Emotional Authenticity Is Your Competitive Edge

I have noticed that a vast majority of people I meet are afraid to be themselves. They say the thing they are supposed to say. They do not express their own opinions. I find it truly exhausting and very boring specially when listening to public speeches. I want to scream: give me real you, not a fake persona you are trying to build.

There is a widespread opinion that professionalism and power means neutrality. Keep emotions out of it. Stay polished. Be composed.

However, there is one skill that consistently rises above the noise - emotional authenticity.

This skill builds real trust.

It improves resilience.

It reduces second-guessing and opens the door to real conversations

This very skill can be your strategic advantage, particularly in public speaking.

What Emotional Authenticity Is

• Clear, grounded expression

• Honest self-awareness

• Communicating with sincerity rather than performance

It ISN’T:

• Oversharing

• Unfiltered emotion

Three Ways to Practice Emotional Authenticity In Public Speaking

1. Start your speech with a question to the audience: Should I tell the truth or...? I am sure the audience will shout "yes". Follow up and tell people the truth and not what may seem sound appropriate or perferct

2. Substitute verbs "think, believe," with verbs "feel, sense"

3. Look each person in the audience in the eyes for 5 seconds (it will feel long)

These small shifts create space for honesty - and honesty creates connection.

Emotional authenticity isn’t about dramatic confession or forced openness. It’s about:

• Alignment

• Integrity

• Congruence

Ignoring, hiding or suppressing your emotions doesn’t make them disappear. People can sense them. Recognising them is a powerful step to freedom of self-expression, strong presence and impactful speech. Your emotions and feeling are not obstacles - they’re the most valuable sourse of information.

I finish my newsletter with one of my favourite quotes:

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.” - Carl Jung

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

252. Speak Like a Leader

We’ve worked with ambassadors, business leaders, and top-level professionals through our elocution courses. Our work has helped them not only eliminate bad speech habits but also develop the language of power and leadership.

This article is based on the insights and methods we’ve used to support their transformation.

Avoiding Fillers

Filler words - "um, ah, like, you know, basically" - creep in when we speak without intention. They weaken your message, distract your audience, and make even strong ideas sound uncertain.

The solution is simple: slow down and pause. A pause is more powerful than any filler. It gives you space to think and gives your audience space to absorb your message. Confident speakers use silence as a tool.

Choosing Strong Words

Leaders choose words that are precise, vivid, and purposeful. Instead of vague language, they use words that clarify, energise, and strengthen their message.

Compare:

• “I think this might work…” vs. “This approach will give us stronger results.”

• “Maybe we should try…” vs. “Let’s do this.”

Strong words communicate leadership, conviction, and direction. They shape how others perceive you.

Speaking with Certainty

Uncertain language creates uncertain audiences. Words such as "might, maybe, probably, sort of, perhaps, etc." dilute your authority. While there is a time for caution, habitual uncertainty can undermine your credibility.

To sound more certain:

• Make definitive statements

• Replace vagueness with clarity

• Speak with intention, not hesitation

Certainty is persuasive because it signals confidence in your message.

Simple Language vs. Unnecessary Complexity

True intelligence lies in simplicity. Leaders can explain profound ideas in clear, accessible language. Overly complex or academic phrasing can alienate audiences and make your message harder to absorb. Simple language is not “dumbing down.” It is refining—expressing the essence of an idea without clutter.

When your message is simple, your audience remembers it.

Avoiding Repetition

Repetition can be useful for emphasis, but unintentional repetition weakens your impact. When you repeat the same words or phrases excessively, your message becomes dull and loses authority.

A strong communicator:

• uses synonyms and varied phrasing

• eliminates redundancy

• keeps the language fresh and dynamic

Variation keeps your audience attentive and your message persuasive.

Exercises for the Language of Leadership

These exercises we offer as homework after our elocution lessons:

Record your speech for 1-2 minutes. Choose any topic you can talk about comfortably.

1. Listen back and note every filler word. Write down the words or sounds you use: um, ah, like, you know, basically, etc.

2. Record a second version—this time replacing fillers with pauses. Focus on slowing down and using silence intentionally.

