CONTENTS
THE EDITOR’S DESK
The Editor’s Desk
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Message from the District Governor
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Message from the LG - Education & Training
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Message from the LG - Marketing
as a Toastmaster, I’ve found that the beauty of the Toastmasters program is that it allows us the freedom to fail. What it doesn’t allow, or rather encourage, is the freedom to stay down. I would like to share a small anecdote with you here. Last month, the financial world in India suffered from a terrible loss, what with the untimely demise of Parag Parikh the Fund Manager of a leading Indian fund house. Parikh is credited for pioneering the novel concept of ‘value investing’ in India several decades ago. This was at a time when stock trading was considered to be the best way to make money in India, with the price of a stock being used as the determinant of its value.
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Five Skills to Learn from Toastmasters
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Pages to Follow on Public Speaking
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Hurt to Hope - TM Sarah Khan
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Body Language 101
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In Conversation: DTM Tom Ware
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Exclusive Interview: TM Chendil Kumar
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TOASTMASTERS TIP
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ello! It makes me very proud to present the third issue of ‘Pulse’ the official newsletter of District 82. Hope you all enjoy reading it for we have thoroughly enjoyed preparing it for you. In line with our mantra this year - Plan purposefully, prepare prayerfully, proceed positively and pursue persistently, we are now all set to embark on our journey of striving to achieve the goals we had set for ourselves this year. What was that one goal you had set for yourself? Was it to complete a speech manual so that you could improve your communication skills? Or was it to get better at leadership? No matter what your goal, now is the time to sit down, analyse what you did well and didn’t do well, and take corrective action, if required. In my limited experience
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Parikh quashed this concept, instead adopting the philosophy of value-based investing. This investing concept is similar to the “law of the farm”, where you cannot sow something today and expect it to reap tomorrow. A seed has to go through different seasons, before it turns into a fully grown tree and starts bearing fruit. Similarly, developing value in oneself is boring. It is timeconsuming. It’s like growing grass. You water the ground every single day. You may not see any shoots come up for a while. But in the long run, your effort at watering the garden will help. Isn’t the Toastmasters journey similar to this investment philosophy? I wish you all an eventful rest-of-theToastmasters year. Happy Toastmastering! TM Noorain Mohammed Nadim Newsletter Editor District 82 Toastmasters International
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WE’RE NUMBER ONE! before the end of this year, in all likelihood, we would also be able to get the required membership payments. Hence, this one month, we all will have to work really hard. ‘Number one’ has always been the rightful position of District 82, and I’m certain that with all our efforts, we’ll certainly get to achieve the goals we’ve set for ourselves.
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t makes me immensely happy to write to you as the District Governor of the Number One District in the World - District 82. We started off our Toastmasters year aiming to be a ‘President’s Distinguished District’, and we’re glad to have achieved that goal almost two months before the year-end. While we are quite ecstatic about this position we hold today, we still haven’t achieved the targets we had set for ourselves this year. District 82 has always set high standards for itself and this year was no different. Hence, our focus now is to achieve the goals that we had set at the start of the year. We need to make up the clubs that we’ve lost (about 15 clubs) in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Also, we need approximately 800 membership payments to be made to Toastmasters International before the end of this year. Naturally, if we’re able to start the required clubs
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As a leader in Toastmasters, our goal is to give back, as much as we can, to every member. When a member joins the club, pays, makes the effort to attend meetings, and participates in the program, it is our duty to make sure that such a member is a better person at the end of the Toastmasters year. The Distinguished Club Program (DCP) goals we chase are not just numbers for us. These are a measure to check how well, we as leaders, have performed, and how well, we as leaders, have served our members. I want to see all my leaders achieving the goals they had set for themselves so that we can retain our status of being a - ‘President’s Distinguished District’. While the success we’ve achieved wouldn’t have been possible without the contribution of each one of our members, I must tell you that we can accomplish the last leg of our journey successfully, again, only with the support of each and every member. Let’s do this. DTM Yusuf Jeevunjee Governor District 82 Toastmasters International
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GET OUT, STEP OUT empathizes is not a mentor, but a critic. A place where a group of people gather but don’t communicate beyond the necessary mundane formalities is called a crowd, and not a conference. The objective of any gathering by the organizers is for people to meet and learn from each other. Most often, we follow the crowd subconsciously. For example, have you noticed that in some conferences, in the first few minutes, some people just mingle with those they know, and eventually, the entire gathering seems to do the same? Imagine that you walked into a convention where random people walked up, talked to each other, exchanged cards, ideas, and opportunities. Would it not then push you to do the same? The unwritten rule here is to explore.
