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593 articles by Nancy Daniels · showing 50

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By Nancy DanielsRecently published1 topic

***Good Voice Training Is the Best Preventative for Vocal Abuse

What many people may not understand about vocal abuse is that changing only one aspect of your vocal delivery will stop vocal abuse in its tracks. Done. Over. Finished. It is truly amazing when you realize that, aside from abuse which may be caused by certain prescriptive medications, chronic hoarseness, persistent sore throats and even loss of voice can be eliminated simply by changing where you place your voice.

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

***The Value of Good Diction in Business Today

Have you ever noticed when watching a movie or a primetime television show that you can always understand the diction of those actors in which English is not their ‘mother tongue?’ We see and hear actors with German, Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Arab and African accents, to name just a few, who all speak clearly and distinctly.

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

***Research the Company Before Your Next Interview

With today’s high unemployment, finding a job and then landing the position is a difficult process. While you may think you are perfect for the job, there are many other candidates who feel the same way about themselves. There is no question that your competition is fierce. Being able to answer the questions asked during the interview, having good communication skills, and displaying confidence in your demeanor and delivery are strengths you cannot ignore. And, some of the other candidates will possess those qualities as well.

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

***Stop Yelling - Start Projecting

Trying to run a business from your home with children underfoot requires that you are in control of them, of yourself, and of your business as well. That control is much more likely when you can use your voice to keep your kids in line. But it doesn’t mean yelling at them. In raising my two sons, I never yelled at them – I projected. What is the difference? Yelling or shouting hurts your throat and your listeners’ ears. Projection, on the other hand, does not damage your vocal folds (cords) or throat, is not painful to your children’s ears, and keeps you in control. It works!

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

***3 Things You Must Do to Improve the Sound of Your Speaking Voice

If 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 the best? Many courses in voice offer various exercises for you to practice in order to change or eliminate the characteristics which you don’t like.

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

The Tone of Your Voice Tells a Story - What Is Yours Saying?

When 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. Were you to give a motivational speech, your tone would be different than if you were speaking to a master’s level class on horticulture.

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

***Who Makes the Better Audience - Men or Women?

When I first started my business some years ago, I was told that, “insurance people think they’re perfect but realtors know it.” While this was an interesting tidbit I stored away for future reference, I have found that audiences vary far beyond those in the insurance or real estate business. The one commonality I have seen is that, in general, women make a better audience than men. There are a few answers for this that all have to do with the fact that the female sex is still not the same as the male sex even if college courses today try to tell us differently.

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

***If Your Voice Is a Monotone, Think Energy

Recently I was working with one of my clients, describing how to add more color to her voice. Color is the emotion, the life, the animation one expresses in speaking. Her response to me was, “You want me to speak with more energy.” While I certainly want speakers to have an energetic delivery, I had never associated the idea of the expressing of emotion when talking as speaking with more energy. For Portia, this was the answer and it may be the answer for you as well.

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

***Conquering Your Fear at the Lecte

In my last article, I discussed the fact that diaphragmatic breathing is the single most important thing you can do to take control your nervousness in any form of public speaking. I refer to it as the physical component of public speaking. There are 4 other factors, however, that can help ...

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

***Voice Training Is the Only Answer for Vocal Abuse

I just received an email from a nurse telling me that she has been suffering from hoarseness for a long time, unable to sing high notes any more, shouting at her deaf patients to be heard and always clearing her dry throat. Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Possibly not the shouting business but if you are experiencing chronic hoarseness or have lost your singing range or if you find your throat drier than in the past, there is a very good chance that you have vocal abuse.

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

***Public Speaking Is NOT About You - It Is About Them!

You’ve been invited to speak or perhaps your boss has ‘requested’ you speak. Whatever your reason for speaking, if you are like most people, nervousness takes over as you begin the process of anxiously awaiting the date. Hopefully, you create your speech or presentation well in advance and practice it out loud over and over and over again. What is important to understand in this process is that you need to focus on what you have to offer your listeners. Why will they be in attendance and what need of theirs can you satisfy?

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

***When You Answer the Phone, Does the Caller Ask to Speak to Your Mother or Father?

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. In person, you obviously don’t look like a child, but the image you are projecting if you sound like an 8-year-old is definitely not an image that lends credibility to you or instills confidence in your listeners.

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

Just How Good Is Your Diction?

