BNM Professional Consulting Services, Inc.

Working on your presentation skills at home is an excellent way to become a better public speaker overall. It gives you time to fine-tune your skills and also allows you to work on some of the things that you need to improve on. The best part about working on your skills at home? There’s no pressure or stress, and you can take all the time you need to feel comfortable with presenting. From recording yourself practicing to reading public speaking books and more - here’s how you can work on your presentation skills at home

Record Yourself Practicing

Something that we like to recommend to people looking to work on their presentation skills is to record yourself practicing your speech. Simply place your phone down and start video recording, and then step in front of the camera and pretend like you’re giving your speech in front of an audience. Once you’re done, watch the video and write down some things you’d like to work on, as well as the things you think you did well. Repeat the process until you feel confident and comfortable giving your speech.

Watch Professional Speakers Online

Another excellent way to work on your presentation skills at home is to watch videos of professional speakers online. Head to a site like TED Talks and find one or two videos that are of interest to you. While you’re watching these videos, take note of things such as the speaker’s body language, tone, and delivery. You can then use these notes and incorporate them into your next speech!

Read Public Speaking Books

One final way to work on your presentation skills at home is by reading some public speaking books. Jot down notes while reading so that you can review them later on, and even try to use some of these notes during your own presentation. Even if you’re not an avid reader, taking some time to review a few chapters of these books a week can positively impact your presentation skills.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

If you’ve noticed that your child is falling behind in their speech and language development, there are some things that you can do at home to help your little one. One thing that we like to suggest is working on their language skills through the power of play. Playing games allows your family to spend some quality time together while also improving your child’s language development in the process. Though there are many games that you can choose from, we wanted to share some of our favorite family-fun games to get you started. The best part? Now that the weather is nice and warm, you could even participate in some of these activities outside!

Simon Says

There’s a good chance that you’ve played Simon Says before, and if you haven’t, we know that you and your child will love this silly activity. Your child will start as the leader, where they can shout out instructions of things you’ll need to do. But make sure that you’re paying attention! You should only do what your little one says if they say “Simon says” beforehand. Continue carefully following the leader’s instructions, and then switch it up with you as the leader!

What’s the Opposite?

For this next activity, you and your child will want to put on your thinking caps. To begin, make a list of some words that have an opposite word associated with them. For example, up, the sun, a cat, etc. Once you’ve completed the list, ask your child to think about what the opposite of each of these words is and write them down. Once you’ve gone through the list, ask your child if they can come up with more opposites on their own!

Chalk Storytime

This last activity allows you and your child to get creative! Grab some chalk and head outside! Work together to create a cute story and draw pictures using chalk to go along with your story. Your little one will love spending time with you while creating an adorable chalk story!

If you find that your child is having difficulty developing their speech and language skills, it may be time to contact a Speech-Language Pathologist. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is right for your child.

It’s human nature to want to use filler words during a presentation - we get it! But using filler words can get in the way of your presentation’s overall message. Though it may be a hard habit to break, it is possible. With a little bit of practice, you’ll be on your way to accomplishing this feat in no time. Ready to get started? Here are some tips to help you avoid using filler words while presenting:

Slow Down

One of the main reasons people use filler words is because they’re trying to rush through their speech. The next time you give a presentation, try to slow down while presenting. Think about what you’re trying to say and convey that message to your audience. It’s easy to get through your speech as fast as possible, but trust us when we say that slowing down will help you in the long run.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Whenever you practice for a speech, take some time to jot down the sections in which you use the most filler words. You’ll find that these sections are typically the ones that you’re most nervous about presenting. Now, take the time to practice those sections over and over again until you start to become more familiar with them. The more comfortable you feel, the more confident you will be, and the fewer filler words you’ll use.

Calm Your Nerves Ahead of Time

Many people tend to use filler words because they’re nervous. To help with this, try to calm your nerves ahead of time. There are many easy ways to help manage your nerves before giving your speech, including deep breathing exercises, meditating, drinking tea, and getting familiar with your presentation surroundings. We promise that if you can calm your nerves, you’ll be able to minimize the number of filler words you use.

Using filler words is a really common habit for a lot of speakers. But if you can break that habit, you’ll find that your speech will come across as a whole lot more meaningful to your audience. If you need help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

Individuals facing social pragmatic communication disorder (SPCD) have difficulties with nonverbal and verbal communication in social situations. This can affect the way that they communicate with others and can make it difficult to form relationships. It’s important that you can recognize the signs of SPCD in your child so that you can work to get them the help they need.

If you think your child may be struggling with social pragmatic communication disorder and aren’t sure what to do next, read on for some of the common signs of SPCD, and learn how a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) could help.

Common Signs of SPCD:

Struggles with taking turns while speaking Doesn’t make eye contact with others Has a hard time making friends Doesn’t understand non-literal language Gives inappropriate responses Gets too close to others while speaking Doesn’t use an appropriate volume while talking Has difficulty understanding facial expressions Has difficulties telling stories

How a Speech-Language Pathologist Can Help

An SLP will talk with you and your child and perform assessments to better understand what your child is going through. Based on that information, your SLP will come up with a plan that is unique to your child. Once a plan is set and in place, your little one will frequently work with that SLP to get help with their speech and language development and work towards managing or overcoming SPCD.

