7 Tips to Calm Your Public Speaking Nerves

If you’re afraid to speak up, you may miss out on opportunities. The key is to use that energy – the racing heart, sweaty, palms, elevated heart rate – to your advantage. Use it to research your topic and your audience. Use it to craft your content. Use it to practice.

When you feel less nervous and more confident about public speaking, you can take advantage of opportunities (instead of miss out on them) and make a bigger.

7 Tips to Calm Your Public Speaking Nerves

1. Breathe. Inhale and an exhale before you speak. (Or smell the roses and blow out the candle.) Pause every now and then during a speech or conversation and do the same. You’ll decrease your “ums” and “ahs”, stay grounded and present, and your audience gets a chance to absorb what you’ve told them.
2. Straighten your posture. Boost confidence and energy with a quick posture exercise. Stand with your feet flat, shoulders relaxed and back, chest open, chin parallel to the floor. You’ll appear and feel taller and more confident.
3. Get support. Join Toastmasters, hire a coach, gather a group of like-minded colleagues.
4. Practice. Practice is the key to success as a speaker. Again Toastmasters can help. Also, attend networking events, take on leadership roles and practice at home.
5. Know your purpose. Why do you want to speak? A strong purpose will allow you to put that nervous energy to good use.
6. Focus on your audience. Know your audience and their needs to craft a message that helps them. Remember, public speaking isn’t about you. It’s about meeting audience needs.
7. Know your content. Pick a topic you have an interest in or knowledge about, do your research and practice, practice, practice.

Tips developed by Stacy Shipman

Meeting Recap, Lance Miller and A New "Roles" Sign-Up System

We had a great meeting yesterday. Our area Governor Naga Net installed our Club Officers; Bill Harmon gave two educational presentations focused on how to achieve your education goals and how to better perform Toastmasters roles. Kim Acedo conduced a round robin evaluation session and Shannon O’Connell our Toastmaster kept the meeting flowing smoothly. Special kudos goes out to Kristin Blomstrom who researched our theme “Servant Leadership” and came up with though provoking questions.

Our club was well represented last night with 7 members in attendance at the Division B meeting where TM world champion public speaker Lance Miller presented a motivating speech focused on leadership.

We worked out the bugs with our new on-line role sign-up sheet (thanks for helping out Krystal) click on the link here to sign-up for roles open in February, March and April. 

2013 World Public Speaking Champion PRESIYAN VASILEV

The title of 2013 World Champion of Public Speaking was awarded to Presiyan Vasilev (pictured center) of Chicago, Illinois, District 30, for his speech "Changed by a Tire." Second- and third-place winners were, respectively, Kingi Biddle (pictured right) of Rotorua, New Zealand, District 72, for his speech "The Sitting Place" and Shurooq AlBanna (pictured left) of Dubai, UAE, District 20, for her speech"Finding the Pearl."

View Presiyan Vasilev's award winning speech (below). I love that it starts out with humor and ends on an inspirational note.

Parsons Toastmasters Club Agenda and Highlights for Tomorrows Meeting: Feb, 4 2014

Attached is the Parsons Toastmasters Club 2151 Agenda for our meeting tomorrow. Below are a few highlights for tomorrow’s meeting

·         Our 2014 Club Officers will be installed by our Area B2 Governor Naga Net

·         Our theme is Servant Leadership

·         Bill Harmon will give two Toastmasters educational series presentations to our club

·         Get ready to be called upon to give a Table Topics speech

·         Kim Acedo will conduct a round table evaluation session where 3-4 club members will give evaluations of the educational presentations.

I’ll see you all tomorrow and don’t forget to bring your CL book to the meeting get and evaluation and sign off for your role.

 View Agenda

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.

(Left to right: Rose, Sandra and Jolene)

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)

RSVP here

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.

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

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 

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.

http://www.foundersdistrict.org/lace

~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.

2014 Is Finally Here, What Will You Do to Ring In the New Year?

Impromptu Speaking (Being Prepared for Impromptu Speeches outside the Club Setting)

December 2013 Newsletter

The December 2013 Newsletter is now available ONLINE . If you are interested in contributing to the January 2014 newsletter please contact Krystal Rose.

Toastmasters Celebrate the Holidays Togethere with a Fun Luncheon

Happy Holiday Toastmasters! If you were not able to attend the clubs Holiday Luncheon here is a quick recap of the activities:

• A toast from the club President, Shannon O'Connell
• White Elephant Gift game
• Tasty lunch provided by AKA Bistro
• TONS of LAUGHS!

(click on photo to enlarge)

Happy New Year to all. See you at the first meeting of the year which is Tuesday, January 7th 2014

In the News: Toastmasters Int. Gets Recognition as a Resource to "Get Over the Fear of Public Speaking"

..."The great thing about Toastmasters is that it provides a safe space to practice your public speaking (everyone is there because they want to get better too!) and you get constructive feedback on your presentations from people who have been studying with the program for a while. It’s as close as you’ll get to taking a class on public speaking without paying a lot of money...finding a place where you can practice presenting in front of an audience without the pressure of a high-stakes spotlight is really the first big step to becoming more comfortable with public speaking..."

Key Take Aways:

• Practice (in a supportive environment, like Toastmasters)
• Put yourself out there
• Learn from the experts (observe advance speakers, how they speak and their body language)

http://mashable.com/2013/12/26/public-speaking-tips/?utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29&utm_cid=Mash-Prod-RSS-Feedburner-All-Partial&utm_medium=feed&utm_source=feedburner

If you are interested in learning how to join Toastmasters, check out the MEMBERSHIP page for more details

Quoteable for thought

“If you don’t get nervous when speaking to an audience, it probably means you’re dead.” ~Anonymous

New Officers in 2014

Congratulations to the incoming officers for the Jan. –June 2014 term:

President                       Shannon O’Connell, CC, CL

VP Education                  Rose Abbott, CC, ALB

VP Membership               Kristin Blomstrom

VP Public Relations          Krystal Rose, CC, CL

Treasurer                        Andy Tien

Secretary                        Mary Marasco

Sergeant-at-Arms             Michelle Bender, ACB, ALB

A big thank you to our 3 board members who are going off the board:  Tina Lenert, CC, CL; Viola Tawil, Sowmya Venkat.  Thank you for your service to the club and members. Your contributions have proven to be valuable and have positively affected our path towards a President's Distinguished Club. 

Founders District Speaker Exchange

Are you pressed for time and/or wanting to finish your competent communicator, competent leader or any of the other communicator and leadership awards sooner than later? You may be interested in the Speaker Exchange Program. The Speaker Exchange Program coordinates speaking opportunities for Toastmasters clubs to recieve outside "guest" speakers which means Parsons Toastmasters' members can speak at other clubs and recieve credit. The club wants you to accomplish your personal goals, so speak with the VP of education today for more details.

Parsons Toastmaster's is Thankful for All the New Members in November

Please welcome the club's newest members:

(pictured with Rose Abbott, VP of membership)
Vernon Budinger

Eric Leider
Sterling Wainscott

Sandra Huang

Kyle Kranzky

Sonja-Sophie Loeffler

Leslie Suhy

Jolene Horn