Thanksgiving time gets me thinking about the mountain of gifts I've received. The gifts I appreciate most are those which offer memories of good experiences. 1 1/2 years ago I gave myself a gift which I did not expect to be as important to me as it turns out to be. I signed up to improve my speaking skills. I feared standing in front of a group. I saw this as a huge responsibility and feared I would let my audience down. Toastmasters has been and continues to help me be a better speaker and a better leader. I was just looking for a way to become a better speaker. What I got back was improvement in speaking AND the opportunity to practice my leadership skills with a group of amazing people.
Thank you, Toastmasters.
Respectfully your student,
Karen Staebell
President Eastside Madison Toastmasters
Club 1366
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Saturday, November 10, 2012
My adrenaline is up!
Every first and third Monday of the month my adrenaline increases. Actually every Sunday evening before these Mondays it begins. Planning. Thinking. Looking forward to the big event.
Eastside Madison Toastmasters gets my enthusiasm going. I'm excited about attending these meetings. WHY?
It isn't about me, really. It must be about helping others and others helping me become a better leader and speaker. I like my co-members. Each and EVERY person has qualities I admire. I look forward to listening and interacting with members of club 1366. I like the smiles, the jokes, the relaxed atmosphere, the conversations.... I like Eastside Madison Toastmasters.
What gets your adrenaline up, you enthusiasm going, your excitement rolling? I told you. Now it is your turn to tell me. I'm eagerly awaiting your feedback.
Karen Staebell
President
Eastside Madison Toastmasters
Club 1366
Eastside Madison Toastmasters gets my enthusiasm going. I'm excited about attending these meetings. WHY?
It isn't about me, really. It must be about helping others and others helping me become a better leader and speaker. I like my co-members. Each and EVERY person has qualities I admire. I look forward to listening and interacting with members of club 1366. I like the smiles, the jokes, the relaxed atmosphere, the conversations.... I like Eastside Madison Toastmasters.
What gets your adrenaline up, you enthusiasm going, your excitement rolling? I told you. Now it is your turn to tell me. I'm eagerly awaiting your feedback.
Karen Staebell
President
Eastside Madison Toastmasters
Club 1366
Friday, November 2, 2012
I am working on it, but more practice is in store
Some things are natural. Some things take practice.
The other day as I was transitioning from one meeting to the next, I was reflecting when I looked at the person approaching me. A smile spread across his face. Right behind him another smile spread across her face. I realized I had been smiling. This flitted my thoughts to another train, I must smile a lot. I find people smiling at me, people I do not know. I often have to do a personal check: is something hanging from my hair? is my zipper up? is something on my face? THEN is when I realize I am smiling at the other person.
Smiles are contagious. Why is it when I stand in front of a group that the smile disappears? Nervousness? Focusing on getting other things right? This is an aspect I need to work on. Relax, be myself, smile, speak.
Nothing ever happens by itself. I do not become a better speak unless I practice. Speaking is difficult for me, but I am getting better. I have my ups and downs, but I keep plugging away at this skill.
Take some time and think about what you need to do to meet your personal goals.
Feel free to share. Maybe if I know what you're working on, I can help encourage that habit or skill.
The other day as I was transitioning from one meeting to the next, I was reflecting when I looked at the person approaching me. A smile spread across his face. Right behind him another smile spread across her face. I realized I had been smiling. This flitted my thoughts to another train, I must smile a lot. I find people smiling at me, people I do not know. I often have to do a personal check: is something hanging from my hair? is my zipper up? is something on my face? THEN is when I realize I am smiling at the other person.
Smiles are contagious. Why is it when I stand in front of a group that the smile disappears? Nervousness? Focusing on getting other things right? This is an aspect I need to work on. Relax, be myself, smile, speak.
Nothing ever happens by itself. I do not become a better speak unless I practice. Speaking is difficult for me, but I am getting better. I have my ups and downs, but I keep plugging away at this skill.
Take some time and think about what you need to do to meet your personal goals.
