Youth Leadership Program at Anjuman School

High Performance Leadership

Leadership Excellence 

October 16th, 2011

This is the speech given at Anjuman School at the valedictory ceremony of the Youth Leadership Program (YLP) conducted there for a period of 8 weeks.

Also read: 

How to organize a Youth Leadership Program (YLP)?
High Performance Leadership - Project Ideas / Requirements

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Abdul Kalam once said "The ignited minds of the youth are the most powerful resources on the earth above the earth and under the earth". We, the toastmasters from Division G made an attempt to create a spark in the minds of the youth in Anjuman School, by conducting the Youth Leadership Program.

Youth Leadership Program, shortly called as YLP follows a standard curriculum from Toastmasters International. YLP provides an opportunity for fellow toastmasters to give back to the community. YLP for Anjuman school students was funded and organized by US Consulate.

We had a group of 20 faculties - 15 toastmasters and 5 non-toastmasters. We divided nearly 100 students into 4 different groups. Each classroom had at least 3 toastmasters’ faculties and 1 non-toastmaster faculty.

We conducted the workshop for 6 days during the weekends. We trained the students on 6 different skills:

1.      Prepared speeches
2.      Impromptu speeches
3.      Evaluations
4.      Debates
5.      Listening
6.      Leadership

YLP workshops are similar to what we do in regular toastmasters meeting. The students come and do the various roles and the faculties guide them to effectively do their roles.

Ralph Smedley the founder of toastmasters once said "We learn best in moments of enjoyment". This is true in case of the YouthLeadership Program. The faculty in each class room ensured that there was enthusiasm and excitement throughout the session. The student felt very comfortable in the class rooms which maximized their creativity and learning.  

One thing that amazed me during the whole program is the commitment and sincerity of our toastmasters. I saw the PASSION in them to TEACH. I saw the DESIRE in them to SERVE. I saw the DETERMINATION in them to LEAD. I didn’t have to put any effort in managing them. They were all self-managed and self-motivated. I was just sitting back and enjoying the entire show.

 

Overall, the program turned out to be a HUGE success. It was the final day. We had a valedictory ceremony. We were all assembled in the auditorium in Anjuman School. The dignitaries were sitting on the dais - US Consul General Jennifer McIntyre, Sr. English Language Fellow Mary Kay Seales from US Consulate, Executive Director of Anjuman Mazharallah  and other executives from Anjuman management. The hall was filled with 100s of students and faculty members. The students came and shared their toastmastering experiences on the stage.

One student came to the stage, stood before the mike and confidently said “Today, I’m able to deliver this speech with confidence, because of toastmasters…  we learned to write a speech … we learned to do impromptu speeches, we learned to work as a team. This is the first time that I’m addressing a gathering of 100s of people… I don’t have any nervousness or fear. I’m thankful to toastmasters and I’m going to miss them”.

A drop of tear popped out from my eye. I realized the impact that we toastmasters can make on the society. I realized how we can put our communication and leadership skills to the best use.

Personally I learned 6 leadership skills during this project –

1.      organizing a project involving various groups
2.      delegation
3.      co-ordination
4.      leadership without authority
5.      leading by example &
6.      service leadership

A candle looses nothing by lighting other candles. We, the toastmasters of Division G learned a lot from Anjuman school students.

We learned to dream BIG,

We learned to LISTEN,

We learned that toastmasters can make a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the society.

We went there to inspire them, but we came back inspired by them.

We just created a SPARK. But the little candles that we ignited are going to create a forest fire. Imagine a world filled with such ignited minds… look at the difference they can make to their FAMILY, to their SOCIETY, to the COUNTRY and to the WORLD.

I am grateful to Anjuman school students who helped me to discover the LEADER in me.

Also read: Leadership Lessons - What works when you are a Leader

Humorous Manual Project 4 - Keep them Laughing - How to spot a judge in a contest?

ACG Speech #4 - Humorously speaking
Keep them Laughing
October 2nd, 2011

Thanks TMOD for that introduction. I’m glad, you correctly introduced me as the Division Governor. In the club meetings that I attended over the last several months, I’ve been introduced as the Area Governor, District Governor and one TMOD was very close to introducing me as the Tamilnadu Governor. Thank God Dr. Rosaiah didn’t hear that.

(Also read: 10 things you should not do in a speech contest)

TMOD, fellow toastmasters and guests,

We just completed our club and area level contests. I personally had lots of fun attending various contests in our Division. Of all the roles played in a contest, the role of a Judge is very special. While the Judges spot who the winners are, the winners cannot spot who the judges are.

As you may know, judges’ information is typically kept very confidential. These poor souls typically come and go like undercover agents in CIA. When all the 99 other role players receive their certificates at the stage, poor judges aren’t called upon to the stage to receive certificates. Most of the times Judges are given a blank certificate and they have to write their names themselves.  Someone like my wife doesn’t trust those certificates because she can recognize my hand writing J

Typically Judges are invisible… but, some of them are visibly invisible… Hence, there are ways of finding who the judges are … in a contest.  Some of these are my own exaggerations… for the fun of listening.

