VoiceMail... the untapped speaking opportunity !

This post ( click here) by Brian Armstrong is titled "How To Instantly Sound More Confident The Next Time You Make A Phone Call" but it could just as easily be called... "How to apply Toastmasters Skills to Voicemail for fun and profit!" (Actually, I threw in the "for fun and profit" part... just to spick it up a bit.)

Brian's main idea regarding voicemail is ...

The next time you leave a message on someone’s cell phone, press ‘#’ when you’re done. On 99% of cell phone carriers you will then be given an opportunity to listen to your message, and if needed, delete it to record a new one.

He also has some very Toastmaster-like suggestions...

Some common problems you can try to eliminate from your speech are:

* Saying ‘um’ and ‘ah’ more often than you should

* Saying ‘like’, ’sort of’, ‘maybe’, ‘you know’ or other filler words which can make you sound unsure or immature

* Raising the pitch of your voice at the end of a statement (as if
you were asking a question), which sounds child-like (try saying “My name is [your name]” and raising the pitch at the end)

* Speaking constantly in the same tone of voice, which can make you sound boring and tired

Who would have guessed.... Voicemail... the untapped speaking opportunity!

Add Inches to Your Height with Toastmasters !

It sounds like an unusual claim, but Brian Armstrong makes a compelling case for "Why you need to be a Toastmaster" ... check it out !

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/why-you-need-to-be-a-toastmaster.html

(And don't forget to pass the article along to someone you know !)

P.S. I guess that's why Toastmasters have a "Tall Tale" contest ! (Sorry, I could not resist the pun.)