Since I joined Toastmasters, but specifically since I got involved in the speech contests, I have been in sponge/student mode. By that, I mean that I'm always on the lookout for examples of speaking styles and techniques (both good & bad) from which I can learn. I don't necessarily seek to copy those good techniques. Rather, I seek to learn why they work, and whether or not there is any aspect of them that I can/should incorporate into my speaking style.
If being in that sponge/student mode is good for speaking, how much better is it to do that with life issues in general? And I'm fortunate to be married to someone to whom that applies.
This past week, Angie and I were at the Toastmasters International annual convention. On one of the days of the conference, we got pulled in to watch & evaluate the practice of Mary Cheyne, one of the finalists in this year's World Championship of Public Speaking. Also part of the small group, was my World Champion colleague and good friend, Darren LaCroix.
Darren mentioned that since it was a very short time until the speech contest, Mary's supporters needed to shift from the mode of evaluators & coaches to that of a cheerleader. The idea was that encouragement and love would boost her, and give her the right attitude for when she hit the stage. He mentioned that in 2001, he told his friends that he would not be answering his phone, but he wanted to have them call it anyway, for the purpose of leaving an encouraging, uplifting message that he could listen to shortly before the contest.
Though his story had to do with something related to the speech contest, Angie recognized the application. Without 'over-sharing', I can tell you that Angie was facing a surgery this week, and she was feeling a little anxious about it. So she posted a note onto Facebook, asking her friends to call her phone and leave uplifting, encouraging, and/or entertaining messages that she could listen to after the surgery when she would be in recovery.
She got a good number of calls, some from long time friends, and some from friends we just met at the TI convention. Those calls made her laugh, and that helped. To those who called, we give a sincere 'thank you'.
To Darren, for unknowingly planting the idea of a great coping/therapy technique, a big THANKS to you, my friend.
And to you...the person reading this note...a challenge. Be on the lookout for little hints and tips that you can pick up from other people, which will allow you to make your life just a little bit better. In other words, join me in adopting the personal mantra of "ever the student"...
Comments