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President's Tip of the Week

More Than Just Prepared Speeches
Part 1
(2/17/09)

We all have different reasons for joining Gilbert Toastmasters. Most of our reasons have something to do with becoming a better communicator or leader. As we read through our communication manuals—whether it be a CC or an AC manual—and prepare for our next speech, its easy to forget that the quest to become a better communicator is about more than just prepared speeches.

Serving as a functionary carries equal or even greater importance to improving as a communicator and leader. Here are just a few of the key skills serving as a functionary helps to improve:

  • Listening. “Through good listening skills you acquire information, enabling you to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflict and be creative.” Stop to consider how your manner, posture, or body language indicates how well you are listening. Are you able to practice active listening skills such as good eye contact, paraphrasing, or asking questions?
  • Critical Thinking: “Analytical thinkers question what they read and hear, determine the quality, merits and faults of an idea or piece of information, are able to distinguish between fact and opinion, and use logical reasons and analysis to reach conclusion.” Are you a critical thinker? Serving as an evaluator, grammarian, or GE will test that.
  • Giving Feedback: “When done properly, feedback can be a positive experience. It can be an opportunity for the receivers to recognize what they are doing well and to learn how to do something better.” Are you adept at providing feedback in a way that makes it a positive experience for the other person?
  • Time Management: A communication and leadership skill particularly helpful for those in the professional environment, and especially challenging for functionaries such as Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, and especially the Timer.

I’ll cover a few more next week. In the meantime, we’ll see you at the next meeting!

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