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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...

posted on: Oct 3, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Jul 11, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Jul 11, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Apr 23, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Apr 18, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Apr 7, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Apr 6, 2011 | author: ravoof

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...

posted on: Apr 3, 2011 | author: ravoof

Mastering the art of Humour!

You’re at a party. Your friend’s sister’s cousin from Montana tells a joke about a talking flounder, a one-armed fisherman, and a Jesuit priest from Nantucket, and you haven’t laughed this hard since your Uncle Mel accidentally turned...

posted on: Apr 3, 2011 | author: ravoof

10 Biggest Public Speaking Mistakes

How come intelligent, business-savvy people end up boring their audiences? They fail to recognize that public speaking is an acquired skill that improves with practice and honest feedback. Speaking for 20 minutes before the right group of people...

posted on: Apr 3, 2011 | author: ravoof

The 10 Commandments of Communication

Listen generously. Emerson said: “First seek to understand, then to be understood.” How do you listen to an audience? Do your research. Find out who they are, what they need and want, and what they expect from you. When you step to the...

posted on: Apr 3, 2011 | author: ravoof

Learning to Like Evaluations

In Toastmasters, the philosophy is that no speech is perfect – even the best speaker can improve. As a result, there is a lot of feedback going on. Members evaluate each others’ presentations – even brief Table Topic responses, which only...

posted on: Apr 2, 2011 | author: ravoof

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