While it is true that most people do not like to hear themselves on recording equipment because they do not like or recognize the sound of their speaking voice, there is another group of people who are also surprised by their lack of clear diction. And it does not just happen to those in which English is not their first language. It happens to those in which English is their native tongue. - Being able to speak the language of the country in which you are living is very important.

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

***Do You Know the Difference Between Your Throat Voice and Your Chest Voice?

When 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 truth, there is a resonator that is missing in this picture.

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

***Troubled by Hoarseness or a Persistent Sore Throat?

You have been to a specialist and been told that there is nothing medically wrong but you still suffer from hoarseness and/or a persistent sore throat. You may even lose your voice by the end of the day. Yet the doctor sees nothing wrong with your throat or vocal cords aside from some redness. What is causing the redness, the hoarseness, or the pain and how can you put an end to it?

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

***The Voice That Quivers in Your 40's Will Be Twice As Bad in Your 80's

One of the most embarrassing characteristics of the speaking voice is the wobble or the quiver, reminiscent of a turkey. While it affects women more so than men, it may happen when you are nervous or when you are giving a speech or presentation, for example. However, a voice that shakes can also occur in normal conversation.

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

***Is the Tone of Your Voice Distant or Inviting?

When 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 to speak to a master’s level course on horticulture. While tone is somewhat dependent upon the color in your speech, in your facial expression and in your body language, your mood or emotional state can convey a different message from what you are actually trying to say.

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

***The #1 Injury Super Bowl Fans Will Experience This Sunday

Definitely the biggest day of the year when it comes to sporting events in America, Sunday’s Super Bowl game will result in thousands of injuries for fans that most will not take seriously. No, it is not overeating, gastric reflux, or drunken stupors. It does not involve your legs, your arms or your heart; and, it most definitely will not be life-threatening. It will, however, result in discomfort and likely some pain.

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

***How to Create Imagery When You Speak

Do you know what imagery means in public speaking? While it is not quite the same as speaking with vocal variety, it does involve using color, facial expression and body language when you communicate with an audience and it is an important basis for dynamic public speaking skills. Imagery, as defined by the free dictionary online, is “the use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas.”

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

***One Simple Technique That Can Change Your Life Forever

When I was in graduate school studying music composition, my singing professor told me that I was not using my ‘real’ voice when I spoke. I had no idea what she was talking about. I thought the voice you had was the voice you would always have. She then explained that the pitch of my habitual speaking voice was too high and that my ‘real’ or true voice was lower by several steps.

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

***Voices That Crack, Quiver and Quake

Are you plagued by a voice that cracks, quivers or just isn’t there when you need it? Often occurring at the most inopportune times, all three problems are usually caused by stress on the vocal folds (cords). Because your vocal folds are an organ, it is important to treat them well; and, ...

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

***A Better Voice is Just a Breath Away

The number of people looking for information, books, CDs, and seminars on self-improvement is staggering. Ever conce ed with honing our business skills, improving the image we project, feeling good about ourselves, juggling jobs and family…we are all on the search for bettering ourselves and ...

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

***A Voice Like That of George Clooney or Kathleen Turner Is Within Your Reach

Imagine 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 resonance. Unfortunately, the only resonance most people hear when they speak is that which is coming through their nose. That is not the resonance I am talking about.

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

***3 Ways to Be More Expressive in Public Speaking

If you find that you have difficulty speaking with emotion when addressing an audience, then your nervousness is in control and you are not. When that happens, it is not easy to allow for any expression in public speaking aside from the look of near death because you are allowing for your ‘flight’ response to have the upper hand instead of your ‘fight’ response.

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

Why Speaking Louder Is Not the Answer If You Are Soft-Spoken

As a voice coach, I hate the word loud when it is used in conjunction with the speaking voice. Loud hurts your listeners’ ears; and, over time, loud can hurt your throat. I don’t want you to speak louder – I want you to speak with more power, with an increase in your volume which is not painful to your throat or your listeners' ears.

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

***When You (Unknowingly) Say Something Offensive to Your Audience

Some years ago, I was in London, Canada, speaking to a very large group of lawyers and their spouses about the power of the speaking voice. Part of my presentation on voice deals with color, which is the life, the animation, the emotion you express in speaking. In talking about this aspect of the voice, I mentioned a lawyer from London who was very well-known for being expressive – a most colorful man – by the name of Julius Melnitzer.

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

***Why Men Mumble and Women are Afflicted with Lockjaw

Do 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 likely that you have a tight jaw, in which the lips are moving but the jaw is not. In both of these cases, one’s diction is difficult to understand because the words are not being articulated clearly.

