|
|
| www.1001TopWords.com |
|
|
Does Uptalk Make you Upchuck?
Uptalk is invading the work place and is reaching epidemic proportions. It's that singsong speech pattern that has a rising inflection at the end of sentence. It sounds like the speaker is asking a question instead of making a declaration. Once the exclusive domain of teens, it is now a regular part of the adult world. And I don't mean Generation X. It's everywhere. It can be heard even at management levels and it's destroying their credibility. I've even heard it at networking meetings. It sounds like this: "Good morning. My name is Jane Doe? " Well is that your name or isn't it? According to one study, the voice is nearly 40% of the message. You can convey a message through your intonation alone! Next time someone asks a question, respond with a yes or no with only your tone. They will understand what you meant. If you ask for a raise using uptalk you will remain at your present salary. If you try to sell a product, you will fail. If you direct your staff, they won't follow. Why? Because uptalk makes you sound like there are other options! What causes a communicator to choose this pattern of speaking? Habit. We don't always hear the way we speak and the affect it has on others. When I was invited to do a chat on ivillage.com, I posted my article, Ten Ways Women Sabotage Their Communication in the Workplace. Thinking these tips did not apply to her personally, a woman emailed the tips to her friend Her friend sent them back to her saying, "You have uptalk."
Peer Identity. This is most often the case with teens and children. They tend to identify with the group and will adapt the speech patterns they hear on television as in the case of the show Clueless. Many parents are frustrated by their attempts to teach their children to speak correctly. Uptalk is a way of sounding like their peers and not like their family.
Copyright Diane DiResta 2001. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Make Your Talks Pay: Have People Stand In Line Eager Give You Their Business Card If you've ever been on stage, doing a talk or presentation then you'll know how often this happens... Public Speaking:10 Simple Steps to Confident Speaking 1.Preparation Ten Steps to Fearless Public Speaking There is plenty of dubious material which suggests you can combat public speaking fear. Much of it includes fancy techniques such as 'visualisation' or 'breathing techniques'. Well, they might work. But this ten step system is GUARANTEED TO WORK. That's because instead of fancy tricks and techniques, this system of dealing with public speaking fear uses your body's natural defences against fear. Top 7 Steps to Better Public Speaking Whether you want to be a part time, full time or BIG time speaker you must speak, speak, speak. At first, deliver 25-30 minute free talks to service clubs and community organizations. Consider it to be your off-Broadway tryout. A great opportunity to fine-tune your program?and maybe get some future paid business! 12 Ways to be a Confident Public Speaker Speak from your heart. If you believe in what you say, than others need to hear it. All confident speakers fall in the P2 (passion plus persistence). Be sure your speech contains your most fundamental beliefs and comes from authenticity. Conversationally Speaking "Would you like to say a few words?" How many of us dread that request? The thought of speaking off the cuff can terrify even veteran speakers. But what about the ability to give a prepared speech and sound natural? Know Your Audience What is worse than wearing a tuxedo to an event when everyone else is attending in shorts? How to Polish Your Speaking Skills: Its Time for T.I.P.S. When requested to write an article about public speaking tips, I experienced an epiphany, of sorts. Now there's a word I've never written, let alone spoken! Many people will do just about anything to avoid public speaking. Or, you may have said "Who's got the time?" or "That's not good use of my time." Therein lies the epiphany; it's all about time! Lose Stagefright Over Your Lunch Hour While teaching a two-day Speaking Confidence program to a group of 25 government secretaries, I wanted to give them practice using their personal experience to help others. So I gave them a simple assignment to ponder over their lunch hour: Think of a lesson they'd learned in life and share that lesson with the group when they came back. The Porch Light* Method to Speaking Confidence You know the feeling. Looking out at a sea of faces, you notice a few scowls, frowns, even droopy eyelids on some of your audience members. What are they thinking? Do they disagree with your points? Are they in a bad mood? Do they just not like YOU? You bend over backwards to win them over. You smile, establish eye contact. But the longer you speak the more hopeless you feel as you see your desperate attempts to please fall flat. At the end, feeling discouraged and anxious, you limp away. Youre Making Me Nervous Almost everybody is nervous when they stand up to speak. There's no shame in being nervous. However, if you are too nervous, your anxiety will spread to your audience, making them nervous in turn. Boost Your Confidence, Credibility, and Career There's one skill you can develop that will boost your confidence, credibility and career. It's public speaking. If the very thought makes you queasy, you're not alone. For some people, only death is more frightening. For others, death is preferable. Are you the latter? Avoiding the spotlight? Suffering not just butterflies but sheer panic? Dry mouth? Shaking hands? Flushed or pale face? If this sounds like you, then consider overcoming-or at least controlling-your fear. You can start by attending a Toastmaster's meeting and picking up a couple of books for additional help. Is Information Delivery Instruction? Do you work for one of those organisations whose "training" invariably consists of someone standing up in front of a group and saying something? If you answered 'yes', you're not alone. It's a common practice which leads to a widely held perception among many that it's training. It's a perception that has annoyed me over many years. I'm not against information sessions ... they have their place. What I am against is calling them 'training sessions'. For Speakers: Ten Tips on How to Increase Your Fees One of the most important tools speakers use is their FEESCHEDULE. Here are ten tips to help you increase yourattractiveness and income, while communicating exactly whatyou offer and clarify your fees for your programs, products,and services. Making Transitions Ever notice how smoothly some speakers or writers move you through their speech or memo? It seems they effortlessly take you from start to finish without making you strain to follow. How Well Do You Speak? The ability to speak well can enhance your career, clinch a sale, sell a point of view and increase your business productivity. How To Handle Audience Questions Effectively For some reason, the prospect of having to answer audience questions fills many presenters with dread and fear. Looking at it in a positive way however, it's an ideal opportunity for you to satisfy the audience further, and you can continue to drive your main points home adding emphasis to your talk. The Ten Ps of Dealing with Questions Presenters and those making speeches will frequently be faced with having to answer questions. Sometimes these will be simple questions asked at the end of your talk and lasting only a minute or two. At other times you may be involved in lengthy panel discussions that take place after a series of presentations. In any situation, though, you will want to answer questions well. Here is a ten point plan for dealing with questions and answers when you speak. I call it the Ten Ps of Question Handling. Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking Knocking knees, butterflies (who came up with that word?) in your stomach, sweaty palms, quavering voice. We've all been there ? some of us more than others. I'm going to share with you some of the tricks of the trade to help manage and reduce your anxiety before and during your presentation. These methods are tried and true and have helped many presenters. How to Prepare your Mind/Body to Give Great Speeches Sure you have catecholamines ? all speakers do. (including Sir Winston Churchill and Presidents Kennedy, Carter, and Reagan.) Those are the chemicals that make you sweat, make your heart beat fast and make your hands shake. Get rid of those chemical and psychological reactions by becoming message-centered and audience-centered, not self-centered.
|
| © Athifea Distribution LLC - 2013 |
