As I write this, I know a decision I made yesterday was the wrong one. After having a worsening cold for several days, I took a day off work. Yesterday, I went back to work for some important meetings. By the end of the day, my voice was sounding bad. By this morning, it was barely there at all. A visit to my doctor gave an official diagnosis of laryngitis - and a prescription for 6 days of vocal rest (not talking - at all), overall rest and lots of fluids.
Why is such a long period of vocal rest needed? The vocal cords are easily injured. A cold causes edema (swelling) of the cords, and time is needed for this to return to normal.
Talking forces the cords together at a fast pace, and can cause injury, called vocal nodules. (You can probably find some great pictures of vocal nodules online.) If they are ignored, they can become hardened, and can cause more severe problems.
Easy ways to care for your voice are to lubricate your vocal cords by drinking lots of water (not caffeinated beverages or soda), pay attention to changes in the sound of your voice and have them checked by an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist if they last for 2 weeks or more, and avoid abusing your voice with lots of yelling or making weird noises.
Business Speech Improvement produces intensive training in verbal communication skills.
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
How to assess your American English pronunciation
You want to improve your American English pronunciation. Maybe you want a chance at a professional job. Possibly you are frustrated by people giving you puzzled looks and asking, "What did you say". Try this self-test. Count the "no" answers.
1. You can say the two American "th" sounds clearly - in conversation.
2. You know which 3 words are spelled with "th" - but the "th" is silent.
3. In British English, "pro" is always pronounced as "pro", with a long o sound. In American English, you know which words have a "pro" that is pronounced as "prah" instead.
4. You can say all of the following sound combinations clearly:
str (as in "street"), asks (as in "tasks"), sp (as in "special") and st (as in "first").
5. You can say the following single consonants the American way: l,r,v, w.
6. The vowel- r sounds ar (as in "hard"), er (as in "person") and or (as in "born") are clear.
7. When you speak, your rate is reasonably slow so others can understand you.
8. You can emphasize the correct syllable of at least most all of the words you use.
If you score is less than 8, here are three ways to improve it.
Business Speech Improvement offers small group open enrollment courses in Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. Individual coaching is offered as well, for those with strong foreign or regional accents that impede clear communication. Economical e-books are also available for those living far away.
The bottom line is that your speech matters. Poor communication may be costing you. How will you improve it?
1. You can say the two American "th" sounds clearly - in conversation.
2. You know which 3 words are spelled with "th" - but the "th" is silent.
3. In British English, "pro" is always pronounced as "pro", with a long o sound. In American English, you know which words have a "pro" that is pronounced as "prah" instead.
4. You can say all of the following sound combinations clearly:
str (as in "street"), asks (as in "tasks"), sp (as in "special") and st (as in "first").
5. You can say the following single consonants the American way: l,r,v, w.
6. The vowel- r sounds ar (as in "hard"), er (as in "person") and or (as in "born") are clear.
7. When you speak, your rate is reasonably slow so others can understand you.
8. You can emphasize the correct syllable of at least most all of the words you use.
If you score is less than 8, here are three ways to improve it.
Business Speech Improvement offers small group open enrollment courses in Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals. Individual coaching is offered as well, for those with strong foreign or regional accents that impede clear communication. Economical e-books are also available for those living far away.
The bottom line is that your speech matters. Poor communication may be costing you. How will you improve it?
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Redundancy: why say it twice?
Have you ever sat through a meeting that went overtime because people repeated themselves so often? In the first part of the meeting, the leader did not repeat herself, and the other people did very little repetition. In the second part of a meeting today, a new leader repeated herself frequently, and others did as well.
One tip for reducing this is to make your own comments very short, in the hopes that others will copy your verbal behavior. What are some other techniques people can tactfully use in American meetings?
One tip for reducing this is to make your own comments very short, in the hopes that others will copy your verbal behavior. What are some other techniques people can tactfully use in American meetings?
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Persuasion and Your Voice
Do you want to become a more competent persuader? Your voice can help you do it.
Several techniques can help you. First, speak at a normal volume, but at the crucial point, speak slightly softer.
(This only helps if your listener has normal hearing or you are using a microphone!) It sounds to your listener like you are conveying a secret, and he will pay more attention.
Second, pause briefly right before the crucial point. This also helps focus the listener's attention.
Third, change your rate of speech at that point. Speak slower if the information is complicated for the listener to understand. Speak slightly faster if this is urgent, such as pleading with people to stay away from the area of an accident.
If your voice is normally mono-tonal, and lulls people to sleep, speak with more energy and enthusiasm. Be excited about what you are saying!
Business Speech Improvement provides coaching for better communication. Check out our e-books, open enrollment seminars and individual coaching options!
Several techniques can help you. First, speak at a normal volume, but at the crucial point, speak slightly softer.
(This only helps if your listener has normal hearing or you are using a microphone!) It sounds to your listener like you are conveying a secret, and he will pay more attention.
Second, pause briefly right before the crucial point. This also helps focus the listener's attention.
Third, change your rate of speech at that point. Speak slower if the information is complicated for the listener to understand. Speak slightly faster if this is urgent, such as pleading with people to stay away from the area of an accident.
If your voice is normally mono-tonal, and lulls people to sleep, speak with more energy and enthusiasm. Be excited about what you are saying!
Business Speech Improvement provides coaching for better communication. Check out our e-books, open enrollment seminars and individual coaching options!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
How to assess your business communication skills
1. Actually listen to yourself talking. Is your telephone greeting automatically cheerful, clear and professional? Can every word be clearly understood by the listener? Do people often look puzzled, or ask you to repeat yourself?
