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At 10, Dalton Sherman is a speech-making pro. Since winning a big oratory competition in Dallas, he has spoken at numerous churches and events all over Dallas. He was keynote speaker at an educational conference for 20,000 people on 25 August 2008.
“He has the ‘it’ factor,” said Dawn ... Views: 4545
If 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: 4492
Comedian 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: 4487
Several 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: 4458
The other day I spoke to 2 individuals with the exact same problem. They were pushing their voices from their throats. In both cases, I had to move the phone away from my ear because they were so loud that it hurt.
If you are pushing hard from your throat when you talk, not only is it ... Views: 4446
Speechwriting
A speechwriter is a person who is hired to prepare and write speeches that will be delivered by another person. Speechwriters are used by many senior-level elected officials and government executives, governors, and the president or prime minister of a country. Speechwriters are ... Views: 4433
One of the most frustrating things for a listener is not hearing what the other person is saying. They are listening but they’re not hearing. After repeated attempts asking the speaker to increase his/her volume, they stop listening.
If you want others to hear your message, then you must ... Views: 4427
Have you mastered the speaking skill Sense Stress? Growing in public speaking ability requires learning numerous skill sets. Sense stress is one of the more important ones to learn.
Spending just a few minutes of practice will provide the mental preparation to start mastering it when giving a ... Views: 4424
Apart from other required skills to survive and grow in the corporate world, communication skills are an inseparable part of it. The advancement of technology and office automation leap has it’s own important role to play but the importance of good and effective communication skills can’t be ... Views: 4396
Nothing is more annoying for an audience than to be subjected to a verbal tic over and over and over again. Instead of paying attention to your message, your audience begins to count the tics.
Verbal tics include the sounds um, ah, uh, or the words like or you know.
If your message is ... Views: 4363
In May 2006 the journal Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy published a research study that proves there is a way to permanently eliminate the fear of public speaking.
This research paper described how 36 people who had a fear of public speaking were divided into two groups to test the ... Views: 4339
Stage fright often begins long before a performer takes the stage. For most of us, the condition sets in the moment we accept an invitation to make a presentation. And generally, the longer we have to anticipate the event, the more prolonged and severe the symptoms.
The typical person is ... Views: 4330
For 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: 4311
Let’s say that you are interested in pursuing a career in public speaking. Or maybe you have a presentation due in your public speaking class. Possibly you are a member of Toastmasters and you are scheduled to speak at your next meeting. Why should people listen to you? Why should others ... Views: 4300
Color 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: 4293
Whether it is in public speaking, the sales presentation, or just normal conversation, speaking in a monotone does not captivate, enthuse, or even interest your listeners. If you know that you exhibit this trait, then it is important to realize that your delivery is flat, lifeless and dull, all ... Views: 4293
When you think of Fran Drescher in her role as The Nanny, what thought first comes to mind? Her beauty or her nasal voice? For many people, their first thought is her whiny voice which, over time, can be quite annoying, even nerve-wracking, for her listeners. While Drescher’s infamous sound ... Views: 4287
Most 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: 4283
Some years ago a woman phoned me and asked if she could attend a presentation I was holding in Detroit. The woman sounded like a child on the phone and I wondered if she was old enough to drive herself to the hotel. She then asked if she could bring her daughter and my first thought was that ... Views: 4283
There 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: 4280
Courtesy speeches are many times used as fillers between keynotes. They are effective presentation strategies because it helps chop the entire meeting up into small attention-keeping sessions. There is a fallacy that sometimes erodes the possibilities of this speech which says, “This speech is ... Views: 4278
While 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: 4275
In public speaking, using your voice effectively can help you communicate your message clearly to your audience. Voice is an important component of your non-verbal communications, or body language, and can express a wide range of meaning and emotion. The following five tips will help you use ... Views: 4252
Funny topics for a persuasive speech may often be an excellent way of making people more interested in what you have to say. Incidentally, it is not that easy to formulate funny topics for a persuasive speech.
