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The slugfest between the Democrat presidential hopefuls provides a fascinating opportunity to practice speech evaluation - testing your observation and analytical skills.
Toastmasters International recently asked three veteran members and public speaking experts to analyze the presentation skills of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The nonpartisan trio agree that Senator Obama has the edge. Read their reasons why...and see if you agree.
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"We speak to be remembered, AND repeated". The wise words of charismatic keynote speaker Patricia Fripp.
What do we remember most easily? Generally, stories and anecdotes. How many PowerPoint presentations have you seen and instantly forgotten? Quite a few I would guess.
Yet a speech with well structured, vividly told stories is immediately memorable. A colourful image, a key phrase delivered with appropriate pacing, pausing, and panache are memory hooks.
Let Ms Fripp explain her secret storytelling formula:
If you look back over the last year in your club which stories do you recall? One stands out for me - captured in a single image. A man's charred hat hanging on the back of the door of a tiny cob cottage. Kimra Argus, President West London Speakers, told us the story of her widowed Great-Grandmother's journey from England to New Zealand.
Exhausted from years working in a WW1 munitions factory Great Gran left war torn Europe with her tiny daughter. Her aim: to marry Ben, her dead husband's best friend, a man she knew only from a few letters. And the charred hat? On the day Ben was to travel to Wellington to meet his fiancee the coroner's report confirms he was struck by lightening. His grieving father hung his son's hat on the back of the door. A poignant image Great Gran was to remember for the rest of her long life.
The best speakers in business, politics and other walks of life use stories in their presentations and speeches. A story may take 30 secs, 2 minutes, 10 minutes...it's a flexible resource that helps you connect with your audience and add colour and vibrancy to your subject.
Remember. Andrew Brammer, Distinguished Toastmaster, winner of the UK & Ireland Humorous Speech Contest is giving a workshop on Storytelling next week on Wednesday March 5th, 6.15pm for 6.45pm start, in EC2. Learn from a master! He'll be showing us how to hone our stories and create maximum impact with our speeches.
Secure your place by booking via our online booking service. For venue details see AndrewBrammerMar08.
Get the most out of the hard work you put into your public speaking. Make sure both YOU and your stories are remembered!
Technorati Tags: presentations,public speaking,powerpoint presentations,storytelling
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This Thursday Division B will host Simon Bucknall giving a workshop called Sex, Politics and Religion. To remind you, Simon will be telling us the key things that he has learnt about public speaking since joining Toastmasters. He will also share with us the tips that he has learnt from watching the best speakers at the World Championship finals. This workshop is aimed at people of all abilities. I have seen a shortened version and I know that you will enjoy it if you come. For sure, application of his ideas will improve us all as speakers.
The venue only takes 100 so when the tickets are gone, they are gone. Most of the tickets are sold but there are still just a few left. It would be great to pack the place out. If you are interested in coming then please book at:
www.simonbucknall.eventbrite.com
There is a small fee of £3 to cover administration and venue hire. The event is at Swedenborg Hall, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH. Doors open at 6.15pm with the event kicking off at 6.45pm. The event will be comfortably over by 9pm.
Please bring friends from outside Toastmasters if you wish - this event is bound to pique their interest in what we do. Also, make sure that everyone in your club is aware of this event by sending a link to this article on.
A full flyer is here
Sex, Politics & Religion flyer
To learn more about the event please take a look at my previous article here:
http://thelondonspeaker.typepad.com/weblog/2008/02/sex-politics-an.html
Look forward to seeing you there.
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Wednesday 20 February saw the final of the Corporate Challenge 2008 run by The College of Public Speaking.
Congratulations to our Area 29 Advanced Toastmasters. Rod Sloane (London Athenians) and John McKay (London Business School Toastmasters) won first and second place, respectively.
The theme of the Corporate Challenge 2008 was Business and Carbon Footprints. All contestants spoke on the same theme. A test of their speaking skills and their ability to research what might be unfamiliar subjects. Speakers could give the same speech throughout or speak on How to Motivate Staff as well.
Our Toastmasters' success shows how much we learn in our clubs...including crafting short, powerful speeches and delivering to time.
Rod and John both say that giving speeches in the historic St Mary-le-Bow church was an amazing experience. They had to adjust rapidly to the unfamiliar acoustics and grandeur of the space.