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Work till you don’t have to introduce yourself.” I love this quote because of the simple truth it represents. When was the last time you walked into a room filled with strangers and made an impression? When was the last time you were able to connect your loved one to someone he or she was looking to get connected to? When was the last time you were recognised by someone you have never met before? When was the last time you were welcomed at an unknown place? A building in which people live together but do not communicate with each other is not a home, but a house. Neighbours who are never there when you need them are not neighbours, but just people who live next door. An individual who criticizes and never
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next day, he sent a memo to his team, asking them to develop a car for not more than one lakh Indian rupees. After two months of planning and research, he was called to witness a briefing. The meeting had the heads of all departments and the research team for this project. The teams explained, for two hours, how a car within this budget would be an absolute failure owing to safety and performance concerns. Ratan Tata listened to all of them very carefully and then said, “Thank you, everyone, for taking out your time to explain to me the difficulties behind this project. You have given me hundreds of reasons as to how this car cannot be made. Can someone now just come up with ONE way of building this car?”
This anecdote just reassures us that often, we might have a hundred reasons to not do something, but we need just one reason to make it happen. So, ask yourself this - “Do I wait for the perfect opportunity, or the leader to make this happen for me? Or do I take the onus of pushing myself every time I walk into a gathering? Every club meeting is one such opportunity. Every conference is one such opportunity. Everyday is one such perfect opportunity. Give that one reason to make a meet that makes the difference. It is your duty to make that impression, take that one step forward and explore. Get out of your comfort zone. DTM Sastharam Ravendran Lt. Governor - Education and Training District 82 Toastmasters International
How many times have you actually come up with excuses for not having to get out of your comfort zone? How many times have you passed the opportunity of having to meet someone new and make friends with them. How many reasons have you given yourself in the past? Let me tell you a little story. Ratan Tata was once travelling in his luxurious car when there was a sudden downpour. He realised that it was raining so hard that he could not actually see the road. As he struggled to see outside, he saw a family of five - husband, wife and three kids on an old motor cycle, completely exposed to the rain and struggling to stay on the road. He realised instantly how tough it would be for them, for even inside a luxury car, the rain was loud and hard. He made up his mind then and there to do something that would help people like that family. When he went to his office the
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UNITED WE STAND
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oastmasters International has aptly published the message on their home page - “Every Toastmaster’s journey starts with a single speech.” We all began this journey of self-discovery with a simple icebreaker speech. Since then, it has been a road full of revelations and self-discovery for each one of us, adding colourful and vivid memories to our life. The journey that began with a single speech has brought us so far only because we decided to take step after step into the program. We spoke repeatedly, we wore many hats during meetings by playing different roles, we lead different teams and helped our clubs at every opportunity. By doing all that over and over, we have now become strong and steady. Just like an orchestra perfects a symphony through practice, we need to make use of every opportunity in Toastmasters for it helps us progress in our journey of communication and leadership. Some of you would have started your Toastmasters journey with a destination in mind. There might also be some of you who still have no clue about how they can maximise their benefits of being a Toastmaster. The secret is simple, really. Set goals, and work steadily towards them to become a better communicator and a leader. Also, it’s important to remember that we cannot go solo on our journey as a Toastmaster. We need lots of partners who will help us overcome the many obstacles in our way forward. Therefore, we must ensure the continuity of our membership with this great movement, and also the continuity of our colleagues at all times. Team work, and the bonds we form with our members help us proceed positively in our journey as Toastmasters, moulding us into better communicators and leaders. Clubs that develop members with such optimism generate quality experiences for all. When members strive to help each other, their satisfac-
