We have reason to celebrate. Spirited Speech Masters turned 8 on June 25th! We've been through some challenging times and have come through quite well! But it is never time to "rest on our laurels". Speaking is an ongoing and exciting process. Help us celebrate this milestone as a member or guest!
Category: Highlights
Zoom Timer Backgrounds
Toastmasters International has graciously provided a number of virtual backgrounds for use when serving as the timer during Zoom meetings.
You can find links to these files and many others in our Resources section.
Linking in to online learning: 15 webinars on communication and leadership skills
As Madame President recently shared, did you know that as an employee of MD Anderson, we have access to the Linkedin Learning Library?
- To get started, visit https://www.linkedin.com/learning/activate, enter your MD Anderson email address, and click the link in the confirmation email that will be sent to you.
- Or if you're already active, log in at https://www.linkedin.com/learning.
If you're looking for where to begin, here are titles of 15 web-based courses with skills you can adopt today, helping you make the most of your Toastmasters experience. Use this list to get ideas for titles of interest, search for them on LinkedIn Learning and add them to your profile for viewing.
You're sure to find many more as well that are novel and relevant, in the library of over 15,000 courses. What will you learn next?
Harnessing the Voice
The speaking voice deserves richness and fullness so that its power matches the power of our words, explains Harvard Kennedy School instructor Allison Shapira in the article, Breathing is the Key to Persuasive Public Speaking.
According to Toastmasters International's report Your Speaking Voice: Tips for Adding Strength and Authority to Your Voice, "unless you’ve had voice lessons or athletic training, most likely your breathing is shallow, misdirected, and lacking in control."
The report invites us to look at:
- What type of voice do we have: a whisper or a boom?
- Are we monotonous or melodious?
- What is our voice's emotional color: a rain cloud or a rainbow?
- In our musical speaking voice do we agitate or orchestrate? "A good speaker may use as many as 25 different notes to convey variety and meaning."
The report offers a method for relaxing the voice, promising a richer and more colorful voice with practice.
"Your goal should be vocal efficiency – the production
Toastmasters International report, Your Speaking Voice
of maximum vocal output with minimum effort. An
efficient voice is smooth, versatile, and produced with
very little effort."
Shapira describes how much our breath affects how our voice sounds, not only revitalizing us to calm our nerves but also creating a resonant tone that communicates confidence.
Shapira uses the analogy of sashimi to recommend practicing using the breath to support our words. Take a full breath, and practice exhaling while speaking. "Over time, you can breathe quickly and discreetly between sentences," adding strength to the voice.
Video Public Speaking
When the video turns on, our setting, appearance, and delivery send a message. What are you aiming for?
You can read more about best practices in these areas on the Toastmasters International website, Hana He’s How to Appear Your Best While Delivering an Online Speech.
Delivery
- You are able to zoom in and out by moving yourself closer to or further away from the camera to dramatize your online speech.
- If you need to refer to any notes, you may place them near the camera instead of looking away from the screen for your notebook. For example, place Post-it Notes around your screen. This allows you to read from your notes without distracting the audience.