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Articles from Nancy Daniels | Selfgrowth.com
- ***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) - ***Who Is In Control at the Lectern, You or Your Nervousness? - by Submitted on Aug 26, 2009 from Nancy DanielsNervousness is wonderful. In fact, I will take that one step further and tell you that nervousness is a blessing. How can it be a blessing, you ask? Because that rush of adrenaline can give you an edge. It can take your presentation to an entirely new level if you learn how to control ...
Views: 2487(3 votes) - ***Why You Must Make Eye Contact with Your Audience - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Nancy DanielsImagine watching a speaker who has wonderful words of advice, encouragement, experience and/or success and that speaker never once looks in your direction – in fact, that speaker never acknowledges you or anyone filling those seats to hear his/her wonderful words. Does that happen? More often ...
Views: 3773(3 votes) - ***If You Are Suffering from Vocal Abuse, Voice Training Is the Only Answer - by Submitted on Apr 03, 2012 from Nancy DanielsI hear it on a daily basis. People complaining to me that they are constantly hoarse, have a persistent sore throat, or lose their voice by the end of the day. The one I just read about is a young man who wants to speak louder in the clubs without hurting his throat. Unfortunately, vocal ...
Views: 2266(4 votes) - ***Plain Speaking is the Best Approach in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 12, 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: 2944(4 votes) - ***When Nervousness Makes Your Voice Quiver - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more embarrassing for a speaker than to be plagued with a voice that quivers, shakes, or skips an octave when standing at the lectern or the head of the conference table. It is a problem for many people and can easily be eliminated by taking control of your nervousness and speaking ...
Views: 3540(4 votes) - ***Plain Speaking is the Best Approach in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Nov 12, 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: 1409(5 votes) - *** If You Are Not Nervous in Public Speaking, Then I Am! - by Submitted on Jul 09, 2009 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I first started my business, one of my clients, a woman billing herself as a professional speaker, was quite adamant in her disagreement with me about nervousness. She said that she was never nervous making a presentation and did not think nervousness was good. Had I been ...
Views: 2061(1 vote) - *** What Constitutes Perfection in Public Speaking? - by Submitted on Jul 14, 2009 from Nancy DanielsWhat constitutes perfection in public speaking? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. You can type a paper perfectly. You can have a perfect score on a test. You can sew or cut a perfectly straight line. But who is to say that a presentation or a speech is delivered perfectly? Perfection in such a ...
Views: 1899(1 vote) - ***3 Steps for Adding Color to a Monotone Voice - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIf you are plagued with a voice that puts your listeners to sleep, it might be an idea to learn how to add some color – some life – some emotion to your delivery. Because we are unable to hear our own voice as others do, we are also unable to recognize when our delivery is less than expressive. ...
Views: 4052(1 vote) - ***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) - ***5 Steps for Great Voicemail Messages - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe phone rings and suddenly you are confronted with leaving a message on someone’s voicemail. Panic ensues and you become tongue-tied or speechless. My first question would be to ask you what is your fear? Had someone indeed answered the phone, would you have been prepared to address that ...
Views: 3843(1 vote) - ***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) - ***A Voice Like That of George Clooney or Kathleen Turner Is Within Your Reach - by Submitted on May 13, 2013 from Nancy DanielsImagine standing out from the crowd when you speak. Is it possible? Everyone has a better voice inside of them; unfortunately, most people are unaware of it. What is a better voice? One that vibrates in your chest when you speak and grabs your listeners’ attention with its warmth and ...
Views: 3657(2 votes) - ***Are You Aware of Your Vocal Shortcomings? - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2009 from Nancy DanielsHow many times have you spoken to a stranger on the phone and formed a mental picture of that individual only later to be surprised when you met that person face to face? How we speak and how we sound often conflict with our education, our cultural background, and even our intelligence. Your ...
Views: 2336(2 votes) - ***Are Your Delivery Skills Lacking in Expression? - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIf you speak in a monotone, there is only word to describe it: boring. That is not a very comforting thought if you care about the image you are projecting. A delivery without emotion or life means a message that will not be received. Your listeners may grasp the first of your thoughts; but, ...
Views: 3479(2 votes) - ***Articulate - Articulate - Articulate - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn our fast-paced and hectic world, the ability to be understood the first time you say it is imperative for your success. There is never enough time to accomplish what we need to do. Wasting both your time as well as that of your listeners is neither efficient nor profitable. To constantly ...
Views: 3489(2 votes) - ***Color in Public Speaking Does Not Refer to What You Are Wearing! - by Submitted on Apr 12, 2011 from Nancy DanielsOne of the requirements for dynamic speaking, whether it is at the lectern or just in normal conversation, is to be expressive when you talk. This is known as color and refers to your vocal variety, facial expression, and body language. All three elements work hand-in-hand to make your ...
