Do You Know How to Deliver A Wedding Toast? Toastmasters’ Tips for The Perfect Toast

Wedding Toast
A toast sets the tone for the wedding reception, so it’s important that the person speaking is prepared, poised and confident.

In 1924, Ralph C. Smedley held the first meeting of what would eventually become Toastmasters International, created to train young men in “the art of public speaking and in presiding over meetings.” In those days, the word “toastmaster” referred to a person who proposed the toasts and introduced the speakers at a banquet. Smedley named his group “The Toastmasters Club” because he thought it evoked a pleasant, social atmosphere.  Today, Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills to women and men of all ages through a worldwide network. Although Toastmasters has always helped individuals achieve public speaking excellence far beyond the banquet hall, understanding how to correctly deliver a toast is still something that many need help with. Here is a recent piece from Toastmasters with their best practices for honoring newlyweds. Even if you are not called upon to deliver a wedding toast this season, consider how you can adapt some of these strategies to prepare for occasions in your professional or personal life when you might be required to make a toast or share a few remarks. Remember, as I always say, “Outside the privacy of your own home, all speaking is public speaking.”

Tips for The Perfect Wedding Toast

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Practice Does Not Make Perfect – Are You Reinforcing Bad Habits?

Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker and Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker and Executive Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

Are you practicing to improve? Or are you inadvertently reinforcing bad habits? Sure, the old adage says that practice makes perfect. But in fact, practice makes permanent.

Practice can help you become a better speaker, but it can also make you more comfortable with your public speaking mistakes –  unconscious language or gestures that detract from your message. My recommendation is to closely examine what you actually say and do in important conversations and presentations. Have you ever recorded what it is you say at the podium? Have you ever videotaped yourself in a training session with your staff? Or asked for the feedback of a trusted colleague? You might be surprised.

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Toastmasters’ Golden Gavel Award

Rohana Rozhan to accept prestigious award at event in her honor on Aug. 22, 2014.
Rohana Rozhan to accept prestigious award at event in her honor on August 22, 2014.

Before I became a professional keynote speaker, before I had the honor of serving as the first female president of the NSA (National Speakers Association), and long before I became an in-demand speech coach… I joined Toastmasters. Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network. This year, for the first time, Toastmasters International is holding its International Convention outside North America, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  The 2014 recipient of Toastmasters’ prestigious Golden Gavel Award is a pioneer in international broadcasting, Rohana Rozhan.  Congratulations Rohana!

Astro’s CEO, Rohana Rozhan Receives Toastmasters’ Golden Gavel Award

Toastmasters International will honor noted Malaysian media CEO Rohana Rozhan as the recipient of its prestigious Golden Gavel award. The award, presented annually to an individual distinguished in the fields of communication and leadership, will be presented to Rohana during the Toastmasters International Convention Aug. 20-23, 2014, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

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Harness The Power of Third-Party Endorsements

Executive Speech Coach & Sales Presentation Expert, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE
Executive Speech Coach & Sales Presentation Expert, Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE

A third-party endorsement is alchemy of sorts, taking hours of conversation and interaction and condensing it into a couple of sentences. You cannot and must not lie when sharing third-party endorsement client stories, but you can condense a conversation. You can even dramatize an endorsement story as long as it is authentic and emotionally true.

So, think of one of your good clients. They are listed on your website, and you already use them as a reference. Now, take the next step – call them and ask this question, “Do you remember when we first did business; can you remember what your major challenge was or why you chose us out of the three competitors?”

Listen carefully, because your clients will always give you the most compelling language. Get their exact words about their situation and the solution.

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Are You Insulting Your Prospects?

Sales Presentation Meeting
Successful sales conversations are always focused on your potential client’s problem, goal, or challenge – NOT on your product or the service you provide.

Successful sales conversations are always focused on your potential client’s problem, goal, or challenge – NOT on your product or the service you provide.  Never presume you can meet a prospect’s needs before you have invited them to tell you what their needs actually are. My friend, sales expert and sales coach, Scott Plum shares this story, demonstrating the fact that successful sales always begin with asking the right questions. Enjoy!