How Can I Get in Touch With an SLP?

If you are noticing that your child is facing social pragmatic communication disorder and would like to discuss if an SLP could help your little one, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if seeing a Speech-Language Pathologist could benefit your child. Finding out that your child is struggling with their speech and language development can be difficult, but we’re here to work with your family and support you however we can.

As a new public speaker, you’re probably feeling a bit nervous about taking the stage. After all, speaking in front of a group of strangers can be a little nerve-wracking. But don’t worry! We’ve got some great ideas to help you feel more confident while presenting. From asking an experienced public speaker for help to using deep breathing techniques and more - here are some tips for anyone new to public speaking:

Try Out Deep Breathing Techniques

Being nervous is an entirely normal part of public speaking, and even experienced public speakers still get anxious from time to time. One way to help combat those nerves is to try out some deep breathing techniques. Before going in front of a crowd, give yourself some time to relax. Breathe in, count to five and then exhale. Time yourself and do this exercise for one minute. This will help you feel less nervous and more prepared to give your speech.

Ask an Experienced Public Speaker For Help

When you’re starting out with public speaking, some of the best ways to improve your skills is to ask an experienced public speaker for help. Find someone familiar with giving presentations and ask them if they’d be willing to listen to your speech. Present your speech just like you would on stage, and ask them what they liked and what they thought you could improve. Take their notes and use them to enhance your skills.

Realize You’re Going to Make Mistakes (and That’s Okay!)

One of the biggest fears that public speakers have is that they will make mistakes while on stage. The thing is, there’s no reason to be worried about making mistakes because everyone makes mistakes from time to time - and that’s completely okay! It’s normal to make mistakes, and how you choose to handle them is entirely up to you. Sure, you could dwell on the fact that you made a small mistake. But instead of putting yourself down, remind yourself that mistakes happen, and then proceed to crush the rest of your speech.

If you’re looking for help with your next speech, we highly recommend working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

It can be hard to find time to work on your child’s speech development during your busy schedule. Between work, school, and the responsibilities that come with everyday life, you may find yourself overwhelmed. But the truth is, there’s a very simple solution to this problem. Instead of setting aside time to work on your child’s speech development, try incorporating speech development into your child’s daily routine. Interested in this approach but aren’t sure where to begin? Here are three great ideas to help get you started:

Read a Bedtime Story

Reading a bedtime story together is an excellent way to help your child relax before bed while also fitting in some speech development. Start by reading the story to your child, and after each page, ask them to answer some questions about the story. You could ask, “Who is your favorite character so far?”, “What is something that you think will happen in the story?” or “How does this story make you feel?”. This will allow your child to think about what’s going on in the story and lets them voice their opinion.

Go Grocery Shopping Together

Another excellent opportunity to work on your child’s speech development is to take them grocery shopping with you. First, sit down with your child and work together to develop a shopping list. You can ask your child to help decide what food you should get. For example, you could ask them what type of fruit they’d like for a snack or what veggies they’d like to eat at dinner. Then, while you’re at the store, hand each food item to your child and ask them to describe the object’s color, size, and texture.

Incorporate Speech Development During Bathtime

Bathtime allows your child to get clean while also having some fun in the process. Get a pack of rubber ducks that your child can play with while in the tub. If you can, try to purchase a pack containing a variety of colored ducks. Start by telling your child that you’re going to come up with a story about the ducks together. You can start the story and then ask your little one to come up with the next part. Continue switching off adding to the story until you both can’t think of anything else to add!

If you find that your child is having difficulty with their speech and language development, it may be time to contact a Speech-Language Pathologist. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is suitable for your child.

Improving your public speaking skills can seem like a daunting task, but in reality, working on your presenting skills doesn’t have to be complicated! There are some really simple things that you can do to become a better public speaker. Practicing these items will help you feel more confident the next time you have to give a speech, and will help you feel more comfortable speaking in front of an audience. From researching your topic to preparing ahead of time and more - here are 3 simple ways to become better at public speaking:

Research Your Topic

Knowing and having a clear understanding of your speech’s topic will only help you become a better public speaker. It’s crucial that you take time out before writing your speech and do some deep research into your topic. Read a book or article on your topic, look up some facts, stats, and history on your topic, or talk to an expert that can help answer some questions about your topic. When you can truly understand and comprehend the subject of your speech, you’ll have an easier time preparing for and presenting your speech.

Prepare Ahead of Time

One of the best things you can do to become better at public speaking is to make sure that you are prepared ahead of time. Before your speech, take some time to get yourself organized. Gather all of your notes and materials, take some deep breaths, and rehearse your speech aloud. Repeat this process each day during the five days leading up to your speech. The more familiar you are with your speech, the more comfortable you’ll feel and the better public speaker you’ll become.