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tion from the program increases. And that’s only because our path does not have dead ends or deadlines; instead, the continuity of our efforts, dedication and commitment will pave our way towards a journey of immense success. Essentially, let us make it a habit of renewing our membership, and being present at all club meetings, and area, division and district events. Let us impart the importance of being a member in good standing at all times, besides the need to embrace success as a team, and to learn the lessons of leadership in Toastmasters. Let us join hands to be Toastmasters forever so that we can reach that destination we aspired to get to when we started our journey with that single icebreaker speech. TM Sudash Liyanage LG - Membership District 82 Toastmasters International Pulse | 2014
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FIVE SKILLS TO LEARN FROM TOASTMASTERS
THE BEST YEAR EVER overwhelming response for all the Public Relations (PR) awards we have had till now. Any website server getting overloaded is usually a reason for panic. But seeing the District 82 website server overloaded with flyers, newsletters and other promotion materials from clubs is a sign of happiness for the PR team as we are overwhelmed by the number of responses we get for each award we launch. A lot of silent heroes, or the ‘Dark Knights’ as I wish to call them, have emerged this year. These are Toastmasters who have helped the District PR Team tremendously without expecting anything in return. TM Nisal from APIIT, TM Feroz from Infosys Toastmasters, TM Zakwan Syed from Chennai Speakers Forum, and many other Dark Knights have helped us tremendously. I wish to thank them from the bottom of my heart for their brilliant effort.
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reetings, Toastmasters of District 82! It has been a great year so far in terms of District Public Relations. This year is very unique and special because the heroes who spearheaded the Public Relations activities in District 82 were not the leaders with a title and a post, but the ordinary members, the leaders without a title, who toiled hard to make District 82 the best District in the world. We have had an
Last but not the least, I wish to thank the District Trio for constantly being a pillar of support, encouraging and motivating us to deliver our best. We are District 82 and we always rock. TM Pranav Vinod Kumar Public Relations Officer District 82 Toastmasters International
The following article was chosen as the ‘Best Article’ in District 82 for the third quarter of the year.
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oastmasters - I heard this term a few years ago in Malacca, Malaysia, from a group of expat ladies, my friends. Their enthusiasm and excitement was infectious; but at that time, I never had a chance to visit a Toastmasters club, or become a member because of the club’s timings and location. For a very long time though, I always wondered what it was all about!
Planning and preparation - Any project, right from building a house, to going on a holiday, needs to be planned in advance. That is not just to finish it on time, or within a budget, but to get the desired outcome in spite of any adverse situations. Planning and preparing includes anticipating the ‘unexpected’, and being prepared to move forward with grace.
Back in India, when my organisation offered us an opportunity to form a Toastmasters club, I grabbed the offer. Now, slowly and steadily, I am getting a better picture of what the club is all about and how it helps us.
As a part of the executive committee of my club, I’ve got first-hand experience on what it takes to run a smooth, hour long meeting. Trying to be realistic and overcoming any glitches in a meeting is a herculean task. The role of the Vice President - Education, for instance, helps you immensely with meticulous planning, preparation skills (when it comes to preparing the agenda), and also thinking of contingency plans in case of last minute drop-outs of role players. From an outsider’s perspective, a Toastmasters meet might look like pure fun. However, it’s not only the executive committee, but every member who needs to prepare for the meets. If there is no planning and preparation, you would try to speak about whatever comes from the top of your head. This may not be coherent, the audience is likely to lose focus, and ultimately, the meetings would become monotonous, and the rate of participation could go down.