Rod particularly recommends entering speech contests. "Entering a contest means that you listen to the feedback you get very carefully AND immediately put it to good use." Rod gave his winning speech three times. First at his club. He took Mahin Driskill's evaluation seriously, polished his speech and went on to win his heat. Rod also recorded his speech each time, and made adjustments to his delivery as a result.
John clearly relished speaking to new audiences. "A benefit of entering contests is to learn from the response your speech gets from people who've never heard you before." It's inspired him to look for opportunities to speak at other London Toastmaster clubs.
The aim of the Corporate Challenge is to promote and encourage communication excellence in the corporate world. The College is also looking to find the UK's top corporate speakers. We know they've found two of them! We look forward to hearing more Toastmaster winners in the Corporate Challenge 2009.
Technorati Tags: Toastmasters,London Athenians,London Business School,College of Public Speaking
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All experienced Toastmasters know that one of the most valuable skills we can learn is the art of storytelling. All the best speakers are strong storytellers.
Some may remember my review of the Harrogate conference last year where I mentioned a standout workshop by Andrew Brammer on the subject of storytelling.
Well - good news! On March 5th, Division B has persuaded Andrew to come to London to deliver a double length version of the same workshop. More time equals even more tips and points to help us become better storytellers. The session promises to be both amusing and educational. The event is open to all and both newer and more experienced members will get something out of the session. I can highly recommend it!
The workshop is to be held at Thomson Financial, 1 Mark Square, Leonard Street, London EC2A 4EG. A map to Thomson is here:
The doors will open at 6.15 for a prompt 6.45 start.
Given that this event is to be held on a company premises it is imperative that people register in advance. As per the Simon Bucknall workshop, you can register at:
www.andrewbrammer.eventbrite.com
There is an administration fee of £3 to help affray our costs.
A flyer for the event is here:
For those who don't know Andrew, he has been a Toastmaster for 10 years, and is a Distinguished Toastmaster (the highest award available in Toastmasters). In 2000, he won the UK and Ireland Humorous Speech Contest, and in 2004 he finished 3rd. He has also twice been a finalist in the UK and Ireland International Speech Contest, and has been an Area Contest winner nine times across both the Humorous & International contests. In 2003, he was District 71 Area Governor Of The Year.
He is also a former President of both Norwich Speakers Club & North Norfolk Speakers Club, and belongs to both clubs. He co-founded North Norfolk Speakers Club. Phew - that is quite some Toastmaster resume!
Both this and the Simon Bucknall workshops will be excellent evenings. We hope to see you there.
PS. If you see Iain Duthie, our Assistant Division Governor responsible for Training and Education, on your travels, make sure to say thank you to him. He been working like a Trojan (no, not one of those Trojans) behind the scenes to put both this and the Simon Bucknall workshops together.
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Getting better at answering difficult or unexpected questions is the reason why many of us joined Toastmasters. Yet giving an impromptu speech is often presented as the easy option. This despite the fact that we all know that off the cuff speaking is both a science AND an art form. Jean Cooper ATB, Riverside Communicators, is a regular winner of the best table topic award. She says keeping your eyes and ears open and remembering small incidents helps. As does gaining varied experiences over a long life. Her clever, witty observations and anecdotes provide the inspiration for her topics answers. Jean is an avid reader of newspapers. And she keeps her finger on the pulse watching XFactor and Strictly Come Dancing. How can we emulate Jean and sharpen our answers in table topics? Lois Frankel's advice fits the bill for table topics, handling tough interview questions and other high pressure situations. Her two key points: people have a short attention span so give your opinion, your bottom line first, then provide two or three supporting points. And secondly, short sounds confident, as in "Go ahead. Make my day!" What do you do if you feel nervous and give an incoherent or fluffy answer? Miss South Carolina demonstrates how. Get over yourself and have another go! It's no surprise that to become a star at table topics you should take every opportunity to speak and PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. |
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Last night was the first night of this round of Club Officer Training. For those unfamiliar with this ritual, it is one way that the Division B Council passes on tips and thoughts that help your clubs committees do an even better job. It is also a way of earning points on the Distinguished Club Plan (a note on this is surely beckoning some time soon!).
Anyhow, one of the key topics we talked through was how to encourage members to venture out to the other near 30 clubs in the London area. Rory Marriott, a very active member on the Toastmaster circuit, reminded me that he recently had an article printed in the District 71 newsletter on this very topic. I thought it worth reprinting here:
The Travelling Toastmaster
In my opinion one of the best ways of improving your toastmaster experience is by breaking away from the comfort of your regular club and visiting as many other clubs as you possibly can.
