Toastmasters Training

Have you wondered how you could improve your staff’s communication and leadership skills on an ongoing basis? The new Toastmasters training program, Pathways, is a great place to start. Pathways is an online program that starts with an assessment to meet each member’s individual needs and to enable them to become better and more confident communicators and leaders. The various projects focus on practical skills like Team Collaboration which covers subjects like “Understanding Your Leadership Style” and “Motivate Others”.  

There are 11 different paths with more being added every year. When you join Toastmasters you receive a login to the Toastmasters International website, which is where the Pathways program resides. After completing the assessment you will be presented with the the best matched path and an additional 2 paths as alternative choices, if you are not keen on the best match. Although you are free to select one of the remaining 8 paths if these alternatives don’t suit you.  

The Pathways program has 5 levels, each capitalising on the previous. Subsequent levels are progressively harder than its predecessor and the online lessons give the member a comprehensive explanation for each project. There are common core subjects, commencing with the “Icebreaker” (the first project in level 1) and “Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring” (a project in level 2) and specialised subjects like “Develop a Communication Plan”.  

For those members who are keen to pursue mentoring, there is a separate path, “Pathways Mentor Program”, which is made available once you complete level 2. The program is comprised of three projects that must be completed sequentially. The projects cover a range of topics from understanding your role as a mentor through to a comprehensive assignment that includes a mentoring commitment lasting six months. All projects are evaluated with personalised specific feedback.

A range of tutorials and resources are available for downloading, including 360^o Evaluations as well as supportive documentation, like the Navigator – which gives the new member an overview of Toastmasters and the Pathways program. Members receive an award for completing each level as well as completing each path (all 5 levels). The highest educational designation you can earn as a member is the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award, given to those who complete two paths, serve in specific volunteer leadership roles and complete the “Distinguished Toastmaster” project.

Pathways is Toastmasters comprehensive training program designed to improve communication, leadership and interpersonal skills. During the meetings you are learning each skill set by following the curriculum and practising different types of speaking, listening and facilitation skills. In addition, leadership activities like motivating others, planning meetings and marketing as well as interpersonal skills are practised in a safe and supportive environment.  

Interested to learn more about Toastmasters and the Pathways training program? Join us at Picnic Point Toastmasters. We meet on the 1^st and 3^rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.  

Public Relations Pitfalls

What are some of the common pitfalls to avoid in public relations? Poorly written material, too much content, lack of enthusiasm for the pitch, over-hyping, poor research, noisy background during phone conversations and bad timing.   

Written material that is poorly worded, contains spelling errors and is poorly structured will ensure that your press release will end up in the trash. Watch the length. Too much content leads to irrelevant information that needs to be waded through before the reporter can determine what the point is. If you want to grab the reader’s attention, you must be write your pitch concisely. Cover all the relevant points and follow up with information about the event or activity. Use simple, clear language and avoid jargon.

Enthusiasm for your pitch is essential, however, you must ensure that you don’t overdo it.  Remember to smile when you pitch, don’t use too many superlatives or you won’t sound credible. Use facts to support your statements, don’t exaggerate and avoid generalisations. You want to boost the reputation of your brand, generate leads and then convert those leads. To achieve these goals you must protect the brand, promote it through fact sheets and use strong writing skills.   

Poor research will result in a number of issues, including sending your press release to multiple reporters in the same office or targeting the wrong reporter in multiple offices! Do your homework. When emailing, only email one reporter at a time. Know which reporter covers your topic, follow them on social media, create a relationship with them. If you use Twitter, consider following them and use Direct Message so your communications remain private.

Poor research can lead to a lack of purpose, for example, sending out press releases too frequently which don’t provide important updates. Have a plan, know what you wish to communicate and why. If you don’t plan you risk an important announcement being ignored by the press. And don’t forget to check your competitors’ PR efforts. The reporter you are pitching to may have recently written a story on your competitor, take time to research their angle to ensure that your story pitch has a different angle.