Benefits of Toastmastering Failure is one big fear factor, which keeps most of us from trying out new things, including the path towards growth, be it in life or career. But what if there is a guiding light, or a shoulder to fall upon in times of uncertainties? Of course, we would walk the untrodden path with much confidence in the belief that we are taken care of. This is what Toastmasters International does! Here is a list of the top five skills that are crucial for personal and professional growth that you gain from being a Toastmaster: • • • • •
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Planning and preparation Presentation Thinking on your feet Time management Feedback and evaluation
At work most of us whine about attending meetings. From my point of view, if we have planned and prepared for a meeting, naturally, we would have done due diligence Pulse | 2014 11
on the subject, and we would be prepared to respond to any situation, instead of merely reacting to it. In Toastmasters, without having the burden of ‘being answerable’, you get to practice this much prized skill! Presentation - As a writer by profession, I have always felt confident about presenting my ideas in the written form. However, when it comes to presenting the same in verbal communication, that too in front of an audience, I found it to be a massive challenge, mainly because of the fear of judgment. In the written form of communication, we might have the luxury of time to read, correct and improvise our message. But in the verbal format, we can hardly do so. Prepared speeches in Toastmasters is the best learning experience you could ask for in perfecting the art of presentation before an audience. Most of us would be capable of churning up brilliant ideas; however, we would lack presentation skills, mainly because of the fear of talking in front of an audience. In Toastmasters, there is no dearth of opportunity to practice this invaluable skill. When I was a newbie in Toastmasters, I was a bit hesitant to get up on stage and talk; but by just watching the other members who were making an effort to speak up, I was motivated to try it out. Thinking on your feet - How often have you wondered that you should have given a ‘spot-on’ response to a critical situation? The table topics session in Toastmasters beautifully trains you to cultivate the habit of thinking on your feet! At first, you might stutter and struggle; but by practice, this skill improves. The best bet for improving your ability to think fast would be to build a data bank of ideas, interesting phrases, valuable quotes and real-life incidents. Your ‘data bank’ can be a physical dairy, or on electronic space. Once you have this habit, you would be tempted
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to go through the list when you prepare for a meeting. Scanning through the list itself improves your attention span, and you will start noticing that you can recall the right information during the right situations. Applying the same style to your professional life would yield excellent results. Basically, your reactions might become apt responses, which means your input would be appreciated, and eventually, you gain the much needed respect of your peers. Time management - We often hear someone saying ‘no time’ at least once a day. It all boils down to effective time management. In a fast paced world, everything needs to be timed, be it your coffee machine, or your work schedule. All the activities in Toastmasters have a time frame too. I have always wondered, why you should want to be so particular about timing, even for table topics speeches. Later, I came to realise that a lot of information could be shared even in 1-2 minutes.
After attempting a couple of prepared speeches and an area level contest, I learnt the importance of keeping time. It is not just about getting qualified for voting or winning, but it is also about organising what you have to say in the stipulated time frame. When you adapt this kind of time management in professional scenarios, you get to build your credibility, and eventually, you succeed in your ventures. Feedback and evaluation - For any learning or task performed, there has to be feedback. This is to ensure that the intended result is achieved and pointers for improvement are provided. On a regular basis, we would have come across criticism camouflaged in the name of ‘constructive feedback’. Here, at Toastmasters, even feedback is unbiased. While evaluating, positive aspects of
a speech are appreciated, and miss-outs are conveyed in the form of corrective suggestions, instead of churning out a run-of-themill fault finding spree. In today’s corporate world that operates out of several time zones and cultures, it becomes critical to be sensitive while giving feedback and evaluation. Toastmasters teaches you to be subtle and encouraging in your approach while giving feedback. And by following this method, you start being considerate towards others, thus preparing you towards better relationship management, a key aspect of a good manager and a team player! TM Vaishnavi Thoguluva Vijayaram VP - Public Relations Solarwinds India Toastmasters Club
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Failure is one big fear factor which keeps most of us from trying out new things. But, what if there is a guiding light or a shoulder to fall upon in times of uncertainties? This is what Toastmasters International does!” Pulse | 2014 13
LIKE TO LEARN
Brian Tracy
The Official TMI Group
Brian Tracy, also known as the ‘Guru of Self Development’ is a renowned thought leader, bestselling author, and a professional speaker. Follow his page for vital tips on writing and speaking through his free webinars and videos.
