Your posture, your image, your voice

1/ Your posture

Stand in front of a mirror – what do you see?

Stand tall but not stiff – imagine there is a thread pulling you up from the top of your head. Keep your neck relaxed on your shoulders and your hands at the side.

Look straight ahead at a point just above your eye level – take a breath and smile.

Soften your jaw, unclench your teeth and relax your tongue.

Check that your weight is evenly distributed, feet slightly apart.

Go through this in your mind and then take up this position before you begin to speak at a meeting or event.

2/ Your image

How you look is the first vital message you convey to your audience.

Your audience will make a 5 second judgement as soon as they see you.

Are you smartly dressed and appropriate for the occasion?

Is your hair clean and brushed?

Have you taken two minutes to look in the mirror before entering the room?

Are you doing yourself justice every time you make an appearance?

Looking smart makes you look professional and gives YOU confidence

If you unsure it is worth asking a colleague to give you feedback.

3/ Your voice

Your voice is unique and special so take care of it!

Using correct posture will have a direct impact on your vocal ability.

You can help to exercise your voice by humming on a regular basis to exercise the vocal cords.

Slide up and down the scale - repeat this several times daily.

With an open mouth gently hum down your nose – use the “ng” in ring.

Move up and down & play with different notes and speeds to increase flexibility.

If your jaw is stiff say “Yah Yah Yah” several times with your mouth slightly open.

With a good posture, a smart image and a pleasant voice you can make great impact!

Jackie Arnold - Voice Coach

Everyone can learn to speak with confidence you only need to take that first step!

What to do when I need more confidence?

- Realise you are unique

Know that you have talents and abilities that others do not. Ask yourself when you have been successful, what was your attitude then? What did you tell yourself that helped you through. Write down the times when you have achieved something you were proud of and keep the list where you can see it. Take with both hands the negative voices that plague you and actually put them in the bin - yes that one in the corner - do it now!  Realise that those voices will only sit on your shoulder if you allow them to. You have a choice to thow them away every time they surface. The action of putting them into a bin and shutting the lid can be very liberating. Re-programme your self-image with expressions like “You can do this”, “Go for it”, “You have what it takes to be a great communicator”.

Featured Client

Mike was made redundant. He felt useless and had not been for an interview for many years. His self-confidence was rock bottom and he lacked motivation and energy. After talking it over we concentrated on his strengths and successes in his previous job. He set up a plan to take small steps each day and we celebrated when he was doing well.

Jackie Arnold - Voice Coach

Ask a direct question - when you ask one (or all) you have a response - you are no longer alone.

Ask a hypothetical question - What do you imagine would happen if … Would you agree that if we … I have often wondered if ..
Make a surprising statement - give a startling fact Research indicates that … Did you know that …

Bring in experiences you have shared with your audience (if possible) Do you remember when we … Going back to … I expect you recall that …

Announce some interesting news/information (do your homework!)

Create possibilities for the audience to make gestures or actions Ask for a show of hands … get people to close their eyes and imagine … Ask a couple of people to come up and share their ideas (if appropriate)

Relate an anecdote

Use props for a demonstration

How can I cope with a dry mouth?

Keep a glass of water on the table beside you. Do not be afraid to pause during your speech as audiences need time to take in what you are saying and often welcome a pause. Why am I not able to project my voice better?
Perhaps you are not breathing correctly or are nervous and tensing your throat muscles as a result. I can help you with this.
How can I calm my nerves?
The four P’s are helpful. Plan prepare prioritise and practice!

How can I plan effectively?
In a nutshell – brainstorm ideas, select three main points, expand them.

More questions will be added soon….
Please visit the fees and information page for further help.

Jackie has written a booklet entitled, “The 10 Steps to Successful Speaking” (And the 101 tips to get you there) - Cost £3.50. Please email Jackie if you would like to purchase a copy.

Select one person who you trust to give a mini presentation/speech to. Chose a topic you like and enjoy and which will interest him/her Begin by listing your main points:

1 - How can I calm my nerves before a speech/meeting etc?

One method is to use breathing techniques:
Take measured breaths from the diaphragm - hold the breath for 60 secs and then breathe out. Do this every day to increase the lung expansion. Take ten deep breaths before facing the audience to relax you. 2 - Where will I be giving my speech/presentation?
Large room, carpeted, with lectern, with/out mic? – Make sure you know as much as possible about the venue as this relieves tension.
3 - How well have I prepared?

Plan prioritise prepare & practise. Plan three main points and prioritise them. Plan an effective beginning and ending. Quotes, stories and personal experiences go down well. Prepare all the props and materials you will need in advance. Practise in front of a mirror or record your speech on a tape.
4 - Who is my audience?
All male/female? Experienced in my topic/no experience etc? If you know your audience you can give them what they need not what you think they need!
5 - What do I want to impart to them?

What is my message/specialist knowledge? - Ask yourself what it is that makes your knowledge of particular importance and how you can build in some unexpected facts or figures)
6 - What do they need that I can give them?
How can I find out their needs? – Send out a questionnaire in advance to see what their particular interests are.
7 - Why am I an expert – what is it that makes me different?

Tell a story about your experiences, share your wisdom with your audience they enjoy real life stories.
8 - When do I have to be prepared by – when will I take time to practice?
Make sure you plan the time to plan! Set aside in your diary some quiet periods in which to brainstorm your ideas and plan your presentation well in advance
9 - How can I ensure they go away with something of value?