Make sure you call from a quiet location with a reliable line, pitching from a mobile phone could be problematic in areas with poor coverage. If you are unable to contact the reporter, consider calling back, rather than leaving a voice mail, which most likely will result in your call being ignored. Be prepared to close the deal by following up. You want to be heard, so be ready with additional information if a reporter has additional questions.

Avoid bad timing by considering lead time for magazines, newspapers, and other media. Consider reading the papers and online publications to keep up with what is going on in the world. This ensures you can avoid poorly timed media releases and could give you a way to relate your event to those recently mentioned in the news.   

Interested to learn more? Toastmasters International is a worldwide non-profit educational organisation that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Contact Picnic Point Toastmasters at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Picnic Point, NSW 2213.  We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm and look forward to helping you attain your communication and leadership goals.  

Collective Leadership

According to Wikipedia, “Collective leadership is a distribution of power within an organisational structure. It is considered an ideal form of ruling a communist party, both within and outside a socialist state.”

How does it work? Collective leadership is driven by mutual respect, shared knowledge and complementary strengths. The team is often lead by several people who share a powerful vision and is centred around trust, transparency and effective communication. Everyone takes responsibility for the success of the team. Decisions are shared and personal authority is based on knowledge and strengths.

Why do we need it? Knowledge sharing avoids silos, change and innovation occurs more rapidly and better decisions through open feedback encourages participation. Individuals have the opportunity to create their own solutions, using their respective motivations and shared responsibility reduces pressure for all involved. Using an individual’s strength and talents helps them develop expertise, knowledge and skills aligned with areas of responsibility.  

When people are involved in developing team goals they are more likely to take ownership. Motivation and productivity increase as each individual is given the opportunity to make decisions and develop solutions – leading to a sense of purpose.   Multiple and diverse inputs ensures the results are maintained and continued. This minimises the risk of knowledge and skills being lost if one person leaves the group.  

How can we implement a collective leadership style? Firstly, realise that it is a complicated process, due to the need to blend passion with accountability, engagement with strategy, innovation with discipline. This requires patience to develop the type of culture and environment that will establish a collective leadership. Start with shared goals and objectives, cultivate a sense of belonging, encourage employees to participate in strategy development.

Your vision must be clear around purpose and goals, establish trust amongst your employees and peers and ascertain whether the group of individuals involved in the process are capable to support the agreed goals and objectives. When properly cultivated, shared goals become a reality and the people involved will develop products and services that they are proud to be a part of.

If you are interested in collective leadership, creating and inspiring quality relationships, developing trust and motivation, then it’s time you considered visiting Picnic Point Toastmasters.  We meet at 7pm every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.  

“Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.” –Helen Keller

Inspirational Speakers

Inspirational speakers are often confused with motivational speakers. Why? Because the difference between motivational and inspirational speakers is subtle. Motivational speakers, like Tony Robbins, encourage you to become more excited about what you do, they focus on the psychology of motivation and purpose. This leads to a change in behaviour as the motivational speaker helps people to think better, do better and be better. They are often business focused and concentrate on mindset and the how.

Inspirational speakers use their life experience and evaluate themselves frequently, passing on any useful information to their audiences. They possess strong speaking skills and help individuals make definite changes by providing them with an ideal reference, such as overcoming adversity. Inspirational speakers deliver their message with enthusiasm, creating a connection with the audience by using emotional language and have achieved a level of success by overcoming extreme setbacks. Inspirational speakers focus on our spirit and the why…. 

The inspirational speaker reminds us to look at our lives through a different lens to see where the opportunities lie. How can you take responsibility to change direction in your life? What challenges do you need to overcome? What’s the end result you need to focus on? Inspirational speakers promote self confidence, the power of determination and never giving up. They share a message of hope, how to perform at your best and provide lessons in reinventing yourself.

How can we become inspirational speakers? Through compassion, having a vision and achieving our goals.  Develop self-discipline, share solutions, become selfless. Invest in self-development, find inner peace, help others to see their strengths and opportunities. Show that you care, encourage others through your words and actions and earn people’s trust.

Interested in becoming an inspirational speaker?  Visit Picnic Point Toastmasters at 7pm every 1^st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.   

