Finished my Competent Communicator

About a month ago I did manage to finish my Competent Communicator from the basic manual from Toastmasters.  Did speech 10 with a "Retrospective Icebreaker" that covered where I've been since I've been a Toastmaster.    I've gotten my advanced manuals, got the Entertaining Speaker and the Humorous Speaker.  May possibly be a theme there.  It's all good though.  It gives a continuity to it.  Should be able to play each book off of each other and learn more than the sum of the parts.  Will be interesting to see where all of this goes.

Interesting Weekend

So this past week has been an interesting one.  If you haven't seen my list you should check it out at some point.  This past weekend (June 9/10 2012) I got to volunteer at Circus Flora.  Not hard work at all. Clean a few seats coated in popcorn and fill a few programs.  Followed by being super friendly ushers and showing people to their seats.  Easiest volunteer work ever.  Get to see the show for free.  Pretty sweet deal.

Toastmasters 5 down, 5 to go for CC.

Not like the dropped buttered bread that lands butter side up kind of thing but the international organization that facilitates better communication and leadership.

Just wrapped up giving my 5th speech out of the Competent Communicator book for the local O'Fallon, Il Toastmasters club.  It’s the “Your Body Speaks” speech, where body language is emphasized.  The topic was about the F.I.R.S.T robotics organization, the championships that they held this past weekend (April 27-30), the various competition levels involved, and how I volunteered at the event on Saturday.  Did get the best speech award but it’s just not as significant if you’re the only speaker.  That’s the way it goes sometimes.  As Toastmasters, you will learn to adapt in those situations.

For the most part, I just need to stop swaying.  If I can get past that I think I could potentially be a great speaker.  Any tips or video equipment would be helpful, probably.  I do get kinda nervous but I do feel kinda comfortable.  Mostly depends on what I am presenting.  The swaying could just be an internal level of nervousness but could somehow also be subconscious.

Just pondering my next speech.  Number 6 Vocal Variety.  Don’t really have any initial idea.  I have been reading though http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/ for inspiration and perspiration. Some good ideas their for inspiration and a place for advice from people that have already done it but are in the same ball park.

Toastmasters is a neat organization for anyone wanting to improve verbal communication and/or leadership skills.