Browse Public Speaking

When 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 ...

We have all watched presenters and decided if they are good or not, but how are we judged? Research shows that 55% of communication is conveyed by the body language we use, i.e.; Use of eye contact, gestures and facial expressions. 38% is conveyed in the voice, it's quality, use of tone and ...

A 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. However, for simple one on one conversations or small group discussions, this isn't always practical. Any other suggestions??" This is a common issue that many of us face. Here are my suggestions: First, let it be all about the other person.

The 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 common closings are: 1. Briefly Summarizing Your Development. If you have a few subtopics, then you could end your speech or presentation by briefly listing those subtopics which all serve to reinforce your main topic.

If 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 conce ed about the image you project, then your soft-spoken voice is definitely not projecting those qualities. Instead, your lack of volume is ...

"This is the way the world ends, Not with a bang but a whimper!"rn~ 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 assume; God willing, you haven made the mistake of talking too long and wearing out your welcome and you're ready to finish.

You 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 shaking as well. If this has happened to you, rest assured that there is help. Below are 5 tips that can change you from looking and sound like a timid, nervous Nellie to one who sounds confident and in control.

While 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.

Neither 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 in which the writer was questioning what to do with her client's loud voice. The responses from those who are professional speakers, as well as some who teach presentation skills, were interesting and varied -- none of which I would recommend.

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.

Recently, 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 fascinating results about the correct approach to voice training is that you will begin your hour with your old or habitual voice and you will end that hour with your real one.

In 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 holding your audience’s attention. This formula holds up today. Because, well, human nature really doesn’t change.

As 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. ...As 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.

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.

There 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 ...

Torture 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 why not copy it, pass it out, and we can all go home or back to work. Better yet, email it to me! Public speaking means communicating with your audience. It is a live venue, the sole purpose of which is to speak to a group of people.

When communicating, your body language (facial expressions, gestures, movement, eye contact and voice) should match your message. If there is a disconnect between what you say and your non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals. Movement and gestures are key ...

At a workshop I was holding in Toronto, one of the participants proceeded to deliver part of a rote, memorized persuasive presentation. This man, who I will call Bill, told us that he was a ‘professional’ speaker and that his presentations lasted 90 minutes. Luckily for us, he was only allowed to speak for 8-9 minutes; however, it took just 5 minutes of his memorized script for the attention of the group to begin to fade, as their eyes glazed over. What was so interesting about Bill’s delivery was that at one point, he forgot a word.

If 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 will sound mature. Not too old, not too young, ageless. You have a better voice inside. It is just a matter of discovering where that voice is. Located inside your chest cavity, your ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch and warmer in quality.

Do 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?nnDon’t worry; you are not in a minority.nnThe greatest of men and women have gone through this harrowing experience. The fear of speaking is rated as only second to the fear of snakes and before the

For many people, selling is still a dirty word, conjuring up images of deceitful used car salespeople selling shonky vehicles or struggling door-to-door salespeople selling encyclopedias and getting doors slammed in their faces. Know this: You do not need to be embarrassed about selling your products. All the famous speakers do it, and even the not so famous. It’s not just about making a profit. Selling product at your speaking engagements is what helps spread your name.

While 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 way that is meaningful to the audience. Here are the 10 factors that can make you effective when you present or speak: 1. You know your subject.

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.)

If 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 introductory speech, there are 4 things you need to do to accomplish your goal effectively. 1. Keep it brief. While your role is important, your audience is there to hear the person you are introducing, not you. Consider yourself the conduit between your audience and the speaker.

There 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 nothing more frustrating for those on a cell or a landline who must move the receiver away from their ear.

When you listen to the greats, like James Earl Jones, Julia Ormond, George Clooney and Diane Sawyer, one characteristic which they all share is that their voice vibrates in their chest when they speak. While everyone vibrates in the area directly below the vocal folds, as well in the throat, mouth, and nasal cavities, those who power their voice by means of their chest cavity actually feel vibrations in their mid-torso region. Does it matter whether you vibrate in your chest or not? Only if you want a warm, rich, resonant sound.

I 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 ...

It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who are so conce ed with their visual image, watching their weight, working out, donning the most recent style of clothing, and yet are totally in the dark when it comes to the sound of their speaking voice. If you are plagued with a voice that is nasal, whiny, high-pitched and thin, you are not doing justice to your visual image. People recognize you by the sound of your voice. Unfortunately, how you think you sound and how you actually sound are two different ball games.

Many people suffer from chronic hoarseness, sore throats and even loss of voice; and, most of these people do so because of misuse of the speaking voice. It is common; it is world wide; and, it is a growing concern.

Through 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. Unless you are already powering your voice from your chest cavity, you do have a better voice inside. There are some changes on the ‘before’ and ‘after’ video clips of my clients that are so dramatic you might think it was two different people speaking.

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.

The 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 can yell or shout on a daily basis and never do any damage. The majority of the population, however, cannot.

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.

Welcome back to Storytelling Tips and Tactics. As I mentioned in my previous article… specificity sells and makes a story more personal! When it comes to effective story telling give your audience a place to envision by telling them the specific location of your joke or story. For instance, say you were in Tommy's Diner in Hoboken, New Jersey -- as opposed to just New Jersey. Your audience will have a specific place to think about and will become more engaged.

The speakers people like the most, or who have the greatest impact, are said to have “presence.” Something special that leaps out at you. Certain actors have it, and that makes them "stars." Certain models (who by the way are sometime average looking people in real life) somehow "click" with the camera and it just loves them.

The beleaguered carpenter ran his hand over the wood the way a horse trainer stokes the back of the thoroughbred that he is about to take out for a run. In happier times this artisan was in high demand. Of course, this was before “the accident” that shocked the town. “No mistakes… not THIS time!” he chided himself. Not when you’ve had loan sharks bust your leg for not paying them on time. So the carpenter gently picked up the bevel--- like a mother lifts her child, and began to measure the straightness of the mahogany that he was about to sculpt.

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 of a speaker is to connect with the audience, and sharing a laugh is the perfect bridge to achieve that. Yes, to a degree speakers are entertainers. Entertainers do it because not only do they love what they're doing, they also love the interaction with and the reaction of the audience.

While you may not think that nervousness is beneficial in public speaking or for that matter in any other type of live performance, be it in the performing arts or in professional sports, the truth is that there are wonderful bonuses of the dreaded adrenaline rush. Many people, however, are unable to appreciate just what nervousness can do for them, because they have no control over it. In truth, I would rather an individual be nervous in public speaking than not because nervousness or the increased level of stress actually increases your chances of success at the lectern.

There’s no doubt that speakers put a lot of time into developing the content for their speeches. Unfortunately, as you’re well aware of, because of sensory overload audiences will only be able to digest two to three points of your talk. (yes, they will channel surf when you speak) So your rule of thumb should be, “less is more.” But then how can you still give your adoring fans their money’s worth? Simple. If you’ve branded yourself as a speaker—then you should definitely brand your message.

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 questio I would like to ask you is what is the one thing that conce s you the most when you are scheduled to speak? Your answer cannot be dying while public speaking because that has never happened and I don’t think you will be the 1st one to get that title!

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 over your audience when you giving a speech or presentation. For the speaker to succeed he NEEDS to know who they are and why that audience is there. The good part is that the client and the location can give significant information about the audience and related demographics.

When I first started my speaking career I had to fight constantly the urge to tell my audience everything I knew on the subject at hand within the one hour assigned to me. After the contract had been signed and the topic defined the conflict began. What content should I include? Which stories should I tell? What humorous anecdotes should I select? My answer to these questions was always, Why not tell them everything you know?

Are 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 received. There are only 3 possibilities for someone to ask you to say it again.

If 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 the purpose of helping members improve their communication, public speaking and leadership skills.” There are a lot of reasons that I find this organization of value. 1. It is inexpensive to be a member. 2. Its members all share the same goal.r

Through 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. Unless you are already powering your voice from your chest cavity, you do have a better voice inside. There are some changes on the 'before' and 'after' video clips of my clients that are so dramatic you might think it was two different people speaking.

The first part of connecting with the audience is to do the proper research for the event. And by that I mean, you have to do your homework. You have to consult with the client and event planner and truly understand the reason your presentation has been arranged-- and why they chose you! You see, past experience has shown me that a poorly prepared speaker cannot properly connect with his audience.

I recently had the opportunity to hear a world-renowned public speaker and was surprised as well as disappointed by his delivery. While his message was excellent, his means of delivering that message would have gotten him a C- in my college public speaking class. Without a doubt, content is important in any form of public speaking; however, if your entire script is written out word-for-word in your PowerPoint presentation, why bother? It would be a better use of the audience’s time if you would Xerox it, pass it out, and then everyone can go home!

When 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 - probably about 95% - a tight jaw can be found equally among men and women.

With over twenty-four years experience performing stand-up comedy, writing comedy, and doing audience warm-up on sitcoms, I've learned that using humor in a corporate setting is a lot different than in a comedy club. For success here, you must tread carefully. To that end, I offer you my five writing commandments for delivering humorous keynote speeches.

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 questio I would like to ask you is what is the one thing that conce s you the most when you are scheduled to speak? Your answer cannot be dying while public speaking because that has never happened and I don’t think you will be the 1st one to get that title!

