Talk to the Human™

Have you heard (or read) opinions about how competing, and even winning, a Toastmasters contest has no real value in “regular” speaking?

I have, and I find it very confusing. With the exception of some very specific types of speaking, such as debates, I can’t understand why people have trouble translating great contest speeches into great speaking in general.

In a previous post, I wrote about some lessons I learned from watching contest speeches, especially at the top level. In this entry, I’ll describe how those same lessons apply to “regular speaking” (if there is such a thing).

First was, Have a message. In contest speaking, I think this is the single most important aspect of a winning speech. This is such an obvious need for any presentation, including project reviews, performance discussions, and any training that I can’t imagine how you wouldn’t see the correlation. No matter when you talk, without a message you are just blabbing. Right?

Next was Tell your own compelling story. While much of our corporate-style speaking may seem to be devoid of storytelling, the fact is that it is still the best way to make your point stick. It may be true that your boss only wants the brief facts without anything “extra”, but the fact is this is still an invaluable skill to have. You should be ready to back up your point with a story in case the boss wants more detail.

Use humor appropriately. I’ve had a couple of rare bosses with no sense of humor, but in a majority of cases even the most stoic of bosses like a little humor thrown in. Appropriately for those circumstances does mean to use caution and keep it professional, but it doesn’t mean you can’t elicit an occational chuckle.

Finally was Set the stage with grand and normal gestures. In this case, you may stay with more conservative gestures, but again the watchword is appropriate. Yes, it would be rare to use the type of stage presence that the Champs have used to win those awards. But knowing and practicing the appropriate gestures for your topic, audience, and stage is still a skill that will make a positive difference in any presentation.

The next time someone tels you that contest speaking has no bearing in “real” speaking (be sure you use the air quotes in your response), remember these tips. You can most certainly apply those skills you learn while competing. They wouldn’t just apply to professional speaking, but to corporate, volunteer and most other types of speaking.

Since I posted by review of the speeches in the Toastmasters International World Championship of Public Speaking, I received hundreds of hits and may positive comments from Toastmasters (and others) around the world.

Although this is a bit early, I’m going to propose to expand my coverage next year. I’ll be looking for fellow attendees and writers to provide similar coverage for each of the nine semi-final contests.

In addition, I’ll also be seeking 3-4 other writers to watch and provide feedback on the World Championship itself. This will allow more expanded coverage of the event, as well as additional viewpoints on what each contestant did well in their presentation. Ideally, each contestant will be featured in a separate blog post, and I’ll strive to get interviews to include as well.

The goal here will be two-fold. First, provide a superior product for the readers. Second, give more writers an opportunity to reach a wider audience with their reviews.

I owe a thanks to so many readers who added links to my blog so that their readers could see that information. This has made me realize that there was a void here, and I intend to do a better job filling it next year. And yes, I plan to be continuing this blog through a second year, and to provide better coverage at the convention in Las Vegas!

In June or July, I’ll be actively soliciting volunteers to help out with this unofficial effort, so stay tuned. Any early takers?

As I walked into the room, there we no people there. There was, however, a good size stage and about 300 chairs, silent in anticipation of a future audience. I decided to step up the stairs to the 12X24 foot platform, and ponder giving a presentation in front of an audience filling that room.

I thought about 2005 World Champ Lance Miller’s presentation the day before, and how his chairs were filled and even after they brought in more there were people standing anywhere they could. I had no presentation to give at that event, but as I stood in that empty room and gazed at those 300 seats, I imagined them filled with an audience waiting to hear a well-designed (and hopefully well delivered) presentation. Just one word came to my mind. No, that word wasn’t fear, paralysis or even whatamIdoinghere.

That word was responsibility. It’s funny how a bigger crowd, even an imaginary one, can change your perspective on things. I’m not saying that I don’t feel responsibility when speaking to a 20-person Toastmasters club, or a 50-person lunch and learn. But that room really crystallized the depth and meaning for me.

What hit me there on that stage, in that empty room with those unfilled chairs was that when you speak to Humans, you have to be ready to take responsibility.

Responsibility for knowing your audience. What do they need, what do they want, and what are their expectations?

Responsibility for your content. Is it accurate, is it specific enough, and is it credible? Most importantly, will it help?

Responsibility for your self. Have you prepared to be professional, are your handouts professional, and is your delivery professional?

This responsibility can feel like a very heavy weight if you aren’t ready. But when you are, it can be a wonderful gift. Because on the other side of this responsibility is another word: Impact.

By meeting this responsibility, you can have a tremendous impact on your audience and their lives. What is it you want them to think, do or feel after your presentation?

Another convention presenter, Rory Vaden, talks about self-discipline and how we should “Take the Stairs.” One visual is of a line forming to wait for an escalator going down when the stairs next to it go unused. I know there were people that looked at those escalators differently after hearing his presentation. That’s impact.

