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593 articles by Nancy Daniels · showing 50

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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Color Is What Makes for a Dynamic Delivery in Public Speaking

One of the most remarkable aspects of color – the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking – is that there is no right or wrong. Certainly your attitude can affect your color, which I discussed in my last article, but the true beauty of speaking with expression is that it is as individual to you as are your fingerprints. No two people will give the same presentation exactly the same way; no two people will deliver a speech exactly the same way.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Think Your Voice Is Nasal? Try This Test

It 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 machine, voicemail, or some other form or recording equipment. And, once they hear their recorded sound, the higher pitch makes them believe – rightly or wrongly – that their voice exhibits nasality.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***What Is Your Face Expressing in Public Speaking? Delight or Dismay?

Think 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 expression on your face? Did it say that you were glad to be there or was abject fear written all over it?

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***An Effective Closing is Just as Valuable as Your Opening in Public Speaking

The poet Longfellow said, “Great is the art of beginning, but greater the art is of ending.” While this 19th century poet was referring to the poem, his words are equally applicable to public speaking. Many great presentations and speeches are less than stellar because of a weak or non-existent finish. Yes, you must grab your listeners’ attention with your opening. It is a must if you want to capture your audience from the moment you begin.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Are You Ready to End Your Chronic Hoarseness and Persistent Sore Throats?

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. These same people may go to an ENT specialist, be given a clean bill of health, and leave not knowing what is causing the problem or what to do about it.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Preparation Is the Key in Public Speaking

I cannot tell you how many of my clients have admitted to me that they do not prepare for their presentations. When I hear that I am always stunned. If you know in advance that you are to speak to a group of people for whatever reason, how can you not prepare in advance? This is a no-brainer in my opinion. Do you not think that every single athlete, musician, singer and actor prepares for the big game or opening night in advance? Yes, they may be extraordinarily gifted in their abilities but that does not mean they can afford not to practice or rehearse.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

The Soft-Spoken Voice: Is It a Strength or a Weakness?

Many 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, in the previous week, he had found others listening to him. That had never happened before. Apparently for Jim, whenever he was in conference, everyone talked over him.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***When the Caller Thinks You're a Female -- And You're Not!

Nothing is more distressing than for the person on the other end of the line to think you are a woman – or worse yet, to ask to speak to your mother – and you are a man. Rest assured that you are not alone but that does not make it any easier to bear. Being mistaken for a female over the phone is awkward but there is an answer to your problem. Why the pitch of your voice is so high is either because: 1. you have excessive nasality, which tends to make the voice higher-pitched than it actually is; or, 2. you are imitating a loved one whose pitch is also high.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Knowing Your Audience is Your 1st Step in Creating Your Speech or Presentation

When you are asked, requested, or invited to speak, whether it is for your company, a business organization, a leads club, or some type of conference, how familiar are you with your audience and their needs? As much as you may want to deliver a stellar presentation, if you do not know to whom you are speaking, then you may be wasting their time and yours.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

Articulation Matters: How Good Is Yours?

When you address an audience, do you think your articulation has value? The only answer is most definitely yes. If your audience cannot understand you or misses a word or a phrase here and there, then they are missing your message. And, if they are missing your message, then it doesn’t ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***The Right Attitude in Public Speaking is the Right Approach

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 displeasure with your presentation can have a negative affect on your attitude In lives plays or concerts, do you think every actor or every musician or singer is in the best of spirits for each and every performance? Absolutely not. But as they say in the business: The show must go on.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***If Voice Training Doesn't Cover Volume and Projection, It Isn't Voice Training

The other day I received an email from a young man who told me that he was getting a sore throat by speaking loudly at the clubs and wondered if my training dealt with volume. I had to smile when he said that he had read several books on voice and none of them talked about how to increase or decrease the amount of sound you use. They also didn’t discuss projection which involves speaking in a bigger voice without shouting or yelling.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***If Your Voice Is Childlike, What Image Are You Projecting?

