Views: 2651(4 votes) - ***Humility in Public Speaking Triumphs Over Bravado - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile nervousness or fear of the speech or presentation is researched frequently on the internet, some of the finer points of one’s personality and delivery are often excluded. Once you are able to control your nervousness, it is important to recognize some of these finer points, the most ...
Views: 3425(4 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) - ***Stop 'Screaming at the Top of Your Lungs' -- Start Projecting! - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSeveral years ago I made one of the greatest mistakes of my life. In coaching and rooting for my son’s soccer team, I felt my voice rip. I cannot explain the sensation, but, from that day on, I was unable to sing again. As one who teaches voice improvement, I did something which I know not to ...
Views: 4444(4 votes) - ***Stop Worrying About the WHAT IF’s in Public Speaking and Start Focusing on the WHY NOT’s! - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSo much time is wasted worrying about what could go wrong in public speaking that the tremendous opportunities provided by speaking to an audience are often overlooked. No matter what your reason for speaking – be it a requirement of your job; be it the chance to introduce your new business, ...
Views: 2512(4 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) - *** Get Your Voice Out of Your Throat and Let Your Chest Do Your Talking - by Submitted on Jul 05, 2009 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 ...
Views: 6389(6 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) - ***Discover The Best Way to Cure Mumbling Now! - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsTired of repeating yourself? Not sure if mumbling is the problem? If you are asked to repeat yourself a lot, you may be soft-spoken, you may be speaking unclearly because of an accent, you may be talking too fast, or you may be a mumbler. It is also possible that some or all of the above ...
Views: 6016(3 votes) - ***Plain Speaking is the Best Speaking in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 05, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are scheduled to give a speech or presentation, plain speaking should be your choice so as not to appear affected, superior, or on exhibit. Plain speaking, simply put, is the ability to speak and be easily understood by all in attendance. And, it goes hand-in-hand with the theory of ...
Views: 2570(3 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) - ***Why Diaphragmatic Breathing Should Be Your 1st Step in Eliminating Stress - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I was reading an article about stress written by Health Information Publications and I was delighted to see that the medical professionals really do understand the value of diaphragmatic breathing in the elimination of stress. Most of the articles on stress that I have encountered ...
Views: 3595(9 votes) - ***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) - ***Plagued by Tightness, Soreness, or Tension in Your Jaw? - by Submitted on Sep 10, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhile this particular problem can affect men, tension in the jaw is much more common in women. Women carry stress differently than men and it usually affects us in our shoulders, neck and/or jaw regions. If you are experiencing tightness or soreness in your jaw, it is more than likely that it ...
Views: 4944(5 votes) - ***Tired of Sounding Like a Teenager or Even Younger? - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you answer the phone and the caller asks to speak to your mother, you might want to consider voice training in order to add some ‘years’ to your voice. Not that I want you to sound old. I don’t. Good voice training means that you will no longer sound like a teen or pre-teen. Instead, you ...
Views: 9684(5 votes) - ***What Is the Difference Between a Good Presentation and One That Is Electrifying? - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2009 from Nancy DanielsImagine you have just spoken for 10 minutes or 40 minutes about your business, an idea, your book or your products and you are receiving good applause. Yes, you just gave a good presentation. My question to you is whether your good presentation was electrifying? What is the difference? Many ...
Views: 2789(5 votes) - ***When Your Speech Is Too Fast, You're More Likely to Have an Accident! - by Submitted on Nov 27, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSpeed in public speaking, or for that matter, in any type of communication, is very similar to that in driving a vehicle. If you move along at 100 miles an hour, you stand a greater chance of having an accident than if you are doing 75 mph. While I am a strong advocate of learning how to ...
Views: 1957(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 Factors That Can Affect the Health of Your Voice - by Submitted on Jan 06, 2010 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever noticed that when you are extremely fatigued, your voice is much weaker than if you are energized? Not surprisingly, your vocal health is determined by the health of your entire body. Thus, if any of the following 5 factors are typical of your lifestyle, so too will the following ...
Views: 7168(2 votes) - ***5 Tips for Selecting a Presentation Skills Workshop - by Submitted on Jan 18, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you are interested in improving your presentation skills, one route is the workshop. You would be amazed at the transformation possible; however, it is important to understand that not all workshops are alike. In this article, I list the 5 things you should look for if you are serious about ...
Views: 3707(4 votes) - ***A Monotone Voice Does Not Sell in Public Speaking or Anywhere Else for That Matter! - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2010 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking in monotone is more than just a problem. It is boring. There is no other way to say it. The problem with a monotone delivery is that it puts your audience to sleep and it does so very quickly. If actors were to speak in monotone, television, movies and theaters would not be one of ...
Views: 5627(4 votes) - ***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) - ***Capitalize on the Voice You Don't Know You Have - by Submitted on Mar 19, 2011 from Nancy DanielsMost people are unaware that voice training is something they can do for their personal and professional development. No, it is not just actors and politicians who study with a voice coach. More and more people are discovering that they are not stuck with the voice they hear on their answering ...
Views: 2338(2 votes) - ***Do Little White Lies Hurt in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThat is such an interesting question and I am confident were I to do a study on the subject I would receive just as many 'no' answers as 'yes.' Telling your audience a ‘fish story’ may be seemingly harmless, but even a little white lie can lead to others questioning your credibility. And, ...
Views: 3941(2 votes) - ***Do You Know the Difference Between Your Throat Voice and Your Chest Voice? - by Submitted on Nov 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen most people speak, they power their voice by means of their voice box and throat. To a lesser extent, the mouth and nasal cavities are also acting as resonators, aiding in the production of voiced sound. And, of course, you probably think this is normal. It may be normal for you but, in ...
Views: 11545(2 votes)