These 34 words formed the beginning of the speech I delivered on Wednesday 21st November 2007. It was my 10th and final speech of the Competent Communicator Programme.
If you ask the members of Canary Wharf Communicators (my home club) they will tell you that I class myself as a nomadic Toastmaster. They say that I have an Evangelic attitude on this subject and never miss an opportunity to tell them to travel.
During the 2007 Humorous Speech and Table Topics Contests, I found myself standing in at late notice as the Contest Chair for Tube Talk Toastmasters. During my introduction, I described myself as a Toastieholic. In fact during a 4 week period I attended 5 club contests (2 as Contest Chair, 1 as Chief Judge, 2 as judge), 4 area Contests (1 Contest Chair, 3 Judge) and 1 Divisional Final (as Timer). I firmly believe in practising what I preach!
I believe all Toastmasters need to visit other clubs and where ever possible speak. After a few prepared speeches, answering several table topics and taking on some of the functionary roles at your own club, most of your public speaking fear factors have dissipated. Because you have spoken in the same environment whilst learning the tricks of the speaking trade you start to become familiar with the audience. They become your friends and the speaking in public “edge” vanishes completely. To truly know how good an orator you have become and to learn additional skills from other toastmasters you need to hit the road.
The most wonderful thing about travelling is that you can learn something new at every club you visit. If you are visiting a club why not offer your own services and experience to the club you are attending! Contact the VPE beforehand and say “I would like to come along to your next meeting and would be willing to help out in any way I can.” Become a topics evaluator or a speech evaluator or why not go the whole nine yards and offer your services as a General Evaluator. I do not believe a single club in Division B would turn down the opportunity to have an outsider give the General Evaluation.
I have been able to share my own toastmaster knowledge with the clubs I have visited by serving as GE or speech evaluator. In my experience, clubs get tremendous benefit from having a fresh pair of eyes and ears evaluating them. I personally gained experience by speaking to an audience of strangers, which can be a daunting prospect and my own club benefits as I take back any good ideas that I see or hear.
There is a further benefit to be gained by visiting other clubs and taking on the GE role as you can use it for credit towards the new CL award. The GE elements and requirements of Project’s 2 and 3 are particularly suited to the wondering Toastie.
It never ceases to amaze me just how different yet similar all the clubs are or how much you can learn by listening to new speakers and evaluators. I have probably gained more knowledge and ideas during the contest season’s than at any time during the two and a half years that I have been a toastmaster. In particular, when I had the opportunity to be the “mystery”speaker for an Evaluation Contest last year. The rewards of receiving multiple evaluations for your efforts are a truly enlightening experience, if you get the chance accept it.
I would positively encourage you all to get out and about visiting as many clubs and competitions as you possibly can, offering your services along the way and enhancing your toastmaster experience.
Rory Marriott CC CL, VP Education, Canary Wharf Communicators
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In the world of websites, there is a well known phrase called linkbaiting. The idea is that you create headlines and articles that are bound to attract attention and hence get you traffic. Do you think a note with that headline might qualify? ;)
However, this note is more prosaic than that! Honest!
On Thursday 28th February, Division B is proud to host a special workshop for members of the London Toastmasters community. Simon Bucknall, our two times UK and Ireland champion, will run a workshop entitled Sex, Politics and Religion: Three Keys to Audience Connection.
This workshop follows the keynote speech that he gave at Harrogate with the same title. It was a massive success - entertaining, insightful and informative. He will bring this to us in a new longer format that promises even more tips and tricks to help us understand how the great speakers are able to connect so well. He will pass on his experiences and observations from competing twice in the World finals, but in a way that we can all benefit.
This event is open to all and both newer and more experienced members will enjoy the session alike.
The event is to be held at Swedenborg Hall, 20-21 Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH. A map to Swedenborg Hall is here:
Doors open at 6.15pm with the event kicking off at 6.45pm. The event will be comfortably over by 9pm. I am sure that some local hostelry may benefit from our patronage after!
Due to the venues fire regulations, we are limited to 100 attendees only. As such, there will be NO facility to pay on the door. You will need to register your attendance here at:
http://simonbucknall.eventbrite.com
A flyer for the event is here:
If you are keen, I would encourage you to register quickly as we anticipate places will go quickly.
We hope to see you at what promises to be a brilliant evening!
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