Can you whistle tunes such as "Dixie"? If you can you should have little trouble pronouncing words -- especially tricky letter combinations and the endings of words clearly.
IK now one professional speaker who made a regular practice of keeping the muscles in his lips "toned up" by practicing his whistling whenever he was alone and had a chance.
As your lips do play a key role in clear articulation it's not a bad idea to do this while driving by yourself or out for that early morning walk.
If you're really diligent at this little exercise who knows you might be able to whistle a very catchy melody before too long as well as speak even clearer.
While were on this topic there is another way to improve both your breath control as well as hone voice quality. And that is to practice playing -- or blowing?? -- tunes on your harmonica. It can be great fun and a way to add another skill at the same time.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Navigating the Age Minefield
The age difference between you and your audience can be a minefield. Here's how to avoid some of those communication IEDs.
First of all don't your dress highlight your age differences. If you're older than most of your audience update your hairstyle a bit if possible. And select some of your most modern pieces of clothing.
If most of your suits, shirts, and shoes are ultra-conservative Boxing Day here in Canada (when you'll bee able to find many good bargains) is perhaps a good time to update your wardrobe a bit.
On the other hand if you're a young person addressing that older, mature audience then you might want to tone your selection down a bit --choosing more conservative styles for that presentation to the Bankers Club.
The same type of thing applies to your actual presentation. If you're an older person facing a predominately younger audience don't date yourself with personal histories or references about the way "things use to be back when" etc.
Younger speakers addressing that audience of veteran accountants or other senior management people should avoid to many expressions like: "you guys," or "you know" after every second statement you make.
It's the old story of audience familiarity. Get to know your audience and tailor both your style of dress and choice of words to suit them.
First of all don't your dress highlight your age differences. If you're older than most of your audience update your hairstyle a bit if possible. And select some of your most modern pieces of clothing.
If most of your suits, shirts, and shoes are ultra-conservative Boxing Day here in Canada (when you'll bee able to find many good bargains) is perhaps a good time to update your wardrobe a bit.
On the other hand if you're a young person addressing that older, mature audience then you might want to tone your selection down a bit --choosing more conservative styles for that presentation to the Bankers Club.
The same type of thing applies to your actual presentation. If you're an older person facing a predominately younger audience don't date yourself with personal histories or references about the way "things use to be back when" etc.
Younger speakers addressing that audience of veteran accountants or other senior management people should avoid to many expressions like: "you guys," or "you know" after every second statement you make.
It's the old story of audience familiarity. Get to know your audience and tailor both your style of dress and choice of words to suit them.
Friday, November 23, 2012
Use Your Camera Like a Reporter
How do you you make your speech or presentation more captivating and memorable?
There are, of course, a variety of techniques, one being to use your camcorder like a T.V. reporter would -- illustrate what he or she is covering.
Like them use your camera like a notebook whenever you can. Show your subject or subjects, as much as possible, in action rather than trying to explain everything with just words, words, words.
When you use clear -- relative digital video or camera shots you make it easier to lift your presentation out of the humdrum into something that is clear, memorable and motivating.
An insurance investigator who came to check our house before renewing our landlord's insurance policy recently showed just how easy this type of thing is with the small camera he pulled out of pocket. It was little bigger than a cell phone yet it enabled him to take vivid pictures in some very congested area to prove his point that our landlord had some repairs and updates to make to bring the building up to snuff
Just make sure your camera is top quality and your shots are pofesionional -- which might mean working with a professional photographer or "videographer" until you gain the skills you need or you update your camera.
There are, of course, a variety of techniques, one being to use your camcorder like a T.V. reporter would -- illustrate what he or she is covering.
Like them use your camera like a notebook whenever you can. Show your subject or subjects, as much as possible, in action rather than trying to explain everything with just words, words, words.
When you use clear -- relative digital video or camera shots you make it easier to lift your presentation out of the humdrum into something that is clear, memorable and motivating.
An insurance investigator who came to check our house before renewing our landlord's insurance policy recently showed just how easy this type of thing is with the small camera he pulled out of pocket. It was little bigger than a cell phone yet it enabled him to take vivid pictures in some very congested area to prove his point that our landlord had some repairs and updates to make to bring the building up to snuff
Just make sure your camera is top quality and your shots are pofesionional -- which might mean working with a professional photographer or "videographer" until you gain the skills you need or you update your camera.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Ready-Aim-Fire?
Ready -- Aim -- Fire? That's an easy trap to fall into --especially when being confronted by a hostile person. Often we respond with the first thing that flips into the firing chamber in our mind. But don't!
Instead of firing back with such an explosion -- which you will regret later --do these two things: First respond with a silent pause for a few seconds. This will throw your adversary off guard making him or her wonder whether you heard their comments or not and how you're going to respond.
It will also give you those precious few second you need to think about the most effective response; you'll become the master of the situation -- not your opponent and create a very positive image of you in the minds of any bystanders.
Just remember to keep good eye contact with the other person. Don't look directly into their eyes as this could become very confrontational. Instead let your gaze take in their entire face -- with a very pleasant expression on your face.
