Daniel Doherty at Royal Roads UniversityProvocative content Jeanne...two yrs later and still getting comments...Would make a great TM club presentation :) I think you have given TM members a valuable reminder to be flexible and try different styles of presentations. TM is an open learning container that people can put whatever content they want into. If one is not getting specific or constructive feedback, then a speech coach can be a good idea, and use a TM club as a test audience. Many clubs are business oriented, and I have seen good business presentations from people who have taken the initiative to use their TM club as a place to develop that skill. Evaluators are also learning so if they don't address content, they may not have developed that skill yet. Speech contest judging forms allot 50% of the marks to content. Most speech project evaluation forms include content and structure. Also, the new TM learning materials strengthen the focus on leadership skills, which is key in business. If a club is not meeting one's needs, take the initiative to introduce new ideas, try another club, or start one!. I visit other clubs to see different styles & cultures, and joined an advanced club where members are solid on the basics so there is room for more experimentation and the evaluations are more critical (in a good way). Oh, and while in Prague, I visited two TM clubs ...great hospitality!3 weeks ago
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David-LoganIf I got paid to coach people on giving presentations, I would make the same argument that Jeanne made. How could you justify charging a lot of money to provide a service that Toastmasters provides at a fraction of the price? She is just trying to justify her job (good for her!). The problem is that her argument only works if every Toastmasters meeting were the 'International Speech Contest', but that is not the case. Most Toastmasters clubs put very little focus on 'speeches' and much more on developing 'presentations'. Try a meeting and you will see Toastmaster is the best professional presentation training for the money in the world.1 month ago
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Kenneth CandellApparently, this presenter has not read the Toastmasters Mission Statement.1 month ago
Eugene Grindle, Plant Manager at Deseret PowerI disagree with almost everything in your presentation. I have been to many coaches and professional seminars. I am a successful corporate manager and a toastmaster of 12 years. Your photos of toastmasters participating in what is probably a humorous speech contest are misleading and cliche. Most toastmasters presentation are professional presentation and not at all like your photos would suggest. There are a large variety of experience and skills within toastmasters. Newer memebers need confidence and stage time more than anything else. More experienced members can handle more criticism. The evaluators know this and taylor their evaluations accordingly. The only thing I agree with in your slides is this: I have learned a few things at presentation seminars and literature that I have never heard within toastmasters. I would recommend one partake of both. The other thing I would agree with is that if one needs improve really fast (like this week), then a weekly meeting may not get them there fast enough. Toastmasters is a great organization and is very much misrepresented by your slide deck.4 months ago
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Sam Stinson, Graduate Teaching Assistant at Western Kentucky UniversityJeanne, I like that you are addressing matters of content and not just form. But please allow me to gently point out a flaw in your reasoning: you are pointing out the objectives of the introductory manual, not the advanced manuals. Toastmasters provides fifteen advanced manuals which are more focused on matters of content than form. Also, speakers who distract their audiences with verbal crutch words are not as effective in communicating their message, which is why first getting speakers to recognize their own abilities is essential to preparing their own content in presentations and focusing on the needs of the audience. I'll admit that Toastmasters can certainly improve with regards to content, but I'm not certain your evaluation takes into consideration the importance of form in conveying a message.10 months ago
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Craig Senior, Consultant @MEGAHUMAN Yes, a strength of Toastmasters is peers helping peers to improve; it is also a great weakness. Yes, the members of Toastmasters have no vested interest in the material when they listen to speakers at the training sessions; just how the material is communicated. If more rapid, higher level of achievement is desired, yes I highly recommend professional training. The peers-helping-peers model doesn't necessarily produce masters. On great speeches, It is interesting to watch the occasional great speech in the Toastmasters setting that draws other members away from their role, like Timer or Grammarian or personal note taking, and into the speech. Often, those people have no vocabulary to describe why they were drawn in beyond observing that they were, followed by an apology for not fulfilling their role, much to my delight of course. 'THAT is the point! When the speaker can take you out of your consciousness into theirs, THAT is a great speech!' Yes, many members of Toastmasters get lost in their duty-bound myopia of counting ahs and ums. They get caught up in it and there are few masters to remind them why we are in the room. As a generality, yes we'd like to reduce ahs and ums, but they do not trump communication as you pointed out. Perhaps your Toastmasters club needed you to question some of their thinking and methods. Lead them into a new way, a better way of doing things. By quitting instead of improving, you inadvertently allowed the problem to continue. Changing their status quo was a leadership opportunity... lost.10 months ago
