A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements and Toastmasters Clubs across Division – F decided to send in their winners to Division – F “Tall Tale contest” to indulge in fantasy, dreams and aspirations. However tall they were, the intent was to entertain the audience. And stretch their brain muscles with stretched stories. Watch the part – 4 of the Tall Tale contest held at Dubai Knowledge Village on Sept. 28, 2012 .

There were “14” contestants and am publishing the next part # 4 watch for the rest tomorrow morning. Enjoy watching…….

 

 

A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements and Toastmasters Clubs across Division – F decided to send in their winners to Division – F “Tall Tale contest” to indulge in fantasy, dreams and aspirations. However tall they were, the intent was to entertain the audience. And stretch their brain muscles with stretched stories. Watch the part – 3 of the Tall Tale contest held at Dubai Knowledge Village on Sept. 28, 2012 .

There were “14” contestants and am publishing the next part # 3 watch for the rest tomorrow morning. Enjoy watching…….

A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements and Toastmasters Clubs across Division – F decided to send in their winners to  Division – F  “Tall Tale contest”  to indulge in fantasy, dreams and aspirations.  However tall they were, the intent was to entertain the audience.  And stretch their brain muscles with stretched stories.    Watch the part – 2 of the Tall Tale contest held at Dubai Knowledge Village on Sept. 28, 2012 .

There were “14” contestants and am publishing  the next part # 2 watch for the rest tomorrow morning.   Enjoy watching..

A tall tale is a story with unbelievable elements and Toastmasters Clubs across Division – F decided to send in their winners to  Division – F  “Tall Tale contest”  to indulge in fantasy, dreams and aspirations.  However tall they were, the intent was to entertain the audience.  And stretch their brain muscles with stretched stories.    Watch the part – 1 of the Tall Tale contest held at Dubai Knowledge Village on Sept. 28, 2012 .

There were “14” contestants and am publishing first three contestants this morning; the next 6 would be posted tomorrow morning and balance the day after.  Enjoy watching..

 

The Toastmasters organization is around 84 years old, but amazingly it is growing younger every day.  There was a time only MALE population above the age of 18 could participate and sometime in  1971 the forum was opened to women but off-course for the ladies above the 18 years.

Much later members debated and the opportunity was extended to younger generation under 18 years; under an exciting word called Gavel  …”Gavels Club”.  Now you observe Gavel clubs in numerous schools and it’s an education to watch the younger generation sharpening their saw in communication and leadership skills.  The simple premise for the Toastmasters movement is “age is no bar for sharpening your communications and leadership skills.”  You may be 8 years old or 80 years young; you have the right to join Toastmasters forum. 

I am a strong proponent of Toastmasters activities and I realized the real benefits after I started visiting and sharing my experience in non – Toastmasters forums and activities.  I realized why there is no failure in Toastmasters but LESSONS; that’s the spirit with which members grow in Toastmasters.  In a typical crisp statement; members empty their cup.  Members begin unlearning old habits  to LEARN new habits.

1. Members unlearn their stage fright.
2. Members unlearn their confused & stagnant mindset.
3. Members unlearn being introvert.
4. Members unlearn the art of speaking monotonously.
5. Members unlearn the power to ignore good body language.
6. Members unlearn the power to ignore the power of time management.
7. Members unlearn the power to be ignorant of good habits that matters most.

Members may unlearn the old habits but they are replaced by better habits.  I always wondered,   what is the trigger for such a change; when change is difficult ?   Until I read the literature highlighting research.  And I would like to share two of them. 

1. The first experiment was conducted between two groups of students; group A participants  were asked to appear for a test and participants in group B were given a candy each just before they   entered the exam hall.  The result reflected that   people who received candy before the exam performed better than the batch who was simply asked to appear for the test.
2. In the second experiment the research group conducted a test in the classroom.  When the result arrived they simply instructed the teacher that student A, B and C were exceptional students.  But also reprimanded teacher not to show any favoritism in their behavior or school work towards the bright students.  A year later once again they conducted the test and amazingly students A, B and C performed much better than other students in the class.  The icing on the cake is that the result earlier in the year had reflected them as average students.  How come sudden improvement in the three students  when teachers had refrained from giving any favours ?   It only goes to prove that somehow the teacher had outwardly or inwardly reflected appreciation of the students.  And that sub- conscious appreciation had impacted their performance.

The above two experiments  and many other prove beyond any doubt that motivation, encouragement,  compliments and happy positive environment produces better and faster results from the participants .  And Toastmasters values reflect and practice the said principals.  Consequently members in Toastmasters grow by leaps and bounds.    There are no failures but lessons in Toastmasters.

 

 

Humorous contest are a treat for the body, mind and soul. Simply not because they create laughter but they raise your mood and also reflect powerful learning in simple mirth. Enjoy and watch Division – Humourous contestants in action.

“Power of Edge” @ Dreams Toastmasters club 100th meeting – April 7, 2012

 

 

 

The humor technique used in this speech is mainly “self deprecating humor” – making fun of yourself.  In this speech it is about my height. 