How Not to Turn Your Product into A Commodity
by Scott Plum

I was working in the office one afternoon when two salespeople from an office supply company walked in. After they introduced themselves, they wasted no time noticing the laser printer on my desk. One quickly stated, “I see you have the Brother 2170. I can save you money on your toner.” With a saddened look and tone, I asked, “Why do you have to be like that?”

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What Do Public Speaking And Ballet Have in Common?

Caption
Passion, connection, presence, artistry, discipline, technique, freedom, purposeful movement, and rehearsal are essential elements of both ballet and public speaking.

I recently heard from my friend Carol Andrew, a fellow Dorset girl – from the same small region of England as I am!  Not only do we both live in the United States now, but we are also both National Speakers Association members, both speakers, and both speech coaches. Unlike me, Carol studied at London’s Royal Ballet School! If you are familiar with my work, you already know that I encourage speakers to adopt useful strategies from the world of performers. I share this article from Carol, explaining the elements common to both public speaking and ballet.  Read her helpful tips for speakers and enjoy!

Speakers and Dancers . . . Surprisingly Similar
by Carol Andrew

Passion, connection, presence, artistry, discipline, technique, freedom of body movement, moving on purpose, rehearsal.

Each of these elements is common to both public speaking and ballet. I bet you never imagined two such seemingly disparate forms of presenting to an audience could have so much in common. You’re probably thinking “But dancers don’t even speak.”  In reality, the entire body of a dancer speaks to an audience and his choreographer speaks through the bodies of her dancers. I’m a public speaking coach and trainer with an extensive background in ballet, imported from London’s Royal Ballet in the UK to the USA years ago to teach ballet. I am blessed to incorporate my many years of ballet teaching experience, and theatre training and experience into my speaking coaching and presenting.

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How to Become a Well Paid Professional Speaker – Expert Advice

If your goal is to become a professional speaker here is my advice as a  past president of the National Speakers Association. Many of the best strategies to build your speaking business are the same you would use to establish any new business. My overnight success took many years of gradual, constant growth. I worked all the time to prepare for the opportunities that were to come. Do not wait around for opportunities, thinking that after these come along, you will begin to do the work. Over the last 3 decades, I have often  been asked, “How  do I become a well-paid professional speaker?”

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How to Make Your Business Head Shot Look Good

actlikeyoumeanbusinessbiesenbachDoes your business headshot do you justice?

My friend, corporate communications expert, Rob Biesenbach was there. Rob is both an actor and a professional speaker and combines these disciplines to help executives communicate more persuasively and successfully.

Like actors and professional speakers, business professionals must have a business headshot. Is your headshot up-to-date? Or are you still using a picture from years ago? Does your headshot reflect your professionalism? Or are you using a picture a coworker snapped for you in the company break room?

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Silicon Valley Executives Can Improve Persuasion Skills with New Interactive Online Training

corporaterockstarvtsmall
Silicon Valley Speech Coach, Patricia Fripp now is now available 24/7 through  Fripp Virtual Training.

How often do we ask our friends and associates “What’s new?” As you will read I am now virtually everywhere!

Silicon Valley Executives Can Improve Persuasion Skills with New Interactive Online Training from Patricia Fripp, Nationally-Renowned Executive Speech Coach

Best Online Training Presentation Techniques Are Now Available for 3-Day Free Trial

SAN FRANCISCO, MAY 13, 2014 – Technology executives who want to convince venture capitalists to fund their companies or encourage others to adopt their ideas can learn persuasion and presentation techniques when they participate in online training offered by Fripp Virtual Training

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How to Maximize Your Webinar Success

Fripp explaining how to deliver a successful webinar through Fripp Virtual Training.
Patricia Fripp explains how to deliver successful webinars through Fripp Virtual Training.

I was recently featured in an article called, “How to Give a Killer Webinar: Tips from the Pros,” by Michael Ventimiglia, who asked a dozen marketing, presentation, and webinar experts, “What are your best tips for giving a webinar?”  I share a few of the very useful strategies Michael gathered from the pros:

Before Your Webinar

According to marketing and communications expert, Gini Dietrich, you should start marketing your webinar at least six weeks in advance.

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