Nancy Daniels

Some people who are normally colorful in conversation find their delivery skills lacking in expression. And then there are those who lack color both in conversation and at the lectern. There is no doubt that one of the quickest ways to put your audience to sleep is to speak in a monotone and talk at a rate of 100 mph with no acknowledgement of your audience. Does this sound familiar?

One of the reasons people contact me is because of lack of air at the podium, in the webinar, or in a sales presentation. So I have a question for you.

I am ever amazed at the number of people in public speaking who never give any consideration to their speaking voice. Concerned about their physical image, their content, and their delivery skills, they have yet to realize that the vehicle for transmitting their message is the voice. And, it is not the one they hear inside their head; it is the one they hear on their voicemail.

That's a leading question, isn't it? With teleseminars there is definitely no visual and with webinars, there may be a picture of you, but more than likely, your listeners will be focusing on the visuals; i.e. slides, videos, or webpages as well as the sound of your speaking voice. And, the sound of your speaking voice is what you are hearing through your headphones and not the familiar voice you hear in your head.

Teleseminars and webinars, do you know the difference? Teleseminars are held over the phone and do not require the internet; whereas, webinars are held over the internet. In the case of the latter, your participants may either listen by means of the phone or the computer; however, since webinars usually display video, slides, or a wegpage, your listeners will still need to use their computers to watch what is being presented.

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

How do you think before you speak if you are standing in front of an audience? That is a wonderful question. If you are delivering a speech or a presentation, it is actually quite easy to think if you do one thing prior to the event and three things during it.

Recently I was interviewed on a blog radio program and the host paused so long after every comment I made that I wondered how many listeners she really had. Yes, the internet station of which she is a member has an excellent listenership, but I seriously question whether this particular woman has any real following.

When it comes to image, most people believe that their visual image is the pièce de résistance. And, there is no doubt that it is very important both professionally and personally. Have you ever considered, however, the image that your voice projects?

One of the secrets of dynamic presentation skills is the ability to connect with your audience. In that sense, the idea is to make each person think you are talking directly to him/her. How is this possible if you have an audience of 50, 150 or 500 people? There are several things you can do to achieve the connection.