For Good Public Speaking get yourself a Good Public Speaking Coach

Your Unique Voice

Public speaking is not a team sport.  That's why most good speakers have had a speaking coach.  A speaking coach works with you, the individual.  You have a unique voice (you don't have to tell your mum who you are when you call her - she knows your voice intimately.)

You have a unique story and you have lots of stories that you can weave into your talks and presentations. 

You have a unique style and your own brand of humour - you don't need to copy anyone.  You are enough.  You are unique.

You probably don't have all the contemporary speaking techniques.  "Do it Yourself" doesn't really work for learning to speak confidently. 

And you can't give yourself feedback.  You can't do your own critique.  It takes that "look from the outside" which is why good speakers have a good coach.

I sing, so I have a Voice Coach.  I play Squash, so I have a Squash Coach.


Here's why:  

90%

of how well you perform

is already determined 

before you reach

your performing space

So, get yourself a good coach for private coaching sessions.  Practise like mad. And you can't go wrong!

The Bridegroom Speaks.....Wedding Speech - Bridegroom

Wedding Speeches are now rarely as formal as they used to be.  Brides, Grooms, Best Man, Father of the Bride – all have freedom to adapt their speeches to their own personality and creativity.

Upon request, I write the entire speech, or I help to put it together from your draft.

Here’s one idea from the many wedding party speeches I have had the pleasure to write or edit.

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Step 1.  Thank You……….

To the MC for introducing you……….

Thank you,  (to your Best Man),  for your kind words  (He has just spoken about you)

Step 2.  How you are feeling, right at that moment……..

What a fantastic day!       There are some days you wish would never end.  And this is one of those days!  I’ve just married the sweetest person I’ve ever met.  And we are surrounded by our family and friends.

It’s so good to see you all.  It makes me realise that through our marriage - we are all connected.

We thank you for your good wishes and for your support. 

For some, it’s been a fair journey. 

Travelling from Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria.    

My good friends, Darren and Mia, travelling from Jakarta.

To see you here today makes it even more special for us.  And we thank you for being with us to celebrate this magic day! 

Step 3.  Direct Thank you to Parents and Groomsmen

Matt and Lesley……..Michelle’s parents

and  my parents,  John and Jackie

Thank you for all you have done for us in the lead up to our big day.  Your efforts and generosity have come together to make it truly special.

Thank you Mum and Dad for your guidance and support.  You have always been there for me as loving parents and great friends to Michelle. 

Darren and  Sam, it’s an honour to have you as my Groomsmen.  Thank you for your support today and your friendship.

Step 4. Entertaining Story

As one of the special dividends of our wedding,   I get to inherit another family – Michelle’s  family.  

Thank you for welcoming me       so warmly.  And thank you Matt and Lesley for being the parents of my beautiful bride.

It took me a while to get around to proposing, but I always knew I wanted to marry, you,  Michelle. 

And I’m sure all of you here and anyone who has ever met Michelle would understand exactly why.

Now, Matt (her father) might have told this a bit differently, but this is the official version

After a few years, it was time.   I bought the ring, overcame the nerves and had the big talk with Matt ……………………

I then headed down to Kiama for a week of fishing.  Michelle was to meet me there a week later. Kiama is one of our favourite spots for fishing and relaxing.  We like to grab a rug, a bit of food, a drink or two and maybe a rod ‘n bait, depending on the tide.

Michelle got in first.    “well I know you’re not going to propose this trip, because you haven’t spoken to my Dad”. “ Well…ah…I did.”    She didn’t believe me.  “I would know if you had asked my Dad, he didn’t mention  anything”.

I then grabbed my dry bag, took a second to breathe , and out with the ring.   Before I could pop the question, Michelle crash tackled me.  ( I don’t think either of us could believe it.)   I then asked her with gasping breath as she squeezed the life out of me “will….. you…… marry…….. me?”   ……………….. Thankfully she said    “ yes “      -       

And here we are!  One of the happiest moments of my life!

Michelle is by far the sweetest person I have ever met. She brightens up the day of anyone she deals with and she’s always so generous. She is devoted to her family and friends and does not give love or friendship in half measures. These are just a few of her qualities that I cherish.

Step 5. Speaking directly to the bride

Michelle, my life with you has been so good.  I am so happy knowing that we now have the rest of our lives to live it together.  You look so beautiful today.  

And your Bridesmaids beside you have completed the picture.

Step 6. Toast to the Bridesmaids

 Lynda, and Naomi, Thank you for helping Michelle enjoy her day and making it so wonderful!

It’s my pleasure to ask you to fill your glasses and raise them in a toast to......The Bridesmaids Love and happiness always, Lynda and Naomi, Michelle’s  Bridesmaids!

Balloons over National Museum of Australia

Canberra Day minus one - we're 100 tomorrow!

Enjoy, yes, Enjoy Public Speaking

 Enjoy!    These speaking tips are available as Bookmarks, 2cm by 6cm - printed and laminated.   If you'd like some, email your address an I'll send them to you by Australia Post.      Best wishes, Sofia@speak2us.com.au
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After chatting with many of my clients, who I have coached for speaking roles such as: presentations at school, university, workplace, small audiences, large audiences, weddings, funerals (or celebrations of life, as they are now often called) sales presentations, business award speeches, auctioneering contests (these are very competitive) keynote speeches, recruitment interviews (candidates) motivational speeches, university lectures, debates, job interviews, video conferences, webinars, media interviews - one thing holds true: 

To enjoy public speaking, prepare as well as you can.

Prepare yourself

stand tall, straight, balanced

read out loud to rehearse

practise vocal variety

breathe low, slow and smile!