3. Listen again and identify any convoluted or uncertain language. Notice words like maybe, sort of, might, probably, or unnecessarily complicated phrasing. Rewrite these moments using clearer, stronger, and simpler language.

4. Record a final, polished version. Compare it with your first recording and observe how clarity, confidence, and simplicity transform your delivery.

More resources on www.batcsglobal.com

Olga Smith

248. Your Personal Language Style

We all have our own personal style — a voice shaped by the environment we grew up in. The words we choose, the rhythm of our sentences, even the phrases we repeat without thinking - they all carry traces of our background, experiences, and the people who’ve influenced us.

Maybe you picked up a calm, measured tone from a parent who spoke thoughtfully. Or perhaps your speech has the warmth and colour of a lively neighbourhood where stories were traded like treasures. Over time, these influences blend into a style that’s uniquely yours - your linguistic fingerprint.

What’s fascinating is that our style continues to evolve. New environments, social circles, and technologies reshape how we speak and write. The way you text a friend today might be miles apart from how you wrote letters ten years ago — and that’s perfectly natural. Language is alive, and so are we.

Our personal style isn’t just about grammar or vocabulary; it’s about identity. It tells the world who we are, where we’ve been, and how we see things. Recognising and refining your style doesn’t mean losing authenticity - it means understanding your voice and using it with purpose.

So as you read this week’s edition, take a moment to reflect:

What’s your style saying about you?  

We offer a personalised speech analysis designed to help you discover and refine your unique communication style.

 Through this in-depth analysis, you will:

•  Gain a clear understanding of your personal language style

•  Identify your strengths and areas for growth

•  Receive detailed, actionable recommendations to enhance your speech and voice

 To book your session, email oriana_r@hotmail.com or text +447971246806

Warmly

Olga Smith

www.batcsglobal.com

235. The Power of Three

Have you noticed how often the power of three shows up in our daily lives? A good meal consists of a starter, a main course, and a dessert. A good day includes work, rest, and play.

Take my belly dancing class today. It felt amazing because it had:

1️⃣ A nice warm-up

2️⃣ A well-paced rehearsal of our routine for the upcoming show

3️⃣ A wonderfully relaxing stretch to finish

The same principle applies to public speaking. A strong speech always has:

1️⃣ An engaging introduction

2️⃣ An interesting main part

3️⃣ A memorable conclusion

And yes, even in elocution lessons, the pattern holds true:

1️⃣ Warm-up muscular exercises

2️⃣ Practising a sound or speech pattern

3️⃣ A fun verse or rhyme exercise at the end

Why does this work? Because our brains love structure. Three feels complete, balanced, and easy to remember. If you’d like to apply the power of three to your own speech and communication, you can explore my apps:

• Elocution Lessons

• Get Rid of your Accent

• American Accent App

• Fluent English Speech

• Fluent American Speech

• Business English Speech

• 4Ps, Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause

Now, I’d love to hear from you. What’s an example of the power of three in your own life? Share it in the comments—I can’t wait to read your ideas

234. Our Body is the Living Shade of our Soul

Our bodies are not just flesh and bone. They are the living shade of our souls, silently reflecting our inner world in every gesture, every breath, and every sound we make. Long before words, it is the body that speaks.

The eyes reveal the truth most quickly. They shine with joy, cloud with sadness, sparkle with love, and harden with anger. Even when our lips remain sealed, the eyes confess what the soul feels.

The shoulders tell another story. When weighed down by worry, they slump forward. When lifted by pride or freedom, they rise and open. The shoulders don’t just carry physical loads — they carry invisible emotional weight.

The breath is perhaps the most faithful companion of the soul. It races when we are anxious, becomes shallow when we are afraid, and flows deeply and slowly when we are calm. Breath is the rhythm of our inner life, always honest, always present.

The voice is the sound of the soul. It trembles with fear, steadies with confidence, warms with love, and sharpens with impatience. Every tone, every inflection, is a trace of our emotional truth.

The hands extend the soul outward. They clench in anger, tremble in fear, caress in tenderness, and open in generosity. Through the hands, the soul touches the world.

The skin acts as a canvas of the soul’s emotions. It blushes with embarrassment, pales with shock, and glows with happiness. Without words, it betrays what is stirring within us.

