SelfGrowth.com articles for Public Speaking

Speak Up and Step Out of Your Comfort Zone!

arvee@instantprospeaker.com — Thu, 5 Aug 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

Easy Sources of Seminar Leads: 3 Leaks to Plug in Your Seminar Lead-Generation Process

jennydirect@seminarmarketingpro.com — Fri, 6 Aug 2010 12:19:35 pm

Many seminar promoters assume that big, bold action and massive change is required to put more butts in seminar seats. In fact, increasing seminar registrations is often accomplished with surprisingly small changes. If you make dozens of small changes, their cumulative impact can be powerful and ...

Five Conversation Killers

john@conversationaid.com — Sun, 1 Aug 2010 12:00:00 am

Improve your Conversation by avoiding these traps. And as suddenly as it began, it’s over. There you were, in the middle of a great conversation when suddenly the wind died in your sails, leaving stranded out in a large, unwelcoming and unforgiving ocean. What happened? Not every ...

Forty Conversation Starters

john@conversationaid.com — Sun, 1 Aug 2010 12:00:00 am

Forty Conversation Starters Let’s face it, no matter how good a conversation is going, sometimes you’ll get stuck and run out of things to say. This can be especially hard if the person you’re speaking with isn’t keeping up their end of the conversation. Sometimes is seems you have little in ...

"More Effective Story Telling Tips & Tactics That'll Make You a More Persuasive Speaker!" (Part Two)

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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, ...

"Effective Story Telling Tips & Tactics That'll Make You a More Persuasive Speaker!" (Part One)

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

"Self-Introductions or 'How to Plan for the Unexpected When You Speak"

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

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

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

You know you have vocal abuse but you don’t know what to do about it. Some may tell you to whisper (truly a no-no!) while others tell you to stop talking. Neither is the answer. Whispering is very hard on your vocal folds (cords) and should never be done. And, most people are not in a ...

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

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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. ...

"How ANY Public Speaker Can Create a Deeper Bond With Their Audience!"

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

Do you want to become an inspirational speaker? Forget the title.

jefmenguin@yahoo.com — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

Nobody becomes an inspirational speaker by calling himself one. You can inspire people without the title. Forget the title. You may give yourself the title of inspirational speaker. It does not matter. Titles are just names. Inspirational speaking is not about what you do. Inspirational ...

12 Effective Tips on How to Get the Most Out of Your Speakers Bureaus Relationships or (You Scratch My Back and I'll Scratch Yours!)

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

How to Quickly Become a More Confident Speaker With out Breaking a Sweat!"

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

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

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***Good Voice Training Means Discovering the Voice You Don’t Know You Have

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

There are various approaches to voice training that you should be aware of if you are interested in improving your vocal image. Even some coaches who are published will not teach you the basic fundamental of good voice improvement because they are working with the voice you already have. Good ...

***A Dynamic Delivery Can Make Even a Mediocre Speech Soar

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

Ideally, it should be your goal to deliver an excellent speech or presentation with enthusiasm and passion. However, if you had to choose, which one do you think would be better? A great speech with a boring delivery? Or a mediocre speech given with expression and emotion? There is no simple ...

The Role of Emotion in Making a Great Speech

Roseanna@roseannaleaton.com — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 2:30:23 pm

You want to make a great speech. Who doesn’t? But most people worry about the possibility of negative emotions wreaking havoc with their perfectly planned speech. They spend days or weeks writing out their speech, ensuring that it says exactly what they want to convey; they practice their ...

Myths of Hypnosis

kathryn@businesstrainingdirect.co.uk — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:26:11 pm

There are many phrases I hear time and time again when I speak to people about hypnosis. It is time to dispose of some of them. Getting Stuck in Hypnosis. A common fear that is totally unfounded. If the hypnotist goes home, dies, falls asleep or is absent for any other reason, the subject ...

Are you a Stream or a Twisted Garden Hose? Keep the energy flowing between you and your audience

sandra@charismaoncamera.com — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 3:28:11 pm

There’s the old saying: “It is better to give than to receive,” but really, that’s only the half of it, right? “Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process,” said Jim Rohn. Deepak Chopra, in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, refers to the Law of Giving: ...

Overcome your Fears of Public Speaking

sherwin.tng@gmail.com — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 3:56:26 pm

I used to shudder at the instant I knew I have to speak in class. After knowing Public Speaking is feared more than death after a survey result has at least given me some consolation. However, some fears have to be confronted. Good public speaking skills is an essential skill to master since my ...

***Your Soft-Spoken Voice Is Not an Asset – It Is a Liability!

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***If Only One Voice Matters, What Is Yours Saying?

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

When I was in graduate school studying music composition, my singing professor told me that the pitch of my speaking voice was too high and proceeded to show me my ‘real’ voice. Deeper in pitch, warm and resonant, my ‘real’ voice no longer exhibited whiny, young-sounding qualities. At the ...

***The 5 Biggest Mistakes Made in Public Speaking

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 8 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

How to Quickly Connect With Your Audience While Giving a Speech!

PeterF4159@yahoo.com — Sat, 3 Jul 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

The Vanishing Self-Confidence

sandra@charismaoncamera.com — Fri, 2 Jul 2010 2:37:11 pm

My presentation was so good in the bathroom…what happened? It’s an old actor’s comment after flubbing an audition, “I was so good in the bathroom at home…” Has that happened to you? You felt prepared, your research was done, your key points were solid in your brain, and you did your ...

***3 Steps for Making Your Speaking Voice One of Your Greatest Assets

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

Most people who hear themselves on their voicemail or answering machine do not like what they hear. How do you feel when you hear yourself on some form of recording equipment? When you think about the image you project, be it in person or over the phone, would you consider your recorded voice ...