As a child or a teenager, how many times did you say to yourself, “I will never say or do that which my mother is saying or doing?” Many of us can certainly testify to that statement; however, my question to you is not the words your mom may have used but the actual sound of her speaking voice. Our genetic heritage means that we will sound like our same-sex parent if the relationship in our early developmental years was a loving and nurturing one. Our environment and our community also help shape the voice.

Do you find that people do not pay as much attention to you as you might wish? Does you voice trail off at the end of your sentences, leaving your listeners struggling to understand what you are saying? Maybe the sound of your voice is strident and irritating or perhaps you speak so softly that your words go unnoticed.

According to a poll take by MSNBC men and women were asked what personal qualities had the greatest impact on the success of their careers. Naturally, men and women differed when it came to the importance of intelligence, ability and 'looks.' (I know... what a surprise) BUT the one thing they did agree on was the importance of self-confidence. As you can imagine self confidence is of 'mucho' importance when it comes to speaking. I am sure you know that people judge and size you up in about five seconds when you first meet them.

I was watching Oprah the other day as she was interviewing Wynona Judd. Judd made a profound statement about losing weight and taking care of herself. She said that she had forgotten to put herself on her priority list. She also stated that now that she had finally made herself a priority she was happier, more peaceful and more confident than she had ever been.

I once met a man who told me that his soft-spoken voice made others become quiet and pay attention to him. It took everything in my power not to laugh in his face. In today’s loud, fast-paced, hectic world, being soft-spoken is definitely not a strength, especially in America. To be constantly asked to repeat yourself is one of the reasons others take over the conversation. Imagine watching a movie and the volume is not quite loud enough to be able to understand the actors’ words. That is exactly what is happening when you speak and others cannot hear you.

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 ...

When 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, rest assured that you are not alone. It happens to a lot of people and it is the result of poor voice placement exacerbated by your nervousness.

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 creativity hat, because once again, you will be appealing to people's emotions, except this time, not their sense of humor. To get people to feel involved or want to become involved, you have to appeal to their emotions.

The other day I was reading an article about stress written by Health Information Publications and I was delighted to see that the medical professionals really do understand the value of diaphragmatic breathing in the elimination of stress. Most of the articles on stress that I have encountered on the internet place little, if any, importance on this simple, healthy technique.

Persuasive public speaking is all about connecting with your audience. One of the quickest ways to heighten your audience connection is to use a theatre acting technique called 'Breaking the Fourth Wall. One of the reasons you go to the theatre is to be transported to a different time and place and experience something magical. Of course you know it's a play (orrna movie), you paid a ticket to see it, but once there you've suspended disbelief. Picture two characters on stage having a passionate argument.

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.

In today’s hectic, competitive world, image is something that you are probably conce ed about. Be it your physical appearance or the content of what you say, you know that the person you project to the world matters. However, have you ever considered what the sound of your speaking voice is saying to your listeners? - If you know, for example, that you speak in a monotone, what is the image you are projecting? - If you sound like a 12-year-old and you are over 21, what is your voice saying about you?r

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 be carried through the nasal passages because they are inflamed and swollen. Recently I spoke to a young man named Jason whose voice exhibited both characteristics. In addition, the pitch of his voice was unusually high for a man.

Imagine standing at the lectern. You see the many smiling faces of those in your audience. Your countenance, however, says anything but that you are glad to be there. While you may not be thrilled at the prospect of giving that speech or presentation, if your face displays your displeasure, how enjoyable will your delivery be for those who are in attendance? If you read most articles and books on the subject of public speaking, they will tell you that there are only 3 reasons for public speaking: to entertain, to inform, or to persuade.

While knowledge of your speech or presentation is invaluable in public speaking, if you are unable to speak from your heart, then all your knowledge is for naught. The best in public speaking are those who are able to excite, captivate, and enthrall their listeners. And, none of those adjectives are possible if your heart is not involved in the process.

There is a major 'problemo' that a lot of speakers sometime fall into when using Power Point. I call it upstaging yourself. 'Upstaging' is a 'technique' that stage actors have been using 'against' each other since Greek times. It happens when one actor moves up the stage which in turn makes the other actor turn his back to the audience so he can continue the conversation with the other actor. Guess what happens? All the audience's eyes are focused on the 'other actor.' That's why stage actors get miffed and tell their brethren, 'Please don't EVERr

When you speak at the lectern, on a stage or even at the head of the boardroom table, have you ever considered the imagery you use, thereby depicting your thoughts more effectively? Too often I hear those who speak so quickly and are so anxious to get it over with, that their words are said in haste with no qualifiers, no adjectives, and no adverbs. Your success in public speaking is not just your message but how well you deliver that message. Using imagery to create a more vivid picture of what you are saying is part of those dynamics.

While this particular problem can affect men, tension in the jaw is much more common in women. Women carry stress differently than men and it usually affects us in our shoulders, neck and/or jaw regions. If you are experiencing tightness or soreness in your jaw, it is more than likely that it is affecting your speech as well. Unfortunately, the problem will not go away on its own. The first thing you need to do is to learn how to get rid of the stress in these regions.

Non-verbal communication, or body language, is an important part of public speaking. Your body language includes your posture, movement, gestures, facial expressions, eye contact and voice. At the very least, your body language should not distract the audience and with a little practice, it can help you convey confidence and help the audience see your message more clearly. Here are the most common gesture, movement, posture and facial expression mistakes: GESTURE MISTAKES • Not using gestures at all.

* Teaching has become a highly stressful and unhappy nprofession for many. I have heard teachers say repeatedly that teaching isn’t fun any more. Teacher stress can result from a number of stimuli ranging from dwindling resources, financial cutbacks, ever increasing expectations, lack of ...

New speakers make the mistake of focusing all their creative efforts on the body of their talk, and maybe the opening. But guess what? The 'close' is just as important as the 'opening' of your talk. In fact, your audience may remember you more from your close than from your opening. If you think about it, the close is probably even more important than the opening. If your opening wasn't the huge success you'd hoped for, you have the rest of your talk and your close to remedy the situation.

Speaking in monotone is more than just a problem. It is boring. There is no other way to say it. The problem with a monotone delivery is that it puts your audience to sleep and it does so very quickly. If actors were to speak in monotone, television, movies and theaters would not be one of our greatest forms of entertainment. The other problem if you speak in a monotone is that it gives the wrong impression to your listeners. It says that you do not care because no emotion is being seen, heard, or felt. I worked with a lovely woman by the name of Dawn.

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.

When clients tell me they want to be like Anthony Robbins or Zig Ziglar, my first question is why? Yes, I understand that they may want to be as famous or as rich or as talented, but why would they want to imitate either one of them?

Tired of repeating yourself? Not sure if mumbling is the problem? If you are asked to repeat yourself a lot, you may be soft-spoken, you may be speaking unclearly because of an accent, you may be talking too fast, or you may be a mumbler. It is also possible that some or all of the above affect your speech. If you are unsure if you mumble, a simple test would be to record yourself saying something you know from memory and then listen to the playback. What did you hear? Or better yet, what did you not hear?

If you have trouble making eye contact with your audience, I suggest you make every attempt to change that practice. A young lawyer with whom I was working would glance about the room, briefly looking at someone and then immediately glancing at someone else, never actually seeing any of us in his audience. At first, you would think he was making eye contact but as he continued in this pattern, you realized that he saw no one in his audience. A furtive glance tells your listeners that you have something to hide.

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.

Have you ever had a telephone conversation and the person on the other end of the line was speaking too loudly? What is your first reaction? Probably, to move the phone away from your ear. Talking too loudly is just as ineffective as speaking too softly except for one primary difference: the loud voice physically hurts your listeners’ ears. If there is a problem with volume, I have found that it generally tends to be with those who are soft-spoken. In that case, others will often move closer, straining to hear what you are saying.

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?

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.

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.

Biorhythmic differences aside, generally speaking, the majority of people are not at their peak first thing in the morning. What does this mean for you if you want to public speak like a pro? Especially if you're expected to "warm them up" with your witty repartee? Well, it means that you have to make allowances for early morning audiences and make some slight adjustments to your talk. You will rarely find an early a.m. audience to be a rowdy raucous bunch of lively participants.

Have you ever noticed that when you are extremely fatigued, your voice is much weaker than if you are energized? Not surprisingly, your vocal health is determined by the health of your entire body. Thus, if any of the following 5 factors are typical of your lifestyle, so too will the following 5 factors have an affect on your speaking voice.

I have an entrepreneur friend who is an engaging speaker. He always gets high marks on audience evaluations. On stage, he comes off as quite confident. Watching him, you’d think he was loaded with self-esteem. In fact, the opposite is true. And at a recent presentation, he let his audience in on this personality “flaw” right from the start.

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 boring. I have found a distinct relationship between dressing colorfully and speaking with expression.

As a speaker, there are times you might be addressing an all-female audience or an all-male audience. Unless your topic is geared to just women or just men, however, you will find that, in most instances, your audiences are mixed. The question is how mixed are they and does it matter? The answer is yes.

Through 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.

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 do and which I teach others not to do. I yelled for our team instead of projecting my voice. Trust me, there is a huge difference between the two. Earlier that day I had given two 3-hour presentations which is a lot of work for the voice – even a trained voice.

