It always gives me a buzz going to Toastmasters in Bradford: entering the Midland Hotel from its carpark entrance – walking up the ramp tiled and furnished, instantly reminiscent of a bygone era of steam trains and porters, and travellers thankfully resting in the grand splendour of Bradford’s fine Midland Hotel.  That sets the scene as I go into the hotel and take the grand staircase up to the Toastmasters’ meeting room.

As always, there is the welcoming Toastmasters meeting banner and a warm, welcoming, friendly atmosphere in the room, comfortably laid out for the meeting.  Everyone is greeted and welcomed with encouragement and smiles, mostly by Phil, the President; and given a copy of the agenda by Andris.  Though today’s meeting was beset by very many last minute changes due to a few unavoidable absences,  Phil and Andris were able to rearrange the programme thinking on their feet and a few people stepped up at the last minute to fill roles.

Mo was scheduled for the timekeeper role and valiantly also took on the Sergeant at arms role too.  Andrew took on the role of ah counter and Hamza the grammarian.  The word of the day was posthaste, possibly a somewhat old fashioned word – though Phil assured us of his use of this and gave humorous examples!

I was expecting to evaluate a speech and in the absence of the speaker my role changed to general evaluator, and Table Topics evaluator.

Following Mo calling the meeting to order with a reminder about silencing mobile phones and other housekeeping matters, Phil started the meeting in his role as President, informing about the changed agenda as well as reiterating the reasons why we come to Toastmasters.  He introduced Andris as the Toastmaster for the evening, a role that Andris had also accepted at very short notice.  Andris made the usual introductions for Andrew, Hamza and Mo to come up to explain their roles.  They all did very well considering the short time they had to consider and prepare!

Phil did an encouraging educational speech on impromptu speaking which ironically, he gave ‘off the cuff’, that is to say his speech was impromptu!  His advice was very much practical and he demonstrated with a ‘humble 99p plastic pen’. I was captivated by some of his phrasing: “spasm around in the brain” when he was referring to the stress most people have in public speaking; and “we show them they’re still alive” when he talked about how people fear Table Topics but after giving their impromptu speech they find they were actually OK!  I personally found his speech very useful when I was called up to give my Table Topic speech later in the evening!

In the second half of the meeting, Phil was the Table Topics master and gave a very interesting selection of topics.  His choice of topic for a father and his son visiting for the first time, and brave enough to step up to take on Table Topics, was inspired and the resulting talks these two gave were really very very good! The son’s topic was: ‘ What would you do if you were 37?’ and the father’s topic was: ‘ What were your dreams for your life when you were 11?’

Overall, the standard of the Table Topic speeches was very high and highly entertaining!

The final item on the revised agenda was when the President closed the meeting with a joke that linked to one of the earlier Table Topics – a smooth finish.

For me it was a highly enjoyable evening learning new roles and gave me a feeling of a little more confidence in impromptu speaking.

Norma

With a whole two months left of this decade why not grab it by the scruff of the neck and try something new for November?

If you want to get your heart racing you don’t need to head to the gym, many people find the challenge of public speaking enough to have that effect! It doesn’t have to be that way though. Like going to the gym, the first time you do it, it’s likely to be pretty challenging but you’ll be guaranteed to feel good afterwards. Also like going to the gym, public speaking is like developing strength, the more you practise, the better you get, and the more you diversify what you practice the better and more well-rounded your performance will be. UNLIKE going to the gym, which can be a pretty boring and solitary experience, staring at rows of people on treadmills or going nowhere on a bike, Bradford Speaks is a warm, welcoming club where being sociable and inclusive is part of our ethos. You can often find us in the lobby of our meeting venue before our meeting time, grabbing a bite to eat and having a good catch up and getting to know new people.

People come to Bradford Speaks for all sorts of reasons, some people need to deliver presentations at work and would like to improve their confidence and impact, some members want to improve their general confidence and communication skills, and others simply want to meet new people and learn new skills at the same time. Whatever your reason for coming, you’ll fit right in.

We regularly interact with other Toastmasters clubs, being invited to local events such as speech contests and workshops from master speakers. Toastmasters as an organisation is nearly 100 years old, with over 350,000 members, in 143 countries, in 16,600 clubs. It’s ways of working have stood the test of time and membership is growing.

Toastmasters isn’t related to officiating ceremonies, as per a common UK misconception. (You could of course do that if you become a professional speaker)…

We are an organisation which gives you freedom to:
– Improve your public speaking skills
– Build leadership skills
– Work on networking in a small and supportive environment
– Gain a competitive advantage in the workplace
– Build self-confidence and self-awareness
– Maximise your potential
– Have fun!

If you’d like to join us for our first November meeting, you can let us know your coming by completing this form – or just turn up on the night – 6:15 for 6:30 at The Midland Hotel, Bradford.Look out for the board in the hotel hallway directing you to our meeting room.  There is free parking at the venue and the station is right on the doorstep.

