Speaking with Power and Persuasion

By Rebecca Shafir

We all love the convenience of a short, precise text message, but it comes at a cost. More and more people are ill equipped to pick up a phone or arrange an in-person meeting, and often even the idea of speaking causes actual anxiety. In Speaking with Power and Persuasion, licensed speech and language pathologist Rebecca Shafir gives you the tools to engage in meaningful communication with easy to learn steps.

Whether you are a self-promoter, salesperson, educator, political candidate, business leader, or student learning English as a second language, Speaking with Power and Persuasion, explains

how the body and voice work together to produce a strong vocal image;tips for taking the stress out of speaking situations;erasing bad habits that make you hard to listen to, like nasality, hoarseness, or a monotone;ways to communicate certainty, approachability, and animation when you speak;speech and vocal techniques that help you sound smart, credible, and trustworthy;actors' tricks so you're heard clearly at the back of the room;- yoga for the voice—measures to keep your voice in tiptop shape;how to practice the techniques that dramatically improve receptiveness to your ideas;ways for a person with learning differences or disabilities to communicate more effectively;how families with a learning disabled child can communicate to manage stress and help their child succeed;what the ESL speaker can do to reduce a strong accent and connect better with native English speakers;ways for a native speaker to help a nonnative speaker improve their English pronunciation.

Unlike most advice on improving your speaking that you might receive from a sales trainer or debate coach, Speaking with Power and Persuasion comes from a professional with a solid scientific understanding of the workings of the voice. The techniques Rebecca Shafir teaches are precise, practical, and sustainable. You learn what to do, how often to practice, and exactly why the exercises improve the impression you make on others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
• Release date: Oct 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9781482102215

Rebecca Shafir

Rebecca Shafir is a speech and language pathologist, communication consultant, and brain fitness expert who has been helping people communicate and think more clearly and powerfully at home, at work, and in public for more than twenty-five years.

Book preview

SPEAKING WITH

POWER

AND PERSUASION

Rebecca Shafir

© 2013 by Rebecca Shafir

E-book published in 2018 by Blackstone Publishing

Cover design by Candice Edwards

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Trade e-book ISBN 978-1-4821-0221-5

Library e-book ISBN 978-1-6246-0685-4

Language Arts & Disciplines / Public Speaking

CIP data for this book is available from the Library of Congress

Blackstone Publishing

31 Mistletoe Rd.

Ashland, OR 97520

www.BlackstonePublishing.com

PART I

SPEAKING WITH POWER

AND PERSUASION

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

This book can help anyone get their message across so that people will listen. If you are looking to make a good impression and connect with people as a salesperson, educator, political candidate, an entrepreneur or an aspiring business leader, this book is for you. It covers the essentials of speaking and listening skills for everyone—native and non-native English speakers and those facing learning and communication challenges. Acquiring these skills and know-how will give you a significant advantage over your competition. People who possess a strong vocal image maintain a distinct competitive advantage in winning new business and securing the best jobs; particularly in a weak economy. Most speakers are unskilled, lackluster and downright boring to listen to. An inspiring and motivating speaker, however, makes it easy and exciting for an audience to get involved and take the desired action. Speaking with Power and Persuasion helps you sell yourself, your product, your idea or your service by tapping into one of your greatest natural resources—your voice.

What is a vocal image? It is the impression you make based on the sound of your voice. You may be brilliant, have a great product or service, but unless you can get people to sit up, listen, and take action it won’t sell. As a matter of fact, most of my clients got the attention of their audience not because of a great resume or the high quality or ingenuity of their idea, but on how their voice conveyed the indispensability of what they were trying to sell. If you can communicate credibility, certainty, and a passion for whatever you are promoting, you will get people to listen to and buy into your idea.

The sound of your voice can play a key role in your success. The impression that you cast in the hearts and minds of your listener can be the tie-breaker between you and your competition. Did you know that people who demonstrate a strong vocal image are more popular, have more admirers and higher incomes than those who do not? Your voice is one of the most under estimated, yet powerful, personal resources you possess. This book caught your attention because you see, as I do every day, the very smart and capable people that have failed to recognize the importance of a dynamic voice and, as a result, continue to sabotage themselves and their careers by dishing out dry, snoring presentations. You’d never think of showing up to an interview in your sweats or delivering a slide presentation to your investors littered with typos, so why on earth would you deliver a presentation with a voice that leaves the audience flat or, worse, sends the wrong message?

Is the process of becoming a powerful and persuasive communicator a difficult one? Not at all. In this book, I have condensed over thirty years of studying great voices, and I have been mentored by some of the greatest speakers on the planet! I studied theater and opera and performed across the country. As a speech pathologist, I worked with damaged and healthy voices of professional speakers, political candidates, CEOs of sales organizations, and people like you. So you can trust that this process is easy, effective and will help you move forward in your career.

The way you talk and the sound of your voice speak volumes about you. Research has shown that when used in combination, certain vocal elements create a perception in the mind of the listener. As listeners, we use these perceptions to judge or draw conclusions. For example, I bet in the first few seconds of this book you drew some conclusions about me based on my word choice or, if you are listening to the audiobook, the sound of my voice. You have guessed at my IQ, how much money I make, where I’m from, and whether or not I’m a nice person. The varied tones of my voice, my pitch, and several other factors combine to produce a negative or, I hope, a positive vocal image in your mind. If it’s positive, you will want to hear more. If I started to mumble or if I sounded hoarse or weak, my voice would create a totally different image in your mind and you might view me as less credible. Your vocal image is as valuable as your website, your resume, and your accomplishments. Your voice is part of your packaging: it is your brand. If positive, it can open doors. Without an effective vocal image, you may not get the chance to share your wonderful attributes and competencies with the world. When the odds are stacked against you, a positive vocal image can make the difference between success and failure.

When I ask my clients what kind of vocal image they imagine for themselves, they will often speak of the voices of popular politicians and celebrities such as Tony Blair, Barak Obama, Diane Sawyer or Tony Robbins. The Sunday morning