2. When you meet a stranger at a gathering, do you know how to make small talk with him if you choose to do so?
3. How's your hearing? Three groups are most at risk - and one of them is a surprise to many employers. The three are older employees, starting in their late 50's, those exposed to loud noise, and...employees in their late teens and twenties who use earbuds while playing music too loudly. (Twenty percent of teens and those in their early twenties have some signs of hearing loss.) If in doubt, get your hearing acuity checked by a certified audiologist - and wear ear protection when exposed to loud noise (such as lawn mowers).
4. When you try to persuade someone, do you first think of his needs before you plan your reasoning? For example, does he need something done fast, accurately, at less cost, more conveniently or in a simpler manner?
5. If you are an executive, how are your skills in professional listening, delegating, employee retention, leading brain-storming sessions, making employees feel connected to the company and verbalizing ideas concisely?
Most of an executive's work involves professional-level communication skills; do yours need an upgrade?
Business Speech Improvement offers small group seminars, individual coaching, and coaching via telephone or Skype (if in TN or GA. For details, go here.
E-books on presentation skills, speaking slower, diction, American English pronunciation practice, making small talk, or communicating with someone with a hearing loss, click here.
Imagine yourself or your employees with better communication - and visit Business Speech Improvement today!
2. When you meet a stranger at a gathering, do you know how to make small talk with him if you choose to do so?
3. How's your hearing? Three groups are most at risk - and one of them is a surprise to many employers. The three are older employees, starting in their late 50's, those exposed to loud noise, and...employees in their late teens and twenties who use earbuds while playing music too loudly. (Twenty percent of teens and those in their early twenties have some signs of hearing loss.) If in doubt, get your hearing acuity checked by a certified audiologist - and wear ear protection when exposed to loud noise (such as lawn mowers).
4. When you try to persuade someone, do you first think of his needs before you plan your reasoning? For example, does he need something done fast, accurately, at less cost, more conveniently or in a simpler manner?
5. If you are an executive, how are your skills in professional listening, delegating, employee retention, leading brain-storming sessions, making employees feel connected to the company and verbalizing ideas concisely?
Most of an executive's work involves professional-level communication skills; do yours need an upgrade?
Business Speech Improvement offers small group seminars, individual coaching, and coaching via telephone or Skype (if in TN or GA. For details, go here.
E-books on presentation skills, speaking slower, diction, American English pronunciation practice, making small talk, or communicating with someone with a hearing loss, click here.
Imagine yourself or your employees with better communication - and visit Business Speech Improvement today!
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Better Business Communication Day: Jan 23, 2012
Think about it; without communication, there cannot be business.
Buying, selling and related activities all require some type of spoken, written or gestural/signed communication.
Better Business Communication Day was started by Business Speech Improvement to highlight excellent business communication techniques.
Here are three tips for better communication. When answering your telephone, smile and speak slowly as you give your greeting. It helps the other person understand you better, especially if there is noise in the background, and calms any callers who might be upset. More importantly, it helps you sound professional.
If you are preparing a speech, start it with a surprising fact or a startling statistic, among other techniques. Get these from the Web. You have just thirty seconds to seize your audience's attention.
If you are proposing a new idea to a group, share it with some other members of the team for their feedback before discussing it with the group. The idea may be stronger and the others will back you in the discussion.
Business Speech Improvement, in Chattanooga TN, provides intensive seminars, individual coaching and e-books on many aspects of verbal communication.
Buying, selling and related activities all require some type of spoken, written or gestural/signed communication.
Better Business Communication Day was started by Business Speech Improvement to highlight excellent business communication techniques.
Here are three tips for better communication. When answering your telephone, smile and speak slowly as you give your greeting. It helps the other person understand you better, especially if there is noise in the background, and calms any callers who might be upset. More importantly, it helps you sound professional.
If you are preparing a speech, start it with a surprising fact or a startling statistic, among other techniques. Get these from the Web. You have just thirty seconds to seize your audience's attention.
If you are proposing a new idea to a group, share it with some other members of the team for their feedback before discussing it with the group. The idea may be stronger and the others will back you in the discussion.
Business Speech Improvement, in Chattanooga TN, provides intensive seminars, individual coaching and e-books on many aspects of verbal communication.
Sunday, January 15, 2012
How to pronounce three difficult words in English
"How do you say that word?" is a frequent comment I receive. As a communications coach, I work with non-native professionals from all over the world who are in the USA to live and work.
Three of the most common questions are about world, excellent, and schedule. To say "world", pronounce it in 2 parts: "wor" and "uld". It sounds like "WOR-uld". "Excellent" is pronounced as "EK-sel-lent", while "schedule" is
"SKED-jule". (The British pronunciation is "SHED-jule".)
A full three day seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals is offered periodically by Business Speech Improvement. For more details on this, on e-books and other seminars, click here.
Three of the most common questions are about world, excellent, and schedule. To say "world", pronounce it in 2 parts: "wor" and "uld". It sounds like "WOR-uld". "Excellent" is pronounced as "EK-sel-lent", while "schedule" is
"SKED-jule". (The British pronunciation is "SHED-jule".)
A full three day seminar on American English Pronunciation Improvement for Non-native Professionals is offered periodically by Business Speech Improvement. For more details on this, on e-books and other seminars, click here.
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