Jody White, Speaking Directly

This is a great video from Taylor Mali who tells it like it is! Don't hem and haw; say it with meaning and conviction! http://www.wimp.com/speakconviction/

Did you know that looking at someone while they are speaking and truly "listening" to them is one of the highest forms of respect? Have you ever been talking with someone and they keep looking around the room as if they are waiting for someone to walk in? Or, they keep looking at their cell phone waiting for a phone call or text while you are talking to them about something important to you? I don't get it! Are they waiting on someone or something "better" to come along? I see it all the time in restaurants, meetings and coffee houses - everywhere! Making sure that you stay focused and engaged in a conversation is critical to a healthy and respectful relationship. The old "uh huh" just doesn't work and certainly doesn't lend itself to a positive situation. I've given many speeches at different functions and see people in the audience on their phones or looking out the window. If you are not interested, then leave the ...

You may not realize that the way you shake hands can affect your personal effectiveness. A weak handshake can make you appear less confident and unsure of yourself, especially in a job interview. I shake a lot of hands in my job and in Toastmasters and the first thing that impresses me is how they deliver that "all important" handshake. Be the first to extend your hand to people to anyone you meet and look them in the eye and smile warmly and sincerely; this shows interest and a positive attitude. Gently but firmly grip their hand, give two shakes then release; it's that easy AND important! When I get a 'weak' handshake, honestly -- it feels like a dead fish -- and doesn't give me a warm and fuzzy feeling. Practice on a friend, ask them how your handshake feels to them-- I bet they will tell you the truth! A great handshake can leave a great "first impression" and it's important to feel confident meeting new people.  

You, me and everyone else has our own unique style of leadership. It's important, however, to lead by example of what you expect of your team members. For me, it involves: A - Apply the leadership skills that you have learned but be open to improving yourself.  Remember how you want to be treated by others.  Trust and respect are critical to be part of a successful team. B - Be there for your team; no matter what happens. Support them in their efforts to be creative and educate them on how to process certain aspects of their postion. C - Count on them to do their job; however, allow them to learn from their mistakes and improve.  Be sincere and trustworthy if you want them to be the same. “ A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves. ”   Lao Tzu

              Had a wonderful time speaking to the IAAP West Houston Chapter members about Leadership.  The title of my presentation was Leadership Empowers and it was a two-hour workshop with two fun activities involving leadership and teamwork and it was fantastic! Testimonial: "Just wanted to say thank you again for such a great presentation on Saturday morning. You were well prepared, shared great information and created a great learning environment. Your abilities to facilitate such an atmosphere was appreciated. I enjoyed every aspect of your presentation." Lenda J.

No, not your voicemail or email messages! I am referring to the message or “information” in your speeches and ‘they’ refer to your audience members. One of several definitions of “distraction” is “mental confusion” and that is exactly what happens when a speaker creates an environment where an audience member “turns off their brain” and loses interest – which is a big negative in the public speaking world!   I attended a training session for a volunteer organization recently where the speaker used a pointer – one of those gadgets that is intended to enhance a presentation (not harm it). Using the pointer did help me understand where he was on a slide; however, when he wasn’t pointing at a slide, he tapped the pointer in the other hand while he spoke. Not only was the “tap tap tap” very annoying, but I began watching the pointer bounce up and down on his other hand. The faster he spoke, the faster the pointer bounced to where the only thing that I began to concentrate...

I presented this speech to a Toastmasters Club's Open House on Janury 31, 2013. Pictured with me is Kathy-VPE and Natalie-VPM who organized the event. Do your knees shake, your palms get sweaty and your mouth get dry when you are asked a question that you don't know how to answer?  Or, perhaps you knew the answer but you just couldn't get it out for anyone to hear? Do you get that 'deer in the headlights' look? Don't get caught in that situation again. Below are my tips to get more confident and skilled at Table Topics, networking, social events, work project updates and community organization meetings. A NTICIPATE ¨   Think of questions you may be asked in any   situation. ¨   Develop your answers ahead of time so you don’t struggle at the time. ¨   Be well read on a variety of topics to be ready to respond effectively. ¨   Learn about a specific subject to gain knowledge and develop your opinion. ¨   You don’t have to b...

If you’re like most people, walking into a room full of strangers can be overwhelming and downright scary. The reality is that small talk is very important for networking events, interviews and social events. Preparing for a speech or presentation is critical to ensure your information or message is understood by your audience. Training yourself for impromptu speaking opportunities is no different. I’ve always admired people who have a knack for talking about anything and everything to just about anyone. It’s a joy to be around people who make small talk seem so easy and fun that it’s been a goal of mine for many years. The key is to practice and keep inventing ways to make it easy for you that it becomes “second nature.” Below are tips I’ve learned from observing other “small talkers” and have proven successful for me: Hello ! The first thing I do now is to be the first to say hello to people as I walk into a room; shaking hands and introducing myself if time permits. Ano...