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Speaking Freely BlogAuthentic Public Speaking and Leadership

How Pronouncing Consonant Sounds Clearly Makes a Non-Native English Speaker Easier to Understand

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 group or large […] Read more

Accent Reduction: Why Pronouncing Consonants is More Important than Pronouncing Vowels

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 you be realistic […] Read more

Accent Reduction: Freedom of Speech for Non-Native Speakers of English

People from all over the world come to the US because of the freedoms and opportunities we enjoy in our country. Freedom of speech is among our most cherished and valuable rights which draw ambitious and educated people to our nation. Houston, Texas is truly a melting pot for professionals especially in the oil and […] Read more

SPEAKING FREELY: A BATTLE HARD FOUGHT FOR BY OUR FOUNDERS

Happy July 4th! Let Freedom Ring throughout the World! – Sandra Zimmer 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 we can say what […] Read more

Speaking Freely: Public Speaking – How to Speak at a Pace People Can Follow

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 When you are called on to speak publicly, your job is to relate to your audience.  Maybe […] Read more

Speaking Freely: Why is Authenticity Important for Public Speaking?

In public speaking,  authenticity is important because our degree of comfort is directly related to our degree of authenticity. The more willing we are to be genuine with our expression, the more comfortable we feel with ourselves. Conversely, our fear and anxiety is locked up in our reluctance to be real with our thoughts and feelings. People […] Read more

Speaking Freely: What is Authenticity? How Does it Help Public Speaking?

In terms of public speaking, developing greater 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 public speaking, the tension associated with stage fright comes from […] Read more

Alan Rabinowitz: How a Severe Stutterer became the Voice for African Wild Cats

Alan Rabinowitz could not talk to people at all, but he could talk to animals fluidly. He promised his childhood pets if he ever became a fluid speaker, he would speak up for the animals of the world. I heard Alan tell his story about being a severe stutterer as a child on the MOTH […] Read more

The Power of Self-Expression

There is simply nothing that transforms your life as much as Self-Expression, because a profound shift in consciousness happens when you open yourself to share your truth. “What we say is important… for in most cases the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” – Jim Beggs As you express your inner Self, your […] Read more

How to Demonstrate Grace under Media Fire: General Eric Shinseki, VA Secretary

By Sandra Zimmer How would you respond if you were accused of incompetence in a media interview? Could you stay calm and open? Could you handle it with grace and dignity? Currently, there is a big media bruhaha around General Eric Shinseki, the Secretary of Veteran Affairs. He has been accused of allowing veteran’s hospitals […] Read more