“When you share your experiences with other people, you help take away their fears”

– Rick Warren

The Courageous Leader

What does it take to be a courageous leader? What does it mean to be courageous in the workplace? How can you recognise it and even emulate courageous leadership? It’s the everyday activities of a leader that demonstrates their courage. Take notice and you will witness that they speak up when no-one else is willing to, even if it means being judged by others. They don’t shy from giving critical feedback to management, even if it means suffering the consequences of an unfavourable outcome.

Courageous leaders know when to keep quiet and allow others to have their say. Even when they think they are right. They are humble when receiving critical feedback and willing to listen to those who disagree. A courageous leader develops others, knowing one day that person may prove to be smarter than they are. They mentor and coach when it’s not part of their job description, knowing that it will develop the best leaders of tomorrow.

A courageous leader is not afraid to disagree with popular decisions – often saying “Yes” when others are saying “No  or “No” when the general consensus is “Yes”. They accept responsibility for their actions and are willing to do the right thing when it is not a popular decision.  A courageous leader knows when to stay and fight for a good cause – even when others are walking away. They will keep going when the going gets really tough.  And will walk away when the fight isn’t worth it.

Other traits include reflecting deeply before taking action, sticking it out when they would rather quit, using their heart when making decisions and using their head when their emotions could get the better of them.  They will ask “what’s right?” rather than be critical and are curious rather than judgemental. They will step out of their comfort zone, despite how it makes them feel.

Courageous leaders respect their followers, even when they have been disappointed by them. They forgive others, and in particular, those who have learned an important lesson and strive to do better next time. They give credit where credit is due, listen to others without giving advice and ask when they really want to tell.  And they see potential in others when no-one else does. They are not afraid to explore outside of the box – even if the general consensus is “we have always done it this way”. A courageous leader will admit their failings, control their impulses and support others to minimise suffering.

To quote Nelson Mandela: “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear”.

There is a courageous leader in all of us and it starts with the first step towards our leadership goals.

Visit Picnic Point Toastmasters to learn more.  We meet at 7pm every 1st  and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.

The Inspirational Leader

Have you ever met an inspirational leader? What made them inspirational? Chances are it wasn’t being likeable or their level of experience. An inspirational leader is driven by their “why”. This sense of purpose is what inspires employees to achieve their best.  When staff believe in what their manager believes in it creates a sense of purpose. And purpose is a key factor in motivation. A leader’s “why” demonstrates clarity, vision and values. The inspirational leader is courageous, tolerant, authentic, humble and possesses a high level of of self-awareness.

The good news is that anyone can develop these attributes. To start with, future inspirational leaders must genuinely care for others, be inclusive and involve everyone in the group, show appreciation of others efforts, demonstrate trust, listen with an open mind and create a fun work environment.

Another consideration is to evaluate your peers and circle of friends. Do they inspire you? Do they encourage you to stretch outside your current boundaries? Are you an inspiration to others? Are you doing something with your life that deserves their admiration? Consider the clutter in your life that is holding you back. Are you reliving past resentments or regrets? Do you continue to engage with negative people? Time to let go and move on.

What’s your “why”? Are you living by default, rather than designing your vision?  Finding your purpose can be as simple as reading something that matters to you. Look to your past experiences, what have you learnt that can help others? What are you grateful for? Consider volunteering or donating money to a cause that you deeply care for. Appreciating others and finding substance in what others appreciate about you strengthens relationships, which are often a source of purpose. Finding or building a community can create a sense of belonging and help you discover or strengthen your purpose.

Take time out to reflect and be thankful for what you have. Mix up your daily routine, network to meet new people, relax, switch off from social media, your phone, laptop or ipod.  Reach out to people and be inspired by the real world. Exchange ideas, skills and cultures, volunteer or reconnect with nature. Be inspired so you can inspire others.

“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States.

Ready to become an inspirational leader?  Join us, Picnic Point Toastmasters.  We meet at 7pm every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.  Inspiration is but a meeting away….