I hear it all the time: women phoning me and complaining that their voice sounds like that of a child. If you have this problem, then the image you are projecting is not one of confidence or maturity. The good news is that you have a better voice inside of you which is resonant and more mature in sound. I found mine when I was in graduate school and it landed me the jobs I wanted in New York City as well as jobs I wasn’t seeking.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***The Best Training for Your Speaking Voice Means Learning to Breathe - The Right Way

If you are looking to improve your speaking voice, your first priority is to find a coach who will teach you how to breathe with the support of your diaphragm. Breathing with this support is something most people are not doing. In fact, 99% of the population is renowned for being lazy or shallow breathers. When you breathe in that manner, you are using only the upper portion of your lungs for your air intake.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***If You Are Looking For a Professional Image, Do Not Forget Your Voice

Yes, we take professional development courses of all shapes and sizes. And, there is no doubt that in today’s business world, having an edge over the other candidates for a job or a promotion or even a sales contract can bring the success you are seeking. Have you ever considered, however, the sound of your speaking voice and what it says about you?

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***If 37% of the Image You Project is the Sound of Your Voice -- Uh-Oh!

Before the invention of equipment that could capture the sound of the speaking voice, people really had no way of telling how their voice sounded to others. When I first heard my voice, back in the '70's, I was horrified. What I could not understand was why my friends' voices on the tape sounded correct, but mine didn't! I thought it was the tape recorder. Duh!!!

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***5 Tips for Improving Your Speaking Voice

When it comes to public speaking, it never ceases to amaze me how many people profess a desire to improve their presentation skills, learn how to create their material or script properly, and work on their delivery skills, yet never conce themselves with the sound of their speaking voice. In any form of communication, your voice is the vehicle for your words. Could your voice use some work? If you would like to improve the vehicle, I suggest the following 5 tips:

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***What Your Breathing and Your Mind Can Do When Your Body Says NO

Last week I was not looking forward to my upcoming 2-day workshop in Chicago. I had gotten a cold/flu the previous Sunday, after attending my high school reunion the night before – and hopefully not infecting everyone who was there. In any event, I so wanted to cancel the workshop because I didn’t know how I was going to get through it. 8 hours of talking for 2 consecutive days is rough on the speaking voice when you’re healthy, let alone when you’re sick. It is also the 1st time I have ever been sick for a 2-day workshop.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

3 Things You Must Do If You Want a Sexy Voice

Have you ever noticed that the best speaking voices in the business are deep, rich, and warm? Think of those actors – both men and women – who are known for having a great sound. Who is your favorite? James Earl Jones or Sean Connery or George Clooney? How about Angelina Jolie, Felicia Rashad, or Kathleen Turner? All of these voices are deep in pitch – not high. One of the greatest and definitely the sexiest of the voices was the late Barry White. Whether the man was speaking or singing, his voice was incredibly sensual and one of the most alluring sounds I’ve ever heard.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***3 Steps for Stopping Vocal Abuse Once and For All

You 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 position to stop talking for months or even a year to stop the discomfort or pain. The real problem with vocal abuse is that if you can alleviate it by not speaking or singing for a certain amount of time, it will only return if you continue with the same vocal habits that started it in the first place.r

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***I Can't Believe He Said the D-Word!

Recently I had the opportunity to hear an international speaker address a large group of women. The women’s ages ranged from their 20’s to their 60’s. While the speaker used the F-word once, the silence in the large ballroom was much more palpable when he then used a 4-letter word that begins with ‘d’ and ends with 'k.' Trust me, he was not referring to a duck!

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***When Others Can’t Hear You, Your Message is Lost!

A 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 other hand, I am not recommending that you speak too loudly! The difficulty for those who are soft-spoken is understanding how much volume is proper or is needed in any given situation. As a voice coach, I have devised my own volume levels through the years.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***What Stress Does to Your Speaking Voice

If 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 voice? Possibly you notice a strangled sound or tightness in your jaw that becomes more apparent as the day wears on.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

A Voice Without Expression Is Like a Garden Without Color

For 5 months of the year, my garden is brown, lifeless, and dull. Were it to remain colorless through the rest of the year, I would have no passion or interest in gardening. That which makes the voice interesting to listen to – by means of your vocal variety, facial expression, and body language – is known as color. It is what all listeners want to see and hear. If those we watched on TV and in the movies had no expression, Hollywood would not exist.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***What Is the Difference Between a Good Presentation and One That Is Electrifying?

