Leadership Laboratory Toastmasters

Someone from a culture known for its tough, direct feedback style might use an “upgrader” that’s designed to make negative feedback sound stronger: “This is fully unacceptable,” or “Your analysis completely lacked good research and clear thinking.”

Conversely, those from a culture with an indirect feedback style might use “downgraders” to help a speaker save face, to protect their social standing, or to soften their message: “I’m not sure you want to continue doing these things in the future,” or “Your pacing was slightly quick in some areas” are examples.

Learn how levels of directness in feedback vary by culture and why that matters in our July Toastmaster article.

Toastmasters International - Christian Höferle understands the challenges many of us face when communicating across cultures. Born in Germany, he is the president and CEO of The Culture Mastery, a training firm for global leaders in Atlanta, Georgia. He says a common problem in many cross-cultural situations is that “we comp...

“Create the picture in your audience members' minds by describing as many of the senses as you can.” — Bill Brown, DTM

Learn how to create descriptive images by drawing on common experience.

Toastmasters International - The goal of speaking and speechwriting is communication. That’s not exactly a news flash, I know. But as Toastmasters, how can we choose the best words to communicate what we want to say?

Teams exist because certain challenges or opportunities are too big for one person to handle alone. The good news is that skills and techniques demonstrated by a highly successful group can be learned. Professional speaker and 2019 Convention presenter Lee Rubin rounded up five essential components of extraordinary teams, which he calls the “5 C’s.”

Toastmasters International - One of the many benefits of being a Toastmaster is the opportunity to be part of a team. In fact, teamwork is at the heart of the Toastmasters experience, with leadership teams at the club, Area, Division, District, and region levels. If you’ve ever been part of a high-performing group, you know h...

𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬…𝐘𝐨𝐮!
Learn how to control the sound you create and the sound you consume.

Toastmasters International - Toastmasters are familiar with the power of the human voice—but did you know that all sound affects you, often profoundly? Understanding how this works, and how to pay more attention to what our ears tell us, can transform lives. Sound is constantly affecting your happiness, effectiveness, and wel...

As people around the world begin to ease out of quarantine, some may still have restrictions in their area. So what can you do if you want to try something new in the house or somewhere nearby? You may have already baked banana bread or put together a puzzle (or five), but the Toastmaster magazine is full of ideas for new-found quarantainment!

Toastmasters International - As people around the world begin to ease out of quarantine, some may still have restrictions in their area. So what can you do if you want to try something new in the house or somewhere nearby? You may have already baked banana bread or put together a puzzle (or five), but the Toastmaster magazine i...