Harness the Power of Pauses

In conversations and speeches, many people avoid silence at all costs. When meeting with potential clients or investors, entrepreneurs sometimes unintentionally fill every moment with sound -- even if it undermines their pitch. Silence isn’t always uncomfortable or awkward. When used well, it can be a powerful tool. Experienced speakers use silence and pauses to build tension in a presentation. Moments of quiet give listeners time to process information. Learn to harness the power of silence and integrate it into your presentations.

Pathways

The Ten paths

1.      Motivational Strategies

2.      Presentation Mastery

3.      Leadership Development

4.      Innovative Planning

5.      Visionary Communication

6.      Strategic Relationships

7.      Dynamic Leadership

8.      Persuasive Influence

9.      Effective Coaching

10.  Team Collaboration

The projects in a path

Every path has required and elective projects. Path recognition is achieved when a member completes 14 projects across all 5 levels—a combination of 10 required projects and 4 elective projects chosen from a comprehensive list covering a variety of subjects. Each project includes at least one speech. Though members are required to complete 4 elective projects, they have the option to complete as many as they would like.

The Five Levels

Each path is made up of five levels of increasing complexity. The program is designed this way so you’re always building on what you learned in the previous level. All learning paths contain the following levels:

o    Level 1: Mastering Fundamentals

o    Level 2: Learning Your Style

o    Level 3: Increasing Knowledge

o    Level 4: Building Skills

o    Level 5: Demonstrating Expertise

Find out what you've been missing

So TMI found out I have not attended a meeting lately. Mnnn! they send me this letter that I now share with you. I don't know about you but as for me, I have to attend a meeting in the coming week.

From A baby's Eyes

What is the similarity between Icebreakers and Walt Disney animations?
I love them. I love them for their happy endings but that is a story I will tell you the next time I visit your Toastmasters club. For now, let me share with you this Icebreaker by Ruth Nyabuto‏ @NyabutoRuth.
I like how she creates suspense and curiosity in a simple opening statement

At 4 PM every Sunday, we would all set off, my sister with one wheelbarrow; and my brother with another. My parents would stroll with us....

 Then in 586 words, she goes on to introduce herself so effectively that though I have never met her I feel I have interacted with her, dined with her, and listened to her mother's stories. I think I know her father's bicycle. A "black mamba" like the one my dad had.
A nostalgic speech that meets the objectives of project one, ice breaker, in the competent communication menu.

Read more here

Toastmasters Speech Number 2 (CC2) - Save a Life

In this version of the speech 2 , Every day Hero by +Alice Nyamu, the speaker chooses to use the chronological outline. She achieves the objectives of the project. She also achieves her specific purpose – to inform

The speech was easy to follow because it follows events as they happened time. It captures the listener’s attention because the opening question pokes curiosity. The suspense is maintained through the speech. Notice to how she is translating from one idea to the other by using phrases at the end of the paragraphs that lead to the next paragraph.

But was it to be. But oops! ….had to play my part. It was not necessary

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Save a Life

How do you respond to disasters?  Do you run away from the scene screaming, or do you mumble a silent prayer frozen in shock, or probably spectate craning over people’s shoulders to catch a glimpse of the action and a photo?

On a sunny Saturday morning, four of my colleagues and I decided to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and seek an adventure. We settled on bungee-jumping, rock climbing and water games at Sagana. It seemed like the perfect get away plan. But was it to be.

Upon reaching Makuyu, we saw a large crowd of people. Alas! In plain sight was a 42 seater bus that had overturned. On reaching the accident scene our worst fears were confirmed.  Pandemonium is the way I could describe the horrid situation. The screams of women and children rented the air and I was struck by the acrid smell of blood.  Shock was written all over our faces. We were all panicked, even Jack, the dare devil of the group looked like he would wet his pants. We mastered enough courage and joined the rescue team. We decided it was prudent to rush as many victims as possible to the hospital. My friend Mercy flagged down motorists from the side of the road to assist in rushing the casualties to hospital.  It was amazing to see many people ready and willing to help. Horns blaring and hazard lights flashing, after what seemed to be an eternity we reached the hospital in a retinue of vehicles carrying victims. Quickly, although not like in the movies but quick enough, the accident victims were put on stretchers and wheeled in to the emergency room. Our good did for the day done we, turned to pick our journey where it had been interrupted. But oops! There was a Dr. Maingi barring the way.

He thanked us profusely before dropping the bomb shell.

“Most of your patients have lost a lot of blood” he started. Then as we looked at him incredulously like ‘hey Doc we know. We brought them in’ he added

“they will certainly require blood transfusion but our banks are empty. Can you please spare a few minutes to donate some”. Spare time? that was the least of my worries.