Imagine 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 people are good at public speaking; not quite as many are electrifying. Those who can compel their audience, who can immerse their listeners with their words in such a way that their listeners lose all track of time and are sorry to see the presentation end, captivate.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Learn How to Increase Your Volume Without Shouting

To yell or shout is offensive to your listeners’ ears and can be offensive to your throat and vocal folds (cords) as well. Over time, continual yelling can do untold damage to both your pharynx and larynx. So what is the answer when you need to increase your volume? Learn how to speak with more power without pushing the sound from your throat. It is called projection. Powered by your chest cavity, projection stops vocal abuse. And, it comes in very handy if you do any of the following on a regular basis: - root for your favorite sports team;r

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Humility in Public Speaking Triumphs Over Bravado

While 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 humbling of which is humility. Displaying arrogance, self-praise, and bravado are not the traits found in truly great public speakers. What you will find instead are speakers who are honored by and grateful for their audience.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Why Your Vocal Abuse Will Not Go Away on Its Own

As 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 abuse. Yes, you could stop speaking for many, many months and the abuse would end. The problem is that once you started speaking again, it would return.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***A Speaker Who Never Studied Voice Is Like a Surgeon Who Never Studied Biology

I sometimes voice my opinion on a forum that deals with public speaking issues and it never fails to amaze me how few understand that the untrained speaking voice can be an absolute liability. When you are trying to deliver a presentation and are unable to control your speed, your breathing, your quiver, and/or the rise in the pitch of your voice, then your nervousness is in control and not you.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Discover the Best Means of Increasing Your Volume If You Are Soft-Spoken

If you are soft-spoken, there is a right way and a wrong way to increase your volume. Just speaking 'louder' is not the answer. In fact, the difficulty for those who speak softly is that when they do try to increase their volume, they think that they are shouting. As a voice coach, I don’t teach people to speak loudly; I teach them to speak with a bigger voice. There is a big difference between the two. Loud hurts your throat and your listeners’ ears. A big voice is more volume but it is neither ‘painful’ for you or your listeners if it is produced properly.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Painting a Picture with Your Voice

One of the best pieces of advice I give to my clients is to paint a picture with your voice, with your facial expression, and with your body language when speaking. Those who read audio books are marvelous in this respect because their job is to depict everything they are saying so that the listener becomes riveted to the story and to their words.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Are Men With Deeper Voices More Attractive?

There is no doubt that women judge a man’s attractiveness by more than just his looks. Two qualities that the female sex takes note of are a man’s confidence and his voice. A deep, rich sound is definitely more alluring to her ears than a high-pitched, nasal whine or a weak and wimpy squawk.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Stop Shouting -- Learn the Power of Projection

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 ...

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***The Unfortunate Truth about Vocal Abuse

That which causes your voice to sound hoarse or creates a chronic sore throat is called vocal abuse. While it is common for pop singers, it also happens to many people because of speaking and/or yelling for great lengths of time. Unfortunately, vocal abuse will not go away on its own if you continue with the same techniques that have caused the problem to begin with.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Are Pacing and Speed the Same in Public Speaking?

That is an interesting question. While I often use those two words interchangeably, there is a difference. I liken pacing to your overall speed. Do you generally speak slowly, quickly or at a moderate rate of speed? In North America, a good pacing is moderate. If you speak too fast, you will tire your listeners; if you speak too slowly, you will put them to sleep.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***If You Plan A Career in Public Speaking, Start With the 'Freebies'

In order to establish yourself in the business of public speaking, you should begin contacting local clubs and organizations in your area as soon as possible. It is important to understand that the majority of those engagements will not be paid. In fact, at this stage, I would doubt that any of those invitations will offer you any monetary gain. Therefore, if you already have a job, it would be a good idea not to quit your place of employment just yet!

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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