When I work with my clients in color – the life, the emotion, the animation we express in speaking – one of the many exercises we cover is one in which they must say, “She said yes,” in a fearful manner. Many people have difficulty saying those three words as if they were in fear. Of course, I jokingly tell them to imagine that their mother-in-law is coming to stay with them for 6 months! Upon hearing this, many are then able to express those words admirably.

Perhaps you've been there yourself. You are listening to a speaker drone on with facts and figures… and figures and facts. At that moment your eyes are rolling towards the back of your head. As I always say - audiences will forgive a lot of things from you -- but they will never forgive a boring speaker. The speakers job is to engage and capture an audience's mind and tug at his heart strings. You always want to keep them listening… a great way to do that is chuck the fact and figures and use effective stories during your public speaking engagements.

When you've giving a presentation, your words can affect your ability to communicate your message to your audience. If you want to be a more effective presenter, avoid these four types of words: FILLER WORDS Filler words are words such as "um," "ah," "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as verbal bridges to the next word. Rather than being effective bridges, however, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message. These filler words also make you look and sound nervous. Instead of using them, just pause and take a breath instead.

I always say when it comes to speaking or performing, you must adhere to Murphy's Law. What can wrong … will. I don't know who this Murphy was, but perhaps he should get in touch with Montezuma (and his revenge.) Please note, dear reader, I am not a fatalist. I am more of a realist. Yes, you can fix the lighting the sound… even the proximity of the platform to the stage. But the challenging part is getting the host, (or organizer) who hired you -- to give you the proper introduction.

Through my many years as a voice coach, 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 do. It didn't start out as a study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my clients and asking them one specific question, "Do you sound like your mom or your dad?" Just like fingerprints, voices are very individual: no two are exactly alike but they can be very similar. There are three factors that affect why you sound the way you do: 1. Genetics; 2. Environment; and,r

Many people gain tremendous emotional, spiritual and physical benefits from yoga. Its value is undeniable. I would like to posture a question to you. If you find the deep breathing advantageous in reducing your stress during yoga, why not make it a habit and do it all day long?

While there are various means of being expressive in speaking, one of the most common components is the use of force. Force refers to expending extra energy or strength on a particular word, phrase, or sentence for emphasis. The majority of the population use force at one time or another in conversation. It is normal; it natural; it is effective; however, it is sometimes lacking in public speaking.

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!!!

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.

Body language. It is a term we hear much about from articles, books, and the media. There is even a crime show, called Lie to Me, in which the main character specializes in interpreting the microexpressions and body language of others, cleverly changing his own body language to further unsettle the suspect. Do you know what your body language is saying when you are speaking? Is it conveying confidence and assuredness or is it telling another story?

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 offensive to your listeners’ ears, but it also can do serious damage to your vocal folds (cords) and your throat. In fact, both were complaining about discomfort: they had sore throats and were not sick. This is known as vocal abuse.

When you hear yourself on your voicemail, chances are good that you don’t recognize what you hear. Chances are even better that you not only don’t recognize the sound but that you find it embarrassing, shocking, or revolting. Because you are unable to hear yourself the way everyone does, the sound you hear on your answering machine is probably higher in pitch than that which you hear in your head. In addition, your voice may be whiny, nasal, breathy, throaty, weak, shrill, boring, monotonous, wimpy, loud, or too soft in volume.

Absolutely. I have worked with many, many people who were not outgoing or extroverted but were able to 'bite' the bullet, so to speak, and address an audience with great success. The question is, how do you 'face' the crowd the first time and conquer your fear, your inhibitions, your timidity? First, it is important to realize that, in many respects, you are no different than the extroverted individual who is deathly afraid of the speech or presentation. Nervousness in public speaking is not selective. It is man's greatest fear, so rest assured, you are not alone.

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.

When faced with the seemingly daunting task of preparing a speech at the last minute there is usually one of two scenarios which put us in this predicament: 1. You have been given the topic of your speech or presentation weeks ago, but you have put off preparing for it until the day before it is due Or 2. You have been approached a day before (or maybe hours before) you need to give a speech and are left with the responsibility to come up with an award winning presentation in

A frequent problem that is coming to my attention is the number of ministers, rabbis, those in the clergy, who get in touch with me because of voice loss. For many of these people, they are sometimes losing their voice before the end of the sermon. Unfortunately, microphones are not the answer because in most of these cases, they are using an amplification system. The problem lies in their internal amplification system. Because most people use their voice box, pharynx, mouth and nasal cavities as their primary amplifiers, they place tremendous wear and tear on their vocal folds and throat.

Who are you if you have a book available for purchase? An expert? Someone successful? A smart marketer? All of the above. Reinventing yourself often requires a new life set of references. The doubts are out there. "Sure", the clients says (or worst, just thinks), you were successful as a project manager for IBM for the last 20 years.

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 characteristics that can put others to sleep.

One of the most important things as a speaker has to do to make an impact with their audience - is to control the environment they are in. Believe it or not, some speakers get the “gig” (aka the engagement) show up at the correct time and realize the seating arrangements or the lighting is off. Trust me: If your lighting or environment is not at optimal levels, your performance will suffer and you could get a poor evaluation.

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 so short I really cannot deliver any value or impact.” This is simply a reversed way to look at this opportunity! Approaching a speech that is about five minutes or shorter just has

Some years ago a woman phoned me and asked if she could attend a presentatio 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 ...

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 your voice more effectively: 1. Increase Your Volumer

It seem that the only time people are open to change is when what they have always done no longer works for them. In other words when our needs are no longer being met by previous ...

One of the most frequent questions I hear is how do I tell my spouse, my friend, or a colleague that they need to improve their speaking voice? This really is a tough issue because if you approach someone advising them that their speaking voice needs some work, they are probably going to be offended. If we had the ability to hear ourselves the way everyone else does, this would not be an issue.

Do you know how many opportunities are missed by not striking up a conversation with someone in an elevator for example? How about when you are waiting in line at a popular restaurant? Maybe you are sitting at the airport in preparation for your flight. Perhaps you are waiting for the doors to open at a football stadium or hockey arena. You could be one of thousands of people taking the subway in New York or the El in Chicago.

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.

Victor Borge, the late, great, Danish comedian once said, "Laughter is the shortest distance between two people." Well, it can also be the longest yard in trying to make an audience laugh, as I tell you what happened to me when I once performed on a cruise ship. Remember: when it comes to public speaking start powerfully to get the “undivided” attention of your listeners and then build to a large close. I thought! Oh, my God... I-Am-In-The-Bermuda-Triangle-of-Humor!

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 possible.

Today, good diction is on the decline. We are a nation of people who mumble, speak too quickly, or are generally too lazy to make the effort to speak clearly. In addition, we are the world’s largest melting pot with millions of people whose accent may be difficult to understand. - If you expect to prosper in your professional life, you will be much more successful if you speak distinctly.

Speakers and writers share one thing in common – they’re both susceptible to mind blocks. This is where your mind goes blank and you can’t think of anything new to write and speak about. You feel like you’re facing a blank wall; your creativity has left you. You’ve covered everything you know about and you don’t know what to do next. You’ve run out of ideas. YIKES! You are without inspiration. You are full of exasperation. You may even start to indulge in some procrastination!

I love all the articles and advice on the internet today which deal with quelling nervousness, combating nervousness, eliminating nervousness and ending those nervous jitters. Unfortunately, most of them do not discuss the benefits of nervousness in public speaking or in the job interview and why it should be your best friend and not your worst nightmare!

The 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 cannot believe that he has not taken a course in voice improvement to fix the problem. The man I am referring to is Anthony Robbins. - Chronic hoarseness is the result of talking for extended periods of time and pushing the voice from the throat.

When I was teaching public speaking at the college level, I would fail any student who opened his or her presentation with the words, “Today I am going to talk about….” That is not a memorable opener and that is not the way to begin a speech or presentation.

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.

I couldn’t believe I was going to open my presentation with that joke. Me, of all people! Yet, there I was. With my heart pounding in anticipation… I was about to bound onto the platform and speak in front of over 250 people… Not only that, I was going to open my presentation with a bit I had just come up with! Before I continue, you need to know the back-story. I was asked to emcee AWAI’s 2009 FastTrack to Success Bootcamp Awards Ceremony.

There's no getting around it: The moment you bound onto the platform or stage your credibility is at stake. And one way to cement your credibility is to master the art of Q & A (short for Questions and Answers) Look at how Q & A's are done on the political battlefields. Remember the Hillary and Obama debates? These seasoned political pros knew at any time “one slip up” can hurt them in the eyes of their audience (in the studio and at home watching.) It a nutshell: How you respond to an audience member's Q & A can undoubtedly haunt or help your career for a long time.

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.

Stress 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 to increase your pay grade, stress comes to each and every one of us in some manner on a daily basis. Unfortunately, stress can affect your speaking voice.

In public speaking or any other type of live performance, the idea of trying to get rid of your nervousness is definitely not the right approach. Nervousness is that wonderful rush of adrenaline that can make you sharper, more alert and more focused. In fact, the benefits of nervousness are so powerful that trying to eliminate it is a huge mistake. - If you’re not nervous, then you lose that wonderful edge.

