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The Non-Verbal Art of Speechmaking

By Ken Walley ATMG, CL

"Setting the stage" for your speech can be almost as important as the words that you choose. How your audience perceives you can be as powerful, or in some instances as relaxing, as the vocal part of your speech. Here are a few ideas as to how to make a statement before you open your mouth.

1. A relaxed and informal body posture tends to put your audience at ease. Sitting on a desk, leaning, using a "pondering" expression, loose or flippant arm and hand motions, etc. creates an "attitude" of the speaker that the speech is more of a "chat" and is in essence creating a "conversational tone." Using this kind of body language, while often drawing the audience "into" the speech at first, will often lose them later and may tend to lose the credibility of important points that you wish to make. It is important to vary the tension of your body movement throughout the speech. A super-rigid body posture, one with little movement and strong forceful arm and hand motions, for example from behind a lectern , gives the audience the message that the speech is important, serious and demanding of their attention. This also only works for a short time. Putting a strong emphasis on parts of the speech is more effective than running the risk of "scolding" your audience. Try to get out at times from behind the lectern, vary the tone of the body language and you will be more effective.

2. You are what you wear. Every speaker should attempt to dress for the occasion and to have the best effect possible on the audience. A clown suit is perfect for a 3rd grade birthday party but not for the boardroom. Common sense is usually the best guide. A three-piece suit might be a tad overdressed for a lecture to a high school class but being to informal, jeans and a sweat shirt... might tend to lose your credibility. A nice suit, in good taste is perfect for any important speech. Look at yourself in a mirror before you arrive and ask "Is this the image I want my audience to have of me?"

3. "Working the room" splitting up the room into parts or "zones" and then changing positions during the speech to address each zone, creates the perception of inclusiveness. Be aware of how much you are moving, speak from one position for a time then move to the next zone. This can add an air of enthusiasm! Avoid "pacing" because that can distract from your speech.

4. Create the environment you want you audience to experience beforehand. This is not always possible but moving and manipulating the physical surrounding of the speech area can have a powerful effect on your speech. Lighting for example can often add an "extra effect". Also have props handy, have projector or any other visual aids at the ready so that when you need these items their operation does not distract from your speech.

The use of the face and the eyes are also a very important element of non-verbal communication as well how the seating arrangements are organized and ability to create a "aura" of confidence as you approach the lectern. Weaving these with the spoken word creates the total speaker. The most effective speech has a balanced use of the verbal and non verbal.

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MEET OUR NEW OFFICERS FOR JULY THROUGH DECEMBER 2010!

The new slate of Club #28 officers will be inducted at the June 24th meeting at the Herndon Branch Library. These officers will serve the July through December 2010 term. Please congratulate these courageous Toastmasters when you see them:

Many of our new officers for this term are taking on their first ever officer role in our club but some have served in previous administrations. Our new Club #28 President is Wilner Luders, CC. Wilner is a past Club #28 Vice President of Membership. His inspiring and motivational speeches earned him his CC in May of 2010 after joining the club in October of 2009. He is on the fast track to Toastmasters success. Wilner is a leader both in and out of Toastmasters and has shown great courage and the willingness to try new things. Wilner looks forward to the start of the brightest future that any Toastmaster Club could even dare to dream of! He hopes to continue the work of the immediate past President Deepti Dhiman, CC, CL. to lead our club to its 9th President's Distinguished Award. Wilner has a Masters in Resource Economics and Policy from the University of Maine. He enjoys reading, music. art, soccer and of course, Toastmasters in his spare time.

Having the great courage to take on the Vice President of Education position from John Hines, will be someone who is certainly not new to the position. Ken Walley ACG, CL will be serving in this capacity for his fifth time at Club #28! Ken has only been a Toastmaster for 11 years in Club #28 and he knows that this is one of the most important officer roles. Ken hopes to apply for his Distinguished Toastmaster Award (DTM) later in this term. He is a graduate of Florida State University and works for the Walt Disney World Company where he has been employed for the last 32 years. He has also served in every other officer position and is a past Area 33 Governor.

Carolyn Stapleton, another new toastmaster with the courage to serve in a leadership role, joined our club only in April of 2010 but she has made a major difference in the success of our club meetings in such a short time. Carolyn is a Chef and Certified Nutritionist. She is well known in Florida as a practiced metabolic analyst and health coach. Teaching cooking classes has helped inspire her to be a professional speaker. This is a a very important position as our incoming President-elect Luders termed membership as one his most pressing issues for the new administration. Carolyn looks forward to the challenge of growing membership here at Club 28.