How Mentoring Impacts Us

Have you ever thought that you could benefit from mentoring?  It’s probably not the first thing to pop into your mind until a particular situation arises, like “What do I need to do to progress my career?”.  We often look to our managers or friends for advice and guidance but have you thought to look to someone else in your circle?  Or perhaps you need to look elsewhere?  How can you decide? Start with a clear idea of what you want to focus on. Often we receive feedback at work through regular appraisals.  Consider the areas highlighted for improvement as a good place to start.

Once you have decided on what you want to focus on look for someone who has the same experience you are looking for. The mentor can provide you with information, stimulate ideas and provide you with opportunities to experience first hand what is required to move forward. A mentor will guide you in other areas you had not considered as they will see opportunities for improvement that you will not be aware of.

The mentor will help you to create a “better you” through probing questions, some which may require you to go away and think about how you could answer these questions in line with your goal.  A good mentor will set you various tasks or goals to stretch you and see how you go about tackling them. These opportunities to will teach you a lot about who you are and how you like to develop. It also helps the mentor to learn about what works for you and what doesn’t.  This helps the mentor decide on what the next project should entail to move you towards achieving your goal.

Other benefits include working on your values, leadership skills and character.  The mentor will encourage and guide you through the toughest assignments and help you to achieve more than you could imagine.  This often requires a kind of tough love to help instil the right habits and eventually create the self-discipline and self-motivation you need to prioritise your tasks and realise your goals. Your mentor is someone who you can discuss ideas with, receive honest feedback and make sounds decisions with.  They are your trusted advisor and often can connect you to other parties to help you progress.

Their knowledge and experience can teach you the mistakes to avoid, and often, the quickest route to achieving your desired outcome.  Although a mentor work for free, their guidance is priceless.  Show them the respect they deserve by checking in with your mentor from time to time.  Let them know how you are progressing, show them that you appreciate their time and support. It’s up to you to build a relationship with your mentor.

The lifespan of skills have shortened over the years, now more than ever we need mentors to help us move forward in our careers. How does mentoring impact us? It impacts us in positive ways by building a bridge between where you are now and where you want to be next. In the words of Lailah Gifty Akita: “Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor”.

Ready to move move forward with your career aspirations?  Become a  member of Picnic Point Toastmasters. Your appointed mentor will guide and support you through the Toastmasters program, improving your leadership and communication skills. The Toastmasters program offers a self-paced mentoring program that will take you from mentee to mentor.  So what are you waiting for? Picnic Point Toastmasters meet at 7pm every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.

Long Term Leadership Lessons

What does it take to ensure leadership longevity? In some businesses, like IBM, a culture of boldness has secured their spot at the top of the leadership rung. During the 1929 Great Depression Thomas J. Watson Sr was at the helm and  announced that he had  appointed an advisory board of executives to focus primarily on the future. “We are going into the future, and we are not going to wait until some other company gets ahead of us,” he said. “There are greater prospects for our machines in the future than any of you have dreamed of.”

He bet that IBM could beat the Depression by being aggressive. He kept his factories running, didn’t lay off people and increased spending on product development. Despite the company almost going bust, his bold strategy paid off. In 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act. Because IBM had been building, improving and warehousing its tabulating machines, it was far ahead of any competitor. And IBM won the government contract. His son, Thomas J. Watson Jr., inherited his father’s boldness and in the early 1960’s he decided to totally revamp the company’s technology and the way it was organised.  He made obsolete the company’s entire product line and fortunately for IBM and its shareholders, his bet paid off. IBM became a dominant force in the computer industry for decades to come.

What makes this company so successful? Leadership characteristics that support  longevity, including, modesty and a determination to constantly transform. Former CEO Sam Palmisano stated that : “You have to be willing to change your core, and you have to be ahead of the shift.” Like his predecessors he  has played a leading role in rebuilding IBM and taking bold steps to secure the company’s future. IBM is led by people who are hugely ambitious, willing to take risks and absolutely relentless in their pursuit of their business goals. From it’s humble beginnings IBM has pioneered the leadership model that’s required for an organisation to last 100 years.