Leave hand-outs with your name and contact details on them. Give facts and data that you feel would be useful.
10 - What skills do I need to improve in order to be a successful speaker?
Jackie Arnold will coach you and offer further skills and knowledge!

Tip: It is never about you – the speaker. It is always about them – the audience.

Jackie is a Business Development Coach (Working on communication skills, staff appraisals, delegation, life balance, team building etc) She is a Voice Coach & Presentation Skills Trainer.

She co-owns a company called Beyond Belief Training and Coaching – helping businesses grow to their full potential. www.trainingandcoaching.com For a FREE coaching session of 30 mins contact Jackie on:
01903-756186

Phase 1
See end of business plan
Phase 2

What is your business and what benefits do your customers /clients receive?
(at least 10) Phase 3
What is your target market and who are your clients/customers? Be specific
Phase 4

How are you going to reach the buyers of your products/services?
(Various methods & plans)
Phase 5
What is your projection of :

Income
Expenditure
ProfitOn a monthly basis for this year?

Phase 6
What are the best projected possible results you could expect for this year?

What are the minimum acceptable results?
Phase 7
What systems have you put in place to ensure these results?
Phase 8

Where are you now in your business?
Where do you really want to be?
What do you want to have achieved with your business in five years?
Phase 1

Now make a summary of all of the above on one page to make it visual at all times.

(Adapted from Toastmasters International)

1. Know your material
If you’re not familiar with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your nervousness will increase. Practice your material and revise it if necessary. 2. Relax

Ease tension by doing exercises. (breathe – tense muscles & relax etc)
3. Know the room
Be familiar with the place in which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
4. Know the audience

Greet some of the audience as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to a group of strangers.
5. Visualise yourself giving your speech
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and assured. When you visualise yourself as successful, you will be successful.
6. Realise that people want you to succeed

Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative, and entertaining. They don’t want you to fail
7. Don’t apologise
If you mention your nervousness or apologise for any problems you think you have with your speech, you may be calling the audience’s attention to something they hadn’t noticed. Keep silent.

8. Concentrate on the message - not the medium
Focus your attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly toward your message and your audience. Your nervousness will dissipate.
9. Turn nervousness into positive energy
Gather your nervous energy and transform it into vitality and enthusiasm. Get into the “fizzy spot”.

10. Gain experience
Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters or speakers club can provide the experience you need.

The top ten questions you have asked

1. How can I calm my nerves before a speech/meeting etc?
The 4 “p’s” - Prioritise, Plan, Prepare, Practise.
2. What else can I do?

One way is to use breathing exercises to help you relax.
3. How do I prepare?
One method is to make sure you have a punchy beginning/ending and then divide the main text into 3 sections.
4. What do my audience want?

Good question! Ask them, ask the organiser, do your research.
5. What can I do to capture their attention?
Use your own stories and personal knowledge to enrich the topic. Ask questions and involve the audience if you can.
6. What else can I use?

Revealing facts, figures and interesting quotes & anecdotes.
7. Do I have to be an expert performer?
No, just think about what is it that makes you different/unique and be you – don’t try to be like anyone else.
8. How much time do I need to plan and practice?

Churchill said “For every minute I speak I take an hour to prepare and practice” So 10mins = 10 hours!
9. How can I ensure they go away with something of value?
Do your research and ask yourself what THEY really need/want from you.
10. What skills do I need to improve in order to be a successful public speaker?

Breath control, voice tone and variety, stress patterns, clarity of diction, planning and organisation, creating rapport and humour. How? Get a voice coach of course!!

How to become the boss everyone loves to praise, rather than the boss everyone loves to hate! 1. Acknowledge your staff
When a member of staff does a job well, make sure you notice it, and acknowledge her/him for it.
2. Never, ever, humiliate anyone on your staff team

If you are annoyed with someone on your team, or they have done something wrong, make sure you keep your cool, especially in public. If you humiliate someone, he or she will hold a grudge against you, and their work will suffer too.
3. Create a culture where mistakes are OK
If you don’t make mistakes, chances are you are not stretching yourself. If your staff are allowed to feel that mistakes are part of reaching for new highs, rather than something to feel bad about, or shamed for, then they will take more risks on your behalf.
4. Remember personal details

Take time to get to know your staff, who they are, who is important in their lives, etc. Be interested in them as people, not just as workers.
5. Don’t hide behind your position
Be human and friendly with your staff - that way you will all be able to support and encourage each other when things are tough.
6. Be approachable

Allow your staff to feel that they can come and talk to you about sensitive issues. Show that you will respect them, and not hold what they share against them.
7. Admit your mistakes
If you get it wrong, say so. Managers don’t have to be infallible! Your staff will respect you more if you are able to admit your mistakes, and then set about sorting out a solution.
8. Listen in such a way that your employees will talk to you

Often people feel afraid of, or intimidated by, management. Make sure you show people that you are willing to listen to what they have to say, that they are important and worthy of your time.
9. Be clear in your requests
It is your responsibility to ensure that people understand your requests - so communicate clearly, and ask if people have understood what you are asking for.
10. Treat everyone respectfully and courteously at all times

Particularly when there is a problem! Everyone who works for you is a valuable human being who deserves respect. A manager is only as good as how she or he treats the people on her or his team.