The posture writes a silent biography of the present moment. Bent in defeat, straight in confidence, restless in worry, relaxed in peace — posture shows what the soul is carrying.

Even the gait - the way we walk - reveals our state of being. Heavy, dragging steps often signal sorrow or fatigue, while light, springing strides announce joy and freedom.

And then, of course, the smile. A true smile radiates from the soul, lifting not only the lips but the entire face and body. A forced smile, however, exposes the fracture between body and soul.

Our bodies, in all these ways, are not separate from the soul but its living expression. To listen to the body is to listen to the soul itself. To care for the body is to honour the soul it shades.

So the next time you notice your shoulders tightening, your voice trembling, or your breath quickening -  pause. Ask not just what is happening to my body? What is my soul trying to tell me?

Because the body is always speaking, the question is: are we listening?

232. Overcoming the Fear of Speaking English in Public

Speaking English in public can feel intimidating, even for people who have studied the language for years. The fear of making mistakes, being misunderstood, or sounding “different” is common—but the good news is that it can be managed and overcome with the right mindset and practical techniques.

Why We Fear Public Speaking in English

There are several reasons why speaking English in front of others can feel scary:

1. Fear of Mistakes
Worrying about mispronunciation or grammar errors can make you hesitant to speak at all.

2. Lack of Confidence
Not being sure about your vocabulary or fluency can make public speaking stressful.

3. High Expectations
Many people compare themselves to native speakers and feel pressure to “sound perfect.”

Understanding the cause of your fear is the first step to addressing it.

Practical Steps to Build Confidence

Here are some strategies that can help you speak more confidently in English, whether in meetings, presentations, or social situations:

1. Start Small
Practice speaking English in low-pressure situations—like ordering a meal, speaking with friends, or reading out loud at home. Small wins help build confidence gradually.

2. Focus on Clarity, Not Perfection
Instead of worrying about sounding like a native speaker, aim to be clear and understandable. Your audience values clarity more than perfect pronunciation.

3. Use Pauses Effectively
Pausing after each idea gives you time to think and reduces nervousness. Practising Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause (4Ps) can make your speech more natural and easier to follow.

4. Record and Listen to Yourself
Recording your voice and listening back allows you to notice your strengths and areas for improvement. Apps like Get Rid of Your Accent or Fluent English Speech provide guided exercises for intonation, articulation, and fluency, making this process easier.

5. Practice Public Speaking Gradually
Start with a small audience, then gradually increase the number of listeners. Toastmasters, online language meetups, or even speaking to family members can help you practice in a supportive environment.

Mindset Matters
Remember, everyone makes mistakes, even native speakers. Mistakes are part of the learning process and do not define your ability to communicate effectively. Celebrate your uniqnes and your progress, no matter how small, and be patient with yourself.

Final Thought
Overcoming the fear of speaking English in public takes practice, patience, and perseverance. Start small, focus on clarity, and gradually challenge yourself. With consistent effort, you’ll progress and feel proud of your progress.

Useful Tip
Incorporate a few minutes of daily practice with guided exercises from apps like Get Rid of Your Accent or Fluent English Speech—you’ll be amazed at how quickly your confidence grows.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

228. Fluent American Speech App

Based on the international bestseller Get Rid of Your Accent Part One and Two, General American Accent Training Manual, ISBN 9780955330087, this app helps you reduce your accent, perfect your American English pronunciation, and speak fluently with confidence.

With practical elocution lessons and vocal techniques, Fluent American Speech explains the rules of difficult American speech patterns, intonation, and sentence stress. Step by step, you’ll learn how to neutralise your accent and achieve a clear, natural speaking style.

App Content

• Contractions for natural fluency

• Liaisons for smooth connections between words

• Strong and weak forms for authentic speech

• Intonation and sentence stress for clarity and impact

• Difficult word endings & silent letters with guided practice

Functionality
1. Native model audio tracks
2. Listen & repeat training
3. Record your voice
4. Compare pronunciation instantly

What You’ll Gain:

1. A fluent American accent in just 1–3 months of practice

2. Confidence in social and professional English speech as well as in public speaking

3. Improved job prospects, education, and social interactions

4. A professional voice that sounds natural, clear, and persuasive

Whether you want to get rid of your accent, prepare for public speaking, or simply improve your fluency in English, this accent app works like a personal coach in your pocket.

