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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Big Issue – a Toastmasters Speech (10)
Mr President, Mr Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters and guests: are you thinking that I don’t much look like someone who’s homeless? You are right of course I’m not. If I’d […]
A Minute to Win It! – a Toastmasters Speech (8)
A minute to win it …. One of the most commonly used tools cited on the networking circuit is the one minute elevator pitch. Hands up if you’ve heard that? […]
What’s in a name?
Valery Coburn gave a wonderful seven minute Toastmasters speech on how important your name is. Her take on this was that your given full name was very powerful in terms […]
Slippery Paws – a Toastmasters Speech (6)
There once was a fox and a wolf that set up cave with one another, half way up a steep cliff near to the seashore. Although this may seem odd, […]
You Dancing; You Asking – a Toastmasters Speech (5)
Since the days of Hippocrates, great thinkers, like Freud and Jung have analysed the forces at work in communication and have found that there are four generic patterns. Hippocrates called […]
The Five Minute Bio – a Toastmasters Speech (3)
The well-written biography is a fundamental marketing tool for all professionals, whether you are employed or self-employed. Its power is all too frequently overlooked. Let me reiterate the why. Most people […]
Don’t Feel Sorry For Me! – a Toastmasters Speech (2)
I am an insulin dependant diabetic. Most people I meet, know someone who has diabetes. Hands up if that is you! It is not surprising as there are 1.8 million […]
From Woking to Weymouth – a Toastmasters Speech (1)
I’d like to invite you to share my journey from Woking to Weymouth via a 14 year stop over in Worthing. I should say that there was a six-month pit […]
Laura McHarrie @ The Hidden Edge 