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***Public Speaking is a Great Form of Free Advertising- Five Ways to Make Your Body Speak - by ?1999 LJL Seminars
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Dr. Ralph C. Smeadly, the founder of Toastmasters International, wrote, "The speaker who stands and talks at ease is the one who can be heard without weariness. If his posture and gestures ...
Views: 30694(3 votes) - ***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: 25619(6 votes) - ***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: 23170(2 votes) - 5 Elements of Great Public Speaking - by Submitted on Aug 31, 2004 from Paul EvansThe difference in a powerful and pitiful presentation is usually a few essential basics. The following seven reminders must be part of every speech. 1. Audience Awareness. The better you know the people in the seat, the better your presentation will be. Too many speakers are self-centered. ...
Views: 19829(4 votes) - ***3 Steps for Overcoming Breathlessness in Public Speaking - by Submitted on Apr 26, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWhile fear of public speaking is the first major hurdle for many who must address an audience, breathlessness is most definitely the second. It is surprising how many people are affected by this easily remedied problem. When you are talking to your friends, your family, your colleagues or ...
Views: 17123(1 vote) - ***When to Hold Your Seminar: Which Day of the Week Is Best for Your Seminar? - by Submitted on Jun 02, 2010 from Jenny HambyOne common question faced by new seminar promoters is determining what day of the week they should hold their event. Here are some points to consider as you make important scheduling decisions. If your attendees are primarily employees whose employers are footing the bill for their ...
Views: 15920(1 vote) - ***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: 15425(7 votes) - ***5 Steps for Overcoming a Monotone Voice - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2011 from Nancy DanielsA voice that lacks color is dull and uninteresting. It also says something about you, as the speaker, which may or may not be true. If you speak in a monotone, how do you think others perceive you? A few words that come to my mind are cold, indifferent, and unemotional. Do those words ...
Views: 15379 - 10 Factors That Make Your Presentation or Speech Effective - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2012 from Gilda BonannoWhile presenting at the National Speakers Association (NSA) Convention in Orlando, I was able to hear dozens of presentations and speeches. The experience led me to think about what makes a presentation or speech effective, which I define as the ability to communicate your message clearly in a ...
Views: 15168(2 votes) - ***Get Your Voice Out of Your Nose -- It Doesn't Belong There! - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2010 from Nancy DanielsNothing is more frustrating for me than listening to those who talk through their nose. And, you don’t have to be from New York to speak with excessive nasality. There are various pockets both in the United States and Canada where nasal talk is the norm. If you are plagued by too much nose, ...
Views: 14326(1 vote) - ***How To Get Rid of a Nasal Voice - by Submitted on May 10, 2011 from Nancy DanielsThere is nothing more frustrating than listening to someone who speaks with an excess of nasal sound. In a study done some years ago on how people react to a nasal voice, it was reported that it is frequently associated with less-than-average intelligence and a sign of immaturity. Ridding ...
Views: 14169(2 votes) - ***Does Your Voice Shake in Public Speaking? 5 Steps to Stop the Quiver - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2011 from Nancy DanielsYou are standing in front of an audience. Your knees and hands are shaking; your heart is pounding in your ears and in your cheeks; sweat has formed on your brow; your lips are quivering. If all of that isn’t bad enough, when you open your mouth to speak, the voice that results is quivering or ...
Views: 14074(6 votes) - ***The 5 Secrets Of Dynamic Public Speaking - by Submitted on May 12, 2014 from Nancy DanielsAs A voice specialist, I teach people not only how to improve the sound of the speaking voice but also how to be a dynamic public speaker. Below are listed the 5 most important things you should do that will allow you to control your nervousness as well as deliver a dynamic presentation. ...
Views: 12721(1 vote) - How To Speak Well - by Submitted on Jul 31, 2003 from Amrit HallanDo you get tongue-tied while speaking to strangers or office-colleagues? Or, the thought of giving a presentation/speech to a group of people sends a rattle snake up your spine? Your voice turns viscous, your knees go weak, and your spirit leaves you to stroll on another planet? Don’t worry; ...
Views: 12694(4 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: 12469(1 vote) - ***Think Your Voice Is Nasal? Try This Test - by Submitted on Jul 22, 2010 from Nancy DanielsIt has been interesting for me to hear how many people think they have a nasal voice when in fact they do not. The reason this happens is because the voice they hear in their head when they speak (which is how they think they sound) is deeper in pitch than the one they hear on their answering ...