Start your journey to perfect American English pronunciation and fluency today and watch your career and social life blossom!

227. Business English Speech App

Whether you want to neutralise your accent, speak with authority, or master business English fluency, this is your shortcut to success in the global workplace. Based on the bestselling book Get Rid of Your Accent for Business by Linda James and Olga Smith, this app includes 43 lessons built on real business language from interviews with CEOs, CFOs, and managing directors of global companies.

 Why This App?

• The most complete resource for Business English speech training

• Written in the style of the Financial Times and The Economist

• Covers finance, IT, law, HR, and marketing vocabulary

• Used by professionals worldwide to advance their careers

• Many of our clients have been promoted after improving their speech clarity and business communication with this app and lessons

 With this app, you will:
1. Neutralise your accent in as little as 1–3 months
2. Make your Business English clear and easy to understand
3. Improve presentation, negotiation, and public speaking skills
4. Speak with confidence and authority in professional settings
5. Expand your business vocabulary with up-to-date lingo
6. Master Received Pronunciation (RP) – the clear, neutral accent of educated English speakers

 App Content  

• 43 structured lessons with audio guidance

• Clear explanations of tongue, lip, and jaw placement for each English sound

• Practice with words, phrases, sentences, idioms, tongue twisters, and business passages and interviews

• Lessons on contractions, silent letters, and French expressions used in business

App Functionality

✔ Listen to professional model recordings

✔ Record your own voice and play it back

✔ Compare your speech with the model for instant feedback

✔ Train anytime, anywhere at your own pace

Meet the Authors

Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

225. Fluent English Speech App

The follow-up to the bestselling Get Rid of Your Accent UK1 app. Designed for learners who want to speak English fluently, clearly, and confidently—just like a native speaker.

App Contents
Part 1: Master difficult speech patterns — word endings, consonant clusters, schwa, strong & weak forms.
Part 2: Connected speech — learn to speak in natural phrases instead of separate words.
Part 3: Improve intonation, sentence stress & rhythm — make your speech smooth, clear, and engaging.

Functionality
1. Native model audio tracks
2. Listen & repeat training
3. Record your voice
4. Compare pronunciation instantly

With this app, you will:

• Develop English fluency and natural flow

• Improve pronunciation, intonation & rhythm

• Learn idioms & colloquial expressions to sound authentic

• Reduce your foreign accent and speak with confidence

• Boost career opportunities and personal impact through clear communication

  Meet the Authors

  Linda James (RAM, Dip. Ed., IPD, LRAM), Speech and Drama coach, trained at the Royal Academy of Music, with 20+ years of experience teaching RP and accent reduction in London drama schools, films, and TV.

  Olga Smith (BA Linguistics, MBA), Linguist, public speaker, and co-author of the best-selling *Get Rid of Your Accent book series. Having overcome her own strong Russian accent, Olga brings practical expertise to learners worldwide.

  Visit www.batcsglobal.com to book a professional speech analysis.

218. The Role of Voice and Accent in Job Interviews

When it comes to landing your dream job, most people focus on polishing their résumé, practising common interview questions, and researching the company. But there’s another factor that plays a huge role in how you’re perceived — your voice and accent.

In a job interview, your words matter — but how you say them can matter even more.

 Why Your Voice Matters

Your voice is more than just a tool for communication — it’s part of your personal brand. The tone, pace, and clarity of your speech can instantly influence whether you come across as confident, competent, and trustworthy.

Here’s what interviewers often pick up on: 

1. Clarity – Clear speech signals professionalism and attention to detail.

2. Confidence – A steady, well-projected voice makes you sound self-assured.

3. Energy – A lively tone helps you sound engaged and interested in the role.

A nervous, rushed, or monotone delivery can unintentionally send the wrong message — even if your answers are perfect.

 Accent and First Impressions

In today’s global job market, accents are normal — but they can still affect comprehension. If an interviewer struggles to understand you, they might (consciously or unconsciously) question your ability to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, or stakeholders.