Join this global group of members from Toastmasters International to be a part of important discussions and debates, and to hear inspiring anecdotes on how Toastmasters has transformed the lives of many.
Facebook is an excellent medium to learn the secrets of effective communication and leadership. You’ve only got to look in the right places. ‘Pulse’ is proud to present to you four such popular pages that you must follow (in case you don’t already do) to learn all that you can on the art of speaking and leading.
Dananjaya Hettiarachchi
Aditya Maheswaran
Looking for inspiration to become a better speaker? Who better than the World Champion of Public Speaking 2014 himself? Catch Dananjaya as he shares important life lessons that will push you to achieve your true potential.
DTM Aditya Maheswaran is a seasoned public speaker and leader in and outside Toastmasters. His page: ‘Aditya Maheswaran - Page’ is a rich resource of practical tips and pointers on becoming a better communicator and leader.
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HURT TO HOPE intensive out-patient anxiety programme. They diagnosed me with - ‘Social Anxiety Disorder’, and started treating me with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I was taught coping skills that incorporated mindfulness, acceptance and self-compassion to help me confront my fears head on. However, I felt like I needed more. I needed a safe place where I could actually put into practice everything that I was learning. I spoke with a friend (who was also a therapist), and she said, “Sarah, you should join this place called Toastmasters. NO ONE will attack you there. You will have the best platform with the best audience for you to practice exposure exercises on yourself.”
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ou might have heard various reasons on why people join Toastmasters. Some of these may be to overcome their fear of public speaking, hone their presentations, or learn leadership. My reason was none of the above. “You should join this place called Toastmasters; NO ONE will attack you there.” - I will never forget those words. I was a victim of the post 9/11 anti-Muslim backlash in the United States of America (USA). Like many women who wore a headscarf (hijab), I became an easy target for racist attacks in public. As the media’s fear and hate mongering grew, I became agoraphobic. I feared leaving my house. As a mother of two young children, I couldn’t live like this anymore. I sought help by joining a 4 week
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You see, I didn’t join Toastmasters to overcome a fear of public speaking. I joined Toastmasters to overcome my fear of the public itself. That was the first step I took to reclaiming my life. In Toastmasters, I could do exposure therapy on myself by interacting with and giving speeches in front of - that’s right - NON-Muslim Americans. But that first step was difficult. I still remember sitting through my initial 2-hour meetings with unbearable fear. I had anxiety attacks every time I was approached during a meeting. Hot flashes, clammy palms, sweat dripping down my forehead, jaw rattling, eyes twitching, heart pounding and shortness of breath. Indeed, I experienced the classic symptoms of a panic attack triggered by a fear of people. Yet, my Toastmasters club embraced me. I was accepted. As it turned out, my first mentor was also Pulse | 2014 17
my first Jewish friend. We spoke all the time and passionately. I will never forget what she told me - “While I’ll never bear children, you, Sarah, have filled that void in my life.” Now, of course, we have had our differences. I’d weep for Palestine, while she for Israel. But she taught me that despite our differences, our hearts were interwoven, just like our scriptures. My club members became my new friends. Let me share what my new friends told me. “Sarah, I saw this young lady in the grocery store. She covered her head just like you, and I couldn’t help but smile at her every time we made eye contact because she reminded me so much of you!” “Sarah, you are the first Muslim friend I’ve ever had. I didn’t realize how much we have in common until I got to know you.” “Sarah, every time I hear things in the news about your religion and your people, I am deeply saddened by such stereotyping and generalizations. I wish people could see how much we are all alike.” Having lived in so much fear since 9/11, I
began to heal. I had also found my purpose. Today, I am a professional public speaker, and I speak on diversity and pluralism. When I share my passion, I always mention Toastmasters as a forum to meet and build relationships with people from different backgrounds.