Views: 12427(1 vote) - ***The 4 Characteristics of a Good Introductory Speech - by Submitted on Nov 19, 2009 from Nancy DanielsIf you are a member of a business or social organization, such as the Lions, the Rotary, a chamber of commerce, BNI or another type of leads or referral group, there is the possibility that you will be responsible for introducing a speaker at one of your meetings or functions. Known as the ...
Views: 12284(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: 12173(2 votes) - ***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: 12136(4 votes) - ***Stop Mumbling and Cure Lazy Lip Syndrome Today! - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2009 from Nancy DanielsThere is nothing more frustrating than having people ask you to repeat yourself because they did not hear what you were saying. There are several reasons why this may be happening: you may be soft-spoken; you may have an accent in which you are not enunciating your words clearly; or, you may ...
Views: 12097(1 vote) - ***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: 11542(2 votes) - Five Conversation Killers - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2010 from John DonlandImprove your Conversation by avoiding these traps. And as suddenly as it began, it’s over. There you were, in the middle of a great conversation when suddenly the wind died in your sails, leaving stranded out in a large, unwelcoming and unforgiving ocean. What happened? Not every ...
Views: 11310(2 votes) - How to Listen & Not Interrupt - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2009 from Gilda BonannoA reader emailed me with a question: "You give points on being a good listener. I try, but I find myself at times interrupting because I'm so afraid I'm going to forget what I have to say. I've been told to keep a pen and paper handy to jot down what I want to say once the speaker has finished. ...
Views: 11241(14 votes) - ***The 3 Factors That Influence the Sound of Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Jun 03, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThrough my many years in the voice business, I have learned more from my clients than any book or theory on voice. What has been extremely fascinating is what I have discovered as to why we sound the way we sound. It didn't start out as study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my ...
Views: 10896(3 votes) - Public Speaking Worries – Handling Questions & Answers - by Submitted on Feb 07, 2011 from Doug StaneartOne expectation frightens people preparing for a public presentation above all others. The fear is, “Even if I master the material someone will ask me a question and I will look stupid.” Here is everything you need to know about handling Q& A. Keep these tips in mind and you can check that fear ...
Views: 10163 - PowerPoint: How to Deliver PowerPoint Presentations Designed by Someone Else - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2010 from Doug StaneartNarrating PowerPoint Presentations designed by someone else can be very challenging. In fact, one of the fastest ways to increase public speaking fear and make your PowerPoint presentations sound canned and… well boring, is to try to deliver a PowerPoint slideshow that someone else designed for ...
Views: 10159(1 vote) - Public Speaking Skills: Public Speaking Fear Comes from Perceived Failure - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2010 from Doug StaneartPublic speaking skill is just like any other skill in that the more success that you have, the more self-confidence in public speaking that you develop. The more failures, or perceived failures, that you experience, the more public speaking fear that you are going to experience. The ...
Views: 10017(1 vote) - Peter Fogel's "The 3 T's Speaking Formula!" - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2010 from Peter FogelIn the direct marketing world, of which I am a part of, there is a formula that sales writers adhere to. And it’s one that speakers can use as well. It is called The 3 T's Speaking Formula! It is old advice, and yet, it's an excellent use of your talents and time and is quite effective in ...
Views: 9999(9 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: 9993(4 votes) - Inspirational Storytelling - Motivational Speech Training - by Submitted on Jan 27, 2012 from Doug StevensonDo you want to inspire people? Do you have a burning desire to share your life experiences and tell your stories so that other people can benefit? If so, there are a number of things to consider when writing an inspiring speech. This last summer I was inspired by what I witnessed at the ...
Views: 9736 - ***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: 9681(5 votes) - ***Which World-Renowned Motivational Speaker Is Suffering from Severe Vocal Abuse? - by Submitted on May 21, 2010 from Nancy DanielsThe other day I heard a commercial with 2 motivational speakers and was appalled at how bad one of the voices sounded. Having not heard this particular man in several years, I was stunned by the amount of hoarseness with which he is afflicted. Considering that his voice is his meal-ticket, I ...
Views: 9509(1 vote) - ***Reduce Public Speaking Fear - by Submitted on Mar 01, 2013 from Doug StaneartBelow are a few simple things that you can do to reduce public speaking fear and eliminate those butterflies in the stomach that most people get when they deliver a business presentation. Follow these public speaking tips, and you should feel more comfortable when you present. Practice with a ...
