Nick Samoylov ran the meeting as our Toastmaster. The theme was, "What has Toastmasters done for you?"
I did not answer this question in the meeting, but I'll add this note today:
For me there were a string of events all of which screamed, "You need to learn to speak in front of a crowd." The one that sticks out most in my memory was a presentation I gave for a graduate level class in accounting. I was the last speaker in a string of speakers. I was speaking on an analysis I had performed on State Street Bank and Trust financial statements. I was bored. The other speeches were boring. My speech was going to be boring. The information was boring. There just was not much to get excited about.
As I said, I was last to speak, and so I got up in front of a lecture hall full of sleepy people who looked as bored by it all as I was. My expectation was that not one of them cared what I said. There was nothing I could say that would make it interesting. The well was so poisoned by previous presenters that I could not possibly enliven the crowd. I looked up at the group, and I froze. All I could think was, "don't look at me." I pulled my self together and went through the motions. It was painful.
The next class was a continuation of this one, and we listened to several more presentations that were just as exciting as the last. Finally, the last guy to speak gave a presentation on the financial statements of Coors. He used a Power Point presentation as many other had done, but unlike the others he didn't use it as a crutch. He used it to lighten the mood. Choosing to use pictures rather than bullet point lists. The images ended up being a visual tour of Coors operation with him providing a financial tour to go along with it. It was brilliant. It was the only presentation that I can recall from the two days of listening to presentations.
It was quite some time after that class that I actually joined a Toastmasters group. Here's what I have learned that addresses the issue I had back in that classroom. The problem I had was that I didn't think anybody wanted to listen to me, I couldn't think why they would, and it didn't occur to me that I could try to overcome this problem. Toastmasters has helped me address that outlook. Practice helps, it gives confidence, it helps build your expectation of how the audience will react. Preparation helps. Thinking about your audience and how you will engage them is something that you can't wait until the last minute to address. Practice and preparation are part of an equation that ends with confidence. With practice and preparation I'm confident, at least more than I ever was, that I can provide a reasonably good speech. At least I don't want to run for the door anymore. That's what Toastmasters has done for me.
Our visitors were treated to two very good speeches. Connie Pshigoda gave an entertaining speech about, "Making Your Own Tracks," which had a very good message about not just following the ruts laid down by others. Eric Peterson gave a motivational speech entitled "Why Are You Not a Toastmaster Yet?" Which is a good question, if you're reading this and you aren't one, that's a sure sign you should join up. Everyone improves with practice.As I said, I was last to speak, and so I got up in front of a lecture hall full of sleepy people who looked as bored by it all as I was. My expectation was that not one of them cared what I said. There was nothing I could say that would make it interesting. The well was so poisoned by previous presenters that I could not possibly enliven the crowd. I looked up at the group, and I froze. All I could think was, "don't look at me." I pulled my self together and went through the motions. It was painful.
The next class was a continuation of this one, and we listened to several more presentations that were just as exciting as the last. Finally, the last guy to speak gave a presentation on the financial statements of Coors. He used a Power Point presentation as many other had done, but unlike the others he didn't use it as a crutch. He used it to lighten the mood. Choosing to use pictures rather than bullet point lists. The images ended up being a visual tour of Coors operation with him providing a financial tour to go along with it. It was brilliant. It was the only presentation that I can recall from the two days of listening to presentations.
It was quite some time after that class that I actually joined a Toastmasters group. Here's what I have learned that addresses the issue I had back in that classroom. The problem I had was that I didn't think anybody wanted to listen to me, I couldn't think why they would, and it didn't occur to me that I could try to overcome this problem. Toastmasters has helped me address that outlook. Practice helps, it gives confidence, it helps build your expectation of how the audience will react. Preparation helps. Thinking about your audience and how you will engage them is something that you can't wait until the last minute to address. Practice and preparation are part of an equation that ends with confidence. With practice and preparation I'm confident, at least more than I ever was, that I can provide a reasonably good speech. At least I don't want to run for the door anymore. That's what Toastmasters has done for me.
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