Speaking Freely

AUGUST 2, 2019

It’s time we made new rules for public speaking, specifically new rules for authentic public speaking. Today I’m rewriting the old rules for public speaking. You know, those old rules that don’t really help speakers be authentic or even be comfortable. Rules like don’t put your hands in your pockets, don’t tell them you are […]. The post New Rules for Authentic Public Speaking appeared first on Read The Self-Expression Blog to Improve Speaking Skills.

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2019 Public Speaking Speaking Skills Publications 100

Speaking Freely

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Story Telling is a powerful way to open up presentations, leadership messages and meetings of all kinds. Telling the right story produces astonishing results for you as a speaker and leader. If you’re not sure what a story is, it’s just what happened. That means it involves human beings doing or experiencing something. In case you don’t […].

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Speaking Freely

JUNE 28, 2019

It is time we update one public speaking rule to align with the collective wish for more authenticity in communicating. Public Speaking coaches everywhere advise their clients, “Don’t ever tell them you are nervous. They won’t know.” This old-style public speaking rule causes us to sacrifice being real for looking perfect. Public speaking will always […]. The post The #1 Public Speaking Rule that has to Change appeared first on Read The Self-Expression Blog to Improve Speaking Skills.

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2019 Public Speaking Speaking Skills Client 100

Speaking Freely

MAY 4, 2017

Breathing to manage public speaking fear really works. However, it only works if you practice it regularly and integrate conscious deep breathing into daily activities. It is often called mindful breathing.

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Speaking Freely

FEBRUARY 19, 2019

Training in acting can enhance your leadership presence through learning to embody gravitas! Acting teaches you how to become something new. To “become” means to be comfortable with new qualities, behaviors and skills. I taught acting for many years to adults who were mostly professionals. Many of them came to acting classes because they thought […].

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Speaking Freely

MARCH 3, 2017

If you are feeling dissatisfied with your life, it could be because you have not learned to speak up in public in order to fulfill your soul’s desire to make a difference. I believe we each have a gift to give the world. We each have some contribution to make that adds value to humanity […].

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Speaking Freely

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Here’s a valuable tip for finding stories from your life that you can use to make talks and presentations more engaging and compelling. Both professional and personal stories can be used to illustrate ideas, make points and sell your services. If you read my last post on 6 Reasons to Tell Stories in Presentations, Leadership […].

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Speaking Freely

NOVEMBER 24, 2018

“Be grounded and real…and don’t be afraid to be yourself,” says Jay Pharoah of Saturday Night Live. Jay gives us his best advice for both speakers and comedic performance in a video at INC.Video The Playbook. [link] Being grounded in your body and being real with your […]. The post Jay Pharoah of SNL Shares his Best Advice for Speakers and Performers appeared first on Read The Self-Expression Blog to Improve Speaking Skills. Authenticity grounding Uncategorized

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2018 Speaking Skills US Speaking 115

Speaking Freely

MARCH 8, 2019

Learning to embody the physical, vocal, psychological and spiritual qualities of gravitas can help you build leadership presence and power. I coach leaders to build leadership presence and power through developing the characteristics of gravitas. Gravitas is a mix of several complex skills and behaviors – being comfortable in your physical body, thinking deeply, acting […].

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2019 Leadership Power Speaking Skills 100

Speaking Freely

DECEMBER 26, 2018

There’s a simple thing to do that can transform your 2019 beyond making resolutions. Every year for decades, I’ve done something to prepare for an awesome New Year — I spent a week evaluating what happened and what I accomplished in the outgoing year and what I want to accomplish in all areas of my life […]. The post One Simple Thing to Transform Your 2019 beyond Making Resolutions appeared first on Read The Self-Expression Blog to Improve Speaking Skills.

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2019 2018 Speaking Skills Preparation 108

Speaking Freely

JANUARY 4, 2015

Learn how to get into a higher state by expanding your inner awareness so you can be your best self for public speaking and presentations. Expanding your inner state frees you to be deeply relaxed, feel self-accepting and inclusive of others and to radiate a strong presence.

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Speaking Freely

SEPTEMBER 29, 2018

When asked to think on your feet, many people say there is nothing in their heads to talk about. They think they are frozen. They say they are “blank.” Worse, they judge themselves negatively, and think having a blank mind is wrong. It is not wrong to be blank. I believe it is the right place […]. The post How to Think on Your Feet by Speaking from a Blank State of Mind appeared first on Read The Self-Expression Blog to Improve Speaking Skills.

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2018 Speaking Skills Speaking Executives 115

Speaking Freely

OCTOBER 30, 2018

What do a little known public speaking coach and a world renowned TV writer have in common? They agree on how to really overcome fear of public speaking actually transforming it into the power to speak authentically! For over 30 years, Sandra Zimmer has been evangelizing about what you really have to do to overcome and transform stage fright […].

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2018 Public Speaking TV Speaking Skills 100

Speaking Freely

OCTOBER 30, 2018

What do a little known public speaking coach and a world renowned TV writer have in common? They agree on how to really overcome fear of public speaking actually transforming it into the power to speak authentically! For over 30 years, Sandra Zimmer has been evangelizing about what you really have to do to overcome and transform stage fright […].

