#hashtag
For Every Twitter in Toastmasters
#ddspeak #tm-narayanan
My Vision for the New Year.
Negate – With years of experience and growth, some of our expenses at the district have grown. This year, on common consensus, we have decided to negate the expenses driven towards some flamboyant district events and practices and eliminate un-resourcefulness while we divert those funds to better every member’s experience.
Expand – Having created a mark thus far in District 82, we now aim to reach out to the most deserving – the students and the youth, who can benefit from our wonderful movement and capitalize on the excellent program we have early on & to anyone and everyone who wants to overcome the fear of Public speaking.
Reaching out to remote areas and aiding sick clubs is one of the top most priority this year.
WE Model – With empowering, out-of-the-box and customized training programs for our leaders and member’s and an increased budget to promote Toastmasters, Open New Club’s and sustain the sick one’s, we wish to transcribe the potential of the ME into the WE.
#memberspotlight
Class Clown - Drishana Mohan, Winner of Humorous Speech Contest, Division G
1.How has being a toastmaster created a difference in your life?
It has defined my life, helped me discover the artist in me and thought me that complacency has little space in life. Each time you’re on stage, it’s a new day, a new speech and a new beginning- give it your best!
2.If you could live the life of a famous personality for a day who would it be and why?
Live the life of the World Champion of Public Speaking 2016 and die the very next day!
3. Your message for fellow toastmasters who wants to excel in contests.
Keep competing. You may win some, lose many, but you certainly learn a lot about life!
4.How has your club/mentor helped you with contests?
Banjara Toastmasters has been a part of my life. A club that has helped me evolve to becoming a better speaker, mentor and human being. This time around, while I have worked at evolving the concept, there have been many dear friends who have stood by and contributed to helping build this speech into a memorable one. I remain indebted to them .
#tm-travels
ERYK PIETRAK, from Miedzyborow, Poland, poses like the statue at Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy.
#tm-celebrate
Prague Speakers club, Prague, Czech Republic, celebrates its 10th anniversary.
#tm-conference
March 2015 District 87 Snapshot
#sayitright - with powerful body language
The 5 Key Body Language Tips for Public Speaking
Consider that the most important visual you can show an audience is yourself. Add the fact that your voice is produced physically. The result? The way you look and sound are hugely important concerning whether you're successful as a speaker. And that includes your audience's physical responses to you, which are largely subconscious.
At The Genard Method of performance-based public speaking training in Boston, body language is a key element of all of our executive speech coaching and team presentation training. Below are 5 key areas we include in our work with clients. You need to know them as well if you want to practice powerful body language techniques for your own public speaking.
1. Movement and gestures. When it comes to using body language, you should be asking yourself: "How can I use movement and gestures to be effective in my presentation?" Here's an easy formula to remember, one that will help you avoid sleepy audience NODS: Neutral, Open,Defined, and Strong. (And here's some essential information on how to use natural, strong gestures in public speaking.)
You should begin in a neutral position with hands at your sides (it may feel awkward at first, but it looks fine). That keeps you open to your audience, so that influence flows freely in both directions. Gesture sparingly, using defined or "clean" hand movements; and make them strong.Follow the NODS formula and your upper body movement will always support and amplify what you say.
2. Using space. When you speak in public, a certain amount of space on the stage is yours by right. You should claim it! Leaders know how to project power by the way they stand and move; and of course, when you speak in public, you are a leader. Learn how to occupy space in a way that proclaims you're comfortable in the spotlight. Nothing demonstrates confidence like a speaker who is at ease in their own skin in front of an audience.
When you speak, the stage is your world. Show your listeners they can have confidence in what you're telling them by commanding the space around you. Don't overdo it, but don't minimize the area through which you move. Need a reminder of a speaker who knew how to move as a leader?
4. Facial expressiveness. We might call this the forgotten relative in the family. Yet the human face is vital to communication, from recognizing another person to understanding the subtle clues that underlie motive. Audience members depend upon your facial expressions to augment meaning. If you don't have an expressive face, work with a mirror to create a link between what you're trying to express verbally, and how your facial expressions make your meaning clear. As part of your practice, give your entire talk without a sound coming out of your mouth even though you form all the words, letting your face do all the communicating.
5. Voice. As I mention above, your voice is physical, so it's obviously a component of effective body language. In fact, aside from your brain your voice is the most flexible communication instrument you own.
So you should learn how to use your voice to influence others. I don't mean only in terms of voice and speech improvement. I'm also referring to the many ways vocal expressiveness helps you indicate meaning and intention.
Listen to speakers good and bad, and listen some more. Take a voice and diction course. Or work with a speech coach, preferably one who trained as an actor. A motto I've used for years in my own public speaking training company is "Find Your True Voice." Literally and figuratively, it can make a radical difference in whether your real message is heard.
Body Language and Power Poses
Finally, some exciting new research has emerged regarding using body language to strengthen your power as a speaker. It has to do with social psychologist Amy Cuddy's research into "power poses." Cuddy discussed her findings in her TED talk, "Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are” (which happens to be the second most-viewed TED talk ever).
According to Cuddy's research, assuming a powerful pose before participating in a high-stress situation demanding peak performance increases one's level of testosterone (the dominance hormone), and decreases cortisol (a stress hormone). In other words, assume a power pose and you’ll feel more able to control the situation and experience less stress