Acting is part of life. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we spent a significant portion of our day in one performance or another. Life demands all of us to be a bit of an actor, and most people are remarkably adept at this. We perform in front of our spouses and friends. We act…
Most of my work involving rate of speech is teaching my clients how to slow down and vary their pace. Unless, of course, you’re this guy: [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeK5ZjtpO-M&w=420&h=315] His diction and clarity is impeccable! This is motor mouth mastery, I tell you. And I still miss his 1980’s Micro Machines commercials.
Everyone who wants to speak in front of a group should learn how to dance. You don’t have to learn how to dance well, but you should give it a try. Dancing teaches you how to take an aural expression of emotion (music and sometimes lyrics) and interpret it as a purely physical expression of…
When getting clients to emote more effectively, I often rail at them to go completely over the top with the melodrama. Lay it on thick like spackle, wring every possible drop of emotion out of the words, free your spirit and let your inner ham out! Canadian acting legend Gordon Pinsent provides a beautiful example…
Despite all best efforts, some people are simply difficult to communicate with. You’ve likely met a difficult communicator; no matter how hard you try, they seem to miss chunks of conversations. No matter how clear the note, they still twist the message. No matter how explicit the instructions, they still manage to screw them up. It doesn’t seem to…
You know the person who has all the right moves but for some reason gives you the heebie-jeebies? I can guarentee that they’re doing something that you may not be able to specifically peg but that your subconscious really, really dislikes. The person who is rubbing you the wrong way may be saying all the…
Many people have a funny habit of apologizing and downplaying their thoughts and opinions the moment they begin to voice them. I first noticed this trend a few years ago while sitting in a meeting, and I have become acutely aware of it ever since. It is highly likely that you do this without even…
I’m frequently asked what the most important skill in speaking is. It’s pretty simple: listening. I’m not being trite or spouting cliches! To be a good speaker, you must be a good listener. You need to listen with your ears, eyes, and brain – and not always in that order. Really skilled communicators, really dynamic…
What you have to say is important, and the way you say it matters. Communication skill can make or break businesses and careers. In an environment where many of our daily interactions are little more than brief notes sent over the latest social network or cell phone, the ability to speak clearly, persuasively, and elegantly…
