Speech Coach for Professionals: Overcoming Speaking Fears and Hesitancies

Speech Coach for Professionals:  Overcoming Speaking Fears and Hesitancies

Most if not all of us are concerned about the way we speak.  However there are many today who have speaking fears and hestancies that prevent them from moving forward with their dreams and desires that include relationships, business and family interactions.  

You Can Overcome
Speaking Fears and hesitancies

Overcoming speaking fears and hesitancies is a major relief for many persons and business people.  Speaking in front of others whether just a few, or a large audience is a skill that is a prerequisite for many business and professionals today.

There are literally thousands of people all around the globe who would like to overcome speaking fears and hesitancies.  They are limited in what they can achieve due to the desire to avoid speaking with and in from of others.

Attached below is a link which includes a gentleman I met a year ago.  In this video a year has gone by, and here is a short interview of what he is like now.  

Encouraging and taking an interest in his success helped him overcome speaking hesitancies and fears.  Taking a sincere interest and challenging him to do what he feared helped him overcome speaking fears and hesitancies.  Other strategies are available to help overcome speaking fears and hesitancies.  

 Now he is contantly overcoming speaking fears and hesitancies every time he chooses to make videos and speak in from of professional groups, Chamber of Commerce functions, and various civic and fraternal organizations.  

Overcoming Speaking Fears and Hesitancies

Contact us today for more information about speech coaching for overcoming speaking fears and hesitancies.  Mark is a speech langauge pathologist who has been practicing for over 40 years helping business people and others speak with clarity.

Contact Us Today.

Speech Coach Preventing Misunderstandings

It's easy to misunderstand the
communication of others

Preventing Misunderstandings with Friends, Family, and at the Workplace

One of the most important skills we can learn, especially when entering the job market are ways to prevent misunderstandings.
As a speech coach I am frequently asked to advise people on how to prevent misunderstanding at the workplace.

It is So Easy to be Misunderstood

It's easy to misinterpret the communication that others may be sending to us.  And especially today when our society includes so many cultures.  Each culture has a way of communicating and those who are different can very easily misinterpret a message.

But that's not the point.  Even those within our own culture may send a text, an e mail, phone call or face to face, and if we are not careful, we may formulate a conclusion before getting all the information or the intention of the speaker.

Preventing Misunderstandings

Has anyone ever conveyed a message to you, and you immediately became disturbed by it, or thought the other person crazy or bizarre?  It happens every day since we need to remember that the way we interpret a message is based on our past experiences, and not necessarily what is being communicated.  It is very easy to jump to conclusions.

To Truly Understand One Another

Whenever we are in a communication situation where we may form an immediate conclusion, whether negative or positive, it would be wise to remember to ASK QUESTIONS for clarification.

The only way to truly understand a message is to confirm it.  Questions such as:

1.  Would you specifically tell me what you mean by that?

2.  Would you be more specific about what you just said?

3,  Are you saying that you _________________________?

Ask Questions to Prevent Misunderstandings

Since most of us are opinionated, and may formulate conclusions before we obtain enough facts, we must question the other communication partner to assure we have understood them correctly.  In that way we can prevent misunderstandings and strengthen relatonships.

Moshe Mark Ittleman is a speech language pathologist who has helped people with speaking difficulties for over 40 years.  He also provides group seminars in communication strengthening and works with professional and aspiring speakers who wish to present with impact.

You may contact us for more information or to schedule a get acquainted phone call.

Vocal Hoarseness and Glottal Fry: Common Causes and Voice Therapy

Speech Coach For Professionals: Vocal Hoarseness and Glottal Fry Common Causes and Voice Therapy

Speaking in a horse voice can be Harmful

Vocal hoarseness and glottal fry when prolonged can be very harmful to the vocal cords.  There are common causes and voice therapy is frequently necessary.  Many men and women today want to speak in a voice that sounds low and raspy, but it can have serious consequences.

Speaking in a hoarse voice especially towards the ends of phrases and sentences is called glottal fry.  It was coined a fry
since the voice can sound like bacon frying when the pitch of the voice is too low.  

Many speakers today suffer from glottal fry and it is becoming increasing common in women.  Many do not know that speaking in a hoarse voice with glottal fry can be harmful to the vocal cords if it becomes a habit.  