Next time you have to address an audience of any size, consider that responsibility you have and how you’ll use your skills and your message to make that impact on your audience. It’s your responsibility…

At the Toastmasters International Convention, I was fortunate to hear and later meet Carolyn Kepcher, founder of workherway.com, star of NBC’s The Apprentice, and author of Carolyn 101 Business Lessons from The Apprentice’s Straight Shooter.

When Carolyn accepted Toastmaster’s Golden Gavel Award at the convention, she gave an amazing, entertaining, and memorable acceptance speech for the award. Because of her presentation, I decided to to purchase and read her book.

I have read a number of business books, and this one is as good as any I’ve read. There were a couple of things that I liked specifically about Carolyn’s style in this book:

1. Captivating stories that lead to usable business lessons, labeled “Carolyn 101“. Such as:
The best team is the team that continues to perform even when the manager is absent.
To get the job, act as if you already work here.
Never use your title as the sole answer to a question.
Not all resources are good ones.

2. Chapters on how to be a good manager and what it takes to be a good employee, including rules for good employees and mistakes to avoid.

3. Interesting stories from her experience working with Donald Trump, including some unique insights to how Trump’s organization works.

Bonus note: How cool is Carolyn? When she came to the President’s Dinner Dance the next night, I caught her just after the dinner and asked if she would make a quick video for me to say “I hope you enjoy the book” to my wife. She said yes without blinking, and when I started to video her, she asked, “Aren’t you going to be in it?” Duh! Of course I did that BFF pose next to her while she said her line to encourage my wife to read the book. Pretty cool…  

Rob’s Rating system (bolded, the rating is)
Buy now at full price (although it’s like six bucks on Amazon now)
Buy if you get a discount
Wait for the paperback (of course, it’s already in paperback)
Wait for someone else to be done with the paperback
If you’ve read my review, you got the jist of it

As I watched the International Speech Contest at the 2010 Toastmasters International Convention, I noticed a few things that, in my opinion, truly contributed to the best speaker being recognized as the World Champion.

First, without a doubt is have a message. This may be a no-brainer, but in two years of watching the finals and three years watching regional/semi-final contests I have seen some speakers miss this one all together. You may ask, how do they miss something so critical? Good question. It’s simple, they only think they have a message. You have to, have to, HAVE TO  be sure that the audience will walk away with your message, and better yet with it worded the way you meant it. See Craig Valentine’s work on Foundational Phrases – No Phrase, No Stage.

Tell your own, compelling story. It has to support the message, and in my experience the strongest messages are the ones learned from someone else, like a parent or sibling.  In David Henderson’s speech, The Aviator, his lesson “losing people is a part of loving people” came from a powerful discussion with his mother. His use of dialog was strong, and it helped us relive those moments with him.

Use humor appropriately. David’s speech had a very serious message. However, he was able to light up the room with parts of his story about how he and his friend would play together. As I remember it, they “flew over a bazillion missions together without any casualties.” In Robert Mackenzie’s speech, My Alter Ego, there were a number of well placed lines that fit right into the speech. A crowd favorite was, “By 30 I had said ‘no’ more times than Toyota said ‘recall’.” 

Set the stage with grand and normal gestures. David took us back to a time when he and his friend, at age 7, used to play aviator together. He did this twice by extending his arms and making airplane (and shooting) noises to simulate the event. Robert did this by showing us the size and place for his invisible alter-ego, and then taking us back to that spot on the stage when he needed to, including simulating a door to go inside and shut himself in.

Of course, giving a championship-quality speech is more than checking off a few boxes of “must-do’s”. But if you are missing any of these elements in your speech, don’t be shocked if your name doesn’t get called.

Another thing – be sure to practice (duh), but don’t overdo it on soliciting feedback. Use Ideas #1 and #2 in my advaced suggestion post, and get feedback each time you practice. Have someone you respect and trust write you a manual speech evaluation each time you practice, and ignore all the verbal minutia you get from the rest of the room. Of course, you’ll want to get some professional-quality coaching as well. World Champions Edge (affiliate link) is a great place to start.

Good luck, and don’t wait too long to get started. Next year will be here any minute…

By now you know there’s a big speech contest every year at the Toastmasters International Convention, right? But wait, there’s more. There’s a whole Convention going on during the Convention! And. It’s. Fun.

Here are my tips on the best way you, fellow toastmaster, can (and should!) experience the convention next year.