This doesn’t mean you need to erase your accent entirely. But reducing a heavy accent and improving pronunciation can make your speech easier to follow, helping you connect with your interviewer and keep their focus on your skills and ideas — not on deciphering your words.

Key Skills to Improve Before Your Interview

If you want to make a strong vocal impression, focus on these areas: 

1. Pronunciation – Aim for crisp, accurate sounds, especially for common industry terms.

2. Pace – Slow enough to be clear, but not so slow that you lose momentum.

3. Pausing – Use pauses to emphasize key points and give the interviewer time to process.

4. Intonation – Add variety to your pitch to sound natural and engaging.

5. Volume & Projection – Speak loudly enough to be heard without sounding aggressive.

How to Train Your Voice for Interview Success 

Improving your voice and accent doesn’t have to take years — with targeted practice, you can make noticeable changes in just weeks.

Get Rid of Your Accent for Business app provides: 

Audio models of clear, neutral English speech.

Step-by-step lessons to improve pronunciation and intonation.

Record & compare tools to track your progress.

Practice materials based on real-world speaking situations, including interviews.

By training your ear, practising key sounds, and mastering vocal techniques, you can walk into your interview sounding confident, professional, and easy to understand.

Your qualifications get you in the door, but your communication skills can seal the deal. A clear, confident voice helps interviewers focus on you — your ideas, your expertise, and your potential. 

Ready to sound your best in your next interview?

Start training today with the Get Rid of Your Accent for Business app — your personal voice coach, right in your pocket.

217. The Ingredients of Boring Speech

Have you ever sat through a talk where you just couldn’t keep your eyes open? I have — and usually, it’s not because the topic was boring. It’s how the speaker delivered it.

 As a member of a public speaking club, I’ve noticed that many people don’t realize how dull their speech sounds to others. They’re not trying to be boring — it just happens.

Here are 6 reasons why a speech might put people to sleep:

 1. Monotonous tone

Speaking in a flat, unchanging voice that makes listeners zone out.

 2. Speaking too fast

Rushing through your points so quickly that no one can keep up.

 3. Long, complicated sentences

By the time you finish, the audience has already forgotten what you said at the start.

 4. Lack of emphasis

Failing to stress the important words that give meaning and energy to your message.

 5. No pauses

Skipping breaks between ideas, so listeners don’t get a chance to absorb what you’re saying.

 6. Using jargon or heavy accent

Speaking in a way that’s hard to understand because of technical terms or pronunciation.

 The good news? These are all fixable.

 With the right practice and tools, you can transform your speaking style and engage your audience — often in just a few weeks. There’s even an app designed to be your personal voice coach, helping you with everything from pacing to pronunciation:

• Fluent English Speech - Apps on Google Play (British English)

• Fluent American Speech - Apps on Google Play (General American English)

• Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause - Apps on Google Play.

Ready to make your next speech interesting and memorable? It’s easier than you think!

216. Disadvantages of poor voice projection

Have you ever felt invisible? You said something, and there was no reaction. You felt that what you said was not interesting enough to pay attention to. Most likely, people did not hear what you said.

The reason is poor voice projection. The power of our voice depends on breathing and lung capacity. Actors do regular exercises to master voice projection.

When your voice has power:

• You appear and feel confident

• You make it easier for people to follow you

• People will be more likely to be persuaded that what you are saying is important

To master voice projection, I recommend 5 minutes of daily exercises from the app Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause. These exercises are easy yet very effective. You will see the results in a week.

More tips on www.batcsglobal.com

212. Ice-breaker techniques in public speaking engagements

All good ice-breaker techniques have one thing in common: successful delivery that grabs people's attention and interest.

You can use numerous ice-breakers such as anecdotes, jokes, short stories, quotes and questions. However, if they are delivered in a monotonous way, with a quiet voice that people can hardly hear, it will not create the desired effect.

Make an ice-breaker engaging and powerful. To achieve this effect, use drama techniques, such as a dramatic pause or pause for effect, a loud voice or even a whisper, depending on the meaning you wish to convey. I have mastered drama techniques using the app 4Ps, Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause. I can recommend it.

You can also use hand gestures, visual aids, objects, music, etc.

