The headline makes an assumption, I suppose. But before you dismiss it with, “I am doing Toastmasters,” stick with me and read past the first three paragraphs. I can anticipate that you might have one of three reactions. Continue reading
toastmasters
Conflict is inevitable; effective communication is not
This weekend I will be presenting an education session for the District 63 Toastmasters Spring Conference in Chattanooga. We’ll be talking about Healthy Conflict, aimed at managing such within a Toastmasters club, but the principles apply to any organization.
Here’s the gist: conflict is inevitable. If you are alive, you will experience conflict. Many of us spend a lot of time trying to avoid conflict, and while we certainly don’t need to seek it or cause it on purpose, we should face the reality that it will happen, and so focus on developing skills for effective, healthy conflict. Continue reading
It’s all about connection
My students constantly hear: people don’t make decisions based on logic. They make decisions based on emotion; they justify decisions based on logic.
That means that you must have both, of course. I do not mean to devalue logical appeals in persuasive speeches. But if you want people to act, you must appeal on an emotional level as well. Continue reading
Colonel Henry Robert: Vampire Slayer
Lots of activity this weekend, because it’s the fall conference for District 63 Toastmasters. I’ll be presenting an education session Saturday morning on “Colonel Henry Robert, Vampire Slayer: Making Parliamentary Procedure Exciting.”
So, I’m focused on getting that ready. I do want to mention, though, that I’m finishing up an ebook to give a right-brained context perspective to parliamentary procedure, and when it’s ready I’ll post a link to it here. When it first goes live, it will be in the Amazon Kindle store for free, so be sure to watch for it.
Photo Credit: StockMonkeys.com cc