Page 11 - Voices 6.2017

AS I SEE IT. . .

All I Really Need to Know in Life

I Learned in Toastmasters

by Leanna Lindquist, DTM—District Director

Most of what I really need to know about • Give specific and actionable feedback
leadership and communication I learned in • Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor
Toastmasters. It wasn’t what I read in books. It Performance
was what I did and observed every week in my • Keep your eye on the goal
club meetings. • Servant Leadership
These are the things I learned: • Not everyone fulfills their obligations
• The first 30 seconds of a speech are the most • Creativity is rewarded
important • Applause is encouraging and supportive
• When the red light comes on, wrap it up. • Some wonder about you if you belong to more
• Table Topics helps you think quickly and clearly than one club
on your feet Everything you need to know is in there
• Integrity Matters somewhere, do your best, show respect and
• Flexibility serve others.
• Avoid “Death by Power Point” Think what a better world it would be if we
• Opportunities are there, take advantage of them all listened to one another. Paused to reflect.
• Don’t read slides Provided useful feedback that made a difference.
• Maintain good eye contact with the audience Lived a life of integrity and paid attention to
• Don’t apologize red lights.
• The Power of the Pause
• Prepare, practice, perform
• DCP – Documentation Changes People
• Speak more, improve more
• Respect
• Tell stories, it connects you with the audience
• Don’t close your speech with “thank you”
• The number of members is critical to the
success of a club
• Get out of your comfort zone if you want to
change
• DTM – Develop, Train, Mentor
• Lead by example
• Create a Foundational Phrase
• You can inspire, but you can’t motivate
• End with a powerful closing
• Excellence
• Toastmasters is family
• I am competing with myself

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 12 JUNE, 2017 11