Tag: Toastmasters

Hand Brain Connection

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When was the last time you wrote something substantive — a letter, a story, a journal entry, etc. — by hand? Could you ever imagine returning to a pre-keyboard era?

I hand write my first draft of just about everything. I find it helps my flow and connects better with my thinking. When I was editing my book, I would rewrite sections from scratch to help my clarity. From this exercise, I discovered I would often write the same information twice—without realising it. I would use the same words, in the same order and in the same place in the paragraph.  This confirmed to me they were correct. I have attempted this same exercise typing it instead of writing the second time and I get stuck. I  didn’t know what I want to say. For me there definitely is a hand brain connect.

As a Toastmaster, I hand write my speeches—both initially and as a way to learn them. Once again this helps with my flow, but I think in this case it also helps me—write like I speak. Once I am happy with my hand written first draft, I type my speech and make any necessary changes.  After I have my completed my speech, I learn it by writing it out by hand several times. It works for me. This process helps me to remember the main points in the correct order.

Today I learnt why this is so. In our brain is a collection of cells called the Reticular Activating System (RAS). They act as a link between our sub conscious and conscious mind. The RAS’s job is to filter all the information the world has to give us on a second by second basis, only drawing our attention to what we want to focus on. By writing things down we trigger the RAS into action. It begins to focus on the topic we are writing about. This definitely helps to explain why for me hand writing before I type gets the job done much quicker than staring at the computer screen.

Personally, I would never want to go back to a pre-keyboard era. Today with the keyboard comes many new options like the internet and self-publishing. But I am not voting hand writing off the island any time soon either. Variety is the spice of life—I’m using both to get the best result.

 

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Happy Birthday Toastmasters

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Today you can write about anything, in whatever genre or form, but your post must mention a dark night, your fridge, and tears (of joy or sadness; your call).

This month sees Toastmasters International celebrate its 90th birthday. Founded in 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley, it began as a single club in Santa Ana, California to help young men learn the art of public speaking.  90 years later there are 14,650 clubs in 126 countries and Toastmasters is continuing to grow.

Today, Toastmasters International’s membership is over 300,000 and it uses the tagline “Where Leaders are Made.” Emphasising the connection between public speaking and leadership in modern career paths.

I joined Toastmasters International in 2010 and have enjoyed my journey to becoming a competent speaker. I completed my first speaking manual —Competenat Communicator twice to develop my confidence writing and speaking, before I began the my Advanced Manuals, which I am now half way through.

The skills that I have learnt and honed at Toastmasters have definitely helped in both writing my book and commencing blogging. They help me think on my feet and this year in the impromptu speaking competition—Table Topics—I was runner-up at Area, something I am very proud of and a personal best.

My favourite part of Toastmasters, especially as a sponsor of a new club is seeing people make their first speech to the club called the Ice Breaker—for obvious reasons. This a  particularly stressful time for many new members due to fear, anxiety and lack of confidence. However, mentorship and support from club members gets them through. After presenting their first speech, it is not uncommon for members to cry tears of joy as they realise that they really did do it —the planning, preparation and practice paid off.

If you are looking for a supportive way to achieve personal growth and develop at your own pace I would recommend you consider joining a Toastmaster Club near you. They are a proven way to enrich your life for 90 years.

90th

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Out Of My Comfort Zone

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I don’t have any fears that paralyse me or cause me a large amount of anxiety that I cannot manage. However, networking is the activity that stresses me the most. It takes me out of my comfort zone. I have no problem talking to people—1:1, in small groups or even giving a speech to a large number of people. In fact, working with people is what I do for a living and I am confident at it.

When it comes to work social engagements, where networking comes into its own—this is where my confidence wanes. I am getting better however, as I realise that I am actually an introvert, not the extrovert I always thought I was. Being an introvert means that I recharge myself by quiet time not by mixing with others.

Becoming a published author hopefully next year, will require me to challenge this fear. As a result, I practice at every opportunity and I am definitely becoming more comfortable. The things I am doing to help improve my networking skills include:

  • Joining Toastmasters where I practice social chit chat with a mixture of different people and cultures
  • Designing my own one minute speech about myself, my book and my job
  • I seek out people who I feel a connection with, rather than attempting to work the room
  • Learn ways of remembering others names and details about them
  • Find ways to give myself down time after the event and know when to leave
  • Know the purpose of the event and set my own goals for attending
  • Work with my strengths and personal values
  • Be mindful of my surroundings and use my powers of observation to my advantage
  • Be interested in others and ask appropriate questions
  • Limit alcohol intake
  • Keep up with current affairs to make conversation easier

While I may never be the social butterfly who can work a room and have people eating out of their hand—I can and will learn to network. It is important to be able to sell yourself. I have found becoming a part of the blogging community has helped to force me to reach out to others and gain the rewards of getting to know others with similar interests. By continuing to test my skills, who knows where this journey will take me. Do you have any other ideas on ways to improve one’s networking ability. I would love to hear them. After-all,

                                             “If it is to be,

                                             It is up to me.”

                                                     William H. Johnsen

 

I See Something

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This years World Championship of Public Speaking was won by Dananjaya Hettiarachchi. In his award winning speech, Dananjaya tells the story of how people believing in him, changed his attitude to himself and as a result his life.

Have you ever had the joy of improving someone’s life by believing in them. The more they don’t believe in themselves, the more powerful someone else’s belief can be. Start by telling someone you can see potential in what they are doing or could do. It is this belief that can and will change lives.

If you are someone who needs direction to change your life, seek out people who believe in you and can guide your way. We can all improve our lives by seeing something in ourselves and setting the bar a little higher to reach that next goal.

Be inspired today to see something in everyone. Be that glimmer of hope that can turn into a bush fire of potential. Who knows were it will take you or them?

Curve Balls

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When was the last time you were completely stumped by a question, a request, or a situation you found yourself in? How did you handle it?

I am no longer tricked by curve balls. As a Toastmaster for the last 4 years, I practice dealing with curve balls every week in our impromptu speaking section called Table Topics.

The idea behind this part of the program is to learn to deal with curve balls—efficiently and effectively. The Table Topics master (Toastmaster in-charge of the section), draws up a list of questions and fellow Toastmasters are required to speak on the topic for 1 minute with no notice. The questions are usually related to the theme for the meeting and are unusual.

Once a year, Toastmaster International runs a Table Topics competition and all Toastmasters against compete with each other. Last month, I won our club’s Table Topics competition and next weekend I will compete in the Area competition for our club. Here’s hoping that I can handle this curve ball when it is thrown my way.

If you struggle with what to say, consider looking into developing your skills further in a Toastmasters club in your area. http://www.toastmasters.org/

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