What’s Your Truth?

Do you have a message you would like to share with like-minded thinkers? Does the fear of public speaking stop you in your tracks? This kind of thinking stems from how you feel when faced with public speaking. The fear is based on feeling threatened, so your body responds with a kind of anxiety. This anxiety can be mild; you may feel a little tense, your heart may be racing or maybe you are breathing rapidly.

Where does this anxiousness come from? Most likely, the fact that you are standing on your own in front of an audience who may reject you. Yet, this fear is often unfounded. How can you overcome this fear of public speaking? Know your truth. What are you passionate about? Are you committed to your truth? Does your truth reflect your preferences? Take the time to consider your position. As individuals, we often forget who we are whilst we are busy living up to others expectations.

When you accept who you are it shows up as confidence, and this confidence is carried across when you present to others. Who are you? Let this person shine through your presentation. Focusing on your truth and speaking with passion naturally leads to an energised delivery which will engage your  audience. Whilst you remain focused on your delivering your message, you will be more insightful and will automatically use inclusive language. Why is this important? Inclusive language means you are using collaborative words which helps the audience engage with you. Your community-minded approach ensures that people are listening to and absorbing your message.

The first steps to knowing your truth and expressing it starts with you. Before you present, take the time to prepare your presentation, learn what you can about the audience, relax before the presentation, and above all, practice with passion and enthusiasm. Focus on the message and delivery. Once you are in front of that audience use your passion, share your best insights and use collaborative language.

To speak your truth is to live your truth. Living your truth is all about balance, respect, self-validation, being honest and knowing that your value is not dependent on others. When you speak your truth you won’t be bothered by negative thoughts regarding your credibility as a speaker or your lack of experience. Your confidence will grow with preparation and practice. Use a relaxation technique to get you into a calm state, give yourself plenty of time to prepare your presentation, focus on communicating your message and seek out opportunities to speak more often.

Ready to speak your truth? Consider visiting Picnic Point Toastmasters to learn about our proven system that teaches you the basics of public speaking and communication.  We meet at Club Picnic Point, 124 Lambeth St, Panania on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm.

Toastmasters Open House

Toastmasters is all about helping people overcome their fears of public speaking. The program is designed to allow each member to progress through the individualised program at his or her own pace. If you have never experienced a Toastmasters meeting then consider coming along to an open house meeting. There will be laughter, surprises and entertainment of the speaking variety!

What does it entail? An experienced speaker with an irresistible topic, a good explanation of Toastmasters, and an invitation to visit or join. This event is more than a special occasion….. it’s an experience!

When you arrive at a Toastmasters Open House you will be greeted warmly. The event will last anywhere between 1 to 2 hours, depending on the length of the regular meeting. It’s a fun, casual and relaxed event where guests can ask questions, meet members and get a feel for the club’s culture. The meeting opens with a brief introduction from the club president and then the meeting is turned over to the Toastmaster (Master of Ceremonies).

The experienced speaker will then present, and the audience is allowed time to critique the speaker, this is followed by a fun segment called “Table Topics” – similar to Trivia nights at your local club. Anyone and everyone is encouraged to participate in Table Topics. Finally, a few members give a short overview of their Toastmasters experience.

Then we get to party! Food and drink is provided as Toastmasters mingle with guests. Guests are presented with an information packet at the end of the event and invited to join up or visit the club if they need more information. Why not visit your local Toastmasters to find out more?

If you are keen to learn how Toastmasters can help you with you public speaking goals there’s no need to wait for an open house. And if you happen to be in our neck of the woods on a Tuesday evening we would be honoured to have you as our guest at Picnic Point Toastmasters.

We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Picnic Point. Our house is always open…..

Public Engagement

Transparent and honest business practice is valued above everything else….open communication regarding any issues identified help reinforce our branding. Public relations goes beyond media relations. The public wants us to be engaged with them. What does this mean? It means selling our product in a way that benefits the public.

Let’s start with culture. Whenever a visitor joins our meeting our culture is on display. Our shared values, belief systems, attitudes and the set of assumptions that we share form our club culture. A positive culture improves teamwork, raises morale and enhances membership retention. It encourages collaboration and trust, motivates members to work on their goals and ensures that respect and integrity are at the forefront of everything we do.