Talking to the Bureau in Person or On the Phone Before you call a speaking bureau, do some research to figure out which ones match your goals. Just as two snowflakes aren't a like -- it's the same with speakers bureaus. Your best plan (and you'll discover if they are truly interested in you) is to Invite the right bureaus to come to a program. Afterwards, go into schmooze moan take their representatives for lunch or a drink afterwards. Each of these bureaus is a way for you to get more paid bookings. So the trick is to get deal with bureau individually.r

While there is no doubt that a loud voice can be most painful to your listeners’ ears, have you ever considered how your loud voice affects the image that you project? We are all conce ed about image. Look at the number of articles and books written today on image and what it means for your success, both professionally and personally. While a loud voice can be overbearing, it is important to recognize that other people may be judging you unfairly because you happen to speak with too much volume.

Let’s face it, for most of us a dogfight is a very scary thing, especially when one of the dogs in the fight is our own. So what do you do? Here are some tips on how to break up a dogfight. First, remember that in a dogfight, the dogs believe they are fighting for their lives. They are usually oblivious to what is going on around them, due to their focus on the event at hand. This is why yelling at them rarely works. And this is why you should proceed with great caution. All dogs have teeth, and in a dogfight, they use them (obvious, I know).

The last thing some people think about when heading out the door for a job interview is confidence. Too often, there is such trepidation and fear, that their vision lacks this one thing the employer is looking for. Why should someone hire you if you do not look and sound confident? Trust me, some of your competition is definitely not lacking in this department. By no means do I suggest overconfidence however. Sounding too assured of yourself is just as bad as the opposite extreme. So how do you project confidence when you are ‘dying a thousand deaths?’ By believing in yourself.r

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.

One of the most annoying traits in speaking is the use of verbal tics. We have all heard them at one time or another. If you are aware that your speech is plagued with these filler words, it would be a good idea to work on eliminating them because they take away from your message: your audience loses focus on what you are saying. Instead, they begin counting! Words like um and ah are the most obvious. They are common; they are annoying; and, they mar your speech.

One of the difficulties many people have is to the ability to increase their volume without hurting their throat or their listeners’ ears. The right way to do this is known as projection and is only possible if you are powering your voice from your chest cavity.

With the start of the New Year and the resolutions we vow to keep, there is one change that can improve your life – both professionally and personally – simply by discovering your ‘real’ voice. Easy to accomplish and guaranteed to get better with age, your ‘real’ voice is deeper in pitch, warmer in quality and will sound more mature than your habitual voice. You have a better voice inside but you were probably unaware of that fact.

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:

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.

Do you know what the purpose of public speaking is? Think about that for a moment. Too often, we are so consumed by our fear, our topic, or our delivery, that we often miss our reason for public speaking. You could be standing on a stage or in the front of a classroom or at the head of the conference table. Wherever your location, your purpose is to impart knowledge to a select group of people. Whether your intention is to inform or persuade, your reason for being in front of those people, be it to a group of 5 or a crowd of 500, is your audience.

I am going to assume that your delivery skills are above average. You have addressed an audience on numerous occasions and you enjoy the challenge of public speaking. As strong as your presentation skills are, however, how good is the sound of your speaking voice – the one you hear on your answering machine, not the one you hear in your head? If you could improve that aspect of your delivery, would you be interested to know that there is hope for the voice that you may find embarrassing or even humiliating when you hear it on a recording?

Through my many years teaching voice improvement, I have made some startling discoveries regarding dyslexia, stuttering and even spasmodic dysphonia. Because my approach deals with learning how to breathe with the support of the diaphragm, my clients have benefited in ways unimaginable; and, this has become very apparent with those who are afflicted with dyslexia. Part of the material I use in my training is from Edgar Allen Poe’s, The Fall of the House of Usher.

How often had you heard the premise in public speaking that you should tell your audience what you want them to hear, tell them again what you want them to hear and finally tell them once more what you have already told them? The reasoning behind this advice is that your listeners will only remember between 10% and 30% of your message; thus, it is to your advantage to repeat the information which you want them to remember.

Let’s face it your current “reality” is an effect of your thoughts. Therefore your current “reality” was created by your thoughts that you chose to hold in the past. Although your present moment is an effect of your past thoughts you can now create your future “reality” by your current thoughts. I put “reality” in quotations because our “reality” is different than other peoples based on our perception of it. I rarely use the word “reality” because it’s hollow and meaningless because everybody’s reality is different and changing according to one’s perception and perspective.

So, you have been scheduled, invited, or commanded to speak. It could be the quarterly budget report for your firm. Maybe you are a member of Toastmasters. You could be enrolled in a local public speaking course. Perhaps it is your best friend’s wedding. Whatever the reason for your upcoming speech or presentation, what is your reaction to public speaking? Fight? Flight? Freeze?

If you are interested in improving your presentation skills, one route is the workshop. You would be amazed at the transformation possible; however, it is important to understand that not all workshops are alike. In this article, I list the 5 things you should look for if you are serious about improving your skills in public speaking and having several opportunities to present your material in front of an audience.

If you find others recoiling when you speak, it could be that you talk too loudly. While those who speak too softly far outnumber those who are too loud, the difficulty with the loud voice is that it is offensive to your listener’s ears. How loud is too loud? If you have been told that you are shouting or have been requested to speak more softly, then it would be a wise decision to learn how to decrease your volume. This would involve retraining your inner ear to know when you are speaking with too much volume.

In addressing an audience, it is important to have researched your topic and to know your material extremely well. This is a no-brainer. However, is it possible to know everything about your topic? If you are young and new to the public speaking world, probably not. Even those with a lot of experience may not know everything there is to know about their particular topic.

Human beings organize their behavior as a function of the milieu they are in or think they are in. Seldom, do we realize that it is the milieu that controls our behavior patterns, not the behavior itself. Our overall demeanor at a bar is different than at work, at home with our children or while giving a speech at a University. The milieu also called the circumstances or situation acts as a very powerful behavior organizer and modifier.

In my last article I discussed the importance of using your face to express emotion in public speaking. In addition to your facial expression, though, is the language of your body because the latter talks as well during your presentation. The question is, ‘what is it saying?’ Standing perfectly still, rigid, or immobile during a presentation (or even a speech where you are somewhat limited by the presence of a lectern) says one thing to your audience. That you are most uncomfortable and would rather be somewhere else!

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.

While I believe there are 5 things you must do to gain control of your nervousness and actually put it to good use, the most important of those 5 is something many people do not do and never think to do. To make matters worse, the only time many speakers are aware of it is when they have totally run of out it.

Some 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.

That’s right. Women find a deep voice sexy because it has a warm quality and sounds confident. It stirs something inside of us, without a doubt. The last time you heard your voice on voicemail, an answering machine or some other form of recording equipment, were you impressed? Remember, how she hears your voice is exactly what you hear on the recording, not the sound you hear in your head. So judge your speaking voice accordingly.

When you’re speaking, do you rely too much on your audience? Are you always getting negative messages from their body language and facial expressions? When you’re speaking, do you rely too much on your audience? Are you always getting negative messages from their body language and facial expressions?

Have you ever thought something was going to happen just because its what you thought you deserved? Or that somebody else knew something because you knew it? “Yes, I have, Mike. What’s the big deal?

If your answer is ‘yes’ to that question, then the chances are good that you are female and that you are juggling family, career and everything else that is being thrown at you. At least 95% of the women with whom I work complain of tension in their shoulder and neck regions on a daily basis. And, generally it is at its worst by the end of the day. The cure is easy, effective and efficient; however, if you do not make it a habit, the tension will return. It requires breaking an old habit and establishing a new one.

While the majority of those who stand to address an audience are nervous, there is a small percentage of people whose nervousness is debilitating. And, their first reaction is often to feel sick to their stomach. If the thought of public speaking makes you want to ‘bring up lunch,’ there are a few things you can do to make the job easier and give you a fighting chance.

While public speaking may seem like a war in which you are doing battle, it really isn’t. In truth, it is not that different from standing at your desk among a group of people and explaining to them how you successfully won a long sought-after account. It is not unlike sharing a story about a recent experience you had. And, it is certainly not unlike telling a joke to a group of friends at the water cooler.

Dry mouth, sweaty palms, heart racing, wobbly knees, jittery hands, stomach in knots, quivering lips. How many of these symptoms are typical of you before you even walk to the podium? Hopefully, at least one! Yes, I want you nervous because if you aren’t excited, agitated, stressed, or panicky in some fashion, then I am. The best at public speaking get nervous when standing on the podium and they are not alone.

OK If I Laugh Now? It seems the jury is out on this one, with opinion divided on whether or not it is okay to laugh at your own jokes. Maybe it's just me (although I doubt it given the number of comedians and humorous speakers who also laugh at their own jokes. But I believe the aim of a speaker is to connect with the audience, and sharing a laugh is the perfect bridge to achieve that. Speakers are entertainers. Entertainers do it because not only do they love what they're doing, they love the interaction with and the reaction of the audience.

In today’s multicultural world, many people are looking to eliminate their accent and I have a better suggestion. Instead of trying to get rid of your dialect or accent, why not clean it up? n You may believe that your accent is keeping you from getting the job you want or moving ahead in ...