‘civilians’. I was a civilian. The mix was roughly fifty-fifty. We did exactly the same job: talking on two-way radio networks to the police vehicles operating in this great city. I happened to mention one day that - “Well, we’re all public servants, after all.” As soon as I said that, I received a heated retort from the policeman who was at the control-console next to me. He said, “I’m not a bloody public servant! I am a policeman!” “Yes, you are a policeman, but you’re also a public servant.” “The hell I am.” “Who pays your wages? “The police force.” “Who pays the police force? “Look, mate (bristling with rage)! I’m not a bloody servant.”
TM Sarah Khan, QS 2012 International Speech Champion District 52 Toastmasters International
peakers generate a great amount of emotion and interest through the use of non-verbal communication, often called gestures or body language. A speaker’s body can be an effective tool for emphasizing and clarifying the words they use, while reinforcing their sincerity and enthusiasm. Here are a few tips on how to use gestures and body language effectively:
a whole unit altogether.
Eye contact establishes an immediate bond with an audience, especially when a speaker focuses in on individual listeners, rather than just gazing over the audience as
Move around the stage as topics change and move toward the audience when asking questions, making critical connections, or offering a revelation.
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DTM Tom Ware of District 70 talks to ‘Pulse’ on the three most important things a Toastmaster must keep in mind to grow immensely as a speaker and leader - the power of words, the essence of a topic on stage, and the art of becoming a leader.
Toastmasters has shown me that respecting differences and exploring similarities is the only way to fight prejudice and bigotry, and to bring healing to our society. As the famous scholar Reza Aslan has said, “If you simply know one single person from an outgroup, it becomes impossible to label that group as ‘other’. That’s because you recognise that this individual who may be from a different religion, or a different race, or a different ethnicity, shares the same hopes, struggles, aspirations, and dreams, and views the world in the same way that you do.” That’s how Toastmasters has given me my life back, and helped me turn my hurt to hope.
BODY LANGUAGE 101
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IN CONVERSATION: TOM WARE
Put verbs in to action when speaking to an audience by physically acting them out with the hands, face or entire body. Avoid insincere gestures by involving the entire body as much as possible in the movement and matching facial expressions.
What’s in a word?
W
hat’s in a word? Well, a lot more than the few symbols which make up what is printed or written on paper. The symbols make up the word, but the meaning of the word is made up by the person who hears or reads it. Moreover, what is made up differs quite considerably from person to person. Take the phrase ‘public servant’, for instance. Back in the mid 1970s, I was employed as a radio operator at a police tele-communications centre. I was not a policeman. I was a public servant employed by and paid by the state government. The staff doing this job was made up of a mix of police officers and
You see what I mean? The word ‘servant’ was abhorrent to this man. To him it could well have meant having a demeanour of servitude, deference, and cringing to superiors. To me, it meant, ‘I serve’, and I am certainly not ashamed to use that word. So, as speakers, we need to be careful as to our choice of words. You might think that they are neutral – and they are – but in the minds of those who interpret them, they are certainly not. Each word or phrase carries within it the potential to arouse in the hearer a lot of emotional baggage that he /she might be carrying within his / her psyche. As a speaker, one needs to clarify, wherever possible, even such neutral terms such as dog, car, and home. Elaborate on these with further descriptive words so that the listener is
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clear on what you mean. Paraphrase. A dog becomes an old, grey-muzzled, black-andtan German shepherd, or a bouncy, fluffy, white Pomeranian. A car becomes a dark blue Ford pickup, or a cream Holden HQ V8. Be specific. In that way, you will probably be able to communicate with just that much more accuracy. And this sort of accuracy will make you a better speaker.
