Are you hating on small talk? Or, gasp! avoiding it? You know those engaging folks who can meet someone for the first time and end up getting digits or business cards? They can make merry conversation with just about anyone while waiting for the meeting to start? They always seem to articulate their thoughts in …
How many times have you met someone, had a bit of small talk for 2 awkward minutes & moved on never to speak with that person again? Every person you ever meet isn’t going to be your friend but we do need to build new relationships actively. We’re social animals and need to have relationships …
Have you been struggling with how to pronounce the th sound? Ask any American how to pronounce the /th/ sounds (yes, there are 2 of them), and they’ll tell you to put your tongue between your upper & lower front teeth. Even speech professionals are out there telling you to do this. In the Google …
Some American-English sounds are challenging for speakers who don’t call English their first language. Do you want to know why? Did you ever wonder why it’s so hard to use an American accent when using English as a 2nd or 3rd language? Because each of English’s 26 letters doesn’t represent only 1 sound in Standard …
American Accent–Are You Making These 3 Common Pronunciation Mistakes? Read More »
Can you speak persuasively when you need it most? So you’re awesome at telling your friends your great idea, but when it comes to speaking persuasively to your team & your boss, it doesn’t come out quite as mellifluously, does it? Not precisely the mellifluous oration it sounded like in your head, is it? You’re …
Persuasive Speaking: How to Nail it When You Need it Most Read More »
Did you ever notice it’s easier to talk to your friend at happy hour after work than it is to talk to someone on a first date? You’ve got all kinds of stories to share with your friend but sitting across the table from your date; your mind draws a blank. You know you need …
How to Be a Persuasive Speaker-Are You Failing When You Need it Most? Read More »
When people first contact me they often say, “I’d like to learn how to improve my diction.” They want to learn to pronounce their speech better. (Spoiler alert: The answer isn’t in over-articulation.) The first question I ask is, “Why?” They invariably tell me that they want people to listen to them, really hear them. …
Credit to Vampire Weekend for their song with the same line. And the same concept. It sounds like they’re saying that people who are more concerned about diction than their relationships may just be doing it wrong. People are very concerned about their speech. They want to sound precise and articulate. They want to improve …
How to tell a story. Everyone tells you that you must tell stories. But nobody ever tells you how–until now. They say: tell stories. But most people get caught up trying to tell their stories. They use too many words, get lost while they’re telling their stories, lots of things go wrong. Sadly most people …
This ain’t your grandpa’s world folks. This is you in a world where you’re constantly proving yourself. There’s tremendous competition. Lots of talented folks that you have to contend with for jobs, projects, and gigs. If you want to get ahead & stay ahead you need to communicate your message clearly, effectively & persuasively. You …