Be creative!

Click the link below to get free tips and content:
www.batcsglobal.com

209. 7 features of the British Accent

There are over two hundred accents and dialects in Britain: Southern (RP), Northern, Scottish, Cockney, etc. RP or Received Pronunciation is taught to foreigners because it is understood around the world and is called Standard English. RP is also a compulsory accent for actors to learn in British drama schools. RP is associated with high class and good education, and many learn RP to blend in with the upper classes.

I am an expert in RP, and in this article, I will share my knowledge that will help you learn to speak with RP, the most popular British accent and avoid main pronunciation mistakes. Below are the main characteristics and patterns of the British accent.
1. Pure English vowels
There are five long and seven short pure English vowels. Each vowel has a specific speech organ position. Lean on long vowels; do not shorten them. It's important to mention that the meaning of the word may change if you shorten a long vowel. For example, if you don't pronounce long [i:] in the word "sheet" people will hear another word, "shit". Spend extra time to make sure your vowels are precise.
Pay extra attention to the long [a:] sound as in “dance”. In some American and Northern English, this sound is substituted by [æ] as in “cat”. Read my article about the [a:] sound.
2. Crisp articulation
English consonants are crisp, which makes the British accent very clear and precise.I recommend doing articulation exercises regularly. Crisp articulation is important for those who speak on the phone and deliver public speeches. The best app to train articulation is Get Rid of your Accent
3. [t, d, l, n] sounds
In RP, [t, d, l, n] are pronounced with the tip of the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. It helps to train your tongue. If the tongue is much lower, that creates a harsh "dental" sound.
In the Cockney accent, [t] sounds are substituted by a glottal stop in the middle of the word, for example, “water, later”. That makes speech hard to understand for those who are not used to hearing Cockney. In American English, [t, d] sounds in the middle of the word are substituted by the fast [d] sound.
4. Word endings [t, d. s, z]
It is important to pronounce [t, d. s, z] sounds at the end of the word in the past tense of verbs and the 3rd person singular. For example, Spanish speakers find it hard to pronounce [t] and [d] sounds at the end of the word, and that might create an impact that they don't know basic grammar, but it could be just a pronunciation mistake.
5. Spelling and pronunciation are not identical
English inherited foreign words from Latin, French, Dutch, and German. They kept the original spelling but anglicised the pronunciation.
One sound can have several spelling variations. Below are a few examples:
- The [a:] sound as in “father” can be spelt with “er” in words “Derby, clerk, sergeant”
- The [f] sound is usually spelt with “f” in words “ fake, fix, frame”, but it can also be spelt with “gh” in words “laugh, tough” or with “ph” in words “phone, philosophy”
- The [ʌ] sound as in “duck” can be spelt with "o" in words “oven, front, company”, or with “u” in words “bus, lunch, pub” and with “ou” in words “ country, double, trouble”.
6. Silent letters
Many letters are silent in English. For example:
- silent [w] in words “write, who, whimsical, wholesale”
- silent [l] in words “walk, talk, chalk”
-silent [h] in words “why, when, where”
7. The usage of the schwa [ə] as in “the” for speech fluency
The schwa is used to make the speech more fluent because many unstressed syllables and even unimportant words are pronounced with the schwa. For example, in the phrases “fish and chips, ”a cup of tea”, the schwa is highlighted.
It is used in contracting unimportant words for the meaning of the sentence or phrases.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

204. How to create a promo video

Essential criteria

1. The length of a promo video is 30-90 seconds. It is short and sweet.

2. Its purpose is to showcase your product or service in a way that attracts and motivates your target audience to buy it.

3. Conduct market research and identify your target audience's demographics, motivations and pain points

4. Make sure your visual elements and graphics reflect your company's values and please your target audience

Content creation

1. Define your core messages.
   For example:
   - what is my product/service
   - where you can buy and use it
   - what is the competitive advantage or unique benefit of your product/service for yout customers

2. Identify call for action (CFA)

3. Use story telling technique

4. Use short words/verbs

5. Avoid convoluted language, complex terminology and jargon

6. Ensure your content sounds natural and conversational

Promo video delivery

1. Record your video several times and ensure good speech articulation and compelling intonation. You can master these skills with the apps ‎Elocution Lessons, Get Rid of your Accent UK1, ‎Business English Speech and ‎Fluent English Speech

2. Use pauses and modulate your voice. Download the app and Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause to practise these powerful techniques.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

189. Secrets of Successful Self-Presentation

Self-presentation is a skill that can make or break your social and professional success. In this article, I will outline some mistakes and give useful tips in this area.

