VAYLC: “CHARACTER - LEADERSHIP – SERVICE”
1. What is “Leadership”? It is...
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interpersonal influence directed toward attaining goals and is achieved
through communication. |
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a way of influencing people beyond normal tasks. |
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an act that causes others to act or respond in a shared direction. |
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a catalyst that motivates and coordinates a group to accomplish its
objectives. |
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the ability to inspire confidence and support among the people that are
needed for the group to achieve its goals. |
2. There are some differences between a “Leader” and a “Manager”.
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Management is more formal and scientific. |
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Management uses a definite set of tools and techniques. |
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Management deals more directly with implementation. |
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Management uses well-established solutions to problems. |
3. “Top Ten” list for being an Effective Leader.
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Understand that leadership is an influencing process that include
inspiring, motivating, and persuading others; creating useful visions; and
bringing about constructive change. |
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Develop self-confidence by achieving small goals, and then continue to
achieve progressively more difficult goals. |
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Develop your charisma. Learn to let your emotions show when you express
yourself and remember people’s names. |
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Become knowledgeable in some area or your business or field. |
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Develop your communication skills – oral, written, nonverbal, and
listening. |
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Use a variety of influence tactics to positively influence people:
persuasion, exchanging favors, ingratiating yourself, and joking and kidding. |
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Lead by example. Be a model of how you want others to perform. Be ethical. |
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Empower others by giving them the authority and responsibility for various
tasks – exciting tasks, if possible. |
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Learn to be a multicultural leader. |
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Be a great coach. Give people on-the-spot feedback, make suggestions for
improvement, offer encouragement and support. |
4. Every Leader Creates a Vision. How to Create a Vision.
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Your imagination about future possibilities. |
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Your intuitions. |
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Group discussions and brainstorming sessions. |
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Visions from other leaders or organizations. |
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Speaking to group members individually and collectively about their own
hopes and dreams. |
5. Leadership Styles.
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Staff-centered to Leader-centered. |
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Staff-centered: most decision-making authority are turned over to the
group. |
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Leader-centered: authoritarian, micro-management. |
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A participative leader shares decision-making with group members. |
Reference: “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Leadership”, Andrew J.
DuBrin. Alpha Books: 1998.
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By Dale L. Moyer, DTM
Candidate
for International Director from Region VII
There are several ways
to improve the effectiveness of your speeches. Here are
just a few I have learned from Toastmasters and professional
speakers.
First, answer the
following questions:
- Why this Speech?
- Why this Topic?
- Why this Time?
- Why this Audience?
Next, incorporate
brief answers to the above questions into your
introductions. This will help set the stage for your
presentation.
Be sure the speech is
interesting and meaningful to your audience and to you.
Prepare and rehearse your speech so that you will appear
natural when you are presenting it. BELIEVE what you are
saying in your speech.
If you use notes,
preparation and rehearsal will help make sure their use is
smooth. They should not detract from your presentation.
Use large print, and slide from page to page rather than
“flipping” pages. Remember there is a difference between
written and oral communication. Your speech should be
constructed for oral presentation.
In the Communication &
Leadership manual we learn the elements of effective
communication.
- Organize your
speech for ease of presentation as well as ease of
understanding by your audience.
- Use gestures to
enhance your message and to add clarity to your words.
- Vocal variety helps
us to maintain attention, pause for effect, and alter the
rate to emphasize a point or raise our voice to show
excitement or other emotions.
- Maintain eye
contact in order to “connect” with the audience.
Pause at a member of the audience for several seconds, and
continue this action throughout your speech so they know
you are talking to them.
- Body language
further adds to a presentation by adding emphasis or to
help demonstrate something you are discussing in your
speech.
Know where you want to
take the audience with your speech. Tell your audience
where you are going to take them in your opening remarks.
The stage for this part of your speech should be set by your
introduction.
If your objective is
to persuade, make sure the elements of a persuasive speech
are all incorporated into the body of the
speech. Have facts to back your position. End by restating
the points you want to stress or with a call to action in
your closing.
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Pick What You’re
Passionate About
- Speak about what
you care about!
Let the Ideas Flow
- A great speech is a
journey made up of small steps. Once you pick your topic,
start brainstorming any and all ideas related to the
topic. Let the ideas flow and have fun.
Focus on Your Theme
- If a quote, story,
joke, or anecdote doesn’t support your main theme, leave
it out.
Less is More
- If you pack too
much in, your message will be obscured. Stick to 2 or 3
points.
The Power of a
Personal Story
- The connection
between you and your audience is found in personal
stories. Information is important, but interest peaks
with a personal story.
Work with a Mentor
- Ask a peer to
listen to the speech. You have the final decision but
it’s great to get feedback.
Incredible Intros,
Emphatic Endings
- Start off with a
“hook” to grab the audience’s attention and conclude with
a dramatic flair.
Keep on Speaking
- Practice will calm
those butterflies and get them flying in formation!
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