1. Go (duh). You can’t get the tremendous advantages from attending the convention by skipping the whole event.
2. Divide and conquer. You can’t attend every session, but you can learn from every session. Make friends, take notes at each session and trade notes with others (or Blog them like I did)
3. Network. Did you know there is a district in Australia with two Lt Governors Education and Training (like me) and two Lt Governors Marketing? I didn’t until I met one. Turns out that’s what you do in a district is so big it needs to split next year. There’s a cool goal.
4. Mingle with important people. Our International President (Pat Johnson), Executive Director and others in the leadership and world headquarters (WHQ) staff love meeting members (even from Kansas). Did you know that if enough people ask for a certain item to be stocked in the TI bookstore, that they will add it? Me either, until I mingled.
5. Volunteer. Many hands make light work. I spent two hours as a Sgt at Arms at the door of the Opening Ceremonies. Met more people, had easy access to pop out to the restroom, and now at least one WHQ Staff member owes me a favor (another story)
6. Go to the Board of Directors briefing. It’s interesting to learn what changes are coming, and what’s being planned for our organization.
7. Write. Put your experiences down on paper (or blog). Last year I finished a CC manual in about 3 months after the convention. There are always so many topics to talk about.
8. Read. Buy at least one book from one speaker and get it autographed. For me it was Carolyn Kepcher, the Golden Gavel recipient. She is an amazing businesswoman, an outstanding speaker and wow-level pretty (not that that matters).
9. Meet the candidates. There are always candidates for International Director and the top offices. They have some amazing ideas, really useful handouts (many on data CDs now) and will take the time to talk to any member.
10. Dress up and dance. The final dinner on Saturday night is your chance to Tux-it-up. Look your best, eat great food and do some more mingling/networking/sucking-up (if necessary). Then, after dinner and the events, you can get some dancing in with 1,500 of your closest new friends.

If you are wondering…yes, I did everything I’m advising you to do. If you go and do less, you’ll be squandering a great opportunity. If you don’t go, then you won’t even know what you’re missing. Don’t let another great convention pass you by.

Next year the convention is in Las Vegas. Even in Australian dollars you can probably afford the airfare there. Start planning now for the trip and when you go, you won’t regret it. And – of course the contest will be great too…

It’s been a fast-paced week with a plethora of opportunities for Toastmaster from around the globe. Personally, I had a wonderfull time and accomplished a lot in this much-too-short Convention.

It all culminated tonight with the final dinner event, the International President’s Dinner Dance (ticket required). At this event, the new International President assumed responsibility and the current IP became the Immediate PIP (Past International President). Now, say that three times fast.

Two interesting topics of note:

First, the outgoing IP, Gary Schmidt, walked in to the theme from Star Wars, and had Golden Gavel Recipient Carolyn Kepcher on his arm. The fact that she stayed for the extra evening to support our International Convention spoke volumes to our membership. She could have easily got on a plane after last night’s Golden Gavel Dinner, and that would have been absolutely fine. But, a number of members mentioned that it was [pretty cool] of her to stay for this dinner event.

Second, new IP, Pat Johnson, gave an outstanding acceptance keynote as our new President. She asked us “Who are your giants?” that allow you to see farther than you could see without standing on their shoulders. Who has made a difference in you life, what evaluator, what mentor has helped you to get where you are today. And…who will you serve as a giant to help them see farther than before?

Her theme of Achieving Greatness Together wove well into the stories and presentation overall, and was a great way to start off her new year.

It’s been an amazing and fast-paced week, and now I am just plain tired. I hope you have enjoyed reading my recaps of the convention. Feel free to post comments on any of the entries, and look at the site and read other posts on my site on Toastmasters-related topics of Communication and Leadership.

Also take a look at a new site I’ve launched with Arlen Busenitz, called SpeakerBlogger.com. Take a look and check it out. Also, we are actively seeking guest posts to publish on the site. If you have something you’d like to submit, please let me know.

Tomorrow…the EDGE with Mark Brown, Craig Valentine, Ed Tate, Darren LaCroix and possibly other World Chanps! More to come…

Today, Toastmasters International held its Annual Speech Contest here at the convention (We also had a business meeting this morning, but an evil virus ate that post…sorry).

Crowned the 2010 World Champion of Public Speaking was David Henderson, with his speech titled The Aviators. Why did David win? I think that beyond the obvious speaking ability and outstanding delivery, he had one of the most touching stories and a powerful message.

David told of how he met and made friends with a girl when he was 7 years old. As friends they used to play aviator together (hence the title). But his freind was soon diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness. Without taking too much from his story, he found himself questioning why he should love someone that was just going to die, and that’s when he learned that losing people is part of loving people and the pain of regret would hurt more and longer than the pain of loss. The story of the next 7 years was so moving that there were actual sobs coming from throughout the audience. He was that good. 