Two other Toastmasters taking on officer positions for the first time are our new club Secretary Malita Clarke and Vice President of Public Relations Mark Gumula II. Malita and Mark are two more of the "next generation" of young toastmasters who have recently joined Club #28. Both are venturing into club leadership positions for the first time. Malita gave her Ice Breaker speech May 20th 2010, after only joining the club a few weeks before. She also works at the Walt Disney World Company and is inspired to use Toastmasters to help find a way to better the plight of the homeless here in Orlando. Mark has already impressed the club with some exciting speeches and coasted through his first five basic manual speeches in less than three months! Mark is a CPA and controller in Orlando who volunteers for Habit for Humanity as a way to give back to the community. We are pleased to have him as part of our leadership team in his first Toastmasters leadership role. Mark looks forward to trying some new ideas to "get the word out" about our "amazing" club.

A more veteran member of the ranks of Toastmaster leadership is Barbara Cusack CC, CL who will be trying her hand as Treasurer for her 1st time. She has already served as Secretary, Vice President of Membership and Club #28 President. During her term as President, Club #28 won it's 7th President's Distinguished Award. She is the founder of the hand crafted "Four Tias" gourmet Black Bean & Corn Salsa company. She is also an award winning speaker who has excelled in both International and Humorous Speech Contests. More than that, Barbara has brought an endless supply of personality, humor, enthusiasm and dedication to the club. We truly thank Barbara for stepping "up to the plate" to fill this very important role!

Monica Walley will be doing duty as our new Sergeant at Arms! Monica has been attending Toastmaster meetings since she was six years old being the daughter of two Toastmaster parents! She joined Toastmasters in 2008 for real and has been working on her Competent Communicator Award. Monica has also severed as an officer before as the club Secretary. Monica is a manager of a local Boston Market restaurant and also attends classes at Valencia Community College. She enjoys skateboarding and spending time at the beach.

Deepti Dhiman, CC, CL is our Immediate Past President. Besides her super-successful term as President, she has also served as our club Vice President of Membership and Education. Deepti guided the club (along with Ed Dimayuga CC, CL) to its 8th President's Distinguished Award. Only two years in Toastmasters, she has already become a vital part of our club. She has competed in Club #28 Table Topics, Evaluation, Humorous and International Speech Contests as well as competing at the Area Contest level. A native of India, Deepti has a Bachelors in Architecture Degree and a Masters in Community Planning. She works in Orlando.

These are all talented leaders with a great vision for our club. We applaud Malita Clarke, Carolyn Stapleton, and Mark Gumula II for having the courage to serve as brand new officers in Club #28's leadership positions! Also thanks to returning Club #28 officers Wilner Luders, Ken Walley, Monica Walley, Deepti Dhiman and Barbara Cusack.

With such a capable and hard-working staff, Club #28 is looking forward to the most successful Toastmaster term in it's long history!

AWARDS ABOUND!

Wilner Luders, CC on May 13th 2010 Wilner Luders gave a speech titled "The Secret!" that was entertaining, inspirational, uplifting and educational, all at the same time! That however, is nothing new for Wilner who has been dazzling Club #28 members since last October when he joined the club. Wilner has earned his well-deserved Competent Communicator Award and he is just getting started. Congratulations Wilner!

Deepti Dhiman, CL Deepti Dhiman finished the last section of her Basic Leadership manual by writing her first article for this website as our new Club #28 President! Deepti has shown a natural talent of leadership as she has served as club Vice President of Membership and Education before stepping up to be our club President. It is no surprise to any of her fellow members the fast pace of her success in Toastmasters. Congratulations, again, Deepti!

Ruble Nedumkunnel, CC Ruble Nedumkunnel set Toastmaster records in earning his Competent Communicator Award. In less than three months Ruble completed his first ten speeches, giving his 10th on January 19th, 2010 at the Casselberry Orator Club #8945, Ruble's dual club. His graduation speech was titled "Magic Formula" and he has shown the incredible ability to find an inspiring magic in a number of great speech that he has given at Club #28! Congratulations Ruble!

Ken Blake, ACG, Ken Blake has been chasing this dream for over 10 years as a Club #28 member! Along with Dennis Gola in December of 2009, he completed the last requirement to reach the highest communication level as he works his way towards his DTM. Ken gave a mini-seminar on effective evaluations at the Orlando Public Library. Ken is the anchor of Club #29 and one of the club's most important guiding members. Congratulations Ken Blake!

Ed Dimayuga, CC Ed Dimayuga earned his CC award by doing what he does best: Leading and inspiring. On November 18th, 2009 Ed gave his 10th speech "Be a Club #28 Officer!" and added to an impressive number of great speeches that included International and Humorous contest speeches. Ed took over as the club president early in the term and has led the club through a number of challenges over the past six months to achieve a number of club triumphs. Congratulations Ed!