Common Causes and Voice Therapy

When one speaks at a pitch which is below their natural or habitual pitch, the voice starts sounding raspy and hoarse. The vocal cords do not operate well when the pitch goes below its optimal level.  This causes the vocal cords to vibrate in a way that is out of phase (like a car motor that is not tuned up).  If the vocal fry becomes a habit, the vocal cords can develop growths called vocal nodules or polyps.

Glottal Fry Voice Therapy

Vocal Fry is often corrected by teaching those with vocal fry and hoarseness how to breathe better to support the voice and resetting the pitch of the voice to what we call the optimum pitch, so that it sounds normal and healthy; not tired or ill.   At optimum pitch the voice is typically clear, and the vocal cords are vibrating in-synch.  This will then lessen the possibility of vocal cord pathology.  (growths).  An expert voice therapist can also identify any abuses the individual may be doing that may contribute to the cause and develop a plan to show each person how to stop the abuses.
  

Let’s get rid of the tired voices that characterize glottal fry and replace them with healthy and vibrant ones.

Questions?  E mail or call us today!

talkwithmark1@gmail.com
832-233-2601 

Speech Coach for Professionals: The Relief That Comes From Talking Better

Speech Coach for Professionals:  The Relief That Comes From Talking Better

Speech Coach for Professionals

How do you spell relief for a corporate speaker who realizes she has difficulty saying specific speech sounds and is contstantly reminded of that by her business team.

A few months ago a trainer of corporate executives spoke with me about a speaking concern.  She had difficulty producing specific sounds of speech and her videographer had remarked about speech sound distortions that were present in her video recordings.  

She indeed had an articulation difficulty.  Articulation is the accurate production of the sounds of speech when they are formed by the lips, teeth, tongue and mouth.  If the tongue or surrounding structures makes any inaccurate movements, the sound will not come out clearly; it will become either distorted or omitted from within the word spoken which includes those sounds.  

She asked if there was any help for a problem such as that, and she was immediately shown how to position the tongue correctly for the errored sound.  Within a few days she was saying the sounds correctly and was totally focused on making sure that her speech was impeccable within conversation!   
                                        

 Here is the video link:  A Satisfied Corporate Executive

Corporate Executives and professionals are in the public eye constantly and their speech should reflect their personality.  Impeccable, accurate, focused, and clear.  

She no longer has any hesitation or concern about her speaking which has now freed her up to focus all her attention on the message and connecting with clients and new prospects.  She's very happy now to have mastered her speaking concern and has a new appreciation for fellow professionals who help improve the ability to speak and share powerful messages.

Speech Coach for Professionals Mark Ittleman has 44 years of experience helping people improve their ability to speak.  He works with those who have medical speaking difficulties as well as professionals and executives who wish to become clear, articulate speakers.  The ability to speak with clarity and  move audiences in the corporate and marketing arenas in today's business climate is essential.  Mark is certified as a speech language pathologist by the American Speech Language and Hearing Associations and holds professional licenses within the USA.  He also works with international patients and executives.  Call today to set up your free video conference consultation at 832-233-2601.

Speech Coach for Professionals, Pitfalls of Speaking Too Fast

Speech Coach for Professionals:   When one speaks too fast

A meeting was attended recently where a free breakfast was offered to 2,000 attendees in order to sell them a very upscale

software program.  The breakfast was exquisite and following its conclusion the salesperson gave the sales presentation.  He couldn't understand why people were walking out, and also talking to one another during his presentation.

One of the attendees informed me of what happened that morning and it was learned that NO ONE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WAS SAYING!  His speech was so fast and "low" that few, if any got the message.  What was worse?  The result.  Few sales when a year before there was a line to purchase the product that was very, very long.

Speech Coach for Professionals

Mark A. Ittleman

What was the difference between Vigorous and Minimal sales?

This guy had no stories of interest, but even if he had his speech was so fast!  Few people comprehended anything he said!  And his volume was very low.  No vocal projection, no movement on the stage, little to no gesture, or asking the audience questions to get them into the presentation.  These are all things that can be readily improved upon with the right training and speech Coach.

The attendee who asked for help

The person who conveyed this message also had a major speaking difficulty of the same magnitude.   Within a very short time he could be understood without others having to strain to listen.  His words were clear and articulation was succinct.  

A very happy person

This is what he said following the training.