Practice in Front of Your Family and Friends

Before your next presentation, get some of your family and friends together in person or on video chat and perform your speech for them. Ask them to give you honest feedback about your speech, then, go back to the drawing board, and make changes based on their feedback. The more feedback you can get from your loved ones, the better. Positive feedback will only strengthen your speaking skills and will help you going forward.

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills. Contact us today to get started!

The weather is starting to heat up, and it’s finally beginning to feel like spring. With this warmer weather comes the opportunity to get back outside and enjoy the outdoors with your little ones. There’s nothing better than going out on a spring afternoon and partaking in some fun activities as a family. A great thing about many outdoor activities is that they help develop your child’s speaking skills in the process. Want to partake in the fun but aren’t sure where to begin? Here are some of our favorite spring activities to help develop your child’s speaking skills:

I-Spy

The classic game, I-Spy, is sure to get your little one talking. Go outside and ask your child to look around and find an object without telling you what it is. Now, they will need to describe that object. For example, if your child sees a red bird, they may say, “I spy something red.” You will have to look around outside and guess what they are thinking of. Once you find it, it’s your turn to choose an object, and your child will have to figure out what you’re thinking of!

Family Gardening

Gather up your gardening tools and get ready to plant some beautiful flowers. Have your child take a shovel and assist them in digging some small holes in the dirt. Now, ask them to tell you what color flower you should plant first. Work together to carefully put the flower in the hole, and repeat the process with the remaining flowers. Finally, have your child help you water each flower, and then ask them to describe their favorite part of gardening.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

This activity will get your little one talking while also allowing them to get some of their energy out. Make a list of some items commonly found in nature (leaf, flower, rock, etc.), and then head outside. Read off each item one at a time, and ask your child to go and search for that item. When they find each object, ask your little one to describe its characteristics such as the texture, color, and shape. If they can successfully find everything on your list, consider rewarding them with a nature-themed sticker!

If you find that your child is falling behind in their speech and language development, please feel free to contact us to talk to an SLP in Chicago. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is suitable for your child.

Technology can be such a huge asset for learning and improving skills. This is especially true when working on your public speaking skills. One of our favorite ways to work on public speaking using technology is downloading and using mobile apps. Mobile apps allow you the opportunity to pick up your phone and work on your presenting skills no matter where you are in the world. Interested in trying some great apps but aren’t sure where to begin? Here are some of our favorites:

Orai

If you want to improve your public speaking skills while also gaining instant feedback on your speech, Orai may be the perfect app. Orai will record your speech and analyze your voice and facial expressions throughout. Then, the app will send you a report of what you did well and what areas you could improve. The app will analyze things such as your tone, pace, confidence, and so much more.

Voice Analyst

A significant component of giving a successful speech is your pitch and volume. Changing your pitch and volume based on what type of speech you are giving is essential and can significantly affect how your audience perceives your message. Next time you want to practice your speech, open up Voice Analyst and record it. The app will analyze your pitch and volume and put your results into a graph to review later on. The best part about this app is that you can save your voice recordings and graphs and compare them to one another.

1 Minute Voice WarmUp

If you are looking for a way to warm up your vocal cords before your next speech, this app is for you. 1 Minute Voice WarmUp contains exercises that you can perform in a minute or less before getting in front of your audience. This app will help you get ready for your speech by showing you techniques to warm up your voice, and the app even explains how the technique can help. Talk about a quick and easy way to get ready for a presentation!

For help with your next speech, consider working with a Chicago speech coach. Executive speech coaching can help you prepare for that next big job interview, an upcoming presentation, or your overall communication skills as a rising leader. Contact us today to get started!

One great way to spend time with your little ones is to read a book together. Reading stories is an excellent way to bond with one another while working on your child’s speech development at the same time. Though there are many books that you can read with your child to help them work on their speech and language skills, we wanted to share a list of some of our favorites. All of the books on this list contain cute artwork, are short and sweet, and will aid your child in their speech development journey:

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

This classic children’s book has been helping kids work on developing their speech and language skills since 1996. This adorable book will teach your little one all about colors as well as some different species of animals. While you and your child read this book together, consider asking them questions such as “do you know what color that animal is?” or “what animal is that?”. Take it one step further by asking your child to make the sounds of the animal on the page.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom is a bright and colorful book that can teach your little one all about the alphabet. The book incorporates cute rhymes and fun illustrations that work to help your child learn all about their ABCs. Once you’ve read through the book a few times, your child will begin to learn the rhymes and can practice them aloud!

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie

If you’re looking for a book with a cute and hilarious storyline, you’re going to want to get a copy of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. While reading, you’ll follow along with a tiny mouse throughout his day and learn all about what happens if you end up giving a mouse a cookie. Your child will love hearing about the mouse’s crazy adventures and will enjoy guessing what’s going to happen next.

First 100 Words

If you are trying to help your child learn some new words, the First 100 Words book is an excellent resource. The book features 100 pictures and 100 simple words for your children to learn. This adorable and bright book will keep your child’s interest while helping them expand their vocabulary in the process.

If you find that your child is falling behind in their speech and language development, please feel free to contact us to talk to an SLP in Chicago. Our team would be happy to answer any questions you may have and can help you decide if speech therapy is suitable for your child.