Find your essence “By expressing our essence, our uniqueness, we bring health to everyone by allowing them to express what they truly are,” says Barbara Ann Brennan. That ‘essence expressed’ is what makes the difference between a good speaker and a world-class speaker. I often use the term ‘voluntary vulnerability’ to express this. By this, I mean the courage to tell an audience about how you feel deep down about your subject matter. Back in the 1980s, I ran an evening college class on public speaking. Among my dozen or so students was a doctor of Indian descent who had lived all of his life in South Africa before migrating to Australia. Over a period of time, I heard him give several pretty average-type speeches, but believed he could do better. Eventually, I cajoled him into telling the audience how he felt as an Indian living in Apartheid South Africa. Well! Talk about fireworks! He spoke with a level of passion I doubt I’ve ever heard since. All the suppressed resentment and anger in him welled up, and he was absolutely brilliant. Before that, he’d been holding back. Now we were getting to see and feel his essence on stage. All of us have within us things we’d like to tell others, but dare not. Dare! Do it! This is especially for those who have been in Toastmasters for a long time, and are persistently telling others to “go outside their comfort zones”, but have given up on this them-
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selves. Our Toastmasters journey requires confidence, competence and, hopefully, excellence. But to go even beyond this, to be the greatest we can be, we need to “express our essence.” So, be willing to take on “voluntary vulnerability.” Go that bit further and see how far your potential can take you.
STRAIGHT TALK WITH CK
Making leaders “Not everyone can learn leadership.” The inference being that leaders are born not made. Thus says Professor Mark Gabbott, dean of Macquarie University’s Faculty of Business and Economics. So is this quite commonly held view that ‘Leaders are born, not made,’ true? My view is that people can be born with a propensity to lead; but they do not necessarily become leaders. On the other hand, I’ve met in Toastmasters some of the most unlikely leadership types who, on first joining a club seemed to show little promise but who, with the positive encouragement that our organisation provides, became excellent leaders. I recall a 1980s Parramatta TMC President who fainted with fright before in his ice-breaker speech. He was encouraged to go out again – where he promptly collapsed a second time. This would have been enough for many. But it wasn’t for this man because with everyone behind him, he stepped up again and this time did complete that frightening four to six minute introductory speech. From this innocuous start, this young man went on to become club president. When I saw him around five years later, he was master-of-ceremonies and chief adjudicator at a high-school debate before what was to be a huge audience of both parents and children. Not an easy job. But he was a changed man. He’d become a leader. Leaders are not born. They are made when they are pushed to see their potential. The success of Toastmasters International over ninety years bears witness to it.
He is a Civil Engineer by training, and a trainer by choice. With over 18 years of experience in the sales and marketing of industrial consumables, he is now a full fledged corporate trainer based out of Bengaluru, Karnataka. A master trainee, he has been trained at the Harvard Law School on ‘teaching negotiation in organisations’, and by Dr. Robert Cialdini on the ‘principles of persuasion’. An esteemed Guest Faculty at IIM Bangalore and IIM Ahmedabad, his list of clients is far greater than the number of tuk-tuks you’d find in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. Presenting to you the man who can tickle your funny bones while surreptitiously teaching you invaluable lessons on life and Toastmasters - TM Chendil Kumar (or CK), in an exclusive interview with ‘Pulse’ on the unspoken truths of Toastmasters.
H
ow did you begin your journey in Toastmasters?
I was running a small business in Bengaluru, and I wasn’t doing too well. My business was about to flounder. It was then that I saw a small write-up in the Times of India on Toastmasters International. Curiosity pushed me to attend my first Toastmasters meeting at LA 1924 Toastmasters Club in 1999 and I liked what I saw. There has been no looking back for me since then and I’m glad to have discovered myself in Toastmasters.