Whether you’re a professional public speaker or someone occasionally called upon to speak at company meetings… or to prospective clients… you want to make sure your audience quickly “gets” your message. The way to do it is to brand yourself. In other words, to sum up your message with a brief, slogan-like phrase — and build your presentation around that phrase. Sort of like the way Rodney Dangerfield built his act around the hook “I don’t get no respect.”

Your project go-live date has changed – now what? Regardless of the reasons for the change (and let's face it, "the date has changed" usually is interpreted as "the date has slipped"), there are six steps you should take when communicating a change in your project's go-live date: 1. Consider ...

I did damage to my own speaking voice some years ago when I was coaching my son’s soccer team. I will pay for that mistake for the rest of my life because I will never sing again. Considering my voice is my business, I am blessed that it did not do the same damage to my speaking voice.

You can have the greatest voice in the world but if your delivery is not colorful then you are boring. There is no other way to say it. Speaking in a monotone does not sell, no matter what your business is.

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.

Some people are terrified just by the thought of public speaking; other people are nervous right before and during the opening of their speech or presentation. Is there a difference between the two? Most definitely.

Surprisingly, the answer to that question is actually your environment. While the innate quality of the speaking voice is something you inherit, there are numerous environmental factors that play a viable role in how you sound and speak.

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.

Getting a job is not easy with today’s high rate of unemployment. It is certainly to your advantage to not only have the right education and experience but also the best presentation skills as well. When you think about the image you project, what does your voice say about you? In order to answer this question, however, you must base your answer on the voice you hear on your voicemail or answering machine and not the sound you hear in your head.

Listening is a crucial skill for professional and personal success. Yet it seems like such a basic skill - we all know how to listen, right? But although this skill is basic in theory, it's difficult to execute. Yes, everyone can listen, but how many people can listen well? Communication is ...

Speaking in a normal volume of sound can be especially tricky for the soft-spoken. If you are asked to repeat yourself or are often interrupted, then you should consider remedying the problem if you expect others to hear what you have to say. Those who are unable to hear you, tire of asking you to repeat yourself. And, in most cases, you will be interrupted because those with bigger voices will take over the conversation.

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.

Imagine that you are standing in front of an audience. Your hands are cold and clammy, your knees are wobbly, and your stomach is in knots. You manage to smile but you can feel your lips twitching. You open your mouth to speak, praying that your trembling lips allow for your voice to come out. And, it does! However, the sound that ensues is anything but solid, stable or reliable. Nothing is more embarrassing for a speaker than to be plagued with a voice that quivers, shakes, or skips an octave when standing at the lecte or the head of the conference table.

When I teach public speaking, one of the tips I offer is to learn how to stop connecting your sentences with verbal tics, such as “um” or “ah.” There is a word, however, that is that is sometimes abused in speaking as well. Many people connect their sentences with the word and. After some time, this verbal faux pas becomes very obvious especially on stage. What it means for the speaker is that he/she is delivering one huge compound sentence. What it means for the audience is verbal tedium.

Have you ever thought about speaking on cruise ships? Now, I’m not talking about chit chat at your assigned dinner table here. I am talking about standing in front of five hundred to a thousand people in a gorgeous show room (or smaller lounge) and sharing your passion and expertise on your subject. You? Yes, you! In fact, speaking engagements on ocean liners can involve all sorts of topics. You name it - -it could be anything from teaching a technical skill you have to sharing some fun on a subject you just happen to know a lot about.

When someone looks at you, your visual image is obviously the first thing they see. And, that image has an impact on the other person – your attire, your figure, your face, your hair – everything that is presenting the picture of you. But what happens when you open your mouth to speak? Have you ever considered whether your speaking voice does justice to the visual image you project? Or whether the content of what you are saying is being well-served by the sound of your speaking voice?

Instead of trying to eliminate or put an end to your nervousness, would you be interested in one simple remedy that will allow you to grab on to your nervousness and take it for a ride? That is the feeling you get when you are in control of those nervous jitters and not the other way around. Bear in mind, everyone gets nervous (or should) in public speaking. If your nervousness is in control of you, however, then the outcome of your delivery is highly questionable. Instead, why not allow your adrenaline to feed your body rather than deplete it?

For 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 minimal?

Nothing is more embarrassing for a speaker than to be plagued with a voice that quivers, shakes, or skips an octave when standing at the lecte 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 from your chest. And your reaction to those words is probably to question how you can possibly speak from your chest when everyone knows that you talk from your voice box, your throat, your mouth, and, in some cases, your nose.

Yes, I want you nervous for your upcoming speech or presentation because nervousness is good. I do not want your audience to see it however. Great public speakers are nervous. As many times as they have spoken, as many times as they have delivered the same presentation over and over, their adrenaline is in high gear when they enter the stage.

It’s an often cited fact that when most people are asked what their greatest fear is, they list public speaking more often than anything else. Even though daily business life requires us to give presentations to coworkers, clients, and superiors, most of us will never really overcome our fear of public speaking. However, if we develop the right skills and practice the right techniques, we can become more comfortable and efficient at delivering our message. Following are som

When it comes to public speaking, most people are aware that it is man’s greatest fear. Thus, it is not selective in who it affects nor how it affects those who stand at the lecte or at the head of the boardroom table to give that all-important presentation. There is no doubt that practice can be one of your best tools in conquering your fear; but, there is something else that most people are unaware of that can allow you to take your nervousness and let it work for you and not against you. Simply put, it is learning to breathe with the support of your diaphragm.

You bet. Generally speaking, women make better audiences for one specific reason: they laugh more. Male audiences, on the other hand, are more difficult because of ego. And, it does not matter whether you, as the speaker, are male or female. The results are the same either way.

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.

Before the turn of the century breaking into the world of consulting and freelance work was a buyer's market, but that has changed. What changed this market were the corporate structures themselves. Corporations and even smaller companies decided that they could no longer maintain a large base of employees, and put freezes on head counts, while relying on layoffs to increase bottom lines. While this may have worked, the needs for skilled individuals did not diminish, and in fact, increased. • 10 percent of current workers and their spouses have had their traditionalr

Because high quality speech writing and presentation is quite a refined art, I have decided to write this article as a series so that all aspects of speech writing and presenting can be covered in suitable depth. The reader can then determine what level of requirement they have and reference the required sections.rnPart one will cover speech structure A) Speech StructurernA good speech must have a definite structure which allows the audience to easily follow the presentation

Tone 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 you are giving the eulogy at a funeral.

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 learn how to increase your volume properly. Yelling is definitely not the answer. You have a normal, natural volume level that you have not been using for any number of reasons. 1. Possibly you were raised in a quiet household. 2. Your mother or father spoke softly.r

Is your communication full of clichés and tired old expressions? In public speaking, frequently using phrases like "you know" and "see what I mean" can be just as distracting to your listeners as frequently using filler words like "um" and "ah." These tired and overused words and phrases dilute the power of the message you are trying to convey.

If you find that you are clearing your throat frequently when you speak, it may be a sign of vocal abuse. Ignoring it will not make the abuse go away because the process of talking is creating the problem. Therefore, the more you talk, the more you are irritating your throat and vocal folds (cords). While it is quite possible that post nasal drip or Gerd is the cause, I would suggest that you first go to a doctor and see if you have medical issues. If the physician finds no physiological reason for the irritation, then you need to change the way you are producing voiced sound.

There is a lot of debate right now at a popular social media site whether there is a difference between the speech and the presentation. In truth, the answer might depend on what country you live in. Here in the States, we look at the speech as something that is probably ‘written’ out. Whether it is given word-for-word is another issue. Eulogies, toasts at weddings, sermons, graduation speeches, the State of the Union Address, and all those speeches we are hearing in the political scene are formal deliveries in which the speaker is most likely standing at a lectern.

You already have your signature speech down, but sometimes you need to go beyond that. As a public speaker, it’s time to get moving and stretch yourself. It’s time to speak up, stand out and step out of your comfort zone. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone Recently, I received the opportunity to speak on a cruise ship to the Mediterranean for eleven days. I had to create four NEW speeches outside of my normal speaking topic. After reviewing the best-selling books on Amazon, I

I drove by a neighborhood breakfast place the other day and felt a sense of sadness. We had given this restaurant several chances, but every time we went there, the food and service were just mediocre. Nothing special. The same old thing that half a dozen restaurants within a half mile were also doing. I can't say it was terrible. It just wasn't good. Hash browns cooked in slightly rancid oil. Greasy eggs. "Wheat" toast a shade of brown more indicative of caramel coloring than whole grains. Lukewarm coffee (and don't even get me started on the tea options).

A surprising number of young men email me regarding the difficulty they are having being heard at the club scene. What is happening is that they are yelling and are ending up with sore throats. Is there a way to solve this problem aside from not speaking? The answer lies in learning how to place your voice properly in order to take the pressure – the strain – the wear and tear – off your throat and vocal folds (cords). The soreness, discomfort or even possible temporary loss of voice is known as vocal abuse.

Imagine 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 than you may think. I have seen, as well as worked with, many people who have strong delivery skills but are lacking in one particular area. They are unable to make eye contact with their audience.

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.

One 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 presentation; however, your visual impact can either add to your image or detract.

Dale Carnegie was a best-selling author, prominent lecturer, and sought-after counselor. He's the author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People," one of the bestselling books of all time. He also authored the bestseller "How to Stop Worrying and Start Living" and created the world-famous Dale Carnegie Course.