Views: 9478(2 votes) - Writing a Speaker Proposal That Gets Noticed - by Submitted on Nov 20, 2011 from Wendi McNeillOh yes, the speaker proposal.... You ask yourself, "Where do I start?", "How do I create a proposal that will get noticed out of hundreds of proposals?" Lost in confusion and frustration, you toss together a simple, plain ol' proposal in hopes it will catch the eye of the hiring party. No, no, ...
Views: 9381 - How to Use Humorous One-liners in Your Speeches - by Submitted on Mar 07, 2003 from Mike MooreI find that brief, humorous one-liners tend to fit better into the flow of a speech than longer forms of humor and are much easier to use, especially for beginners. Here are a few examples of one line humor and how I connect them to various speech topics. The first thing I do is take a look at ...
Views: 9206(4 votes) - ***Do You Know the Difference Between the Specific Purpose and Central Idea of Your Speech or Presentation? - by Submitted on Jul 16, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhile much talk is given about the delivery of the speech or presentation and the controlling of nervousness, often what is lacking is how to begin the creation of your material. Where do you start? Let’s assume that you have your topic. Your 1st step is to select your general purpose which is ...
Views: 8999 - ***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: 8995(6 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: 8822(11 votes) - ***The Negative Effects Stress Has On Your Speaking Voice - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2009 from Nancy DanielsStress is one of the most debilitating factors affecting our lives today. From the stress of losing a job to the frustration of finding a new job, from the strain of running a household to the additional pressure of handling a career, from the stress of raising children to the stress of trying ...
Views: 8690(2 votes) - Peter Fogel's "How to Effectively Close Your Speech!" - by Submitted on Dec 18, 2010 from Peter Fogel"This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper!" ~ T.S. Eliot WARNING: When it comes to ending your speech, the last thing you want to do is go out with a whimper! In speaking it's important how you start and especially how you finish. Let's look at this scenario: Let's ...
Views: 8553(11 votes) - The Soft-Spoken Voice: Is It a Strength or a Weakness? - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2015 from Nancy DanielsMany years ago when I first started my business, I had a most eye-opening experience that I will never forget. It happened on a consecutive Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, I had been working with a group from Nortel in voice and presentation skills. One of the men from the group told me that, ...
Views: 8457(2 votes) - How Can You Make Your Voice Sound Interesting? - by Submitted on Sep 01, 2009 from Andrew RondeauHere are 10 ways to ensure your voice sounds interesting when presenting: 1. Your starting point should always be your posture and your breathing. A poor posture will prevent you from breathing effectively and without sufficient breath your voice will have no power and will lose its ...
Views: 8237(3 votes) - ***What Is the Best Speed for Speaking? - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2011 from Nancy DanielsSome people talk fast, some talk too slowly, and some are moderate. In public speaking, those who speak at a moderate rate are the easiest to follow over any given length of time. I knew of a speaker in Toronto who believed that talking as fast as you can was ideal. I beg to differ. ...
Views: 8146(1 vote) - ***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: 8131(2 votes) - ***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: 8065(2 votes) - ***If Your Nose Vibrates When You Speak, You've Got Nasality! - by Submitted on Aug 30, 2011 from Nancy DanielsWould you like to test yourself for nasality? Gently place a finger on each side of your nose and say the word ‘greet.’ Did you feel any vibrations in your nose? Now say the word ‘great.’ Again, did you vibrate? If your answer is yes, then you have nasal issues. Those two sounds, the long ...
Views: 7998(2 votes) - The Benefits of Presentation Skills Training - by Submitted on Jun 24, 2011 from julie crossNatural talent in public speaking is not something that everyone is blessed with. But lacking skills in public speaking shouldn't stop you from learning because doing so will be like denying yourself from its benefits. Anybody can learn effective public speaking and presentation skills. All you ...
Views: 7867 - ***Does Your Voice Shake When You're Nervous? 3 Tips for Eliminating the Quiver - by Submitted on Jan 02, 2012 from Nancy DanielsWhen addressing an audience, there is nothing more embarrassing than opening your mouth to speak and the voice that comes out is high in pitch and shaking to boot! The shaking is known as a quiver and it can happen even when you’re not nervous. If your voice is quivering when you’re nervous, ...
Views: 7844(3 votes) - Forty Conversation Starters - by Submitted on Aug 01, 2010 from John DonlandForty Conversation Starters Let’s face it, no matter how good a conversation is going, sometimes you’ll get stuck and run out of things to say. This can be especially hard if the person you’re speaking with isn’t keeping up their end of the conversation. Sometimes is seems you have little in ...
Views: 7812(1 vote) - ***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: 7702(2 votes)