(Left to right: Rose, Sandra and Jolene)
Jan 26 Meeting: A Theme and a Tie
Today's theme was "discipline", an art that both speakers tapped into to develop and deliver their unique, prepared Ice Breaker speeches. Both speakers seemed copacetic is their delivery and it came at no surprise that it was a tie for Best Speaker.
Congratulations to Sandra and Jolene on giving your Ice Breaker Speeches
Come Listen to Lance Miller, the 2005 World Champion of Public Speaking
Next week, Lance Miller, the 2005 World
Champion of Public Speaking (http://www.lancemillerspeaks.com/), will be appearing at
our Div B Council Meeting.
Open to All Members
Tue, Feb 4: 6p Dinner & Networking, 6:30p Gavel, 8p Adjourn
393 E Walnut St., Pasadena, CA, 91188 (Room 1D)
Free Parking
Dinner: $7 (optional)
Tue, Feb 4: 6p Dinner & Networking, 6:30p Gavel, 8p Adjourn
393 E Walnut St., Pasadena, CA, 91188 (Room 1D)
Free Parking
Dinner: $7 (optional)
Six Strong Communication Tips From Some of the World’s Best Interviewers
Do you have an important interview coming up and wondering if you are prepared? Perhaps there is a networking event that you would like to attend but you are doubting your communication skills? Parsons Toastmasters wants to make sure that you are prepared and comfortable with you public speaking. Besides partcipating in your weekly Toastmaster meetings, consider the following six communication tricks, listed by Courtney Seiter, that can help you conduct a stellar interview, build a new relationship or simply become the best conversationalist in the room.
1. First prepare note, then toss them
Good interviewers always study up on their subject’s background – many even have a staff whose job it is to collect those resources. If you can do so in advance, research the person or people with whom you’ll be speaking. A bit of familiarity will make you feel more confident – and will prime your subject to open up to you
2. Match Your Partner – in mood, energy level, language and body language
“The more comfortable you make someone feel, the better interview you’re ultimately going to get,” says interview veteran Katie Couric. And how do you make someone feel more comfortable? Great interviewers do it by meeting subjects on their level. That means matching their mood, energy level, language style – even body language.
3. Practice Flexible Listening – here is how
Skilled interviewers become adept at listening not just to the words their subject is saying but also the tone in which the words are said, the pauses and nuances of the answer and what’s being left unsaid. This active, flexible listening lets them know when to move onto a new subject and when the moment is ripe to probe a little deeper with a follow-up question.
At the next gathering you attend, resist the urge to tell that one story that always kills and instead focus on asking questions of someone new. It may be unfulfilling at first, but you might be amazed at the end result
For full insights into each of the 6 steps, check out the blog posting by Courtney Seiter called
1. First prepare note, then toss them
Good interviewers always study up on their subject’s background – many even have a staff whose job it is to collect those resources. If you can do so in advance, research the person or people with whom you’ll be speaking. A bit of familiarity will make you feel more confident – and will prime your subject to open up to you
2. Match Your Partner – in mood, energy level, language and body language
“The more comfortable you make someone feel, the better interview you’re ultimately going to get,” says interview veteran Katie Couric. And how do you make someone feel more comfortable? Great interviewers do it by meeting subjects on their level. That means matching their mood, energy level, language style – even body language.
3. Practice Flexible Listening – here is how
Skilled interviewers become adept at listening not just to the words their subject is saying but also the tone in which the words are said, the pauses and nuances of the answer and what’s being left unsaid. This active, flexible listening lets them know when to move onto a new subject and when the moment is ripe to probe a little deeper with a follow-up question.
4. Activate the Power of the Pause
When a pro interviewer feels a subject is holding something back on a particular topic, they’ll often use the power of silence at the end of the answer to draw out more information.
5. Cultivate Curiosity, the Dale Carnegie approach
As Dale Carnegie famously explains, the beauty of curiosity is that it makes you nearly irresistible to everyone around you.
6. Practice Ego Suspension: The Power of Forgetting Yourself
For full insights into each of the 6 steps, check out the blog posting by Courtney Seiter called
6 Powerful Communication Tips From Some of the World’s Best Interviewers
Four Public Speaking Lessons from the Professionals
How do you give great presentations? How do you captivate an audience? How to you tell a story on a stage? Digital Strategist & Entrepreneur, Ross Simmonds developed a slide show presentation that highlights a handful of insights that answer these questions using inspiration from studying a handful of successful comedians. Presentation by Ross Simmonds
(Click to download presentation)
Is L.A.C.E. for you?
Fellow Toastmasters,
You may have seen the article about L.A.C.E. in the Toastmasters Founder's District e-newletter. If you didn't investigate it, I encourage you to take another look. L.A.C.E. stands for Leadership and Communication Experience and it's a day of workshops and speeches. It's for all of us, not just for officers. I went last year, not knowing what to expect, and at the end of the day I was really glad I took the risk.
Registration for this weekend's sessions is closed but you can still sign up for next Sat., Jan. 18, at Biola University in La Mirada. $12 covers the day including lunch.
Here's the link. Use the menu on the right to read about Featured Workshops. Schedule helps lay out the day. (If you save your schedule, it'll carry over to registration.) Registration is simple with Pay Pal.
~Parsons Toastmasters club member, Karen Gibson
Parsons' Kim Acedo, ACB, CL is featured in Toastmasters Division B Newsletter
Parsons Toastmasters' Kim Acedo, ACB, CL shares her professional insights in an article she wrote for the Toastmasters Division B, January 2014 newsletter, entitled "Face Your Fears in 2014."
In the article, Kim discusses a powerful message about not only facing fears.. but running towards them. She follows up her insights with asking readers to commit to the small but significant challenge of asking yourself five simple questions that will lead to developing your personal approach to facing your speaking fears in 2014.
Thank you Kim for sharing your message with Toastmasters.
(Select the image to read the full article )
How To Grab the Audiences Attention with a Powerful Opening
The STAR approach to delivering a powerful opening/introduction for your presentation:
S- Shock: Say something shocking that will grab the audiences attention (but make sure it is also appropriate for your audience or may not be well received)
T- Tell-A-Story: A story or case study with a previous client makes a good story when you are looking to pursuade or sell something
A- Ask a Question: Check in with the audience first (you can do this by simply asking, "is everyone doing well today?"). Ask a yes or no question so that it is easy for the audience to respond.
R- Recite a quote: Make sure it is applicable and relevant
You should use one or more (but not all) of the STAR methods to grab the audiences attention.
S- Shock: Say something shocking that will grab the audiences attention (but make sure it is also appropriate for your audience or may not be well received)
T- Tell-A-Story: A story or case study with a previous client makes a good story when you are looking to pursuade or sell something
A- Ask a Question: Check in with the audience first (you can do this by simply asking, "is everyone doing well today?"). Ask a yes or no question so that it is easy for the audience to respond.
R- Recite a quote: Make sure it is applicable and relevant
You should use one or more (but not all) of the STAR methods to grab the audiences attention.
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