One of the great mistakes made in public speaking is trying to be someone or something that you are not. Your audience is not in attendance, giving of their time, to hear or watch you be something other than yourself. They came to hear you be you. As a voice specialist, I have found that some of my most difficult clients were those who wanted to sound like a famous broadcaster or a professional speaker, for instance. As great as Zig Ziglar is (and he really is terrific), the last thing you want to do is to imitate him. Learn from him but don’t try to copy him.

For all the years that I have been teaching people how to find their ‘real’ voice, what never ceases to amaze me are the numerous benefits that can result which have nothing to do with the speaking voice. The reason is simple; however, unless you are pointed in the right direction for finding the correct approach, those benefits will not be realized.

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.

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 expression is what makes him so funny. Were he your minister or the guest speaker at your next event, however, this lack of emotion when speaking would become very tedious, very fast. If you have been told you speak in a monotone and question your lack of emotion, take the following test.

Filler words include "um," "ah," and words such as "like," "so," and "ok," which are used as a verbal bridge to the next word. These words just fill in space while you remember or think of something to say next. Rather than being effective bridges, they are roadblocks, distracting the audience and interrupting the flow of your message. These filler words weaken your presentation and give the impression that you don't know what you're talking about.

Are you experiencing chronic hoarseness or a persistent sore throat and you are not sick? If so, it is called vocal abuse and it will not go away on its own. In fact, it will more than likely get worse. There are some who suffer with these symptoms to the point that they even lose their voice by the end of the day. Vocal abuse is caused by misplacement of your voice. While that may sound strange, what is happening is that you are placing too much wear and tear on your vocal folds (cords).

If you had to choose, which word – or words – from the following list describes your voice? Whiny – high in pitch - nasal - hoarse - throaty - gravelly - scratchy - whispery - soft - loud - shrill - strident - thick - thin - childlike - old - muddy - chirpy – sharp - raspy - tight - wispy - wimpy – shaky – heavy accent. If just one of those descriptions is typical of how you sound, you should think about training your voice because the words that describe a dynamic speaking voice are not found in that list. Those descriptions would be rich - warm - deep – and full of resonance.

From an audience perspective, there is nothing more boring than listening to somebody drone on and on, using correct but unexciting language and ruining what might otherwise have been an interesting subject. And there is nothing more mind numbing than having to listen to somebody drone on and on and whether or not they try to make their talk lively and interesting, (we’re still not quite sure what on earth they’re talking about or what point they’re trying to make.)

If 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 an entirely different ball game however.

While public speaking may be man’s greatest fear, often those who are scheduled to speak waste too much energy worrying about their talk and not enough energy in the planning, creating and delivery of their material. Whether you have been scheduled to speak at your next presentation skills class or at Toastmaster, deliver a 10-minute presentation to your leads group, or have been volunteered to give the quarterly budget report to the CEO, instead of approaching the date with dread, try looking at the event positively.

In addressing an audience, be it to 4 people or 400, one factor will remain the same: the format of your presentation. You will still have an opening, a development, and a closing. However, there are major differences in your delivery as well as your contact with your audience which is dependent on the size of your group. 1. You will need more volume if you are speaking to a large audience. While this may seem like a no-brainer, many people are not good at judging whether they are being heard well or not.

When it comes to the speaking voice, those which are most appealing to your ear, tend to be deep in pitch. Think of James Earl Jones, Felicia Rashad, Diane Sawyer and Sean Connery. All of these voices have a depth and breadth that you do not hear with the likes of Fran Drescher or Don Johnson. Even Tom Cruise is not known for his voice: in his particular case, his voice is recorded with a large boost in the bass.

After you have given a presentation, and especially at the beginning of your career (and even when you are at a level of expertise), you should critique your presentation skills to improve. It’s safe to say the more proficient a speaker you are, the better the communicator you are. The better the communicator you are, the more engagements you will get!

I am about to be politically incorrect. When you reach a certain point in life, however, you discover from experience that some generalizing is correct. From my many years teaching voice improvement, I have found that women tend to be more expressive in speaking. I have also discovered that women carry their stress differently than men. And, it is always interesting to see women’s reactions when I make the statement that men are not good listeners. The fact that your male’s strong suit is not listening can be explained in 3 ways.

Whether you're speaking to an audience of one or many, it's important to make eye contact in order to connect. Eye contact demonstrates your willingness to connect to the audience on a personal level. It also shows that you are confident and proves that the information resides in your head, not your notes or the slides. When you present, you are talking to individuals, not an impersonal mass of people. You want each person to experience the communication one-on-one. How long should you maintain eye contact with each person?

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. My second question is, if you knew you had a great speaking voice inside, would you be interested in discovering it? You probably are unaware that you possess a better sound. It is what I refer to as your ‘real’ voice.

Peter Fogel's "How to NOT to Compete With Food While Delivering a Speech or Presentation!" This truly could be the bane of any speaker's existence. Just think: You have to WOW your audience (who might never have seen you before)…. you have to deal with the set of the room (location of chairs and tables near platform) and NOW, you have the nightmare of having to deal with food that is being served. That said, when preparing to give a formal speech at a banquet (or any large gathering focused around a meal), experience has taught me you have make "a few adjustments."

So much time is wasted worrying about what could go wrong in public speaking that the tremendous opportunities provided by speaking to an audience are often overlooked. No matter what your reason for speaking – be it a requirement of your job; be it the chance to introduce your new business, service, or product to the community; be it a requirement of your presentation skills class; be it an occasion to present yourself as a political candidate – public speaking is a golden opportunity.

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 wrong and can produce serious damage to the vocal folds.

That is such an interesting question and I am confident were I to do a study on the subject I would receive just as many 'no' answers as 'yes.' Telling your audience a ‘fish story’ may be seemingly harmless, but even a little white lie can lead to others questioning your credibility.

Lean manufacturing is a management philosophy which has its roots in the Toyota Production System and focuses on creating customer value while eliminating waste. These principles have been applied to many industries and services. And as a presentation skills coach with work experience as a project manager using Lean principles to run process improvement projects, I believe Lean principles have a valuable application to presentation skills.

Did you know that your face and body talk? What are those two elements of your image saying about you when you deliver a speech or presentation? No matter how great your words, if your facial expression and body language are saying one thing but your voice is saying another, then you are sending a confusing or even possibly the wrong message. Part of that which makes for dynamic public speaking is being expressive when you speak.

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.

You work out every day. You eat the right foods. Your hair is in the latest style. Your clothes speak well of you. However, when you open your mouth to speak, what comes out is anything but what your visual image is saying. Women are attracted to a deep voice and if you have a high-pitched, nasal, whiny, wimpy sound, then you are not turning your prospect on…you are indeed turning her off.

Whether you are looking for a job, firmly ensconced in one, or in the midst of starting your own business, improving the sound of your voice is something you might consider especially if the sound of your voice on recording equipment leaves much to be desired. Yes, it is unfortunate that we do not recognize our own voice on our voicemail; however, everyone else does. That is hard to swallow for many people.

If you want to reboot your career and get results, you need to start a career journal that will allow you to review those "old contracts" with yourself. They help you realize that those “contracts” are just expectations you set for yourself when you were younger and enable you to evaluate them to see if they still hold up these days. Begin by thinking about your earliest memories and feelings surrounding the word “work”. Are they happy? Sad? Confused? What images does it conjure up?

Recently, 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?

Find a mentor. Mentors can help you cut years off your growth curve. They can save you from making mistakes they made or seen others make. You are then free to learn from new mistakes. A mentor is someone - perhaps a family member, friend or business associate - who is more experienced in the business who is willing to give you some of their time, advice and support. Mentors never do this for money. They enter into the relationship because they want to help you. They see some potential in you and maybe a little of themselves in you. They want to help and you must be ready.

I recently returned from Italy where I facilitated training in Rome for a global client – more than 50 employees came from Italy, France, Spain, Germany, Belgium, Holland and Portugal. I also spent a few days touring and sightseeing.

Have you ever watched someone give a speech or presentation who does not move a muscle and speaks in a monotone voice? It is pretty devastating to be subjected to such an ordeal but it happens. And, when it does, one can only pray that it will last 10 minutes and not 50! Your facial expression and body language add significantly to the delivery of your material. Without it, you are leaving your audience with much less enthusiasm or delight over your topic than if you would move, use your hands when you speak, and add some life or emotion to your voice.

It would be nice to think that the companies on the leading edge of work/life balance programs are simply being good citizens and doing the right thing! But, the fact is that these programs make good business sense. In addition to increased productivity and employee satisfaction, companies can retain valuable employees in a competitive environment, and attract new employees with these programs.

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 that you are an untrained speaker. In a flash, you’ve lost credibility as a speaker, or even worse, as an expert in your field, and your audience has taken a mental exit. Yo

If 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 treating your audience as if you were having a conversation in your living room. Lengthy sentences, long words, flowery speech, or highly technical terms do not lend themselves to plain speaking.

There are basic principles of humor that can enliven your talk. Perhaps the most important one is to avoid telling generic "funny stories," Instead, find and build more humor within the context of personal stories. To make your mark as a speaker… to get into the hearts and minds of your listeners… you must learn to develop engaging stories (that use humor effectively at the right time!)