Putting yourself down  brings laughter up! One humor technique that almost always works, both in conversation and on stage, is self-deprecating humor–making fun of yourself.  Even straight-laced Al Gore, at the beginning of the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” used self-deprecating humor when he came on stage and said, “Hello, my name is Al Gore, and I used to be the next president of the United States.”.

The main benefits of self deprecating humor are: It makes you more approachable–you seem less threatening or intimidating. The other person may even get the satisfaction of feeling a little superior. It makes you seem modest, likable and confident. It diffuses tension. It makes people laugh and people love to laugh.

Also a lot of personal stories are used, especially the train journey’s which are actual incidents narrated with a little bit of exaggeration.  The exaggeration makes the incidents funny.

March 4, 2012: Toastmasters International is a non-profit organization engaged in developing public speaking and leadership skills amongst its members.  The organization is for the members, by the members and of the members.  And one of the objective of the program is to spread the benefit by inducting new  members.

Every club has the mandate to induct new members and the new member’s effort is reflected in the club’s DCP points. On the flip side, District officer’s performances are measured by different criteria, including number of new clubs being set up. To achieve the milestone you must sell the programs benefit to new members to join the clubs and corporate communities to set up new clubs.

The simple process includes selling the benefits of toastmasters program and it’s a natural progression that takes its natural time period.  But what if you can hasten the process by influencing their mindsets and help members devote extra time on improving club activities and performance.

I believe you can hasten the process by influencing guest’s decision. And here I would share “6” pillars of influence identified by guru of persuasion Dr. Robert B. Cialdini and they are

1. Reciprocation
2. Consensus and Commitment
3. Social power
4. Scarcity
5. Like
6. Authority

RECIPROCATION: We are programmed to pay back a favor and it’s in our DNA.  Ralph Waldo Emerson rightly said “Pay every debt as if God wrote the bill”. 

TIP :When you invite guests, give them the Toastmasters magazine and or guest kits to take back and read.  Make them comfortable and let a senior Ex-Com member explain the program to him.  Ask him if he needs any other clarifications.  Treat the guest as you would a friend and if required arrange to drop him back at his residence.

CONSENSUS AND COMMITMENT: We as humans have an excessive desire to be consistent with what we have already done or said.

TIP :Get feedback from your guests at the end of the meeting  and let them fill out a feedback form that will also ask for them to write down what they liked about the program.

SOCIAL PROOF: If everyone is doing it, it is correct.

TIP : Share with your guests the Toastmasters activities in your territory and globally; there are 96 Clubs in UAE and 110,000 clubs worldwide in over 90 plus countries.  Invite them to Area contests, Divisions contests and let them observe the powers of participation and performance.

SCARCITY:  Hard  to get things are perceived to be better than easy to get things.

TIP : Make your guest comfortable, and introduce the program clarifying all the doubts. Invite them to join but make them aware that since this is members club, the membership is subject to concurrence by all the members.

AUTHORITY: People tend to obey authoritative figures.

TIP : Introduce your guests to the Club president, VP Education, ACM, DTM and let them do the selling.  If you have an important guest visiting, invite your Area Governor or Division Governor and introduce your guest to them.  A pitch coming in from an authority figure influences.

LIKE: People say yes to people they like or know.  People also like people that have something in common with them.

TIP : Find something in common with your guests and start your conversation with this as your basis;  it could be school, college, place of residence or anything that becomes an ice breaker.

Getting new members and setting up new clubs are part of the leadership development and the more effectively you perform this activity, the better leader you emerge.  Use the powers of the six pillars of influence to maximize the positive outcome.  Reciprocate; commitment and consensuses; Authority; Scarcity; Like and use the Social proof.

Toastmasters Club Contests are an absorbing activity for every  Club Excom.  They are a necessary evil that must be organized to encourage competition, take the speakers to the next level and perhaps give them a jump start.  In other words contest is paramount in Toastmasters program; they are a shortcut to faster and bigger improvements.

If contests are paramount why there are no identified structured training programs for Excom, to conduct contests?  Rather the contests are organized with little experience gathered from past experiences.  Organizing club contest attracts challenges of different colors such as

• Finding Contestants.
• Contestants training and awareness.
• Judges: Finding judges; qualified and numbers.
• Role players: Trained role players.
• Resources:  Venue, Documentation;  Trophies; Certificates and Awards

Having said that I believe that any contest phobia can be overcome by “five “activities and they are

1. Planning: No sooner Excom is installed; the team should meet to decide on the most important date i.e contest dates and make an announcement to the club members and Area Governor.  Then identify various activities for the contest.
2. Timeline: Set timeline to complete identified activities.
3. Delegation: Delegate identified activities such as TM1  for getting role plays ; TM2 for getting Judges; TM3 getting the resources; TM for getting contestants; TM4 for organizing the venue and others.
4. Collaboration: Get Excom of  “3” clubs involved and enter into an exchange program for Judges and role plays.
5. Feedback: Set a feedback mechanism; monthly to start with and thereafter weekly,  60 days closer to the contest.

Once you complete Planning, Timeline; Delegation and Collaboration within first 15 days of the new term; half the battle is won.  Now you can focus your attention on  ensuring that you have a District Champion speaker.