Self-presentation is presenting oneself to others; others here are more important than self. Many people make a mistake by starting their self-presentation by listing their achievements, accomplishments and rewards rather than what benefits they can bring to the people they present to. For example, instead of saying “I hold a Toastmaster bronze reward”, you can say “I am a keen presenter as I have 15 years of experience in public speaking and would love to step in to present to customers and partners”. The statistics show that most people shy away from presenting, which can make you a valuable asset for a team where presentation skills are needed.

The second mistake is too much information. Avoid too many personal details that are of little interest to others such as what your mother does or what is your favourite beach. Just say things that are relevant to the situation you are in and focus on the purpose of your self-presentation.

The third area I want to talk about is speech and voice. If your speech is difficult to understand and/or your voice is unpleasant this can be a problem. The good news is you can fix it. Read about techniques to master speech and voice in my articles. Here I just want to mention the main mistakes: mumbling, speaking with a half-closed mouth, hesitating and using filler words such as “eehm, aaahm, like, basically, you know,” etc.

What can you do to make your self-[presentation successful? I recommend the SUS approach for the content:
Simple, Useful, with an element of Surprise.

Use short simple words, make it useful for others and add something unique about yourself that might surprise others. For example, if you are an elegant lady people might be surprised that you ride a high-speed motorbike.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

183. What factors contribute to a person's voice sounding good or bad?

When talking about voice, let’s consider its main characteristics:

1. Pitch

2. Power and voice projection

3. Pace

4. The tone of voice and intonation

Children have high-pitched voices. When they grow up, the voice becomes deeper and the pitch lower. Often, grown-ups have high-pitched voices. Often, they come to our elocution lessons and we help them to develop different pitch ranges. There are exercises in the app Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause that will create lower or higher-pitched voices and alternate between them to show different emotions and send particular messages.

The power of the voice or loudness depends on many factors. The power of the voice depends on the lung capacity, which in turn depends on breathing. Loudness can be trained as well with the app Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause. There are times when a soft and quiet voice is more effective than a loud one. At the same time, a loud voice can be essential for a public speaker, a lecturer or when you are out in the open teaching kids tennis, for example. Some people who tend to speak very quietly hardly open their mouths, and instead of speaking, they just mumble.

The pace of the voice depends on several factors, such as the geographic location where the person lives. The pace of life and so many other factors. In our experience, we had many highly intelligent students whose brain works so fast, and that leads to them speaking very quickly as their thoughts rush to come out. We recommend the lesson from our app Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause, to master pauses with simple yet effective exercises.

The tone of voice and intonation are very difficult to change. In my opinion, it is more psychological/inherited. copied from our parents, etc., rather than technical. Technically, there are a few intonation patterns. For example, the simplest pattern is simple rising. We use this intonation when asking a question. Simple falling is used when demanding or ordering people to do something, this intonation has an authoritative tone.

More on Get Rid of your Accent | Elocution Lessons

180. How to Improve Your Business English

One of the most important things to have if you want to achieve anything is the motivation to do it. What can motivate you to master your Business English? Perhaps earning a bigger salary, fulfilling your true potential and expanding your career horizons? I can continue this list. I am sure you have your own motivation.

Secondly, I think you should focus on your business area first. It can be marketing or finance, for example. After you have mastered Business English in your area of expertise, you can move on to other areas such as business development, management accounting, human resources management and so on.

Finally, structure your learning process. I will divide it into two parts.

The first one is your passive language, namely,y understanding Business English. This can be developed by listening and reading silently. I recommend listening to the BBC Business News, Bloomberg Radio, and the audiobook Get Rid of your Accent for Business, Part Three.

