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Make a Memorable Self-Introduction

May 20, 2010 by Admin · Leave a Comment 

You have an opportunity to introduce yourself to a business group. This is a chance to make your mark so that people will remember you and know how to use your services.

  1. Think carefully about what you will say
  • People will want to be able to hear your name clearly. If your name is foreign or at all unusual, be sure and give it more time and emphasis. It is a good idea to repeat your name at the end of your introduction.
  • Tell them what you can do for them.’. Say, ‘I specialize in small business loans’. Announce the benefits of your work, not the descriptive features

2. Position yourself in the room for maximum exposure and comfort for your introduction.

  • Sit in a spot so that it is easy for you to rise in front of the group
  • Be mindful of cutlery and napkins, purses, etc. so your rising is not marred by stupid accidents.
  • Avoid being in front of window/lighting fixture glare so people can see your face comfortably.
  • Be willing to move to another spot to speak if it improves the odds of people hearing/seeing you.

3. Speak out to the people farthest away – your voice will go where your eyes go.

  • You must speak slower than normal when in larger, noisy spaces
  • Compensate for noise with more breath support and effort
  • If people cannot hear your message clearly you have wasted your and their time. Be determined not to let this happen.

Perhaps it will help you remember the three points above if you use the following sequence:

On your mark! (and what, exactly, is your mark?)

Get set (as in where you are set in the space.)

Go! (Let your voice go out to the whole room.)

—-

Carol Fleming, Ph.D., is the author of “It’s the Way You Say It”! Becoming Articulate, Well-spoken and Clear. A comprehensive guide to vocal development and improvement of communication skills. For people who want to make their speaking more impressive.

If you want to learn more about how Dr. Fleming can help you improve your communication skills, please call her at telephone 415.391.9179 or send her an email at [email protected]

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Breathing RIGHT

May 17, 2010 by Admin · Leave a Comment 

Let’s say you are trying to improve your voice and someone tells you to “Take a nice deep breath of air”. Do you vigorously elevate your shoulders and audibly inhale? If the answer is ‘yes”, then you are breathing WRONG.

You have just ACTED OUT, “I am breathing” with visual and sound effects, throwing way too much tension and effort into what should be the most natural and easy of activities. And you have been taught this wrong way by a number of instrument teachers, exercise coaches and yoga instructors.

Get in touch with natural breathing

Your first step is to stop unnecessary tension and get back to what comes naturally to the human body. Just follow these steps:

  • Stand in front of a mirror so you can check your shoulder and mid-section movements.
  • Allow your arms to hang naturally and your shoulders to be completely relaxed; they are NOT going to be involved in this exercise.
  • When you inhale (take air in), imagine that you are breathing through your belly button, with the movement of expansion only at your belt line (mid-section).
  • Because you are relaxing your air passages, There Are No Sound Effects. Use your mouth or your nasal passages, I don’t care. Just keep it silent.
  • Don’t make yourself breathe: Let yourself breathe. Think of allowing the midsection of your trunk to expand; there should be NO effort involved, no on-purpose contraction of muscle. There is a large muscle inside your body called the diaphragm that is doing the work of enlarging the chest by moving downward. You’ve heard of ‘breathing from the diaphragm”? That’s what we’re talking about.

See the lady on her back at the top of the page? She is feeling the movement of her belly consequent to diaphragmatic action. If you are unsure about this issue, I recommend you get on the floor right now and put your hand on your belly to just feel the relaxed breathing movement. Pant like a dog to feel it exaggerated.

Is there time when that heaving of the upper chest and shoulders is appropriate? (Remember the scolding in the first paragraph?) Yes, in emergency conditions such as:

  • Getting ready to swim the length of the pool underwater
  • Running from a mugger
  • Preparing to sing high C for 6 measures

Now, tell yourself to take a nice, deep breath and watch what you do. Remind yourself to relax the shoulders and let the diaphragm do the work.

If you want to learn more about how Dr. Fleming can help you improve your communication skills, please call her at telephone 415.391.9179 or send her an email at [email protected]

Carol Fleming, Ph.D., is the author of “It’s the Way You Say It”! Becoming Articulate, Well-spoken and Clear. A comprehensive guide to vocal development and improvement of communication skills. For people who want to make their speaking more impressive.

*Belly breathing illustration. Copyright 2004 by Dennis Lewis. Reprinted from Free Your Breath, Free Your Life, by Dennis Lewis (Shambhala, 2004) with the permission of the author. You can learn more about him and read his essays on his blog at http://www.dennislewisblog.com. His website is http://www.dennislewis.org

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