Mark helped me be more understandable by marking out each word by tapping my fingers. That makes each word more distinct and prevents the run-togethers. Thanks! -Terry Schmidt-

Mark Ittleman Speech Coach for Professionals has 44 years of experience helping people improve their ability to speak.  He works with those who have medical speaking difficulties as well as professionals and executives who wish to become clear, articulate speakers who can move audiences in the corporate and marketing arenas.  He is certified as a speech language pathologist and certified by the American Speech Language and Hearing Associations and holds professional licenses within the USA.  He also works with international patients and executives.  Call today to set up your free video conference consultation at 832-233-2601.

Mark Ittleman Speech Training Professional Helps Clients Speak Their Best

Mark Ittleman Speech Training Professional

Hi Teaching of Talking Friends! (And No I have not fallen off the edge of the earth!)

Teaching of Talking Tip for Better Speaking:
I got a Life Story from a Simple Question or Two

It was a busy month, and we have been traveling through Nevada, Arizona, California, San Francisco, and tomorrow we leave for Sonoma; the wine country to see this beautiful country.  Malka and I have loved visiting with Teaching of Talking Friends, and meeting with aphasia groups. 

 We are now headed North and will be presenting in Portland and throughout Oregon and into Washington State.  So if you would like to meet up, or have a presentation at your stroke club or University, please let us know.

This morning I was walking out of the shower room at San Francisco RV Park. In walked a gentleman who greeted me with “Good Morning.”

He told me they were “packing it up” and heading back South.
I asked where, and he told me Southern California and contributed they had been in Oregon last week, and that he absolutely loved it there! He asked where I was from. I told him Houston, and we remarked about the crowding and traffic.  I asked where in Oregon they had visited, and he told me the name of the town and how his best friend for many years lived there and they went to visit. 

Following that he told me that they had planned on moving there years ago, but at the last minute his wife decided no. Their children were there and she did not want to move far from them.

Almost a life story, just by asking one or two simple questions. The same concept applies to helping those who have speaking difficulties talk again. Ask simple questions, and converse at their level of difficulty; one word, phrases or sentences.

 It is about the interaction, not the mindless practicing of unrelated words or phrases that really makes the difference in attention, speaking improvement and carry over of automatic speech.  

Mark Ittleman has 44 years of experience helping people improve their ability to speak.  He works with those who have medical speaking difficulties as well as professionals and executives who wish to become clear, articulate speakers who can move audiences in the corporate and marketing arenas.  He is certified as a speech language pathologist and certified by the American Speech Language and Hearing Associations and holds professional licenses within the USA.  He also works with international patients and executives.  Call today to set up your free video conference consultation at 832-233-2601. 

Speech Coach for Professionals and Executives Mark Ittleman, M.S., CCC/SLP

Speech Coach for Professionals Mark Ittleman

Speech Coach for Professionals Mark Ittleman is dedicated to helping professionals and executives improve speaking skills.  The ability to speak and converse with others, and clearly articulate your personal message is a highly sought after skill in today's marketplace.

It's vital that speakers are understood the first time, without listener straining to understand the message.

Often listeners and audiences have difficulty understanding a message due to very rapid speaking, a soft voice, hesitancies, or presenting with annoying speaking behaviors.

Listeners do not want to strain to try and understand what is being said.  It's critical that your message is loud enough with optimum speed and emphasis so that your listener will be engaged and then will walk away having understood your message and what you wished to convey.

Speech Coach for Professionals Mark Ittleman offers executive coaching in the following speaking concerns:

• Speaking Presentation Skills
• Voice and diction
• Establishing your own "unique style" of speaking
• Articulation of speech
• Addressing speaking dialects
• Being totally understood by the listener
• Speaking rate-speed
• Vocal Emphasis
• Establishing yourself as a well sought after speaker
• Content development of presentations

Speech Coach for Professionals Mark Ittleman will share key elements that contribute to exceptional speaking skills.  Each month you will receive the blog from the Speech Coach for Professionals and Executives in addition to offers to help you personally through our online video coaching program where you can receive individual coaching that addresses your specific speaking concerns.

Mark Ittleman has 44 years of experience helping people improve their ability to speak.  He works with those who have medical speaking difficulties as well as professionals and executives who wish to become clear, articulate speakers who can move audiences in the corporate and marketing arenas.  He is certified as a speech language pathologist and certified by the American Speech Language and Hearing Associations and holds professional licenses within the USA.  He also works with international patients and executives.  Call today to set up your free video conference consultation at 832-233-2601.