These two things -- that silent pause and good eye contact will not only give you those precious minutes to frame your response but create a picture of you as being honest, thoughtful, reasonable, and trustworthy while throwing you attacker off balance.
Instead of firing back with such an explosion -- which you will regret later --do these two things: First respond with a silent pause for a few seconds. This will throw your adversary off guard making him or her wonder whether you heard their comments or not and how you're going to respond.
It will also give you those precious few second you need to think about the most effective response; you'll become the master of the situation -- not your opponent and create a very positive image of you in the minds of any bystanders.
Just remember to keep good eye contact with the other person. Don't look directly into their eyes as this could become very confrontational. Instead let your gaze take in their entire face -- with a very pleasant expression on your face.
These two things -- that silent pause and good eye contact will not only give you those precious minutes to frame your response but create a picture of you as being honest, thoughtful, reasonable, and trustworthy while throwing you attacker off balance.
Think in Pictures
If you have to give a reading -- particularly if it is somebody else's words -- take the time to use all of your senses -- particularly your visual sense to recreate what the passage is about.
The more successful you are at this the more your voice will be able create those word pictures for you audience -- sweeping them up into the passage as well.
This will make your reading much more captivating and memorable.
The more successful you are at this the more your voice will be able create those word pictures for you audience -- sweeping them up into the passage as well.
This will make your reading much more captivating and memorable.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Don't Practice Those!
Gestures, both descriptive and emphatic to highlight important points can add colour as well as clarity to your presentation but don't mark your script or notes with reminders to gesture at a certain point.
Nine times out of ten they are going to look to mechanical and awkward as in the case of a young man giving a reading before an audience of about 100 persons recently.
He gave an excellent reading, but every once in a while without any pause for emphasis or even looking at the audience his right had would pop up to make some descriptive gesture, giving him the appearance of a wind up doll or robot programmed to make a certain circular gesture every few minutes.
Instead of listening to an otherwise excellent reading much of his audience ended up watching to see how many times he would do this. Any emphasis he tried to create was lost
If you have difficult giving gestures it is not a bad idea to practice both emphatic and descriptive gestures during practice sessions just as you might practice deep breathing. I know such rehearsals helped me to become a much more relaxed and colourful speaker when I was younger. But do not plan what you're going to going to use before a live audience.
Sometimes -- you'll get away with it but generally such rehearsed gestures will look awkward and do not reinforce or clarify what you are saying. What you want are spontaneous gestures.
So, while preparing your speech or presentation think about how things look or what they could be compared to as well as important points you'd like to make and then when you're on stage become fully engrossed in your material and you'll find that both the emphatic and descriptive gestures will come naturally -- without any mechanical planning.
Nine times out of ten they are going to look to mechanical and awkward as in the case of a young man giving a reading before an audience of about 100 persons recently.
He gave an excellent reading, but every once in a while without any pause for emphasis or even looking at the audience his right had would pop up to make some descriptive gesture, giving him the appearance of a wind up doll or robot programmed to make a certain circular gesture every few minutes.
Instead of listening to an otherwise excellent reading much of his audience ended up watching to see how many times he would do this. Any emphasis he tried to create was lost
If you have difficult giving gestures it is not a bad idea to practice both emphatic and descriptive gestures during practice sessions just as you might practice deep breathing. I know such rehearsals helped me to become a much more relaxed and colourful speaker when I was younger. But do not plan what you're going to going to use before a live audience.
Sometimes -- you'll get away with it but generally such rehearsed gestures will look awkward and do not reinforce or clarify what you are saying. What you want are spontaneous gestures.
So, while preparing your speech or presentation think about how things look or what they could be compared to as well as important points you'd like to make and then when you're on stage become fully engrossed in your material and you'll find that both the emphatic and descriptive gestures will come naturally -- without any mechanical planning.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
What Your Audience Should See and Hear
If you're trying to sell products, services or ideas to your audience the audience has to believe in you -- before -- they'll believe in whatever it is your selling.
The following is what your audience should see and hear when you speak:
The following is what your audience should see and hear when you speak:
- Warmth
- Sincerity
- Openness -- especially if your presentation is interactive in nature or your have a question and answer session
- Enthusiasm
Of course they'll also be looking for reasons to believe that you are a trustworthy person by the evidence you present to them and they'll expect you to be able to do this with positive information about yourself and whoever else you might represent -- without restoring to unwarranted negative comments about the competition.
If you're going to do criticize or try to disprove the ideas of others make sure that you have all of the evidence you need and that you follow solid rules of arguing to make sure your proof holds up and lead to the conclusion you're aiming for.
(There is a very entertaining and informative book on this subject called: Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs, published by Three Rivers Press of New York.)
If you're going to do criticize or try to disprove the ideas of others make sure that you have all of the evidence you need and that you follow solid rules of arguing to make sure your proof holds up and lead to the conclusion you're aiming for.
(There is a very entertaining and informative book on this subject called: Thank You for Arguing by Jay Heinrichs, published by Three Rivers Press of New York.)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)