Second place Robert Mackenzie also had an outstanding speech titled My Alter Ego. He told of his alter-ego, Bobby Backwards (Bob for short). He told of how big that alter ego was, because it was fuelled by all of the “no’s” in his life. His message was strong, about the need to say yes to life, rather than retreat into the protection of Bob. My favorite line was, “By 30 I had said ‘no’ more times that Toyota said ‘recall’.” Other top line, told after telling us about having a heart attack and how they say the fear of public speaking is greater than the fear of death: “Not. Even. Close.”

Third place went to Linus Chang and his speech, Being Jane. Rather humorously he told about his experience with the wonderful voice of his GPS, Jane. By pointing out haw Jane never gets angry or terse when you get lost, and is always flexible about your future plans, he drew a correlation to our lives and how we can have more freedom in our lives if we look at things like Jane does.

The remaining contestants were all wonderful too, so I’m glad I wasn’t judging this one. Here’s a bit on their speeches, given in their speaking order (only 1st – 3rd place are announced):

Lisa Panarello‘s speech Mission I’m Possible was the first in the contest. There are mixed reviews as to whether going first is good or bad, and after Lisa’s strong presentation I’d bet that debate will continue for at least one more year. My favorite line: “Break the rules – if the job posting says ‘Don’t Call’, then call. You’ll probably be the only one.” Her three points were:
Plan Ahead
Take Risks
Keep Moving

Kevin McCue – started his speech with remote control in hand. Whatcha Got? was a good reminder that we don’t all have to aspire to be Brad Pitt or whatever. Use the tallents you have and don’t worry about being like someone else. I loved the reference to Pepper Martin of the 1930′s St. Louis Cardinals. Anyone that genuinely loves the Cardinals should win. Just sayin’

Robin Grieve told us that Wings are for Flying. He compared his son’s departure from home at 18 to a baby eagle leaving the nest.  Very nice message that whenever we set something free, we set ourselves free.

Joseph Grondin told us that we should all be Merchants of Hope. Nice story about making the difference in a teen’s life.

Ian Humphrey – I saw Ian’s speech in Semi-Final contest #1 on Thursday, and I have to tell you that I was (a) pulling for him, and (b) a bit surprised he didn’t place. This is why I say the judging would be super difficult at that level. This speech, It’s Not About the Knockdown drew parellels to being knocked down in boxing and knocked down in life.

Jamie MacDonald – His speech Unchained Memory talked about his earliest memory and to be honest I’m not sure I understood his message, so I don’t want to post a poor guess here. He did tell a nice story.

Nothing beats watching the competition at this level. The preparation, the skill, and the execution give all of us something to aspire to. If you missed it, buy the video. If you saw it, buy the video.

TI’s announcement: http://www.toastmasters.org/Members/News/Announcements/2010-2011-World-Champ-Chosen.aspx

Next…on to the Region III reception and then the President’s Dinner Dance.

In my post about Friday Afternoon’s Accredited Speaker Program, I said “All of the speakers were good, but in my non-judge opinion, I would guess that Rochelle Rice has the best chance of getting the designation this time. Karen Twichell might pull it off too.”

Bam!

Called it right, baby. At the International Speech Contest, Rochelle and Karen were each awarded the Accredited Speaker designation, and given a pretty honkin’ plaque to go with that honor. Congrats to both, and a big Woo Hoo!

2 Years – wait for it…

Carolyn. Kepcher. Delivered.

What an amazing evening. Toastmasters International 2010 Golden Gavel recipient, Carolyn Kepcher gave a keynote speech to be remembered at our dinner on Friday evening.

She started off with the story of how she began working for the Trump organization, and how she ended up on the TV Show The Apprentice. Her descriptions were quite interesting, including the references to running in heels (with visual). She gave an additional insight to those of us that saw the first season of that show.

It turns out that her fame on that TV show led to her receiving mail from women around the globe. That probably isn’t surprising, but Carolyn said this wasn’t fan mail she was receiving, but letters from working women everywhere looking for advice from her on how to handle difficult workplace situations.

This led her to the realization of how she could make a difference to those women, and others as well. She started http://www.workherway.com, to provide amswers for working women. By creating a strong network of experts, they are able to provide trusted advice to women to successfully navigate their career path.

She went on to redefine work-life balance as work-life integration. She told vivid stories of telling Donald Trump about her pregnancy 6-months in and how her daughter, at age four, told classmates that “Mommy goes to a board room and fires people.”

This was another case where the speaker was so good I had to go ahead and buy her book, Carolyn 101, Business Lessons from The Apprentice’s Straight Shooter. Although I had her sign it for my wife (who also respects her), I have to admit I will read it myself as well. Look for my review on the 22nd of August.

Toastmasters made another fine choice for the Golden Gavel recipient, and I know from the long line of folks picking up that book, seeking autographs and getting pictures that I’m not the only one who feels that way. 

Tomorrow…Business Meeting (Go Bash!) and that contest thingee, oh, the Toastmasters 2010 International Speech Contest. Stay tuned…