The idea of being pricked with a needle was not my cup of tea and the thought was just plain terrifying to say the least. But we followed him like sheep to a slaughter into the “blood donation centre”. I must have shown a very scary look for the kept doctor reassuring me it would only take a few minutes and emphasized how much someone would benefit from it even throwing in a free sodas afterwards. I psyched myself saying “The victims needed me! I had to play my part.” But all that was not necessary

When turn came the nurses were very patient as they calmly took me through the donation  and before I knew it, it was over!

I had set out in the morning seeking to conquer the fear of heights, but I had conquered one of my biggest fears, a doctors needle and emerged wiser from it.

First, through my experience, I realized we can all donate blood, no matter how scary it may look. You may have some misconceptions like fear of contracting a disease in the process of donation. Actually, our efforts may be obscured by fear, lack of time and lack of awareness among other factors.

Secondly, in spite of there being a government policy that every person in Kenya who requires blood has access to safe blood at anytime, it is not achievable without our involvement.

Finally, the American Medical Association found that giving blood every six months led to fewer heart attacks and strokes. Having an excessive level of iron in your body is one of the most potent ways that your body oxidizes, or prematurely ages.

Let’s face it; there are numerous cases where patients have lost their lives due to lack of blood in hospitals yet there are numerous appeals for blood donation. Don’t ignore those calls; let us make it our responsibility to donate blood. Ultimately, the power to save someone’s life is truly in your hands. 

Please give blood; 8 billion mosquitoes can’t be wrong!

Toastmasters Speech Number 2 (CC2) - Every Day Hero

In this version of the speech 2 project , Save a life by +Alice Nyamu , the speaker chooses to use the cause and effect outline. She achieves the objectives of the project. She also achieves her specific purpose – to inform.

The speech was easy to follow because it has three clear points that are mentioned at the beginning of each idea. She uses very easy to note transitions namely first, second and last. She captures the listener’s attention because the opening question pokes curiosity. Then she maintains interest by sandwiching her points inside a very interesting story.

Notice too how she finishes with a call to action

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Every Day Hero

How do you respond to disasters?  Do you run away from the scene screaming, or do you frozen in shock mumble a silent prayer, or probably spectate craning over people’s shoulders to catch a glimpse of the action and snap a photo?

One sunny Saturday morning, four of my colleagues and I decided to have an adventure. We settled on bungee-jumping, rock climbing and white water rafting at Sagana. It seemed like the perfect get away plan, but alas, they say that if you want to make God laugh tell him your plan

About Makuyu, we found a 42 seater bus that had overturned. And as we joined the pandemonium, I wondered whether we would sacrifice a fun trip that we had planned for months to help the injured? Well, some sacrifices are worth making because, I picked valuable lessons, three of which I would like you to take home.

First, I realized we can all donate blood. Just as we were about to leave Thika hospital where we had taken the injured, the doctor on call, Dr. Maingi stopped us. He thanked us profusely before dropping the bomb shell… “Can you please spare a few minutes to donate blood; these victims will certainly require blood transfusion. The idea of being pricked with a needle was just plain terrifying to say the least. Even Jack, the dare devil of the group looked like he would wet his pants. But when it was my turn to donate, the blood donation representatives were very patient. They calmly took me through it and before I knew it, it was over! Now I am regular blood donor.

Secondly, there isn’t enough blood in the banks. In spite of there being a government policy that every person in Kenya who requires blood has access to safe blood at anytime, this is not achievable without our involvement. But, while Dr. Maingi was leading us to a room labeled “blood donation centre” I noticed that most of the other motorists who had willingly helped in rushing the casualties to hospital had, at the mention of “donate blood“, miraculously vanished. The responsibility was then clearly on us four and a few others. We obviously not enough since one person can only donate half a litre every six months, but it was all we could do.

Finally, donating blood is good for one’s health.  And I don’t mean the free sodas we got. The doctor reassured me it would only take a few minutes and emphasized how much someone would benefit from it, but what won me over completely is a posta on the wall that read “The American Medical Association found that giving blood every six months leads to fewer heart attacks and strokes”. And it is true, having an excessive level of iron in your body is one of the most potent ways that your body oxidizes, or prematurely ages.

In my panic I hadn’t noticed how short a time it took. It was only 10 am. We were heros. Having evacuated accident victims, donated blood all within time to spare to go and Challenge the might River Tana. Even though we set out in the morning seeking to conquer the fear of heights, I conquered one of my biggest fears, doctors’ needle.

Despite appeals for blood donation, there are numerous cases where patients died due to lack of blood in hospitals. Don’t ignore those calls; make it your responsibility to donate blood.

It is the easiest way to become – An Every day hero!