Pit Stop! A Toastmaster Area Director’s diary
We are now a third of the way through our time as leaders of the Dorset Toastmasters clubs. How do you think we are doing? If you are anything like […]
Going Public in Dorset – High Performance Leadership part I
Laura McHarrie has chosen this Contest to deliver the first of two speeches in relation to her High Performance Leadership Project. As its name suggests, the aim is for the […]
Be Bold! Be Brief! Be Gone! – A Toastmasters Area Director’s Diary
I think I’m addicted to the Corporate Club Meetings. Having been to three at Chaseside, the JP Morgan Toastmasters club – I think I should reveal their hidden secret. There […]
The Perfect Storm – Storytelling #2
Christmas 1997, I helicoptered into the best year of Excel Clothing’s 10 year history. Full of excitement at taking on my new role as Managing Director of this successful ladies […]
The Golden Quarter – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
“Everything we do in the first three months of the year is amplified when it comes to our overall performance in the year. Every new member of an existing or […]
Stepping In or Stepping Up – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
I went to Ferndown Speakers in my official capacity as Area Director this week. An unbelievable example of people ‘stepping in’ at the last minute to ensure the meeting was […]
The Emperors New Clothes – Storytelling #1
Tell a folk tale that is entertaining and enjoyable for a specific age group; Use vivid imagery and voice to enhance the tale. For the purpose of this speech, Laura […]
Follow Through and Follow Up – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
For a period of five years, I was the Regional Controller of what became a very successful remote team of New Look Area Managers. The success was theirs and theirs […]
One Small Step – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
What a brilliant day! The evaluations from the officer training day suggest there is some room for improvement so I look forward to honing my skills for the next one […]
One Trick Pony – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
I joined Toastmasters in 2008, to learn to talk on an ad hoc basis without stumbling over my words or the content; that’ll be mastering Table Topics then! Seven years […]
Tiny Things Matter – A Toastmaster Area Director’s Diary
Toastmasters International Area 42 is located entirely within the beautiful county of Dorsetshire. It is currently composed of four clubs: Hallmark Speakers – Bournemouth | Ferndown Speakers – Ferndown | Casterbridge Speakers – Dorchester and […]
Not in My Back Yard – Public Relations #4
“The Examination Authority completed its inspection of the Navitus Bay Wind Farm 18k page application at 12 midnight on 11 March 2015. The Examination Authority panel reports to the Secretary […]
Perfect Public Speaking
I love TED Talks! I will often click on ‘surprise me’ on my TED Talks app and watch something I’ve not considered before. Few people willingly commit themselves to speaking […]
Reverse Gear – Public Relations #5
Before reading! Please note that this is a staged and fictitious story (albeit based on some truths) for the purpose of an Advanced Toastmasters Public Relations Speech. Good evening ladies […]
The Toastmaster Challenge
I’m frightened to death, most of the time, about thinking out loud in public, so I cover the cracks as best as I can with foundation, powder and paint. I’m […]
Message on a Banana – what would you like to see?
This year FairTrade Fortnight started Monday 23rd February. The FairTrade campaign asks the BIG Question – What would you like to see? It’s quite interesting how the laws of attraction work, as […]
So Wot -Speciality Speeches #3
Speciality Speeches #3 – Sell a Product (10:00-12:00 min) Use the four steps in a sales presentation: attention, interest, desire, action; Identify and promote a unique selling proposition in a […]
Just Listen – Speciality Speeches #2
Uplift the Spirit Objectives: Identify and understand the basic differences between inspirational speeches and other kinds of speeches. Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and develop emotional rapport. Develop a speech style and […]
Three Wheels on My Wagon
Don’t read this post … oh too late. If you’ve read the title, THAT tune is already in your head for the next … (your guess!) I heard it on […]
Validating the Vision
The eureka moment for any small business is not that you have found a gap in the market but that you have found a market in the gap. This blog […]
Talking on Air – Public Relations #2
The second project in the ‘Public Relations’ advanced speakers manual is The Talk Show. For additional publicity, Laura McHarrie, Casterbridge Speakers Vice President of Public Relations persuaded real life Radio […]
Lost for Words – Public Relations #3
I was planning to start my speech with an overused cliché .. Friends, Romans, Countrymen … lend me your ears – except I have nothing to say. This for the […]
A Mob of Kangaroos
I love some of the descriptive nouns we, humans, allocate to a collective or should that be a cluster? Last week, was the final of three, in a land down […]
Love Changes Everything
Ask any designer, worth his/her salt, what a brand is and they will tell you that it is so much more than a logo and its colours. Sure, they are […]
Evaluate to Motivate – a Toastmasters Successful Club Speech
Not all that long ago I did a presentation on my top tips for beginner speakers. They were Breathe! Prepare! Practice! I’m going to repeat the same mantra for beginner […]
Inside the E-Type
A Post-Script on Business Vision. Until recently I had never recognised my intuition or gut feelings. This is because I was born an ‘analytic’. I learned to be ‘dynamic’ […]
Silence is Deafening
I often get accused of being silent. In another dimension, my New Look team accused me of being manipulative with my silence – especially when they came to me with […]
Best Laid Plans! (Six Sentence Story #152)
Josie had planned to catch the 6.10 am ferry service from Hythe to Southampton but she missed it by a minute; the pier train was rattling down the tracks – […]
Bananas in my Golf Bag
It sounds like it should be a metaphor and potentially one given to us by Harvey Taylor of the Chicken in my Lingerie Drawer fame. Don’t you think? Actually; bananas […]
My Boomerang’s Just Come Back
I can’t believe it is ten months since I posted my last blog on this site. To be fair I have been messing about with the BusinessXchange website copy since January […]
Breathe; Prepare; Practice – Public Relations #1
Laura McHarrie was the first person to sign up to Casterbridge Speakers when it was founded in 2008. She has completed her Competent Communicators and Competent Leadership manuals. This is […]
Laura McHarrie @ The Hidden Edge 