Blog

Communication Breakthrough # 5 – BREATHE

It’s a natural human reaction to hold your breath when you feel tense. The best way I know to relieve jitters – is to take a few slow, deep breaths using your diaphragm. Breathing also helps your voice sound smooth and calm.

HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE PAY ATTENTION !

Have you ever wondered why some speakers command the attention of everyone in the room, while others cant keep the audience away from checking e mail? Here’s how to use your tone to get your message across with power and leadership. Speak at a normal pace – never speak too fast. Stress the words of [...]

Conference Calls – Put Your Best Voice Forward

So much business is done over the phone these days – that your VOICE has now become one of your “make it or break it” assets. Here’s how to make your voice effective over the phone: 1. Always breathe out when you speak – and focus on using the deeper vocal tones rather than the [...]

Looking Good Over The Web

In today’s online world –more meetings are done through web conferencing than in person.! So – its become important to sound and look your best. 1. Remember– the camera takes the place of the other people sitting around the table with you — look at the camera and talk to it like it is your [...]

MAKE YOUR ACCENT AN ASSET

Your accent tells people about your culture and identity , and that you are bilingual – or trilingual! You can be proud of your accent. Your accent becomes an asset when there are no mispronunciations, the pacing isn’t too fast, choppy or slow, and the rhythm gets your message across. Learn the skills you need [...]

Public Speaking– WHAT’S WORRYING YOU ?

I ask this question all the time–and here are the usual answers- I might forget something. ps – if you forget something, no one will know and no one will care. I will lose track of where I am in the speech. ps – keep an outline in front of you in big print- you [...]

Avoiding Powerpoint Poison

How often have you attended a presentation—only to find that you are constantly reading slides that are too overcrowded with words? Makes you want to “tune out”, check your e mail, and read the notes later ( OR NOT) – right ?! But – but you say –you need to put everything on the slides [...]

How To Look Great When Presenting

Bonnie’s tips for looking great ( why are these part of a VOICE blog? – because when you KNOW you look your best – you will feel confident and sound confident.) 1 Wear something you KNOW you look your best in –something you have received compliments on. 2 Dress comfortably – no pinched toes or clothing that’s [...]

Communication Breakthrough #1

1. DON’T MEMORIZE YOUR SPEECH You know what it’s like — you hear an important keynote or business speaker begin to address the audience, and you can just “tell” its memorized. How? The speaker sounds rote. There’s little intonation. The message is lost because the speaker isn’t natural. The speaker is nervous because he/she is worried [...]

Communication Breakthrough #3 – SILENCE IS OK ( YES!)

Many people tell me that the reason they say “um”, talk fast, or speak without pausing, is because they don’t like silence, or they feel the audience won’t like silence, or they worry that they will be interrupted. Surprise!! A pause allows the audience to think about what you are saying, and it punctuates your [...]

Communication Breakthrough #4 – YOUR OPINION MATTERS

When you are presenting on any topic, add something of yourself to the mix – your opinion, a personal anecdote, or a touch of humor. Ill bet the audience will remember this personal touch – and it will make a difference between a static “ presentation”, and a memorable experience.

Your Wedding Speech – Memorable or Mayhem

“Thank you all for coming to our wedding. Id like to thank my new in-laws for giving me my new wife, all of my friends who have come from Hong Kong, Hamilton, Florida, India, Portland, and other places too numerous to mention, but l will try —England, Port Antonio Jamaica, St Tropez, etc. I’d also like to thank my new business associates at CIBC – you are all here for

Beyond Presentation Skills

Have you ever attended a presentation where everything was done just right – good topic, good slides, nice opening, middle and closing – but the presentation just didn’t hold your attention? And isn’t that true of most presentations? So— what are the elements that separate the GOOD presenters from the GREAT ones ? Remember—the purpose [...]

What is your Vocal EQ

The instant we hear someone’s voice – we make an immediate subconscious judgment about them. Are they young or old, confident or anxious, relaxed or nervous, sincere or insincere, etc. Did you know that you can influence people to want to listen, take you seriously, admire you, and want to hear more by improving your [...]

Virtual Communication: Make Your “Web Personality” Exciting

Did you know that in the corporate world today – more and more communication, training, and meetings are done in the form of webinars, via Skype or similar programs, or videoconferencing. One interesting story about this comes to mind – my husband, who is a lawyer in a downtown Toronto firm, tried to set up [...]

Voice and Sex Appeal

Imagine this: – you enter a room full of strangers and look around. You see a great looking man/ woman and are instantly attracted. You make your way causally to his/her side and introduce yourself. The object of your attraction gazes at you— smiles—–and speaks to you.—– the whole image is shattered, — his/her voice [...]

Successful Interviews

Imagine you are interviewing candidates for your next business associate. You narrow it down to the best resumes- they are all equally qualified, and make appointments to see people every hour for 1 full day. People come and go, and you realize that 1 or 2 seem better than the rest. What are those factors [...]

What to talk about when you don’t know what to talk about

What do you say after you say “hello”? Before a cocktail party or networking event, do some homework. It’s so easy these days with the Internet. If it’s a company sponsored event find out what the company is up to regarding charity work, if there were any interesting new hires, and/or read the AGM keynote. [...]

What do you do if you forget someone’s name?

Everyone forgets names sometimes. Here’s what I do – put a natural smile on your face, keep eye contact, give a firm handshake, and say this with a confident voice (use a deep pitch and no “up” tone): “I know we’ve met before and your name is on the tip of my tongue” or “I’ve [...]

Your Voice Is Your Brand

We all spend time and money defining our brands in writing and in design. But have you ever thought – that the way you speak – the way you present yourself and your brand through your voice can “ make it or break it” in terms of others’ perception of you and your work. Here [...]

← Previous Entries