So to Speak

 

 Toastmasters Etiquette

By TM Georgia Donaldson

 

Have you ever gone to a meeting and feel like you walked into the wrong meeting? There were people who had left the lectern unattended. People passed each other and shook hands over the lectern or they just nodded to each other. Toastmasters International has designed what is called, “Toastmasters Etiquette.” Share this message with others and learn the proper way of addressing an audience.     The Toastmaster of the Day/Meeting (TMOD) is addressed as either Mister Toastmaster or Madam Toastmaster of the Meeting.  A female TMOD is never referred to as “Madam Toastmistress.” The General Evaluator (GE) is addressed as either Mister General Evaluator or Madam General Evaluator.    During a meeting, address all members as Toastmaster “________” (last name). PAY ATTENTION TO ANYONE AT THE LECTERN.  Do not chat with your neighbor. Applause should continue until the person leaving the lectern sits down. Be prepared to come to lectern before your name is called.   DON’T DAWDLE.  Shake hands with TMOD or anyone from whom you take control of the lectern. Shake hands with TMOD or anyone to whom you relinquish control of the lectern. Never say, “I will now turn over the lectern to”.   Instead say:  “I Relinquish control” or  “I return control to….” Then shake hands with that person. When you begin speaking address the person who gave you control: For Example: Madam or Mister Table Topics Master Madam or Mister Toastmaster Madam or Mister General Evaluator Madam or Mister President When you are finished speaking always mention the person from whom you took control of lectern. For Example: Madam or Mister Table Topics Master Madam or Mister Toastmaster Madam or Mister General Evaluator Madam or Mister President Let’s all be aware or our Toastmaster form of address and the Toastmasters etiquette.

 

Visual Aids & PowerPoint

Helping you present professionally
by Toastmasters International

Visual aids are an important part of many presentations. The most commonly used media are the flipchart and computer-based presentation programs. Here are some suggestions for making the most of your visual aids:

Flipchart
A flipchart mounted on a portable easel works best when used with a relatively small audience – 20 or fewer people. A flipchart can be prepared prior to your presentation. You can also write or draw during your presentation – especially to record audience responses. Use bold colors, but avoid using ink that bleeds through the paper. Don’t look at your flipchart when speaking. If you must write on the flipchart, pause, then resume speaking when you’re done. Use small strips of masking tape to facilitate changing from one page to the next.

Computer-based visuals
The technology is rapidly changing. These days, using a laptop computer and presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint is the norm. Add a screen and other equipment, and you can produce and display dramatic visual aids, including animation and simulations. Computer-based visuals are becoming the standard for most technical, educational or business-related presentations. Useful for large and small audiences, they can convey simple as well as complex information. If you use a remote control, you can change the visuals while walking about the room. To accomplish this you’ll need a data projector, a device that accepts output from a computer and projects it onto a screen. Plan to create the visuals in advance, to ensure all of the electronic components work together and be sure to rehearse with them.

Keep your visual aids:

• Visible
• Simple
• Colorful, but don’t let them upstage you
• Justified by the content — not too many or too few slides

For effective PowerPoint shows:

• Don’t read the slides to your audience!
• Make your text large.
• Choose colors that make the text easier to read.
• Use bullet points instead of full sentences.
• Don’t let the text or graphics fly around too much.
• Avoid charts and diagrams that are hard to see.

Most Importantly – Remember, you control the presentation; don’t let it control you. PowerPoint should be a “visual aid” – not the entire show.

10 Tips for Public Speaking

by Toastmasters International

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental. Here are some proven tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:

1. Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in. Know more     about it than you include in your speech. Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
2. Practice. Practice. Practice! Rehearse out loud with all equipment you plan on using. Revise as necessary. Work to control filler words; Practice, pause and breathe. Practice with a timer and allow time for the unexpected.
3. Know the audience. Greet some of the audience members as they arrive. It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
5. Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything. (“One one-thousand, two one-thousand, three one-thousand. Pause. Begin.) Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.
6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
7. Realize that people want you to succeed. Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining. They’re rooting for you.
8. Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
9. Concentrate on the message – not the medium. Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
10. Gain experience. Mainly, your speech should represent you — as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need in a safe and friendly environment.

SO TO SPEAK #5

Cutting Out Filler Words

SO TO SPEAK #4

Learn the art of Impromptu Speaking: http://youtu.be/zqJ1wmIehNw

SO TO SPEAK #3

Here’s an excellent example of a Grammarian/Ah Counter Report at a Toastmasters meeting.

Check this video out — Grammarian Ah Counter Report Dec 2011.mp4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrDT5_k-Oo8&feature=sharevia @youtube

SO TO SPEAK #2

Basically – adv: “for the most part, actually, essentially”

This word is overworked and in most cases used as a pause filler.  And like other pause fillers such as “ah”, “ahm”, “you know”, it can be left out of the sentence for smoother delivery.

Should have; should of

“Should of “is sometimes incorrectly used interchangeable in the participial form.

Correct:    “I should have studied”

Incorrect: “I should of studied”

Lie; lay  (frequently confused)

Lie (rest)  past tense “lay, past participle “lain”

Lie (tell an untruth) past tense and past participle “lied”

Lay (bring forth eggs) past tense and past participle “laid”

e.g. I wanted to lie in bed all day (rest)

I wanted to lay in bed all day (lay eggs)

SO TO SPEAK #1

Lectern – a stand with a slanted top. E.g.  Presenters stand at a lectern

Podium – a platorm on which the lectern stands

Good afternoon – said between noon and 5.59 p.m.
Good evening – after 6.00 p.m.

Hanged – with reference to a person being hanged
Hung  – with reference to a picture being hung

Between you and me (you and me when combined make “us”) –  Think of between “us” and the tendency will not be there to say between you and I, which when combined make “we”.
“You and I”; “You and me”.  Think of the combination before saying “They invited you and I”.  The correct grammar is “You and me – the objective case”.

Toastmaster – September 2011 : DISTANCE MAKES THE WORDING WANDER.