If you’d like to speak to someone before coming, get in touch with the team by filling in this form – and we will be happy to chat to you.

On Wednesday 7th August we hosted a humorous Speaking evening whereby a member of Toastmasters, Kate Trafford from Warrington came to Bradford and delivered a humorous speech followed by a humorous speaking workshop from Jean Stewart, a Toastmaster member from Doncaster.

In addition and as is customary, we planned our table topics session within the meeting and this allowed members to have a go at practicing their impromptu speaking skills. Whilst it is great to practice your speaking skills it is also very important to have an audience so that your can experience the pressure and learn to cope with it.

This event did not disappoint….. we were full, full, full and below are some of things, those who attended, described the evening.

• ‘What an incredible night of energy and engagement. Everyone seems to be buzzing from the atmosphere and the sense of belonging was at an all time high.  As a new club Bradford has really started to lift off and it’s great to be along for the ride.’

• ‘Being at Bradford Speaks last night was a buzz.  A bustling hum of excitement filled the room, as an ensemble gathered for a night of humour.  Two wonderful speakers entertained, enlightened and enthralled the audience in the art of humorous speaking.   An impromptu speech section, Table Topics, brought the nervous, experienced and those in-between, to the fore, with hilarious mini speeches about innate objects such as a cloths peg, Easter bunny and a hat!  Can this happen anywhere else?  I look forward to being at the next meeting. Thank you Bradford Speaks.’

• ‘Great night yesterday ! Thank you.’

• @bfdspeaks Just visited Toastmasters @ Bradford. This was my first visit and everyone was so friendly. The speeches were amazing especially the table topics.

Are you keen to make your talks more interesting and memorable, so your audience ‘get’ your message and can act on it?  Would you love to be able to engage with your audience, and help them feel at ease, even when the topic is challenging?  Are you inspired and entertained by the humorous speakers and comedians you see around you, but unsure how to create that impact yourself?
If so, the Bradford Speaks “Humour Night” is for you!

On Wednesday August 7^th, we will be joined by not one but TWO experienced Toastmasters – Kate Trafford and Jean Stewart – who can help you to…

• Add humour to your talks for impact and comic relief.
• Find the courage to take small risks, so you can grow and learn as a speaker – and have fun along the way.
• Discover your own unique style of humour, so you can be funny and still be YOU!

When? Wednesday 7^th August, 18.15 for 18.30 start.
Where? The Midland Hotel, Forster Square, Bradford, BD1 4HU (free parking available)

Kate Trafford is a Master Coach and trainer who loves to help her clients experience effortless and authentic success.  She has been a member of Warrington Toastmasters for over 5 years and, in April last year, committed to working through the ‘Humorous Speaking’ Toastmasters Advanced Manual because she was “totally not funny, but wanted to be”!  In September, as a stretch outside her comfort zone, she entered the Toastmasters ‘Humorous Speech Contest’, winning through the Club, Area and Division contests, and eventually taking Second Place at the District Finals in Norwich!  Kate will present her winning speech ‘Welcome to the CFA!’ and then share what she learned during her Contest experience.

Jean Stewart is the published author of two books, “How to Make Your Presentations More Memorable” and “How to ensure business failure”, known for her quirky sense of humour.  She been a member of Toastmasters in Doncaster for over 7 years, and is about to achieve one of the highest accolades, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM).  Jean will draw on her extensive experience giving corporate presentations – and stepping up to the ‘Open Mic’ in Comedy Clubs – to provide us with a wealth of information on what makes people laugh and how you too can add humour to your talks.

18 months ago, had you told me that one of my favourite hobbies would be being part of a public speaking group, I would never have believed you.

In the past, I’ve had to give presentations as part of my studies and in my field of work. From the moment it was scheduled into my diary, I was filled with dread. The “I wish time would slow down so I don’t have to do this” type of dread, the type of dread that would make my heart race, my face go red and make my voice waver. Once on stage I would speak at 100mph to get it all out and done with, then sit down, totally unsure and unaware of how my message had been received. This is such a lost opportunity as everyone has something amazing to share, they just need to unlock that potential and learn to “get it out!” to deliver a really striking message.

What changed? I realised that public speaking is such a key skill that pops up in SO MANY areas of life, not just scheduled slots at events / conferences / assemblies. I also wanted increased confidence in those moments in a meeting when the chairperson turns to you and asks “what do you think?”, or being amongst friends over dinner and trying to persuade them en masse to do something with you or for you, not to mention job interviews in front of a panel. I wanted to discover that elusive secret to speaking confidently on the spot!

 

How the Toastmaster’s Pathway programs develop you as a speaker

Last week I (voluntarily, happily and with great enjoyment!) completed my final speech of a level one Toastmasters “pathway” – a structured development programme of five levels, which allows you to chose a focus area to develop in. My chosen pathway programme is Persuasive Influence which contains lots of interesting projects designed to develop my public speaking and leadership with a focus on influence. During level one I spoke about topics I’m passionate about including environment, well-being and travel, with each speech ranging from 5-7 minutes.