Feel free to share. Maybe if I know what you're working on, I can help encourage that habit or skill.
Friday, September 7, 2012
In your opinion, what makes a good leader?
I was speaking to some friends yesterday afternoon. One of them received a job opportunity to lead a team of individuals. He was talking about the differences in his current position where he manages projects and his new position where he leads people. This got me to thinking about what I think makes a good leader.
I believe a good leader is a good listener. You have to understand where your team is coming from. Knowing how the team members work and feel helps you make better decisions. Understanding your team also helps you develop a communication strategy that builds buy-in when change is required.
Second, I believe a good leader is a good communicator. If you have all the best ideas and plans in your head, but cannot explain to people why the plan is good, you will have difficulty getting people to follow. Leading becomes less challenging when your team understands and follows.
What, in your opinion make a good leader?
I believe a good leader is a good listener. You have to understand where your team is coming from. Knowing how the team members work and feel helps you make better decisions. Understanding your team also helps you develop a communication strategy that builds buy-in when change is required.
Second, I believe a good leader is a good communicator. If you have all the best ideas and plans in your head, but cannot explain to people why the plan is good, you will have difficulty getting people to follow. Leading becomes less challenging when your team understands and follows.
What, in your opinion make a good leader?
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Contests : another way to improve
Successful professional speakers repeatedly tell us that stage time is key to improved speaking skills. Every time you participate in a Table Topics session, give a speech at a regular meeting, fill the role as an evaluator or as a Toastmaster, you are giving yourself stage time. Another speaking opportunity exists in the speaking contests. This fall, two contest opportunities are available to all Toastmasters. The Humorous Speech and the Evaluation contests. Details about our contest opportunities are listed below.
Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests
Club Contest
Participation.
All members are requested to attend so we have enough participants and judges. Your participation, whether as a contestant or as a judge will create a successful event.
Eligibility requirement
All members of EastSide Madison Toastmasters are eligible to compete in either or both of the contests.
Guests are welcome to observe the contests.
Sign up.
Using the on-line sign up by navigating to our site : http://1366.toastmastersclubs.org , and logging in by clicking on Member Login. Click on Meeting Agendas. View the September 17 Agenda. At this point you can sign up as a contestant or a support person. If all the roles appear to be filled, post a meeting note telling us what role you'd like to fill. The more contestants and judges, the better!
An alternative option to the on-line sign up is to send an e-mail to Victoria Frank advising your intentions.
Winners will be EastSide Madison Toastmasters' representatives at the Area Contest
Area contest
A member of District 35's area C-4, our area contest will be held on the same day as the area C-2 contests.
When: Thursday, Oct. 4th
Winners will be Area C-4's representatives at the District Contest
District Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - Neenah
Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests
Club Contest
The EastSide Madison Toastmasters will hold both the Humorous Speech and Evaluation contests on September 17, 2012.
Participation.
All members are requested to attend so we have enough participants and judges. Your participation, whether as a contestant or as a judge will create a successful event.
Eligibility requirement
All members of EastSide Madison Toastmasters are eligible to compete in either or both of the contests.
Guests are welcome to observe the contests.
Sign up.
Using the on-line sign up by navigating to our site : http://1366.toastmastersclubs.org , and logging in by clicking on Member Login. Click on Meeting Agendas. View the September 17 Agenda. At this point you can sign up as a contestant or a support person. If all the roles appear to be filled, post a meeting note telling us what role you'd like to fill. The more contestants and judges, the better!
An alternative option to the on-line sign up is to send an e-mail to Victoria Frank advising your intentions.
Winners will be EastSide Madison Toastmasters' representatives at the Area Contest
Area contest
A member of District 35's area C-4, our area contest will be held on the same day as the area C-2 contests.
When: Thursday, Oct. 4th
5:30 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Contestants' and Judges' Briefings
6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. - Contests/ Awards
Where: Strand Associates, Inc.