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Steven PassananteI would say she's got a great point. I WAS a member of toastmasters for two years, and I stopped because of who and how they evaluate the speakers. The biggest problem with toastmasters is that the audience is not there interested in what you have to say, they are there to count your 'ums', so they have no connection to the topic that your speaking to. I've seen many great and moving presentations where the person said 'um', paused, or didn't use much humor at all, but because they were reasonably ok at speaking, and their content was tied into something I was interested in, then it made it much better, and they made a real difference. Toastmasters doesn't provide this level of training.10 months ago
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Astarte Itsastarte, Regional Coordinator at The Venus NetworkThank you, Jeanne, for your slideshow. It's sparked some lively discussion among Toastmasters in New Zealand. It seems, however, that you have a very limited experience of Toastmasters. I am sure Toastmasters International are working hard at shifting public misconceptions such as yours. As a presenter, I have greatly enhanced my speaking and leadership skill sets through this global organisation. I have one criticism of your presentation. Yes, Toastmasters know how to criticise, too. It's a darned shame you stooped to trying to elevate your own credentials by putting down a competitive organisation. This marketing strategy is never a good one. My suggestion - quit the dirty tactics.1 year ago
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TFunk227You have CLEARLY never been a toastmaster. I can give you three reasons why I wouldn't want to live in Russia, but then again, I never have. So I guess, since I know nothing about living in Russia, it really doesn't matter what I think, does it?1 year ago
Every time I sit next to a Toastmaster at apresentation, theysay the same thing.
‘Did you know that the speaker said ‘um’ 37 times?!’
Umm… No, I didn’t notice because I was focusing on the speaker’s message.
Watch Sir Ken Robinson on Ted. He says‘um’ a lot and doesn’t have perfect body language, but his message is incredible!
I happen tolike watching real peoplespeaking and acting naturally.
Toastmasters are too nice.
‘… there should be no use of the “C” word – Toastmaster evaluators do not criticize – ever!’They are not allowed to criticize.
I don’t think this is helpful when you need realfeedback to improve quickly.
An honest evaluation is not always easy to hear, but in business presentation feedback, flattery is not the goal.
Your organization’s image and success might dependon that presentation.
There are a lot of ways to improve your presentation skills. Coaching Feedback
AlthoughToastmasters is a greatorganization fora lot of reasons.
Improving businesspresentation skills is NOT one of them.
Start improving yourpresentations today and…
be outstanding!
Disclaimer: This slideshow is not meant as a criticism of Toastmasters as an organization. I think it is a great way for people to lose their fear of public speaking, to join a community oflike-minded individuals or even to improve their English speaking skills.
Jeanne Trojan jmtcz.cz @jmtcz
Photo Credits 1. Flickr Y3llow Craig A Rodway2. Flickr Regulatory Policy Reform Crossroads Conference OECD 3. Flickr Iron sharpens iron Jeremy Wilburn 4. Flickr TM Humorous & TT Dublin 2010 0106 5. Flickr 1 Duncan 6. Flickr IMG 2377 Shihian 7. Flickr Red Dot Randy Gardiner Export Conference 8. Flickr After the show Andrejii Stashko 9. Flickr empty seats dasmart 10 & 11. Flickr Keynote audience Alex Dunne 12. Toastmaster website 13. Flickr DIBI drbparsons 14. Flickr two iammikeb 15. Flickr presenter Gina Nevin jimk 9999 16. Flickr Trophies and flag Bill Wards Brickpile 17. Flickr IGNITE Phoenix 5 sheiladeeisme 18. Flickr Taking notes at GAAC summit 2009 somma 1977 19. Flickr keynote audience Alex Dunne 20. Ken Robinson Washington Speakers Bureau 21. Flickr Dave McClure Scott Beale Laughing Squid 22. Flickr Number 3 Leo Reynolds 23. Flickr Meridian Speakers Contest Julie70 24. Toastmasters magazine 25. Flickr Streeter Seidell comedian Zach Klein 26. Flickr Blake Mycoskie aewang 27. Flickr Trophies Bill Wards Brickpile 28. Toastmasters 29. Flickr Blogworld 2010 thekenyeung
Jiří Sekera
I have one criticism of your presentation. Yes, Toastmasters know how to criticise, too. It's a darned shame you stooped to trying to elevate your own credentials by putting down a competitive organisation. This marketing strategy is never a good one. My suggestion - quit the dirty tactics. 1 year ago