You may have to spend a bit of your time and effort to get that ideal subject ... Views: 4250
If you do a bit of research on the internet, you will discover a number of websites promising to teach you how to have a deep voice. What is interesting about these ‘quack’ sites and even more questionable ‘authorities,’ is that not everyone has the ability to be a bass. It just isn’t ... Views: 4243
When I first started my business, I was showing my husband the 'before & after' video clips of my clients. A German-speaking Austrian, he was amazed at how much better he understood their words in the 'after' takes.
What is fascinating is that I did not work with my clients on their diction - ... Views: 4235
Do you dread public speaking? Do you avoid situations where you might have to stand up in front of others? You are not alone. Research once found that people feared public speaking even more than death!
If like many people, you are filled with apprehension about presenting to groups, you can ... Views: 4234
If you are a mumbler, the chances are you a man. I know; I know. While generalizing may not be politically correct, from my vast experience and background, I have found that mumbling is more common among men – especially tall men; whereas, women tend to get lockjaw.
The problem for those ... Views: 4227
It seems the jury is out on this one, with opinion divided on whether or not it is okay for a professional public speaker to laugh at your own jokes.
Maybe it's just me (although I doubt it given the number of comedians and humorists who also laugh at their own jokes), but I believe the aim ... Views: 4178
With 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: 4144
If you are the speaker at a meeting, conference or event, it's one of your responsibilities to provide a written introduction to the meeting organizer. The purpose of the introduction is to capture the audience’s attention and give them a quick overview of your background and experience.
... Views: 4120
Nasality, 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: 4114
Yes, nervousness in public speaking may be man’s greatest fear but those nervous jitters do not mean you cannot exude confidence and composure in the process. We often wrongly believe that the secret to dynamic public speaking is to eliminate our nervousness. Nothing could be further from the ... Views: 4104
As a professional speaker, not all of your talks will be designed to be humorous or entertaining in that fashion.
Sometimes your talk may be on serious subjects to elicit
donations or certain actions from people in positions of influence. In these instances, you still need to wear your ... Views: 4087
For millions of people, public speaking is a fear that they cannot overcome. Some experts believe that it is because it is the fear of speaking to peers or people who the speaker perceives to know more about whatever subject they are speak about. This occurs even though to become a public ... Views: 4068
If 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: 4064
How 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: 4061
It 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: 4053
A 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: 4050
If you suffer from chronic hoarseness and are not sick, then you are likely in the throes of vocal abuse. While it is possible that certain antihistamines or other types of medications can produce irritation in your throat, for many people, prescribed drugs are not the cause. Vocal abuse is. ... Views: 4047
Speakers can open their presentation using one of a host of methods. So why do most non-professional speakers begin their speech with those attention-grabbing words, “Ah, I am so-in-so, ah . . . um”? Beginning your speech with filler words such as “ah” or “um” immediately tells your audience ... Views: 4044
Do you know the name Edward Everett? Neither did I until recently. He was the principle speaker at the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery dedication. Before President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address, Everett spoke for two hours. His speech was 13,607 words long. Abraham Lincoln's was only ... Views: 4038
Recently 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: 4027
One of the skills a marketer knows if he wants a high response from his campaign is to understand the make-up of his audience. He (or she) will dig deep to understand their core desires, needs, and wants.
In essence, what “makes them tick!”
Well, the same type of expertise is needed to win ... Views: 4022
How to Make a Third Person Story Personal
I always advise my coaching clients to use personal stories whenever possible. Personal stories establish credibility by letting your listener know that your wisdom comes from your life experience, rather than from reading the latest book.
Personal ... Views: 4018
With 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: 4013
Nothing 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: 4011
Does this sound like you? You spend a few hours at a football game and find you have no voice afterwards. Or perhaps you are coaching your kid’s soccer team and, after an hour of practice, you have a sore throat. Or maybe you have been providing some training sessions and your voice is hoarse ... Views: 3992