910 W. Wingra Dr., Madison, WI 53715 (Google Map of Location: http://goo.gl/maps/aXtQM )
District Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - Neenah
WhenFri, November 2, 8am – Sat, November 3, 10pmWhereHoliday Inn Riverwalk Hotel, Neenah 123 East Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI (map)DescriptionDistrict 35 Fall Conference: Holiday Inn Riverwalk - NeenahJoin us in Neenah, WINovember 2-3, 2012Enjoy the Humorous Speech and Evaluation Contests, take in the educational opportunities and reunite with your Toastmaster friends at the beautiful Holiday Inn Neenah Riverwalk Hotel.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Get the word out
Toastmasters has a lot to offer for those struggling for a change. Opportunities abound for people to practice activities that contribute to improved options for career advancement. Here's a short list (but there's more to be gained by joining):
I encourage all the EastSide Madison members to begin putting your skills to practice by participating in roles that will help you improve your evaluation and speaking skills. Ready yourselves to participate in the contests.
New members are always welcome! Come and visit one of our meetings and see for yourself the benefits you gain by joining our club.
We are a member of Toastmasters International - a not-for profit organization "Where Leaders are Made".
- Leading a meeting
- Providing feedback in a sensitive professional manner
- Improving speaking skills
- Using appropriate humor in a professional environment
- Improving your time management skills
- Coordinating events
I encourage all the EastSide Madison members to begin putting your skills to practice by participating in roles that will help you improve your evaluation and speaking skills. Ready yourselves to participate in the contests.
New members are always welcome! Come and visit one of our meetings and see for yourself the benefits you gain by joining our club.
We are a member of Toastmasters International - a not-for profit organization "Where Leaders are Made".
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Give me your Feedback
I continually seek out ways to self improve. One aspect I frequently focus on is how I am perceived. Do people understand what I am saying? Is what I am trying to communicate the same thing as what is heard?
At Toastmasters we practice our feedback skills by filling the role as evaluator. The ultimate role for feedback during the standard Toastmasters meeting is the General Evaluator. Who could ask for more? Evaluate my evaluation! How am I doing?
The June edition of the Toastmaster Magazine contains several articles that helps me as I provide feedback to other individuals. Contained are hints about eye contact, use of notes, organization of thoughts, and much more. Check it out! Specifically in this issue is the reminder that practice helps. I've read and heard many times that a successful strategy for self improvement involves practice. Stage time. Try it. Improve it. Try it again. By filling the roles of speech evaluator and general evaluator we get the stage time that each of us require to improve.
I frequently fill the role as the meeting's Toastmaster because I know I need to become better organized. I try to look back after each meeting to assess whether I forgot to share something or caused confusion by presenting some aspect of the meeting out of order. I really appreciate the feedback that I receive in the form of notes from fellow Toastmasters and from the General Evaluator.
Thank you, fellow Toastmasters for your feedback on how I'm doing. Keep it coming.
Karen Staebell
At Toastmasters we practice our feedback skills by filling the role as evaluator. The ultimate role for feedback during the standard Toastmasters meeting is the General Evaluator. Who could ask for more? Evaluate my evaluation! How am I doing?
The June edition of the Toastmaster Magazine contains several articles that helps me as I provide feedback to other individuals. Contained are hints about eye contact, use of notes, organization of thoughts, and much more. Check it out! Specifically in this issue is the reminder that practice helps. I've read and heard many times that a successful strategy for self improvement involves practice. Stage time. Try it. Improve it. Try it again. By filling the roles of speech evaluator and general evaluator we get the stage time that each of us require to improve.
I frequently fill the role as the meeting's Toastmaster because I know I need to become better organized. I try to look back after each meeting to assess whether I forgot to share something or caused confusion by presenting some aspect of the meeting out of order. I really appreciate the feedback that I receive in the form of notes from fellow Toastmasters and from the General Evaluator.
Thank you, fellow Toastmasters for your feedback on how I'm doing. Keep it coming.
Karen Staebell
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