What has kept you going in Toastmasters for so long, even after you’ve become an accomplished speaker? Since 1999, I’ve been considered a failure on all the days of the week, except the days when I attend a Toastmasters club. This is the only field where I’m considered to be a success because I’ve been able to find my passion here. When I used to run my business, I never even stepped anywhere out of Karnataka. But once I started my journey in corporate training, I’ve travelled to about 18 differPulse | 2014 21
ent countries, with multiple visits to several countries. All this is because of my exposure to Toastmasters. When I have gained so much from this wonderful movement, I feel like giving back. In all my corporate sessions, I make it a point to speak about Toastmasters. I encourage them to be a part of this forum to learn the lessons of a lifetime. In Toastmasters, I’ve found that your learning can never end no matter how many speeches you’ve given, or projects you’ve completed. You can never get complacent. In all my training sessions, I’m known as the ‘anecdote person’ because I like to impart lessons through inspiring anecdotes from my life and the lives of those around me. Toastmasters allows me to listen to many speakers, inspiring me with their life lessons. This keeps me going as a Toastmaster. A lot of Toastmasters join the movement and feel worn out at the end of it due to the lack of a work-life-Toastmasters balance. How can one counter this problem? I must say I have an advantage over others in this regard due to my profession. Anything and everything I do in Toastmasters refines my skills towards becoming a better trainer. That’s why I’ve never lost interest, or felt worn out by the movement. If someone from another profession feels like they’ve had enough from Toastmasters, it’s time they attend their club’s meeting again so that they can realise its true value. That should make them stay back. Is it important to set goals in Toastmasters? Why? It is critical to set goals in Toastmasters as it gives you a clear picture about where you’re going in your journey with this forum. I must tell you this: many years ago, I got an email from DTM Nagaraja Rao, our Past District Governor. He had changed his email ID to dtmnagarajarao@gmail.com. I was furious when I saw this as I thought that he didn’t tell
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me he had become a ‘Distinguished Toastmaster’. I was taken aback by his answer later when he told me that he hadn’t become a DTM yet, but the email ID would keep inspiring him to reach his goal as every time he would see it, he would be pushed to work towards becoming a DTM. Everyone knows that he did go on to achieve his dream of becoming a DTM. Goals like that keep inspiring you to do your best, while keeping your interest alive in Toastmasters. How can one effectively tap the potential of mentoring in Toastmasters? Toastmasters actually has an extremely structured way of mentoring. But here’s what a lot of people don’t realise - the responsibility is more on the mentee than on the mentor. Many people who wish to improve their communication and leadership skills are always after their mentors because they strive to learn. When someone expresses an interest to be my mentee and I accept them, I see how keen they are to learn. At first, I intentionally ignore their calls. But if that particular mentee keeps at it and shows a keen interest to learn, I give him / her all the due attention. While it is critical that mentees be proactive and reach out to their mentors as much as they can, every mentor must remember that he / she has reached that level in Toastmasters due to someone else’s help and support.
where people state that leaders are better than communicators and vice-versa. This is absolutely wrong as you may be an excellent organiser, but you can’t do anything in your event without accomplished speakers. In the same manner, you can be an excellent speaker, but without someone to organise an event for you, you wouldn’t be able to showcase your skills. Toastmasters International is much like a diamond necklace - the speakers are the diamonds, while the leaders are the threads that hold the diamonds together. To become an accomplished Toastmaster, it is important to excel in both areas. What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learnt in Toastmasters? The biggest lesson I’ve learnt in Toastmasters is the joy of giving - I feel amazing when I’m able to help someone realise his / her true potential. When people from an audience come and speak to me after my session, telling me they’ve found inspiration, I’m inspired to become a better speaker. Who would have thought that someone who was once considered to be a failure in business would go on to inspire people to find their potential in life? I only have Toastmasters to thank for this.
QUICK BYTES Favourite role in the club Sergeant at Arms - The responsibility is high as you set the tone of the meeting. In about 2-3 miunutes, you must make a good impression on the audience. Table Topics or a prepared speech? Table Topics - You must be a good prepared speaker in order to be a good Table Topics speaker. Biggest accomplishment in Toastmasters It has been to convert absolutely nervous and shy people into reasonably good speakers. Goal in Toastmasters To take part in the International Speech Contest next year.
Leadership and communication go hand-in-hand in Toastmasters; however, many people usually opt to specialise in just one area. What do you have to say about this? People will always give importance to one road in Toastmasters, i.e., either communication or leadership. You may specialise in one area, although to be accomplished at what you do, you must have a fair grasp in both areas. Many a times, it is common to find yourself in a debate in Toastmasters Pulse | 2014 23
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