Views: 3049(1 vote) - ***Do People Ask You to 'Tone It Down' or Speak More Softly? - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is no doubt that when I write about volume, I talk more about the soft-spoken voice because lack of volume is much more common than too much. Those who are too loud, however, are just as difficult for the listener as the former. A loud voice is hard on your listeners’ ears. There is ...
Views: 12139(4 votes) - ***Do You Breathe - I Mean Really Breathe? - by Submitted on Aug 28, 2013 from Nancy DanielsDo you know the difference between diaphragmatic breathing and what you are doing right now? The chances are good that you are a shallow or lazy breather because the majority of the population breathes in this manner. What do I mean by shallow or lazy breathing? Using the upper chest for ...
Views: 2222(2 votes) - ***Do You Cringe When You Hear Yourself on Your Answering Machine or Voicemail? - by Submitted on Sep 11, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThe first time I heard myself on a recording was many years ago when I was in college. I had a small portable Sony tape recorder and I was with my friends when we recorded ourselves. I was horrified when I heard my own speaking voice. What is fascinating about that experience is that ...
Views: 3058(2 votes) - ***Do You Speak with Enough Volume? - by Submitted on Aug 04, 2011 from Nancy DanielsUnless you live along the Boston-Washington corridor, chances are good that you if you have a problem with volume it is probably that you speak with too little of it. We, in the Northeast region of America, tend to use too much of it – we drive fast, we talk fast, and we are loud. Volume ...
Views: 3467(2 votes) - ***Do You Suffer From Chronic Hoarseness or Persistent Sore Throats and You're Not Sick? - by Submitted on Jun 23, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome people can yell or talk non-stop all day and never experience hoarseness or sore throats; others cannot. Your voice is as individual to you as are your fingerprints: no two are alike. They may be similar but not exact. In that sense, your vocal apparatus is also unique. For 60 years, ...
Views: 3442(3 votes) - ***Do Your Presentation Skills Pass the Color Test? - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2009 from Nancy DanielsSpeaking with expression, emotion, life, animation – whatever you call it – is one of your most important characteristics in delivering a dynamic presentation or speech. Just how colorful are you at the lectern? If you would like to test your ‘color’ skills, record yourself reading the ...
Views: 2695(1 vote) - ***Don’t Ignore Vocal Abuse – It Won’t Go Away on Its Own! - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2010 from Nancy DanielsA surprising number of people suffer vocal abuse and are unaware that it is a problem which will not go away on its own. There are no drugs or medicines a doctor can prescribe that will end your suffering because the abuse is being caused by misplacement and/or overuse of your speaking voice. ...
Views: 2848(4 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) - ***Get Your Voice Out of Your Throat and Let Your Chest Do Your Talking! - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 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 truth. ...
Views: 12176(2 votes) - ***Have You Been Told That You Speak in a Monotone? - by Submitted on Jun 22, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOften those who speak in a monotone are not allowing their emotions to be heard or be seen. They have a tendency to repress their feelings, keeping them on the inside. Expressing emotion is normal; it is natural; and, it is referred to as color – the life, the animation, and the passion which ...
Views: 2668(1 vote) - ***Horrified By What Comes Out of Your Mouth When You're Nervous? - by Submitted on Jun 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsHave you ever stood at the lectern or were sitting for an interview and when you opened your mouth to speak, the sound emanating from your lips was much higher in pitch than you expected, wanted, or appreciated? While the raising of the pitch of the voice is common when nervous, it is also ...
Views: 2956(1 vote) - ***How I Fell Asleep during a Double Stereotactic Breast Biopsy - by Submitted on Oct 07, 2009 from Nancy DanielsLadies, I want you to imagine lying on a table on your stomach, your breast is dangling through a huge hole in the table, and a mammography machine proceeds to squeeze your breast in the exact same manner it does during a mammogram. Now I want you to imagine that instead of being in that ...
Views: 3654(3 votes) - ***How Important Are Your Presentation Skills in Getting a Job? - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2012 from Nancy DanielsYes, your education is important; yes, your experience is important; and, most definitely, your attitude is important in landing a job in today’s questionable job market. Have you ever taken into consideration, what your presentation skills are saying about you however? You may look ...
Views: 2366(2 votes) - ***How Important Is Your Walk to the Lectern? - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThis past April when Susan Boyle walked onto the stage and approached the microphone on Britian’s Got Talent, the Irish singer was judged entirely on her appearance. Her audience assumed that her performance would be a disaster and responded to her entrance most negatively and with laughter. ...
Views: 1650(1 vote) - ***How Much Value Do You Place on Your Visual Presentation in Getting a Job? - by Submitted on Mar 29, 2011 from Nancy DanielsMost people in business today are eager to learn and improve their business skills. They read articles; they listen to webinars; and, they attend bootcamps in the hopes of securing a better future for themselves. Your competition is fierce. Other candidates are just as hungry for the job ...