A common complaint for those giving presentations or speeches is that they run out of air and can never seem to catch up on their air supply. The biggest problem with breathlessness is that your body is starved for oxygen because you are not allowing yourself the luxury of breathing. Instead, you are waiting until the last moment to take a breath; and, at that particular stage in respiration, the breath you inhale will largely be ineffective because it will only increase your stress rather than decrease it. When you are in normal conversation, do you ever wonder when to breathe?

Many people who speak in front of groups could be more effective communicators if they used a microphone. If the audience has to struggle to hear you, it will be difficult for you to communicate your message effectively. Many things can make it difficult for the audience to hear you, such as a noisy air conditioner or a loud group in the adjoining room. Hearing and understanding you can also be difficult if the people in the audience are not native speakers of the language you're presenting in, or if you're presenting new and technically complicated information.

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.

Humor and the Size of the Audience Welcome back to part II. In a group of ten or more, there is emotional protection and thus it is easier for someone to laugh. The jokes that work for a large group of people are those with generally accepted interests or conce s. Example: Here’s a no-brainer: During a Republican rally, making fun of Democrats or liberals always works ( and vice versa).

Have you ever really sat down or studied what it takes to become and effective speaker? Well, to begin, you should first determine where you are in the speaking world. Do you want to be a professional speaker who makes this your livelihood? Are you a weekend warrior who does this part-time to make a few bucks and sell some product? Or are you a sales person or an executive who was asked to speak at a company meeting? No matter what type of speaker you want to evolve into -- you should determine what your dedication to the craft is.

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.

Ever drive a stick shift in a car? If you have, then you soon discovered if you don't use the clutch the right way (too fast or too slow -- or not at all), the gears will collide and you'll hear an annoying and scary grinding of metal. Most new teenage drivers know this hellacious sound. (And their fathers know this hellacious sound as they curse under their breath at the thought of having to get a new clutch job.)

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." ~Victor Frankl Did you see the HBO movie The Life and Death of Peter Sellers? Sellers was always transforming himself. The man slipped into a persona as easily as you or I would slip into a pair of gloves. While watching the movie, I was reminded that, in today's turbulent and competitive job market, thousands of Americans reinvent themselves every day. Many do it so they can move up in their careers.

If you want to clearly get your message across in front of an audience, guess what? You can communicate in a very effective fashion with not only your words, but with other methods of communication that do not involve speech at all. Alright, now you're wondering how a speaker can speak to an audience without saying a word. The Sign of a Great Speaker To understand that I want you to think of the most successful speakers you may have encountered in your life. What was it about these speakers that left you remembering them, their words, the ideas they left you pondering?

They say that man’s greatest fear is public speaking; his second greatest fear is dying. Imagine that – most people would rather be dead than stand and give a speech! But did you know that man’s 3rd greatest fear is dying while public speaking?

I've been studying and as a copywriter writing for the financial markets for quite a while now. Of course, I am not an expert, more than anything I come from school of hard knocks. So here are some aspects that you should think about when and if you want to take the prudent approach to financial planning. First off: If you are still thinking that financial planning is only for the rich ,you might just want to change your mind on that now.

Ladies, 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 ‘squished’ position for 20 or 30 seconds, you are relegated to that pressure for 45 minutes! According to the Radiological Society of America, “stereotactic mammography pinpoints the exact location of a breast mass by using a computer and x-rays taken from two different angles.

If you are interested in discovering your real speaking voice but do not want to learn the proper breathing techniques in order to do so, then do not read any further. Some people provide various exercises to improve the voice you presently have; and, there are a few others who will show you the voice you don’t know you have. And, that can be very exciting.

It is Saturday morning and I just received a phone call on my business line from a man who was doing a survey. The person he wanted to speak to had to be male and had to be over 21. [Thankfully, I was able to respond politely that I did not ‘fit the bill’ and proceeded to quickly end the call.

Love In part four of our own more practical Journey to Awakening we discuss Love. On her journey Elizabeth Gilbert finds love in Bali. If you read the book you know that Gilbert’s journey was about finding and defining herself. Until then Gilbert, like many of us, lost herself in her relationships. She would actually become the man she was with. This is can be a common occurrence among women as they seek to BE loved and in that seeking will become people (man) pleasers. Gilbert had become a man pleaser and had no clear definition of who she was.

If there is one thing that cannot happen in public speaking, it is the possibility of delivering a perfect presentation. What skills would you need to make your words or your manner of speaking perfect? Can you answer that honestly? Your presentation may be great; it may be excellent; it may be the best you have ever done; but, that doesn’t make it perfect. Perfection is subjective in this particular venue. In fact, any live performance, be it music, theatre, or even in the sports arena, cannot be judged by that one particular word – perfection.

Striking out on our own can be liberating and a bit scary. I don't know of anyone who has taken a real jump and regretted it, but I haven't talked to everyone who has either. I have talked to several who wound up going back to the corporate cubicles, licking a few wounds, but they still didn't regret the leap. What do we need? On the whole you may find you need very little to start a home office, or even a small office. Most freelance and self-employment ventures are service based, rather than manufacturing or retail. You don't have to worry about a warehouse, or a workr

There is no question that excessive nasality, also known as hype asality, can be like nails on a blackboard. Just listen to Fran Drescher for any great length of time and you may find that her whiny, nasal sound becomes quite annoying.

There's no getting around it: The moment you bound onto the platform or stage your credibility is at stake. And one way to cement your credibility is to master the art of Q & A (short for Questions and Answers) Look at how Q & A's are done on the political battlefields. Remember the Hillary and Obama debates? These seasoned political pros knew at any time “one slip up” can hurt them in the eyes of their audience (in the studio and at home watching.) It a nutshell: How you respond to an audience member's Q & A can undoubtedly haunt or help your career for a long time.

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.”

I recently listened to a webinar in which the speaker’s voice was so nasal, it gave me a headache. And I use Bose speakers on my computer! Is this man’s voice an asset? No. In his case, it is most definitely a liability. The problem with his overly nasal voice is that he does not sound credible because his sound is whiny, sharp and irritating. Excessive nasality is not the only problem with speaking voices that are annoying however. - If you are over 21 and sound like a child, a pre-teen, or even a teenager, then you are projecting a childlike image.

In my last article, I discussed what you should be seeking if you are interested in improving your presentation skills. In this article, I have added 5 more tips if you are planning to attend a workshop that covers both voice improvement and public speaking skills. 1. Make sure the company will be recording you and also providing you a copy of your own materials upon completion of the workshop. Having a record of how you sounded before you started the course is vital for voice training and will be an excellent reference and reminder for you in the months and years to follow.

I think that our level of Self-love is one of, if not the most important aspect to our personal and spiritual growth. If we focus on that one area alone we will find that all other areas in our lives, from money to our relationships to our over all happiness and success will improve drastically. Not only that but when we nurture our relationship with Self we are simultaneously nurturing our relationship with God/Spirit.

I receive emails on a daily basis regarding vocal abuse – not just from those who are experiencing difficulty in talking but from singers as well. The only piece of advice I give them is to take the pressure off of the throat and vocal folds (cords) and allow their chest to become their primary sounding board. This piece of advice may sound strange but it is the only means of eliminating vocal abuse. Whispering is not the answer, nor is being silent for a year.

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.

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.

Would 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 a and long e should not be articulated through your nose. They really don’t belong there. If you had said the word grain or green, however, you would have noticed some vibration because both words contain a nasal.

Recently, I worked with an NFL player in voice and presentation skills. During his 3rd session, he discovered the techniques for increasing his volume without shouting which I refer to as projection. He was stunned. It did not hurt his throat; it sounded better; and, his voice carried with more depth and breadth.

When you meet someone or present to an audience, do your words match your non-verbal communications? If there is a disconnect between verbal and non-verbal communications, your audience will believe your non-verbals. Studies show that more than 90% of our communication is non-verbal. For example, imagine that a speaker shuffles to the podium, fumbling with his pen and folder. He stares down at his notes, frowns slightly and says in a lifeless monotone so soft that you can barely hear him, "I am excited to be here with you today.

Do others ask you to repeat yourself a lot? If so, do you realize how much time and energy you waste saying your message a 2nd or 3rd time? In today’s fast-paced world, being heard the 1st time you say it is vital to your success. If others continually ask you to repeat yourself, eventually they will stop asking and stop listening. What this means is that your words and your ideas are not going to be heard.

Women often wonder why men don’t listen. There are a number of possibilities, one of which could be that your voice is irritating. If you have a whiny, high-pitched, nasal sound that is reminiscent of a poorly-tuned violin, then the image you are projecting is definitely not one of warmth, attraction, or authority. What is fascinating about the speaking voice is that you have a better voice inside of you which is resonant, more mature in sound, and most likely deeper in pitch. To find it, you will have to learn how to power your voice by means of your chest cavity.

Like many presentation experts - one of the questions I am asked again and again is ‘I have a presentation next week - how should I prepare???’rnAs a speaker, trainer and coach - I have witnessed many delegates progress from a Public Speaking perspective -but what has really fascinated me are the people who make the greatest transformation in the least amount of time. It is the study of these individuals that gave way to the 3Ps to Presentation Perfection Passion rnIt may

Yes, 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 when you speak? If so, then your words will not be quite as inviting as you may think. Demi Moore, Cher, Kate Beckinsale, Ashley Judd, and Julia Ormond have voices that match their beauty. Each one of these voices is warm and, given the right tone, can be very, very sexy.