Deepti Dhiman, CC Deepti gave a great Competent Communicator Graduation speech titled "Fear No More!" on October 29th 2009. She has shown great courage throughout her year long journey as a Toastmaster. During that time, Deepti has also given some of the most entertaining, enlightening and inspiring speeches ever given from the basic manual to Club #28. We see only great accomplishments ahead for Deepti! Congratulations!

Ed Dimayuga, CL earned his Competent Leader Award in October of 2009 but Club #28 had known for a long time that we had a great leader in Ed! Ed had served as our Vice President of Membership before taking on the role of Vice President of Education. Soon afterwards he was called upon to take over as President of the club for the entire July through December 2009 term. Ed has excelled in every challenge given to him and the club is deeply thankful for his leadership! Congratulations Ed!

Dennis Gola, ACG Club #28 is pleased to announce that Dennis Gola earned his Advance Communicator Gold award by giving a mini-seminar on Effective Evaluations at the Orlando Public Library on June 20, 2009! Dennis has been a mainstay in Club #28's success since 2001 when he first joined the club. With this award, Club #28 earned it's 7th Presidential Distinguished Award, its first since 2005! Dennis has been a past President of the club as well as the club Vice President of Membership and Public Relations. Congratulations Dennis!

Susan Deichen, CC Club #28 was never more blessed to hear a more inspiring Competent Communicator Graduation speech than Susan Deichen's May 28th, 2009 "You've Got the Power!" titled presentation. But that is not surprising as Susan has been inspiring us with great speeches ever since she joined Club #28. Always uplifting and positive, Susan is a perfect example of what Toastmasters everywhere should aspire to be. Congratulations Susan!

Barbara Cusack, CL Congratulations again to Club President Barbara Cusack who earned her CL award in March of 2009. She just earned her CC award only a few months before and is leading the club to it first President Distinguished Award in three years! Barbara is a true leader who loves to lead by example! Congratulations Barbara!

Jose Lopez, CC Became Club #28th newest Competent Communicator when he gave his 10th speech on February 5th 2009! His speech titled "My Story" told of the bravery of the men who fight in Iraq and of the personal story of how Jose lost an eye in the line of duty. His speech was riveting and powerful and reminded those who heard him speak of the sacrifices made by our men in uniform. Jose is a past Sgt. at Arms and the club's current Treasurer. We are extremely proud to have him as part of our club. Congratulations Jose!

Barbara Cusack, CC On October 9th 2008 Barbara Cusack, CC became the newest member of Club #28 to earn her CC award with a speech titled "A Loving Memory" about organ donors that was extremely inspiring and typical of the excellent speaker that Barbara has become. Barbara is our current club humorous speech champion, Vice President of Membership and a force of good will that has inspired and motivated our club for almost two years! Congratulations Barbara!

Paul Hagge, CC Paul Hagge, CC on July 24th 2008 gave his 10th speech titled "The Finish Line!" to earn his Competent Communicator Award. Paul had been working on getting his CC off and on for a number of years but it was just over the past year that Paul succeeded by giving the majority of his speeches from the basic manual. Paul's "never give up" theme was an inspiration to everyone who had the good fortune to hear him speak. You have made our club proud, Congratulations Paul!

Dr. Michael Deichen CL Dr. Michael Deichen, CC, CL became the first Club #28 Toastmaster in over three years to earn a Competent Leader Award after accomplishing his 2nd "Leadership Excellence" Series presentation, this one was "How to Evaluate". Dr. Mike as served as our Vice President of Membership and at the same meeting as he gave his CL graduation presentation, Mike was inducted as the next term's Vice President of Education! Mike is a true example of what leadership is all about! Congratulations Mike!

Dr. Michael Deichen, CC One would be hard pressed to find a more dedicated and enthusiastic toastmaster than Dr. Michael Deichen! Dr. Deichen, after only a few months as a Toastmaster volunteered to compete in our Humorous Speech contest. He gave a number of memorable speeches to our club as he roared through the Basic Manual while impressing everyone with his intelligence and humor. To the delight of all, "Dr. Mike" earned his Competent Communicator Award on April 3rd, 2008 with the speech "A Ray of Sun" which told how a simple act of kindness can change many lives.

Bob Blaydes, CC On August 9, 2007 our newest member to succeed in reaching his goal to become a Competent Communicator was Bob Blaydes. Few Toastmasters have given such high quality speeches from their Ice Breaker to their graduation speech. Bob has consistently impressed all who have heard him speak and improved with each and every effort! His 10th speech (titled: "This Was Not My 1st Time") was almost as inspirational as Bob's example through his hard work and dedication has been to the club. Congratulations Bob!

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