Views: 2608(3 votes) - ***How to Brand Yourself in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn today’s world of public speaking, standing out from the crowd is one of your first priorities in establishing a career at the podium. Your success depends on it. In order to market yourself and your own individuality, you must have something that sets you apart from all others. What is ...
Views: 3410(1 vote) - ***How to Define Tone in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsTone is the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, tone is determined by your topic or your subject. If you are giving the after-dinner speech at a conference, it is quite possible that your talk will be funny; thus, your tone is going to be quite different than if ...
Views: 7145(1 vote) - ***How to Find Anecdotes for Your Speech or Presentation - by Submitted on Jan 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsFor many of us who have spent years in business, our anecdotes are many and varied. There is no doubt that experience is not only the best teacher, but affords us many stories and anecdotes throughout our business careers. What does the novice speaker do, however, when his/her experience is ...
Views: 5595(2 votes) - ***How Voice Training Can Aid in Accent Reductions - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2010 from Nancy DanielsAs a voice specialist, I have known for many years that a good voice improvement course can be an excellent means of accent reduction. Yesterday, I received an email from a Taiwanese man studying in Boston. His 1st language is Mandarin Chinese; and, he has been enrolled in an accent reduction ...
Views: 3159(1 vote) - ***If the Thought of Public Speaking Gives You Heart Palpitations, You Must See The King's Speech - by Submitted on Mar 25, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWithout a doubt, The King’s Speech deserved its Oscars and I would recommend it to all. Yes, I enjoyed the biographical aspects and the acting; but, what is even more insightful is how this man was able to overcome a debilitating vocal ‘handicap’ in order to deliver speeches during his reign as ...
Views: 3949(2 votes) - ***If You are a Whisperer, You are Doing Great Harm to Your Voice! - by Submitted on Feb 04, 2010 from Nancy DanielsI met a website designer named Donna at a business expo who had a wonderful, eye-catching display that was drawing large crowds of visitors. Unfortunately for Donna, she lost her voice after having spoken to perspective clients for only 1 hour. It was 10 o’clock in the morning and the expo was ...
Views: 2917(2 votes) - ***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) - ***If You Want A Deeper Speaking Voice, Do Not Do This! - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2011 from Nancy DanielsRecently I have been reading some questionable articles about the various ways in which you can gain a deeper voice and I am appalled at the number of people who are giving advice. People who have no understanding of or training in the speaking voice. In addition, their tips and tricks are ...
Views: 4012(3 votes) - ***If You're Not Being Understood, Is It Because of Your Diction? - by Submitted on Jun 10, 2013 from Nancy DanielsIf your diction is difficult to understand, it could be due to an accent. Please understand that accents are not a problem. They are part of your culture; part of what makes you, you. If you have an accent, I do not recommend trying to eliminate it. Instead, I suggest you work on speaking ...
Views: 1891(1 vote) - ***If Your Accent Interferes with Your Diction, You Need Voice Training - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2012 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I first started my business, my husband commented on the ‘before & after’ video clips of my clients, remarking that he could understand everyone in the ‘after’ takes but none of the speakers in the ‘before’ takes. All the speakers were Canadians in which English was their ...
Views: 2467(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) - ***In Public Speaking, What Does Your Visual Image Say about Your? - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Nancy DanielsOne of the best pieces of advice I give to my clients when teaching presentation skills is to always be prepared for the unexpected and that goes for your clothing as well as your visual image. Without a doubt, what you are saying and how you are saying are the most important aspects of your ...
Views: 3262(5 votes) - ***Is the Tone of Your Voice Distant or Inviting? - by Submitted on Jun 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhen it comes to the speaking voice, tone deals with the expression of a mood or emotion. In relationship to your delivery, your tone can have a surprising influence on how your topic or subject is perceived. If you were to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than were you ...
Views: 5642(1 vote) - ***Kevin Spacey Is Proof That You Don't Need a Deep Voice to Have a Great Voice - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2010 from Nancy DanielsMany men wish that the pitch of their speaking voice was deeper – similar to that of James Earl Jones or Vin Diesel. You don’t need to be a bass, however, to have a great speaking voice; and, Kevin Spacey is proof of it. Warm, resonant, rich and melodious, Spacey’s voice is very soothing and, ...
Views: 5119(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) - ***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, Is Your Voice an Asset or a Liability for Your Career? - by Submitted on Jan 22, 2011 from Nancy DanielsIn Shakespeare’s King Lear, Lear is carrying the dead Cordelia and says, “her voice was ever soft, gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.” Those words epitomized the image of how a woman handled herself in society and is in direct contrast to the loud, outspoken and sharp-tongued Kate, ...
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