The second part is your active Business English. This can be achieved by working with the Business English Speech app, writing and giving presentations. One of the best options would be to join a public speaking club such as Toastmasters (TM).  In TM you can give prepared and impromptu speeches, get evaluated and receive constructive feedback about what you are doing well and what can be improved. You can also learn how to conduct a TM meeting. This is an essential skill if you want to conduct/facilitate a meeting.

Below are a few practical daily tips:

1. Make notes of 2-5 phrases you hear and repeat them five times several times a day.

2. Write emails on Business topics and check the grammar with Grammarly. Make a note of your mistakes.

3. Read a short article in English 3 times out loud (250 words)

4. Work with the app Business English Speech for 15-45 minutes. This app is written in the style of The Economist and The Financial Times. You can master your Business vocabulary and pronunciation.

More on www.batcsglobal.com

176. Self-Motivation to raise your standards

Last Monday, on 8 January 2024 I went to my public speaking club Grosvenor Squire Toastmasters (TM). It is the oldest TM club in London. I love this club. However, I was somewhat disappointed by the quality of the speeches and speakers. The speeches were about trivia and delivered in bad English and in a boring way. Speakers talked about cycling, running, and driving. I am sorry but that was neither inspiring nor interesting. I found them rather shallow and lacking depth and meaning. I had a feeling that people did not make an effort in self-presentation and did not work enough to make their speeches more interesting. They just showed up and did them.

I vividly remember the first time I attended a meeting in this club in January 2004, twenty years ago. It was a different standard: eloquent speakers in elegant clothes, interesting speeches. I was learning a lot just by attending the meeting.

I cannot help noticing that with the introduction of smartphones, tablets, and endless types of social media and messengers, also as a result of COVID-19, people changed. The main change I see is many people suffer from informational obesity. They consume plenty of information and do little with it; that in turn makes them lazier and unmotivated to do anything. The performance standards are dropped. Many are fooled that life is happening on Instagram.

My question is: where will it all end? The lazier and the less motivated people are the poorer they will become.

Where do we go from here? How do we meet new challenges and get out of this situation smelling of roses? My answer is conscious living coupled with self-motivation.
Firstly, I want to share with you my actions about how I manage my resources and space:

1. Become conscious of time
   I record the time I spend on messengers and social media and limit it to a maximum of one hour a day. I know people can spend the entire day in messengers.

2. Become conscious about information consumption
   Instead of watching and reading I produce blogs and YouTube videos and prepare speeches. In other words, produce myself.

3. Become conscious about money and your space
   Recently I bought a wonderful teapot for just £10 in a second-hand shop. I felt lucky as in Harrods it would cost £300. Instead of consuming I declutter and make more space. They say the more things you have the more time you spend managing them.

Secondly, how can we motivate ourselves to achieve prosperity and happiness and live to our full potential? Here is what I want to practice:

1. Keeping high standards of self-presentation and self-image

2. Being active physically outdoors

3. Listening to music that makes me move and do something

4. Communicating with high-energy people

5. Write down a list of tasks for each day to achieve my weekly, monthly, and yearly goals. Develop the muscles of doing as opposed to passive consumption.

6. Ask yourself: what is the meaning of my life? What do I contribute to this world? What is my legacy?

7. Write a list of goals you want to achieve in the course of your life

8. Ask yourself: what can make me a better human being?

I want to know how you motivate yourself.
Look forward to hearing from you

Yours
Olga Smith
www.batcsglobal.com

173. How do I increase my confidence when I speak on stage?

There are several practical tools:

1.       When you walk to the stage breathe deeply, and walk at a normal pace with a straight back. Avoid rushing.

2.       Once you are on the stage smile and use open body language, open your hands, and greet the audience, again do not slouch, stay straight.

3.       Create eye contact with your audience. Here is some interesting advice from a popular performer: If you are a man look at women as if you want to have sex with every woman in the room.

4.       Start your speech with a loud voice; stress keywords and use pauses.

5.       Avoid rushed speech. Articulate well.

You can master these skills with the apps ‎Get Rid of your Accent UK1 and ‎Fluent English Speech (British English) or ‎American Accent App and ‎Fluent American Speech (American English), and Power, Pitch, Pace, Pause.

More on www.batcsglobal.com