How can we emulate IBM’s success?  Firstly, we need to have a strong belief in ourselves and we need to develop the following 5 skills:

1. Be approachable and show your human side
2. Be a team player
3. Inspire commitment and motivation
4. Be self-aware
5. Help others find meaning in their work

Are you ready to invest in your long term leadership goals? Then come and visit us at Picnic Point Toastmasters. We meet at 7pm every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.

Sources of Inspiration

Sources of inspiration can be found all around us. Consider people, like Albert Einstein, Leonardo da Vinci and Aristotle or places like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Lake Hillier in Western Australia or Machu Picchu in Peru. We are inspired by music, art, poetry, films, speeches…. Why? Often, these sources of inspiration reflect our personal motto which are influenced by our beliefs and values and can help us achieve our goals.

How do we find inspiration within ourselves? How can we foster it in others? We can start with our personal motto. Your perspective on life is reflected in your personal motto, and this can help you achieve your goals.  Creating a life which fulfils you can lead to personal success and happiness. When we feel inspired we feel motivated to follow through, making choices that help you to attain your long-held dreams.

Inspirational quotes like “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall” by Confucius or “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear” by Nelson Mandela remind us that inspiration is the most important leadership trait. Inspiration is the internal passion that fills us with purpose, drives our determination to succeed and infuses us with energy to continue, no matter how difficult the situation.

Why is the ability to be inspiring so important? Because this is the trait of influence. How can you influence others? By using a number of strategies that the most effective leaders use. These include having a clear vision, clear mission, and clear values. Creating achievable goals that stretch you and your team., working collaboratively, encouraging self-development, acting with integrity, using open communication, listening to and acknowledging others.

Inspiration is the first step towards change. Believing something is possible can be the catalyst that propels someone towards their goal. Your stories, ideas and visions could contain the solution to overcome some obstacles or plant the seed for a new product or service.  How can you be an inspiration to others?  By taking the first step towards your goal and setting the example.

At Picnic Point Toastmasters we are inspired to help you achieve your communication and leadership skills in our warm, friendly and supportive environment.  We meet at 7pm every 1st and 3rd Tuesday at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Panania.

Online Public Relations

More than ever, Toastmasters clubs have an opportunity and a responsibility to grow their brand through social media. Understanding how social media works, how it affects brands and what makes opinions change in an instant is key to maintaining a strong brand. The opportunity to relay facts and events to a wide audience has never been so easy and so inexpensive, offering a wide range of multimedia formats such as pictures, podcasts, graphics and videos. In 1996 Bill Gates stated that “content is king”. The belief that online content is central to the success of a website implies that readers demand quality and expect it…..

Our online visitors are looking for content that delivers value, expert knowledge, brand awareness, and is relevant. How can we deliver? Through unique, informative, entertaining, error free, structured text that is easily understood. To influence people through social media you need patience, good ideas and well-written articles. Social media is the ideal tool to to build a brand with some free publicity. How can we use social media to align with our mission to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment?

Firstly, we need to select members who know Toastmasters well. Members who have been a Toastmaster for many years, who care about the club and branding as much as Toastmasters International do. Toastmasters who can demonstrate quality leadership and communication skills. Creative thinkers, people with knowledge in-house, who are keen to have real relationships with visitors who are seeking to learn from us. They know how to build relationships, as a trusted source they persuade people they encounter through a strategic communication process which builds a mutually beneficial relationship.

Secondly, a good storyteller will protect, enhance and advance the Toastmasters brand. They find positive messages to share, create and execute special events, network, create an image, build credibility and trust. Understanding what you have to offer and why your target audience should care is what good public relations is all about. Online public relations through social media is a rapid way to get your message out there. Social media can augment PR efforts and serve as an amplifier. The use of images and videos, announcing special events and reporting on various activities can attract visitors and provide information that is helpful to them.

Online public relations  will lead to new members who are looking to improve their communications and leadership skills. Picnic Point Toastmasters is proud to support the local community with quality communications and leadership training. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Come join us at Club Picnic Point – 124 Lambeth Street, Picnic Point. We look forward to meeting you.