2018 100

2018 Public Speaking TV Speaking Skills 100

Speaking Freely

OCTOBER 30, 2018

What do a little known public speaking coach and a world renowned TV writer have in common? They agree on how to really overcome fear of public speaking actually transforming it into the power to speak authentically! For over 30 years, Sandra Zimmer has been evangelizing about what you really have to do to overcome and transform stage fright […].

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2018 Public Speaking TV Speaking Skills 100

Speaking Freely

NOVEMBER 16, 2015

I have been selling my group speaking, voice and leadership presence courses and coaching for decades, longer than some of you may have been alive. If you ask me what my secret is, I will tell you it is the power that comes when I detach from the outcome during a sales conversation.

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Speaking Freely

JULY 15, 2014

Sandra Zimmer’s Google+ There is no fast and easy way to reduce or modify an accent. If you are going to learn to reduce your accent, it is going to take considerable time and effort to practice. OK, now I have said it! I don’t mean to discourage you, but I do mean to help [.].

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Speaking Freely

SEPTEMBER 7, 2015

Stage fright is life fright. It is fear of feeling in front of other human beings. Stage fright exists in us because we can’t relax and accept what is happening in the now moment.

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2015 Stage US Public Speaking 184

Speaking Freely

FEBRUARY 17, 2017

The Sandra Zimmer Method Workshop teaches you to convert public speaking fear, tension and anxiety into free flowing energy and excitement to speak. You really can overcome life-long discomfort about being the center of attention! When you do, speaking becomes fluid and easy. A participant in a recent Sandra Zimmer Method weekend workshop said, “Had I known […].

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2017 Stage Speaking Skills Free 141

Speaking Freely

FEBRUARY 4, 2017

Transform Stage Fright into Authentic Speaking Weekend Workshop teaches you to convert tension, fear and anxiety into free flowing energy and excitement to speak. Really!

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Stage 2017 Free Hold 141

Speaking Freely

AUGUST 28, 2016

About Gravitas Gravitas is about using your personal power in service to others and giving up the pleasure of asserting your power with a sharp voice tone. contacted me and shared that he is strong technically, reports to the highest leaders in his company and gets great feedback that his expertise is valuable. He has […].

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Speaking Freely

JULY 7, 2013

Performing arts training, of necessity, includes methods to develop relaxation, concentration and presence. Years ago, in acting school, I learned to do a voice and body exercise warm-up before auditioning or performing.

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Stage 2013 Public Speaking Techniques 228

Speaking Freely

DECEMBER 19, 2014

By Self-Expression Center Staff A commonly held misconception about executive presence is that it is all about dressing for the part. While appearances are important, your presence is more comprehensive than merely the clothes that you wear. Most people won’t be convinced about your leadership until you demonstrate the ability to communicate in a sophisticated […]. The post Vocal, Visual, and Verbal Skills for Executive Presence appeared first on Speaking Freely.

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2014 Executives Visual Clothes 186

Speaking Freely

MAY 29, 2017

Solve Public Speaking Fear In order to solve public speaking fear, you must first understand what public speaking fear is really about. What public speaking fear is really about may surprise you. What it is not about may also surprise you. What we call fear of public speaking is not really about speaking. Most people who […]. The post How to Solve Public Speaking Fear appeared first on Read The Self-Expression Blog to Improve Speaking Skills.

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2017 Public Speaking Stage Order 124

Speaking Freely

MARCH 8, 2015

Interviewing is more than a set of questions. It is a stepping stone to your future, and you want to take that step with confidence. If you have made it to the interview, you have already demonstrated qualities and experience for which the company is looking. Of course, you will prepare yourself to respond to […]. The post Two Extra Steps to Prepare for a Job Interview appeared first on Speaking Freely.

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2015 Preparation Speaking 177

Speaking Freely

JANUARY 8, 2017

Recently, I wrote my most revealing article about the Sandra Zimmer Method to overcome public speaking fear and stage fright. A Presentation Guru Requests an Article The Commissioning Editor of Presentation-Guru.com, Jared Senseman, emailed to ask if I would write an article about my approach. Jared said Presentation-Guru was looking for unique approaches that help people speak and present more effectively. […].

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Speaking Freely

JANUARY 19, 2014

Alchemy is a term for turning a less valuable substance into a more valuable one. In our physical body, we can alchemically transform performance anxiety into presence. The human body is a laboratory for transformation of consciousness. Performance anxiety is a distressful reaction to energy trying to flow through the body when we become the [.].

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2014 Public Speaking Stage Publications 201

Speaking Freely

JANUARY 9, 2017

Meryl Streep just modeled how to use a speech platform as a bully pulpit. Watch her use her acceptance speech for a life time achievement award to speak truth to power. What a beautiful way to lead her community and us as a nation to unity. She embodies gravitas.

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2017 Platform Community Power 130

Speaking Freely

JULY 20, 2014

Sandra Zimmer’s Google+ Learning to pronounce consonant sounds is vital to mastering clear, crisp, intelligible speech. This translates into meaningful spoken communication that is easily understood. Pronouncing consonant sounds clearly makes every word you articulate more precise. This in turn makes your overall message more readily understood by your audience, whether it is a small [.].