Prepare your Message

walk it through as a storyline

share something about yourself

what's your "Call to Action"

anticipate questions from the audience

you are "sharing information with friends"

Prepare your Environment

think ahead

feel the room

anticipate any potential happenings

stand in the speaking space

smile and see yourself enjoying!



Speakers - A Must to Avoid

What's your list of "Must to Avoids"? 

Watch for these when you are speaking (and add your own words to this list)

Do these make you wince when you hear Radio and TV
Announcers, Speakers, MCs, or people attempting to be MCs (weddings, for example, eeeeek!).  The things they say sure make me wince. 

What's your unfavourite?


1. "As John said, my name is Sally"
2.  "As I said before".....(not necessary - very likely no one will remember what you said before)
3.  "I don't do this very often" (don't start with an apology)
4.  "I'm really nervous"  (ditto)
5.  "In terms of"  (M O massively overused)
6.  "In this space"  (M O)
7.  "Look"  (is there anyone who can answer a question without this preface?"  M O )
8.   "Well"  (ditto)
9.  "And now without further ado"  (Major Bad for Speakers) (M M O)
10. "Moving right along"  (ditto)
11. Last but not least" (ditto)
12. "In spite of her busy schedule"  (M O)
13. "Thank you" at the END of your speech - (M O - find another way of saying "thank you"
14. "Thank you for having me" - Very Twee - M O - find another way
15. "Unaccustomed as I am, to public speaking"  (puhlease! - don't)
16. "So that's all I have to say"   (ditto)

and, one more big No No, please try to avoid saying:
"Ay Book, Ay Pencil, Ay paper, Ay Great Big New Tax" etc.  It ain't Ay - it's just "a" as in:
a book, a pencil, a person with blocked ears! 

And, I wish you all a "Great Big New Year"

Find your Speaking Coach to find Your Unique Voice

Find your unique voice.  Why do I keep saying this?

We live in a great, great time for Speakers. All that advice you ever heard from old- fashioned speaking courses, trainers, you name it. Forget it!  There are speakers who operate in a square and there are speakers who defy the square.  

You are not everybody else.  Your voice, style and content is unique.  You’re not looking for a “middle of the road” performance.  So why go to a speaking course with fifty other people and get 1/50^th of the attention?
   
You can do better than that. That’s why working with a Speaking Coach works! 

All you have to be is be yourself.  Don’t ever forget that listeners are attracted to the unique you, your unique story and your unique voice.  You can be yourself.  However. You can't be your "normal" self. Why?

Whenever you are not talking to yourself, you are speaking in public.  Which means:

1.    Your voice needs to carry across to someone else. The more people listening, the more it needs to carry. Even if you are using a microphone, you need to convey your words away from yourself to the listener.

2.    Not only that, but you have to: stay with your words and see if they connect with your listeners.  Did they get it?  If not – you need to check with them.  Did they get it?  No use going further if they are still puzzled.  So, connect with them.  Ask them the question.  Don’t die wondering.

3.    You need to be aware of your gestures and your body language.  Don’t worry too much about speaking with your hands, or a few “umms” here and there.  This is not a speaking club that collects 20 cents for each “umm” uttered by a speaker.  It’s only when you repeat, many times, the gesture or the “arrr” or “umm” – that it gets to be such a distraction it detracts from the message you are trying to convey.

4.    You need to use your unique voice – and aim to enhance it progressively.  Exercises for voice can be found in my blog:   Enhance your Voice

5.    What we are looking for is light and shade in your voice.  Think of a piece of music – it doesn’t come across as one, homogenous band of sound.  It has a pleasant and varied tone, pace and rhythm.  Fast, for when you’re listing items, or conveying conventional, known terms.  Slow, for when you want to emphasise or give special meaning.

So, yes, find your unique voice – but when you start to speak and present to audiences, however small or large, think of your unique voice as an instrument and develop, enhance and polish your voice and the messages you are delivering.

Find your unique voice.  

Find your Speaking Coach.  

sofia@speak2us.com.au

Sofia Majewski - Find your unique voice

     Find your unique voice
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My clients often ask me what I mean when I say "find your unique voice".

Often when people make a speech or presentation, they think they have to "put on a voice" that is not their own conversational voice. They do.  It is their own voice – but it’s their “Performing Voice”.    As a Speaker you need to project your voice and speak clearly, but you don't need to be an Orator, or a Preacher. That is, someone other than yourself.

I do recommend, however, that when you rehearse your speech, you rehearse out loud. It’s not the same if you just read it to yourself.  Find a corner in your house – and stand close to it.  This acts as a microphone.  You can hear and grow comfortable with the sound of your own voice.  This is a very useful practice because one of the things that can make you nervous is when you start to speak and all you can hear is your own voice!

If you speak frequently to audiences - there are many things you can do to improve your voice, so that it is "listenable."  For example, you need vocal variety so your audience doesn't drift off to sleep on a monotone. And many women find they can improve their voices by lowering their range a little.  It is well accepted that a lower voice commands more authority.

Don’t rush your speech.  People who are nervous tend to do this – so it can all be over and done with.  As always, timing is everything.  Don’t forget the pauses – for effect. We repeat for emphasis and we pause for effect.

Finding in your voice the range that is comfortable for you; the pace, the tone and the volume, is what I do for my clients, as a Speaking Coach.  By using video to record your speaking, playing it back and listening to it critically, we find and refine your unique voice. One that is comfortable and sustainable for you and enjoyable for your audiences.

That way, your speech will have a better chance of achieving your purpose!  You will grow in confidence as a speaker and find your unique voice!

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