A view from the balcony

Step back and see how your audience is observing you. Every time you deliver a speech, you are, in fact, leading. Whether you are a student, an executive, a politician or a professor, you must lead your audience toward a particular objective. Your job isn’t simply to communicate ideas to your audience members – it is to show them you are a...

Outstanding Toastmaster of the Year

Every club has one. You see them at every meeting – the extraordinary member whose enthusiasm is so contagious it rubs off on everyone at the meeting; the industrious volunteer who is eager to perform any and all meeting assignments; the exceptional individual making uncommon efforts to recognize, encourage and nurture fellow Toastmasters. Of...

The Art of Debating

1. Introduction By including a debate as a part of the Toastmasters club programme will stimulate a dynamic and informative meeting. As members practice and become skilled debaters, the club programme can be expanded to include not only inter-club debates but debates with other community organisations. 2. Publicity In order to provide the club...

Club Elections in Toastmasters – Become an officer

An important part of Toastmasters training is learning about leadership. And the best way to become skilled at leadership is to experience it. Choosing leaders or choosing to be a leader begins here…at nomination and at the ballot: In May, all clubs must elect annual officers serving from July 1 of the current year, through June 30 of the...

When things go wrong during a speech

When things beyond your control go wrong, the only thing you can control is your reaction to them. Just as the sailor at sea is at the mercy of the elements, so is the speaker. The sailors batten down the hatches in rough weather; what does the speaker do in when the microphone won’t work? Or when the lights malfunction? Or when the music in the...

Goal setting the right way!

Setting & Achieving your goals Knowledge helps you to reach your destination provided you know what the destination is. An ancient Indian sage was teaching his disciples the art of archery. He put a wooden bird as the target and asked them to aim at the eye of the bird. The first disciple was asked to describe what he saw. He said, “I...

Presenting Proposals and Pitches

When you present a proposal or a pitch, you are trying to do more than simply inform – you are trying to persuade. A proposal seeks to stimulate action or acceptance of an idea. Here are some examples: A company’s research and development chief proposes that top management authorize additional funding for a key project. An architect presents...

Get over your fear of Public Speaking now!

The fear of public speaking affects many people, gluing them to their chairs and hog-tying them to the status quo, no matter how unfulfilling their jobs or present situation may be. Actor George Jessel said, “The human brain starts working the moment you’re born and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.” Though you might think...