From the Desk of C Barringer - May is Speech and Hearing Month!

-

 








"The ability to talk is not the same as the ability to communicate... the ability to communicate is the ability both to send and to receive a message." Brian Tracy

May is Speech and Hearing Month! So, because I have trained as a Speech Therapist, I thought this would be a good time to just introduce a few ideas about speech, voice, language, hearing, and the topic of communication.

Have you thought about all the many ways you might communicate in a day? Here's s short list, and you may be able to add more. Whether talking on the phone, in-person, face-to-face, on-line, virtual, email, texting, teleconferencing, video, podcasting, giving a speech, at the drive thru, or whatever the medium, you are communicating. But are you really getting thru to the other person; are they really hearing and understanding exactly what you are saying?

SHORT QUIZ - What are all the different ways you communicate and with whom:

On the Phone, In-Person, Digitally, On Line, Virtual, Remote, Video, Teleconferencing, Email, Text, etc.

Informal or Formal

Family/Friends/Pets (people do talk to their pets more than you think)

Customers/Clients/Clerks

Professionals/Doctors/Financial Planners/Lawyers

Co-Workers/Peers/Students

Meetings/Events/Seminars

Business Associates/Management

Networking/Volunteering

Media Interviews

Job Interviews/Auditions


How do you know you have been communicating effectively?

This month ONLY - FREE 15 min. online consultation. OFFER ENDS May 31, 2026.

I hate to say this but there is only Limited Availability for these consultations.



Popular posts from this blog

Are YOU Chomping on the Bit or Slurping on the Phone!

-
Image
  I met a woman the other day who was chewing gum so vigorously and with such intensity that, well, she was a little scary. I thought if I got too close, she might bite so I didn't really speak with her. She had no smile, and she was chewing gum. That's pretty much all I remember about her. No smile, grim, but chewing, chomping, chewing, chomping. I am guessing that this was NOT the image she wanted to project. Would smiling while chewing gum have helped? Smiling at someone is usually a plus, but smiling while chewing gum? Well, then I would have been treated to a view of the interior of her mouth and the masticated wad. Not a good visual. The eye is drawn to movement. When you are chewing gum, that's what the other person is going to focus on - the movement of your jaw. They are probably not paying attention to anything you are trying to say fearing that the gum will soon be a projectile headed their way. Now, chewing gum maybe great for freshening the breath when out in...
Read more

5 Ways to Jazz Up Your Speech!

-
Image
5 Ways to Jazz Up Your Speech     I was asked to speak at a college English Composition class specifically on oral presentations. The students were required to give an oral presentation as part of their final and needed a few tips. So, I just hit a few highlights and in no particular order. One simple strategy bears repeating and maybe going into more detail (just a bit). Tip #1 - Don’t start your talk, speech, audition, demonstration, presentation, PowerPoint, podcast, video, with an “Ummm…”. Stand up there, in front of the class, at your desk, at the table, at the podium, on stage, in front of the camera, and say, “Hello,” “Good morning,” “My name is Bill,” “Thanks for coming in this snow storm,” “Turn off your cell phones,” whatever. Just don’t say “Umm….my name is Bill.” If the first word out of your mouth is "Umm” or “Uhhh”, it sounds like you are not too sure of who you are, where you are, or what you are doing. This also gives the impression that you are totally uncerta...
Read more

How Cool is This!

-
Image
  I have been teaching speech, voice, and language strategies for over 25 years. I have worked with business professionals, CEOs, political figures, teachers, parents, pilots, and actors. Everything from public speaking, diction, accent modification, aviation communications, to accents and dialects for stage and screen. Currently, I have the pleasure of working with Nine9 The UnAgency for Actors. It has been fun! I thoroughly enjoy working with actors from all over the country and even internationally. Last month they featured me in their company newsletter! I thought I would share this. Working with actors is great! We work on improving diction and pronunciation, vocal projection, vocal tone, and various accents. The recent accent classes included Standard British (RP) accent, Cockney, Russian, and Standard American. And I am planning more! If YOU always had an inkling to try something like this, maybe prep for an acting side gig, contact me for more info and to subscribe for my ...
Read more