***Keep It Simple in Public Speaking

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***An Occasional Mistake in Public Speaking Is Not a Problem – Seeking Perfection Is

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

Take two internationally renowned speakers. One speaker who I will refer to as Mr. X occasionally forgets where he is because he adds anecdotes pertinent to his main points throughout his presentation. In doing so, he sometimes forgets where he was since he is not using any visual aids. He is ...

The No. 1 Fear in Life!

Pat@steps2happiness.com — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

The #1 fear in life is public speaking – even before death! We are more afraid of public speaking than dying – can you believe that? I believe it is all about perspective. We all know how to talk and most of us are passionate about something. For those of us in business, ideally we are living ...

***If You Clip Your Words, Your Message Can Get Lost

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

Recently I was talking on my cell phone to a woman from my credit card company and I was continually asking her to repeat herself. When our business was completed, I told her that because of the way she clipped her words, I had missed much of what she was saying. Admittedly, had I been facing ...

***The Fight, Flight, or Freeze Response in Public Speaking – Which Reaction Describes You?

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***The 3 Factors That Influence the Sound of Your Speaking Voice

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

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. It didn't start out as study, rather it is the years I spent listening to my ...

***When to Hold Your Seminar: Which Day of the Week Is Best for Your Seminar?

jennydirect@seminarmarketingpro.com — Wed, 2 Jun 2010 12:00:00 am

One common question faced by new seminar promoters is determining what day of the week they should hold their event. Here are some points to consider as you make important scheduling decisions. If your attendees are primarily employees whose employers are footing the bill for their ...

Once Upon a Time: A Success Story About Collaboration

smscotti@professionallyspeaking.net — Thu, 3 Jun 2010 2:41:41 pm

Recently I was engaged to provide speakers’ training for a group of prestigious physicians launching a groundbreaking new therapy in Europe. Each member of the group was extraordinarily committed to the success of the launch, and their approach made an indelible impression on me. Why? Though ...

I'd Rather Die Than Give A Speech!

steveblu1@gmail.com — Sat, 5 Jun 2010 12:37:09 pm

My wife Sara's popularity is growing on the speaking circuit. She talks mainly about business networking and associated topics. I must say that this is a GREAT WAY to become perceived as an authority on your area of expertise. And, as an added bonus, it puts you in touch with many more people at ...

Speaking with confidence – Promise yourself an upgrade with these 3 easy techniques

mj_tee90@hotmail.com — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:57:07 am

1. Take a deep breath and take it easy Speaking with confidence is not going to be an easy ride, but you can make it. Before going up the stage, close your eyes and take a deep breath. Count to 5 (One one-thousand, two one-thousand…) and slowly exhale. This will help you to clear your mind and ...

Speaking with confidence - 3 tips to help you in case my neighbor's son can speak better than YOU!

mj_tee90@hotmail.com — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:00:00 am

Everyone probably have the mentality that you will excel on the stage, giving an excellent speech to everybody below. But when it’s time to go on stage, you get nervous and start having stage fright and that affects your performance. For once, you want to look for a perfect solution to overcome ...

Do You Dread Public Speaking? 3 Steps to Presenting With Confidence

info@practical-management-skills.com — Fri, 28 May 2010 11:57:07 am

Do you dread public speaking? Do you avoid situations where you might have to stand up in front of others? You are not alone. Research once found that people feared public speaking even more than death! If like many people, you are filled with apprehension about presenting to groups, you can ...

***What Image Do You Project When Approaching the Lectern?

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 am

Often we are so consumed by our speech or presentation, our delivery, or our nervousness, that we fail to recognize the value of composure in approaching the lectern or the head of the boardroom table. You are judged not only when you begin to speak but also during your walk to the front of the ...

***Which World-Renowned Motivational Speaker Is Suffering from Severe Vocal Abuse?

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***Does Your Voice Quiver, Shake or Skip an Octave Just at the Thought of Public Speaking?

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 21 May 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

3 Ways to Identify the Benefits Most Pertinent to Your Audience

jennydirect@seminarmarketingpro.com — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:00:00 am

To persuade prospects to register for your seminars, your marketing copy must adequately explain the value of your training. One critical way you can do this is by accurately describing the benefits of attending your seminar. Many seminar promoters and trainers believe that it's enough to ...

Do You Have the Vision for Your Success?

tomhauptintl@hotmail.com — Sat, 15 May 2010 12:00:00 am

The Power of Vision - Your mind is the most powerful tool you have. So why not use it to visualize the life of your dreams? Question: How many times is anything created? Twice, once in someone’s mind, then again in reality. Before any building, car or house is built, a person is born, or a ...

Make your next presentation your best with these public speaking exercises.

mj_tee90@hotmail.com — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:26:29 am

Look into the mirror, and tell yourself a story. If you are able to carry out this task effortlessly with sufficient charisma, chances are you are well on your way to be an expert speaker. However, you will be facing the same fear that all the big icons out there do, the infamous fear of public ...

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

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 am

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. ...

***Why You Should Not Memorize the Body of Your Speech or Presentation

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***If You Are Soft-Spoken, Your Message Is Not Being Heard

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

***Furtive Glances Are Not the Same As Making Eye Contact with Your Audience

daniels@voicedynamic.com — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 12:00:00 am

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 ...

8 Reasons Motivational Speakers Should Ghostwrite Their Books

floatinggal1@aol.com — Tue, 18 May 2010 10:49:28 am

(New York , NY )—All successful public speakers know that when it comes to creating a unique brand for themselves, it’s not just about what they say—it’s also about what they sell. “A professionally ghostwritten book is an excellent promotional vehicle for for motivational speakers, public ...

Public Speaking - Dress Rehearsal for Your Presentation

gilda@gildabonanno.com — Tue, 18 May 2010 11:26:29 am

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 ...