Eat… In the book/movie Elizabeth Gilbert begins her journey in Italy where she “has a relationship with her pizza”, which is quite funny and even helpful because she stopped beating herself up for what and how much she ate. This is a powerful demonstration of self-love…to a point. Italy was certainly Gilbert’s journey of self-indulgence without self-punishment.r

Some 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.

In order to explore the incredible effects of EFT on one’s sense of Self-Love we must explore what self-love is and how it’s formed.

If 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 treating your audience as if you were having a conversation in your living room. Lengthy sentences, long words, flowery speech, or highly technical terms do not lend themselves to plain speaking.

New speakers (as well as audience members) occasionally approach me after one of my keynote presentations and ask me how I knew I wanted to be a speaker. Well, that is certainly a good question that has many answers. However, the one resounding theme that percolates inside my head as to why I love public speaking is the thrill of inspiring my audience where I can make a profound difference in their lives. I am not just talking about at the conference that I just spoke at. I am referring AFTER the event.

A big complaint I hear from many women is that when they answer the phone, the caller asks to speak to their mother. Does that ever happen to you? There is no doubt that this is a problem for the woman who is looking to succeed in her career. Women have enough difficulty competing with their male counterparts as it is. If you are being overlooked for a promotion or a raise because of how you sound, there is hope and help.

Absolutely. While it may not seem possible to be both composed and nervous at the lectern, it is most definitely what happens when you take control of your nervousness and let it work for you and not against you. Therein lies the problem for many novice speakers.

Okay, you've decided to go into business for yourself. You have some seed money to start your new business, but you know you need to get the word out to your targeted audience that you are open for "business". Problem is, your seed money can only buy a few plants. :) Well, lucky you. I am about to reveal a cool, low cost, (almost no cost) proven method do drum up clients and get them knocking on your door...

The angst, the agony, the sleepless nights. The overwhelming dread that pervades your life knowing you are scheduled to speak, either for your business or personal life. It could be toasting the groom at your best friend’s wedding or giving the quarterly budget report for your company. It might be a 3-minute summary at your leads meeting or maybe you are introducing a speaker at your Rotary Club.

A 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. In the long run, what this means is that as long as you continue with the same vocal habits which created the abuse, it will not go away and it will probably get worse. The symptoms of vocal abuse may be chronic hoarseness, persistent sore throats or even loss of voice by the end of the day.

New speakers (as well as audience members) occasionally approach me after one of my keynote presentations and ask me how I knew I wanted to be a speaker. Well, that is certainly a good question that has many answers. However, the one resounding theme that percolates inside my head as to why I love public speaking is the thrill of inspiring my audience where I can make a profound difference in their lives. I am not just talking about at the conference that I just spoke at. I am referring AFTER the event.

Did you know that nervousness in public speaking is beneficial? While many articles are written to help you try to eliminate or stop those nervous jitters, I want the exact opposite. Yes, I want you nervous. However, I want you to learn how to take control of it. - When you can put your adrenaline to use, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. Adrenaline comes into play in the body under duress and places you in the fight, flight, or freeze mode. Unfortunately, many people assume either the flight or freeze mode when addressing an audience.

In the world of public speaking, there are only 2 reasons for giving a speech or presentation (not counting the ‘after-dinner’ speech which is a topic unto itself). You are addressing an audience to either inform or persuade. That being said, if your subject is informative in nature, your job is to convey knowledge and information. If your topic is persuasive, on the other hand, your goal is to change or strengthen your listener’s beliefs and/or motivate them to action. The question is – how do you, as the speaker, persuade an audience to accept your views?

Speed in public speaking, or for that matter, in any type of communication, is very similar to that in driving a vehicle. If you move along at 100 miles an hour, you stand a greater chance of having an accident than if you are doing 75 mph.

The experts agree that having uncomfortable conversations is the best way to succeed in your business. Timothy Ferriss, author of The Four Week Work Week talks about the importance of having uncomfortable conversations in this current economy and how it relates to small business ...

Many years ago when I was fresh out of graduate school, I applied for my first 'real' job in New York City at G. Schirmer, the largest publisher of classical sheet music in the States. What I didn't know then was that my speaking voice was my greatest asset in attaining employment with that firm. I sounded confident; I sounded like I knew what I was talking about; and, I was only 24 years old.

Choppiness in speaking occurs when you pause too often. Pausing in conversational speech is normal; pausing during a speech or presentation is ideal. Pausing too often, however, is tedious for the listener and is referred to as choppy speech. The problem with choppy speech is that you leave your audience waiting for you to continue.

Without 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 King of England.

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.

It was 1990 and I was back in NYC from LA dealing with my terminally ill mother in Cedar Sinai Hospital. Three years earlier, she was diagnosed with colon cancer. As you might have experienced yourself, back in those days the dreaded chemo was really the only treatment available. She put up the good fight, but by this juncture it had spread to the liver and lymph nodes. Mom was losing the battle and she was in and out of a coma.

It’s becoming a national nightmare for the working class in this country. According to a recent survey — ONLY 45 percent of today’s employees are satisfied with their work. Not surprising, this was the lowest level ever recorded by the Conference Board research group in more than 22 years of studying the issue. Economists and experts blame soaring health insurance costs…fewer employees consider their jobs meaningful or interesting... not to mention many feel their pay is not keeping up with inflation.

Do you know what an elevator speech is? An elevator speech is an introduction about your business that you can encapsulate in 30 seconds or less. The idea for this type of speech is based on the average length of time one spends in an elevator. The value of the elevator speech is not just when traveling from one floor to another however. Elevator speeches can be used in more situations than you may think which is why it is to your benefit to have one ready at a moment’s notice.

All the buzz is about manifesting these days. But what many who are new to the metaphysical scene don’t realize that manifesting is more than just acquiring stuff. Not that acquiring stuff is necessarily bad. But in the end if that’s your only aim then the emptiness that your were trying to ...

Many 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, given the right tone, sensual. The voiceover for Honda, Spacey ‘sells’ their TV commercials because his voice instantly creates trust, integrity, class and value for their cars. Whether Honda’s vehicles are worthy of such praise is not the issue. Spacey’s voice makes it believable.

Yes, we are a sex 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.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people yell or shout doing great damage to their throats and vocal folds. In addition, a voice produced by yelling hurts your listeners’ ears. There is a technique, however, which saves both your throat and everyone else’s ears. It is called projection.

You know the drill. You're supposed to follow your mentor's formula for writing your "elevator speech" or 30-second intro. And then deliver it with enthusiasm to everyone who will stop long enough to listen. Right? OK. You're following instructions. You've rewritten the thing at least 17 times. You've rehearsed it until you're blue in the face. Then why do people's eyes still glaze over? Try Something Different It's possible that what you really need is a new approach - not a new speech.

A few days before a play or musical opens, the entire cast and crew conduct a dress rehearsal. They do a complete run-through of the script on stage, dressed in their costumes, with the full scenery and lighting in place and the pit orchestra playing. The purpose of the dress rehearsal is to make sure everything goes smoothly on opening night. The dress rehearsal is a great idea to borrow when you have to give a presentation.

Has this ever happened to you? You stand to give your speech or presentation; and, when you begin speaking what comes out of your mouth is higher in pitch and quivering to boot. So what is to be done? In most cases, nervousness is the cause of the quiver. (There are some voices, however, that quiver whether one is nervous or not.) There is a means of eliminating the quiver that works even when you are nervous.

Preparing your speech and writing appropriate stories can be a challenge at the best of times, but the real challenge is in using and writing those stories in such a way that they really engage your audience. First, think about how other speakers and presenters manage to grab your attention. Sure, their stories about themselves may be amusing but as with anybody who is all about "me me me", you can find your concentration drifting. What really grabs your attention, and keeps it, is when the presenter talks about things that relate to you… so it's more "you you you" tha "me me me".

A key component of non-verbal communications is your voice. Along with eye contact, gestures, movement and facial expression, your voice can communicate meaning and help your audience focus on your message. Your voice has an incredible range and ability to convey meaning and emotion, yet most of us use only a small part of that range. Use the following guidelines to unleash the power of your voice so you can deliver your message effectively and connect to the audience: Speak loudly enough. How loudly? Loudly enough that people can hear you without having to strain.

You are probably not comfortable hearing your voice on your voicemail or your answering machine and yet you may not realize that if you hear your voice that way, so does everyone else. Because the manner in which you hear yourself is vastly different than what the recording equipment is telling you, might it not be an idea to consider improving your vocal image? The other day I received a phone call from a man in the New York area who said he had found me through my website. His intention was to sell me on the idea that his company would produce and distribute my video products.

"What should I wear when I present?" One of my coaching clients asked me this question recently. While it might sound more like a question for a style consultant, it's also an appropriate question for a presentation skills coach like me.

There is no doubt that public speaking is a battle, a battle often lost because the speaker is trying to be something or someone he is not. What is interesting about public speaking is that you stand a much better chance of winning the battle if you would stop trying to impress your audience. Instead, you should express to your audience. Good public speakers talk to their audience, not at them. They treat their audience just as if they were having a conversation in their living room. For some, however, that is the battle.