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

***Do You Know the Difference Between the Specific Purpose and Central Idea of Your Speech or Presentation?

While 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 either to inform or to persuade. (The 3rd option is to entertain; however, that is an article in itself.)

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

***Does a Hot, Sexy Voice Matter?

If the numbers are correct and 37% of the image you project is the sound of your speaking voice, then without a doubt, having a hot, sexy voice that exudes warmth and sensuality is a turn-on. For both men and women, deeper voices are much more attractive to the listeners’ ears than a high-pitch, whiny, nasal, reedy, or wimpy sound. If you look at the voices used to portray sensuality in Hollywood, two of the biggest stars are Kathleen Turner and George Clooney. Other voices that display this quality are Julia Ormond, Sean Connery, and Ashley Judd.

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

***Get Your Voice Out of Your Nose -- It Doesn't Belong There!

Nothing 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, consider changing that habit because it is irritating for your listeners. Learning to speak with less nasal ‘qualities’ is easier than you may think. It requires retraining your inner ear to recognize the excess and enunciating your words lower in your mouth.

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

***Losing Your Voice by the End of the Day?

I cannot tell you how many people I meet who tell me that they are losing their voice by the end of the day. When this occurs, often they have little, if any, voice the following morning. And, it is not just happening to those on the campaign trail. This type of vocal abuse is common among trainers, teachers, coaches, professional speakers, moms, and even those who spend much of their day on the phone.

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

***The #1 Secret of Dynamic Public Speaking That Is Seldom – If Ever – Discussed

So many articles, books, programs and CDs on presentation skills cover all aspects on the creation and delivery of your script. They may be discussing nervousness and how to conquer your fears, giving advice on dynamic public speaking, or talking about the value of your audience. Yet never have I seen anything regarding this, truly the most important secret if you want to capture your listeners’ attention and keep them captivated throughout. It is something we just don’t think about.

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

***3 Steps for a More Mature-Sounding Voice

The number of adult voices I hear which sound like teenagers, preteens, or younger still is astounding. Add the familiar Valley Girl sound to the picture and you have an image which does not project maturity. I am not talking about sounding old. I am talking about a voice which you would call ageless.

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

***Face 10 - Figure 10 - Voice 3?

Yes, we are a people very conce ed with the image we project. We exercise on a regular basis; we are more aware of the foods we are eating; we try to get a good night’s sleep. As women, we want to look good; and, as we age, we know it takes more work. Our clothing is of the latest fashion; we moisturize and wear makeup; and, our hair must make a statement as well.

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

***Voice Training Can Do Wonders for Your Public Speaking Career

It fascinates me how many people are seeking help in public speaking and presentation skills yet how few realize that their speaking voice is the vehicle for their message. Voice training is not just for actors and politicians. It is something you should strongly consider if you are looking to get on the public speaking circuit.

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

***The Art of Storytelling in Public Speaking

Have you ever considered opening your speech or presentation with a story? If done well, a true story is an attention-grabber. It can be humorous, suspenseful, thrilling, provocative, or dramatic, any of which immediately lends credibility to you as the speaker. Don't stop there, however: good presentations have true accounts woven throughout the development. They add interest as well as validity to your topic or your subject.

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

***Dynamic Public Speakers Grab Their Audience with Their Opening and Never Let Go!

I recently watched a brief video of a woman who was entering a public speaking content and was looking for feedback from other speakers. Her ‘performance’ looked rehearsed, static and flat, lacking in enthusiasm and passion. And, my remarks were just that. What this woman failed to recognize is that great public speakers grab their audience with their opening remarks, inspire, educate, and/or motivate them throughout the delivery and leave their listeners with a closing that calls them to action in some form.

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

***Why You Need to Build Credibility in Public Speaking

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 trust what you have to say? What makes you credible? Establishing credibility is one of the most important qualifications for ensuring your success as a speaker. Zig Ziglar, internationally-renowned public speaker, salesperson, and writer, commands thousands of dollars to speak for 40-minutes.

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

***How To Get Rid of a Nasal Voice

There 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 yourself of excess nasal sound is not difficult; however, you will need to practice and retrain your inner ear to recognize the difference between what is nasal and what is not. (See my former article - Do You Know Which Sounds Are True Nasals? - in which I discuss both types of sound.)

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

***Want to Sound As Good As You Look?

When it comes to image, everyone is conce ed 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 voicemail or your answering machine? Most people do not.

Primary topic: Public Speaking
Public Speaking
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