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Minnesota-Based PRONTO ERP Partners With Mississauga-Based OTI
OTI, Optimization Technology Inc., located in Mississauga Canada, has been developing and implementing ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems since 1984. The Canadian VARs (Value Added Reseller) customer base appreciates the features built into...
Talking To The Generations
Author: Cheryl Cran © Word Count: 803 Talking To The Generations Nowadays in order to be an effective communicator we not only need to know how to adapt to different personality types, we also need to know the different generational issues that...
The 11 Secrets to Sales Leadership
In his classic book, “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill discussed the eleven secrets of leadership. Recently, as I was reading the book, it occurred to me that the attributes of strong leadership and effective selling have a tremendous amount in...
Thoughts on Great Leadership
“Thoughts on Great Leadership”
Leadership is not “who” you are; it is “what” you are. When you walk into a room where a meeting is about to be conducted, what are the people thinking of you?
1. Do they perceive you as confident and driven?...
What Katrina Can Teach Us About Leadership
Over one week ago a major disaster hit part of the Gulf Coast of the United States. I have been reflecting on the disaster, the response to it, and what lessons we can draw about leadership.
Don't worry this isn't a political piece...
Lesson 1 -...
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The Cat in the Hat" Will Help You Get Your Point Across! (Yes you can, here is the Plan)
I was recently coaching an engineer who wanted to improve his speaking skills. After videotaping him, we discussed his strong points and then his areas of improvement. Then we got to the area of vocal variety. Vocal variety is the quality of your speech that hold your audience. It is the combination of pitch changes, pauses, inflection, rhythm, and loudness in your voice that adds "color" to any conversation or speech. I suggested he try Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat." At that point he looked at me like I had a third eye. I then explained how "The Cat in the Hat" could help anyone improve his or her speaking skills, especially vocal variety, and have fun doing it.
Can you remember being read "The Cat in the Hat" by your parents? What held your attention? What made you want to hear "The Cat in the Hat" again and again? "The Cat in the Hat" is set up so that you must use vocal variety to read the story. It's the vocal variety that held your attention.
Here's how Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" can help you hold your audience's attention:
1. Buy the Book
My favorite Dr. Seuss books for this type of exercise are "The Cat in the Hat" and "Green Eggs and Ham." You can go to any used bookstore and get a gently used copy of the book at a substantial discount. You can also go to www.half.com and get the book at more than 50% off the price.
2. Read
with Passion
Read to your children, nephews, cousins, etc. While reading aloud, exaggerate your pitch, tone, and pauses. The children will enjoy it as you will become used to the sound of your voice. Children are the best barometers to let you know if you are doing it correctly. The children will have a look on their faces that show they are hanging on every word you are saying. Continue to experiment with different ways to read "The Cat in the Hat" while recording yourself on audiotape. The more fun you have, the more everyone involved will benefit from this exercise.
3. Apply It Right Away (That's the Way!)
Immediately apply your newly acquired vocal variety skills in any speaking situation whether it's in a meeting, with co-workers, speaking in front of a group, or one-on-one with another person. It may feel a little strange in the beginning. However, remember the more you use your new skills, the more comfortable you will be.
About the Author
Ed Sykes is a professional speaker, author, and success coach in the areas of leadership, motivation, stress management, customer service, and team building. You can e-mail him at mailto:esykes@thesykesgrp.com, or call him at (757) 427-7032. Go to his web site, http://www.thesykesgrp.com, and signup for the newsletter, OnPoint, and receive the free ebook, "Empowerment and Stress Secrets for the Busy Professional."
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