Tag: presentation skills

Benefits of Being a Member of Toastmasters, Continues…

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking, Stories From Life

It’s been a while since I wrote about public speaking or Toastmasters.

Being an active member of Toastmasters continues to provide benefits to my Life. Two recent examples come to mind.

  • In my BNI (Business Network International) Energy chapter.

BNI is the world’s largest Referral organisation. It has hundreds of thousands of members around the world in approximately 11,000 chapters.

48 weeks a year, each member has an opportunity to stand up. They deliver their Elevator Pitch for 60 seconds. This helps to further educate their fellow members. It also indicates what type of referral they are looking for that week.

Last Wednesday-week, I was fortunate enough to win the Golden Microphone. It was for the Best Referral Request.

Naturally, because we meet so regularly at BNI too, we get a lot of consistent public speaking practice as well. We do the weekly Referral Request, and occasionally get to speak in Education Spot. Depending on the size of the chapter, we have the opportunity to do a 10-minute presentation every 6 months as well.

Consistent practice both with Toastmasters and BNI combines to assist me in growing my confidence and presentation skills.

  • EmCee/MC at Weddings

Several years ago, one of my Nieces asked me an important question. She wanted to know if I would like the honour of being the MC at her wedding reception. The event was at The Royal Golf Club in Canberra.

Although nervous, I accepted. I wanted to help my Niece out. I remembered a valuable piece of advice from an experienced Toastmaster member. They once said, ‘if you ever get offered to do a public speaking engagement, accept it.’

The only way to grow in confidence and skills is to keep doing it. Of course they are important mental skills as well but, mental practice alone will not do it.

I’ve just completed my fourth wedding as an MC. The last three, including the one I did last weekend, were for three of my Godsons.

All four receptions were at quite different venues. Sometimes, as I have learned, one must be flexible and adaptable. Quite often, the Bride and Groom will change the running sheet ‘on-the-fly.’

Before joining Toastmasters, I would have dismissed the idea of presenting weekly at a business group. If someone suggested I would be an MC at weddings, I would have thought they were mad.

It just goes to show how being an active member of Toastmasters can have a positive impact on one’s Life. As of the 1 October 2024, I have been a member of Toastmasters for 16 years, 7 months. Looking forward to continuing the journey!

Till next time!

Written by David Johnson

Sunday, 6 October 2024

A Pleasure To Receive…Thank You!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking, Stories From Life

On Friday, I had great pleasure in receiving my DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) plaque from Toastmasters International.

As an earlier post indicated, I reached the DTM level in Toastmasters last month which is the highest level.

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Since 1924, more than 4 million people have benefitted from the Educational program.

As of 1 July 2020, the new Pathways Educational is now the only educational program in use. There are 11 Paths to choose from.

I joined Toastmasters back in March 2008 and by committing to the program and consistently striving to improve myself, taking on board the mentoring and points for improvement and putting them into practice, it changed my life in many positive ways.  It can do the same for you too.

There is still more I can learn and whilst doing that, I can help others along the way, just like I have been helped. I am so grateful for the opportunities.

For more information: https://www.toastmasters.org/

Written by David Johnson
5 July 2020

Stepping-Stones… A Journey to DTM and Beyond!

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Public Speaking, Stories From Life

Last week it was exciting to have achieved the highest Education and Leadership level in Toastmasters International, that of DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster).

There is no set time to achieve DTM, You do it at your own pace and whilst some Toastmasters are members of multiple clubs, in my 12 1/4 years in Toastmasters, I’ve been in one club (at a time), mainly.

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So, what does that mean to a non-Toastmaster, i.e. what do you need to do to achieve it?

I have listed the requirements below that were needed to complete DTM (in the Traditional program):

Competent Communicator

10 speeches (mainly 5-7 minutes in length).

Competent Leader

10 Projects (containing multiple roles ranging from meeting roles to serving on a club executive committee).

Advanced Communicator Bronze

10 Advanced module speeches (mainly 5-7 mins but up to 40 mins). There were 15 Advanced manuals to choose from; plus 2 x 15 minute Educational presentations.

Advanced Leadership Bronze

Served at least 6 months as a Club Officer; participate in preparation of a Club Success Plan; attend Officer training; conduct 2 x15 minute Educational presentations.

Advanced Communicator Silver

10 Advanced module speeches & 2 x15 minute Educational presentations.

Advanced Communicator Gold

10 Advanced module speeches & 1 x 15 minute Educational presentation or lead a Youth Leadership (6 weeks long) Program & mentored a member for their first 3 speech projects.

Advanced Leadership Silver

Serve a 12 month term as a District Leader, Serve successfully as a Club Coach, Club Sponsor or Club Mentor & complete a High Performance Leadership program.

Along the way you finish up doing more as its fun and you want to learn more and obtain more experience etc:

  • I led 3 Youth Leadership courses and participated in several more.
  • Participated (as a leader) in Speechcraft courses (for adults)
  • Have served as a club officer 6 times including being President of two different clubs.
  • Together with Rhys Tague (co-Club Coach) we have successfully built a new Toastmasters Club in the Macarthur Region and the club has achieved 10/10 in the Distinguished Club Program  (achieving all Administration, Education and Membership goals) in it’s first year.

Toastmasters has been in ’transition-mode’ for the past few years and the Traditional Program stops at Midnight on 30 June 2020. The new Pathways Education Program has been in for a few years now and offers even more opportunities for learning and development in terms of communication and leadership.

I’m currently about to start Level 3 (out of 5) of the one of the 11 Paths called ‘Presentation Mastery.’

Being a committed member of Toastmasters has helped me have greater confidence (inward & outward) and I have learnt so much. There is still much more to learn though.

Why do I stay in Toastmasters?

  • Continuing professional development
  • A chance to pay it forward/give back to other members
  • I’ve made many friends

I’ve included a link to the Pathways Education program should you wish to investigate it more. https://www.toastmasters.org/pathways-overview

If you would like to find a club near you that you can visit, there is a ‘Find A Club’ link on the same page.

Where to from here? I see the achievement of DTM as another stepping-stone to further professional development.

The journey is far from over!

Written by David Johnson
27 June 2020

Go On…’Steal The Show!’

by communicatingcreatively, posted in Books, Public Speaking

As some of you may know, I’m a member of Toastmasters International and have been for 12 years this month. It has been a wonderful journey of learning, practicing and I have made many friends along the way, plus I am now a much more confident person in many ways, too.

At the same time, whilst Toastmasters is a great organisation and I highly recommend it, I also recommend sourcing information about Speaking skills from outside of it.

For quite a few years now I have been reading books about Public Speaking, Presentation skills, Leadership and general communication skills.

One such book is ’Steal The Show’ from Speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches.

I first found out about the book when I came across Michael Port’s podcast on iTunes called ’Steal The Show.’

I feel the book is a ‘Goldmine’ of inspiration and information. Part One is ’The Performer’s Mindset’; Part Two is ‘Powerful Performance Principles’ and Part Three is ‘A Master Class In Public Speaking’ plus it has 50 Public Speaking tips at the end of the book.

If you are at all interested in improving your communication and public speaking skills, I would highly recommend reading this book. I will be keeping it as a reference book for many years to come!

Written by David Johnson
March 2020