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2014 Audience Public Speaking Speaking 187

Speaking Freely

AUGUST 24, 2014

What is often misnamed as fear of public speaking is one of the best-kept secrets of corporate leaders. It is surprising how few leaders feel really comfortable speaking in public settings and being the center of attention. Much has been written about fear of public speaking, but what I think has not been clearly understood is that the problem […]. The post Leaders Need Comfort in the Skin for Public Speaking appeared first on Speaking Freely.

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Speaking Freely

JUNE 29, 2014

There are three things to aim at in public speaking: first, to get into your subject, then to get your subject into yourself, and lastly, to get your subject into the heart of your audience.” - Alexander Gregg Sandra Zimmer’s Google+ When you are called on to speak publicly, your job is to relate

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2014 Public Speaking Audience Publications 184

Speaking Freely

DECEMBER 31, 2012

As 2013 and the movie version of Les Miserables open, we can all use a little inspiration to remind us it is possible to fly and to spur us all on to new heights. No one did that better than Susan Boyle at her first audition of Britian’s Got Talent! Her is a video of [.].

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Speaking Freely

APRIL 29, 2014

Sandra Zimmer’s Google+ By Sandra Zimmer 2014 The prevailing model for speaking persuasively is a style of speaking that is enthusiastic, energetic and extraverted. The speaker is asserting a point in hopes to convince the listener to agree. However, this model can be a trap. It puts you in the position of selling. Of course others don’t [.].

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2014 Communications Sales Public Speaking 184

Speaking Freely

JUNE 15, 2014

Sandra Zimmer’s Google+ Developing a greater sense of authenticity is an important key to unlocking stage fright and fear of public speaking. To transform stage fright and fear of public speaking, you must learn to be comfortable being who you are in front of other people. In a real sense, the tension associated with stage [.].

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2014 Public Speaking Speaking Publications 179

Speaking Freely

NOVEMBER 25, 2014

The great presentation guru Garr Reynolds wrote a blog post in which he shows a video of Frank Sinatra singing “You Make Me Feel So Young.” ” Garr quotes Sinatra saying, “When I sing, I believe. I’m honest. If you want to get an audience with you, there’s only one way.

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2014 Engagement Engagements Audience 169

Speaking Freely

FEBRUARY 22, 2015

Be prepared to handle the money question strategically when interviewing for jobs. Here are some tips about how to handle the money question to allow for the best outcome. If you’ve read about how to handle the subject of money during a job interview, you’ve likely learned that you should never bring it up. Most interview experts agree […]. The post How to Respond to the Money Question when Interviewing for Jobs appeared first on Speaking Freely.

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Speaking Freely

JULY 4, 2014

Happy July 4th! Let Freedom Ring throughout the World! – Sandra Zimmer Sandra Zimmer’s Google+ The following post was written by my dear friend and social media expert, Karen Scott Jones. Thanks Karen! How often do we reflect on our right to speak freely in this country? I think we take it for granted that [.].

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Speaking Freely

SEPTEMBER 29, 2014

Developing executive presence is much like being an actor working to develop a character. The process is basically the same. You must step into the skin of a leader and embody the physical, mental and emotional characteristics so that you behave as an executive. As Constantine Stanislavski, the father of modern acting technique often said, […]. The post Qualities and Characteristics of Executive Presence appeared first on Speaking Freely.

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2014 Executives Leadership Techniques 166

Speaking Freely

MARCH 2, 2014

Have you experienced that people sometimes give you excuses rather than reasons? They respond, but somehow it just doesn’t ring true? Maybe their answer just does not satisfy you? I walked into the women’s restroom at my favorite pizza kitchen last week. A lovely young black woman was in the restroom talking on a cell phone. [.].

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2014 Speaking Public Speaking Communications 179

Speaking Freely

APRIL 11, 2015

Most people don’t like the sound of their voice when they hear it replayed on a recorder. As a voice and diction teacher for almost four decades, I can attest to that fact. When Arthur Lessac trained me to teach his Lessac Voice Method, he also trained me to have a great voice. The day […]. The post Why You Don’t Like The Sound of Your Voice & What to Do About It appeared first on Speaking Freely.

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Speaking Freely

MARCH 22, 2014

Today, Sunday, March 23, 2014, The Houston Chronicle Jobs Section is printing an article entitled “Public Speaking an Important Career Tool.” ” This article written by Emilia Benton, a copy editor from the Special Publications of Houston Chronicle Media Group, features some of my ideas about the value of public speaking skills for career development. Benton [.].

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Speaking Freely

MAY 26, 2016

Gravitas is a power that comes from inner authority to express your wisest thoughts for the good of the whole group. Gravitas commands attention, respect and admiration, not because it is flashy, but because it is wise and thoughtful.

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Speaking Freely

DECEMBER 2, 2013

Most people don’t know they can have a really good speaking voice. Many are surprised when they hear themselves on a voice recorder. People often tell me they don’t like the sound of their voices. And they think they are stuck with the voice they have been used to using. Having a beautiful voice quality [.].

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