Our club culture is a reflection of club leadership. Is the executive committee dedicated to finding new and better ways to support, serve and adapt to the needs of the members? Are members actively engaged in promoting Toastmasters as the expert in the fields of communication and leadership? Are the programs adaptable for different generations and cultures, and for emerging technologies? How can we create alliances with the public? Start by leveraging relationships with individuals outside of Toastmasters.

As members, we are the representatives of Toastmasters International. This gives us a tremendous opportunity to be a successful brand ambassador.

What do you need to do to be a successful brand ambassador? Firstly, be authentic. People will trust you if you are seen to be real and open. If you are open people will automatically feel relaxed and more accepting of you and what you have to say.

Secondly, take a look at your online presence. As a Toastmasters ambassador you have the opportunity to use your online presence to promote your club. Always maintain a high level of professionalism. We can take advantage of feedback and remain responsible when networking online. Social media can reflect the best and worst aspects of networking as our written communication can be easily misinterpreted, leading to a potential hazard which can affect the Toastmasters brand.

Using our leadership skills will reflect positivity and confidence which, in turn, demonstrates our passion for Toastmasters and helps us to establish and grow relationships. Focus on the feedback you receive, then use it to improve your communication when engaging the public. We can maximise the benefits to potential members by understanding public concerns and expectations and responding to these needs in a timely fashion. With a little planning, scoping and analysis, you will involve the right people through your networking, tweak your communication to engage the public and develop your communication and leadership skills.

Interested to learn more? Visit Picnic Point Toastmasters! We meet at 7pm on every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Picnic Point, NSW 2213. We look forward to meeting you!

Communication Strategy

Do you have a communication strategy? Do you need one? A communication strategy is usually associated with business, but have you considered a personal communication strategy? Taking the time to develop a personal communication strategy will help you to get your message across more effectively. No doubt you have witnessed some communication faux pas in your time, perhaps you have been guilty of committing them…. Yet, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure your words convey what you really mean.

Firstly, how clear is your objective? What are you trying to achieve? Are you looking to inform or persuade your audience? Are you expecting them to take some kind of action as a result of your message? Secondly, have you clearly identified who your audience is? This is crucial, as you need to tailor your message to suit the audience whilst ensuring that your objective remains intact.  Next, consider how you will express your communication. Will you be presenting in person, creating a blog, emailing, or posting on social media? What about a podcast, forum or YouTube?

Once you have decided on the objective, identified the target audience and settled on the form of communication your next step is to tailor the message in a way that is short and simple. If you have done your homework you will have an idea of your audience’s perspective. Take note of their response, this feedback will either confirm that you are on the right track or that you need to change your delivery. This exchange between you and your audience will enhance your understanding and provide you with the next steps. What can you learn from this experience? What would you do differently to improve the connection between you and your audience?

Reflecting on the delivery and audience reaction will give you insight into what you are doing well and where the opportunities lie. Could you have chosen better words? If there is any ambiguity in your message? What about the tone of your voice or writing? If there is room for interpretation then you may need to adjust your delivery. Sincerity is key. If there is any doubt in your audience’s mind you will lose their trust in you. People will care about you when you show them that you care about them. Don’t forget that communication is more than the words that come tumbling out of your mouth or keyboard.

When speaking in front of an audience you need to keep a check on your non-verbal cues, such as body language, gesturing, facial expressions, eye contact, arm and leg posture. These unconscious cues will inform your audience whether you are engaged with the topic and the audience or whether you are just going through the motions. And if you are addressing an audience of mixed cultures or travelling overseas be sure to familiarise yourself with what is acceptable and what may be considered disrespectful.

Lastly, be a good listener. Often, we are so eager to express ourselves that we don’t take the time to tune out the distractions and truly connect with our audience. Yet, this skill helps you build relationships, ensures you understand one another and resolves conflicts. Maintaining appropriate eye contact is the first step to good listening skills and take note of non-verbal cues. Be attentive, keep an open mind and concentrate on what the other person is saying. Don’t interrupt, wait for the speaker to pause before responding or asking clarifying questions. Use empathy to connect with the other person, this means you are allowing yourself to feel what the other person is feeling, taking your listening skills to another level. And remember to give regular feedback to reflect your understanding. For example, you might comment with “You seem very pleased with the outcome” or “What a terrible experience”. This type of feedback demonstrates that you are listening and are following their line of thinking.

If you are still unsure about developing a personal communication strategy and are looking for some guidance and a chance to practice in a supportive environment then consider speaking to us at Picnic Point Toastmasters. We meet at 7pm every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.