Almost every performance coach will tell you that it is essential to CONNECT with your audience. What, exactly, does that mean? Keep in mind that any communication involves both speaker and listener, whether the communication is between two people or in a lecture hall with an audience of one thousand. Remember, too, that unless the message is received […]
Listen to your mother: Stand up straight
How you look when you stand, sit, and walk makes a distinct impression about you. Your posture may, however, convey an inaccurate message.
To speak: Breathe.
Don’t hold your breath. Breathe. How can such a natural and essential function be easy to forget? In order to have a pleasant speaking voice that listeners will want to hear, the main principle is to speak “on the breath” and not hold your breath while speaking. The manner and mechanism of breathing while speaking and […]
The “Eyes” Have it
We already know that it is a good idea for a speaker to establish eye contact with the listener or audience. Good eye contact is vital to effective communication. Speakers who establish eye contact while speaking are regarded as more believable and earnest. But what specifically does “eye contact” mean and what is the best […]
Ethos and the other Appeals
Aristotle, the Greek philosopher, crafted the secret to successful communication. Although he documented the secret well over 2000 years ago, it continues to be relevant today. It involves a speaker communicating to an audience via three appeals: Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Pretty words, aren’t they? And here is what they mean: Ethos is an appeal to […]