Enhancing a Technical Talk with the Internet

I’m really excited to be on the last project of the Technical Presentations manual. The main goal for this project is to use the Internet to inform the audience about my topic before my speech.

I’ve been inspired by Aimee Mullins who is an athlete, model, and actor to talk about prosthetic limbs. I would like to hear your comments on her talk. What do you think of the idea that “prosthetic limbs are more than just a replacement, they are works of art”? Also, think about another question: If you lost a leg, would you have a prosthetic or would you use a wheelchair?

The link to my blog is:

http://toastmistress.wordpress.com/

Ms Mullins’ speech can be seen at:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/aimee_mullins_prosthetic_aesthetics.html

You can post them either here or on my blog. I look forward to reading your comments! English or 日本語OK!

Helen

Mtg #166

June 17, 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

Place: Jiyugaoka Community Center
場所：自由が丘住区センター

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Mtg #165

June 3, 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

Place: Jiyugaoka Community Center
場所：自由が丘住区センター

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New? Click the link below to reserve a spot!
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‘I don’t know what to talk about!’

Do these thoughts ever go through your mind when you plan a speech?

‘I don’t know what to talk about!’ ‘Other people seem to have such great original ideas, but mine are so small!’ ‘I don’t think I have anything to say!’.

Sometimes I feel like this, so this post is about getting ideas for speeches.

Amongst the recommendations in Toastmaster educational materials are:

1. Find ideas through the media, e.g., newspapers, television, the Internet.
2. Tell stories about your own life.
3. Use famous stories or anecdotes or quotations as a starting point.

These are all great ideas, but I want to add something.

Nothing is too small or too insignificant for Toastmasters.

I enjoyed TM Miyazaki’s great icebreaker speech ‘The sooner, the better’ because she took a simple thought that had obviously been in her head for some time. She took this thought and then explored it. This idea wasn’t something she had consciously sought out; it was something that was already there.

You know how when you clean out an old drawer and find something you have forgotten about. ‘Wow, I still have that? Why haven’t I used it yet?’ I found some cute origami paper, and stickers and writing cards, just waiting for me to use them.

Apply the mottainai concept! Treasure your ideas

Sometimes you find speech ideas inside you, just waiting to be taken out of the dusty drawer, pondered over, and used. You just need to start by being aware what floats through your mind and believe that it is worth taking your own thoughts seriously.

Helen

Toastmasters and leadership

The club elections coming up on June 3rd will be when we vote in the new officers for the seven positions of President, VP Education, VP Membership, VP Public Relations, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms.

Most newcomers think of Toastmasters as a place to practice communication skills and making speeches. While that is true, leadership skills are a natural offshoot from having good communication skills. Think of almost any skill set, and you find that technical skill is just the beginning.

A great guitarist like Jimi Hendrix didn’t just have technical skill, he had passion for his music and the effect it had on people listening. A great driver doesn’t just handle the controls, they know how to navigate the roads to get somewhere. A great chef knows more than how to handle a knife, they want to delight and surprise people with their culinary creations.

Being a great leader comes from being a good communicator. What it means to be a good leader is very personal, different from individual to individual. But one thing I think we’d all agree on is that it involves service.

Lead with a servant’s heart

I love that definition of leadership. Leadership in Toastmasters means doing things for other people to develop. We all have different gifts, and there are different opportunities to give something back. It might be a high profile position such as opening and closing the meetings (actually, a relatively easy task as President!) However, service is just as likely to be a more modest low-profile job. Examples of low-profile but essential tasks: keeping in touch with other clubs; making sure the meeting room is booked; paying dues; sending a courtesy email to new members; staying in touch with people who haven’t been for a while; maintaining the website. These things go on behind the scenes but are essential to the club.

Time for yourself?

I was worried when I took on my role that I would do a bad job because I have a busy job. I realized quickly that even though there were times when I had to ‘say no’ to TM activities sometimes, as long as I communicated with others in the club, it was okay. We all know that life is very busy and we have other commitments, family, work, and friends. So, if you can spare some time, and are committed to working as a team, Toastmasters fits in with your other activities.

Toastmasters made me able to do more.

I was happy to find that serving a role actually improved my efficiency at work! Toastmasters helped me to be a faster thinker and to make decisions more quickly.

I sincerely hope that you will discover your leadership potential in the next year. It may be as an officer or through the Competent Leadership programme, or even through simply performing meeting roles more thoroughly.

Leadership is rewarding.

Leadership is not just about responsibilities, it is about seeing the club and individuals flourish. It is a real buzz to be part of a growing and dynamic club, full of people from different backgrounds all committed to the same goals. I look forward to seeing the next officers take our club forward even further.

Helen

District 76 (All-Japan) Spring Conference 2009

May 29, 2009toMay 30, 2009

register online:
http://5814.info
で参加を申し込む

Reasons to go:

何故行くのか


●5/29(金)夕方 / 29th May Evening
ワークショップ(食事付) 3000円 / Workshop(+meal) 3000yen
●5/30(土)午前 / 30th May AM
日本語審査員講習会 / Japanese Judge workshop
日本語テーブルトピックワークショップ / Japanese Table Topic Workshop
英語テーブルトピックワークショップ / English Table Topic workshop
●5/30(土)午後 / 30th May PM
日本語コンテスト 3000円 / Japanese Speech Contest 3000yen
●5/30(土)夕方 / 30th May Evening
懇親会 6000円 / Party 6000yen
●5/31(土)午前 / 31th May AM
英語コンテスト 3000円 / English Speech Contest 3000yen
●5/31(土)午後 / 31th May PM
市内観光 / Optional city tour

register online:
http://5814.info
で参加を申し込む

Mtg #164

May 20, 2009
7:00 pmto9:00 pm

Place: Jiyugaoka Community Center
場所：自由が丘住区センター

来たことない？下記クリックして予約する！
New? Click the link below to reserve a spot!
www.toastmasterstokyo.com/join