What did I learn during level one of my first toastmaster pathway?

– To own the stage – the coaching I received encouraged me that an area to develop on was to take up more space when I was up front. I learned some great stagecraft techniques to add emphasis to my speech content.

– To structure a speech in a way which takes the audience on a journey and inspires them to action. I received some great insights on how to start, to connect sections, to deliver a message and then how to close powerfully.

– To use pace and tone of voice to add interest and emphasis to particular areas of my speeches. Who would have known you can be in control of deliberate pauses in order to build emphasis, before coming to Toastmasters I was worried a pause would make it look like I didn’t know what I was talking about!

A bit about my journey: 

Whilst searching for public speaking courses/groups, I came across Bradford Speaks and decided to invest in developing myself. I found the group to be so friendly, fun, welcoming and supportive – where members help and coach each other. It’s a misconception that a public speaking group is full of highly-polished, perfect speakers –  we really are a group of all abilities. You don’t come to a public speaking group because you are a perfect speaker (there is no such thing!) – you come because you are on your own personal journey and you want to keep learning and improving.

I’m now looking forward to getting stuck into the level two programme. If you are interested in coming along to try us out, please drop us an email on admin@bradfordspeaks.co.uk : We look forward to seeing you!

Come along and find out more about Bradford Speaks and Toastmasters International at our Open Evening.

We have a meeting full of speakers and activities that will demonstrate the power of public speaking and how it can impact your life improving your communication skills, your confidence and your employment opportunities.

Thousands of people around the world have worked through the Toastmasters International development programmes and this has turned their lives around.

Over the last two years we have had similar successes with our members in Bradford who have had to provide presentations to peers, attend networking events on behalf of their company and attend interviews for new jobs.  They have all enjoyed a boost in confidence through public speaking and being able to take on these tasks with great success.

Our open evening is for you to come along and find out more so let this be a first step on your journey of personal development.

See you on 19th June 2019 at 6.15pm.

RSVP admin@bradfordspeaks.co.uk  to confirm your attendance.

We are living in a time that our employers, our clients, our online community and colleagues within our voluntary projects, to name a few, expect us to speak more, not just speak but present, argue and persuade. Where are we going to learn these skills now, youtube, online course, one-day training course or a frequent and dedicated club who will allow you to learn and practice in a safe and friendly environment?

I recently went to a networking event where people had to stand up and introduce themselves and their business….whoa…. what? You go to something often and have to speak and you don’t think it might be important to develop that skill.  How do you know you’ve done a good job,  how do you when you’ve done a bad job, probably when it’s too late and you don’t get enough business.  Then you say ‘…that networking group didn’t work for me…’  IT’S NOT THE GROUP!

There are some great tips, training, examples and ideas online but I came across a few one-day courses priced at £795, £995  and so on… Bradford Speaks gives you a year’s membership with roughly 22 meetings per year, 2 hours per meeting giving approximately 44 hours of learning and practicing for £120….no it’s not a typo….it’s true.

Don’t waste any money or time – Join today and start now CLICK HERE

I’m not a big fan of quoting The Guardian but every now and then they do come up with something that makes sense such as this article on Public Speaking (surprise surprise!).

Not only are there some good references but a few tips too, enjoy.

Read the article here… 

Wednesday 18th July

Just a reminder that our next meeting is on Wednesday 18th July at 6.15pm for 6.30pm start at The Midland Hotel, Bradford,  it would be great to see there.

I came across a piece on the internet about how Warren Buffett conquered his fear of public speaking CLICK HERE

Our agenda for the next meeting includes:-

• Prepared speeches by members.
• and our amazingly popular TABLE TOPICS section (impromptu speaking).

Bradford Speaks is a public speaking group providing a perfect environment for members and visitors to learn and develop their public speaking skills.

This subject line was just one of the topics in our impromptu speaking session this evening as well as what would you do and why if you won the lottery and the best birthday ever.

The speakers, all first-timers, did an amazing job being able to speak between 1 and 2 minutes on their respective topics.

Impromptu speaking gives speakers a great opportunity to develop their capability and thinking skills to formulate speeches quickly and deliver them with confidence.

‘It’s not how you handle yourself when you are prepared, that demonstrates your leadership, it’s how you handle yourself when you are least prepared…’  Peter Khoury

Here are just some examples of speeches that may be asked of you when you might least expect it:-

1. Introducing yourself at networking events.
2. Filling in for a late speaker.
3. You are asked to give a toast at a company party.
4. You get asked a question you did not prepare for while on a panel.
5. Job interview questions from left field.
6. You are interviewed by a reporter.
7. You get pulled into a meeting to give an update.
8. There is unexpected push back on your ideas at a company meeting.
9. Say a goodbye speech to a departing employee.
10. Your college refers to you in the middle of a presentation for input.

Thank you to all who came along and made this evening a great meeting….albeit very warm 🙂