How do you spot a judge?

Trick #1: You are in a contest. The hall is full and there was absolute silence. A new toastmaster plays the role of a contest master. He is visibly nervous and reads out the rules. After the rules are read, the contest master says “The speaking order has been finalized and I’ll read that out now for the benefit of judges”. “Contestant #1 Sunil Mukundan Contestant #2 Shivakumar Contestant #3 Jeyaganesh … Contestant #4”…  Now, one gentle man slowly rises from his chair, interrupting the contest master "Sir! Can you read it out slowly? It is hard for me to note down the names! “. The whole crowd now knows that he is a judge.

There are other methods too…

How many of you have seen this movie Armageddon?!  My favorite scene in that movie is when Bruce Willis and his crew … all dressed up in orange colored space suit and walking boldly with a helmet in hand to board their space vessel. You may be wondering what does this have to do with spotting a judge. Hold on guys. Typically, in a contest, the briefing of role players and judges happen in the last minute. So, right after the briefing you can see the Chief Judge walking into the hall with his army of judges in slow motion… like how Bruce Willis walks with his crew in the movie Armageddon. Instead of helmet, you can see judging ballots and a pen in the hands of the judges.  It doesn’t just stop there. These folks who are entering together do not sit together. They try to sit in different locations and definitely avoid the contestants who are sitting in the front row. Even my 4 year old daughter can identify them as Judges.

There are other easy ways of spotting who the judges are …

You go to a contest and you see a group of senior toastmasters standing outside the contest venue, as if they are planning for the crackdown of Al-Qaida’s top man - Bin Laden. The Chief Judge giving instructions like President Obama… and all the other judges will be seriously listening to the Chief Judge. When you say “Hi” to any of them, they will not even smile. They’ll look at you as an alien. Despite that, if you stand near them … immediately they’ll say “Hi… Can you please go inside…  You aren’t supposed to stand here”.

In one of the contests, we had a new Chief judge. He was methodically following the rules. He didn’t leave any stone unturned. He took every possible effort to hide the identity of judges.

• He took the judges to a secret room in the contest venue and briefed them.
• After the briefing, he asked the judges to leave the room one after the other and NOT as a group.
• He didn't share the judges list with anyone including the person who writes certificates.
• The judges were asked to occupy different seats in the hall.
• They were told to not sit near contestants.

Despite all this extraordinary preparations, the whole crowd knew who the judges were. Guess what?! Why it would be difficult? Only 7 people in the entire audience were having this bright green colored wooden writing pad.

Friends, if you couldn’t spot a judge using any of the techniques that I shared with you… there is one last technique…  If you know that someone has a high probability of becoming a judge… say for example, our monkey Kartik Srinivasan … go to him and ask “Sir! What role are you playing today”. He’ll immediately tell you “I’m not supposed to tell you that”. Hey “HE is a judge!!” 

My first day experience in IT industry

ACG Speech #3 - Humorously speaking

Make them Laugh

June 5th, 2011

Do you work for a software company? Raise your hands if you are.

Introduction

I’m like you. I joined the IT industry 14 years ago with a dream to learn new things, a dream to earn money, a dream to own a car, and a dream to lead a quality life. Looking back, I achieved all of them. But, the price that I had to pay was HUGE. It is absolutely impossible for me to recoup what I lost. Yes friends… in a quest to be a successful software engineer, I lost a precious treasure… I lost god’s gift… I lost a crown jewel… Yes... it is nothing but my shiny black hair.

Today, I’m going to share a page from my IT industry experience.

Getting ready on the first day 

June 15th 1998 – a memorable day in my life. The day I started to earn my living. I got up very early and started to get ready. Neatly combed hair - yes, I had lots of hair at that time; clean shave;  wore neatly ironed formal wear including a tie; and squeezed into my newly bought black shoes. With a pile of certificates and mark sheets in hand, I started walking to office.

Dreaming about office environment 

While walking to the office, I started dreaming about how the office would be - a young lady at the reception with a beautiful smile welcoming me; my HR manager in coat, suite and tie eagerly waiting for my arrival; my team members lined up on both the sides of the walkway and cheerfully clapping their hands and I walking between them like a hero; my manager standing with a flower bouquet in his hand to receive me. 

Surprise / Shock after reaching office 

With all these dreams, I reached office by 8 am and opened the doors of HCL Technologies.
What I saw there was shocking. There was a lady near the reception, but with a mopping stick and a bucket full of water cleaning the floor. My HR manager wasn’t there, but an old security guard sleeping at the reception desk. The whole office was empty. Oh! What happened to my team members? Are they hiding in the rooms to give me a surprise? What happened to my manager? Has he gone out to buy a flower bouquet?
With all these thoughts going in my mind, I shook the security guard and woke him up. On seeing me in full formals and tie, he thought I am the CEO of the company. In a shock, he got up and gave me a firm salute. I said “Sir! I'm a fresher and today is my first working day”. When I told him that, he gave me a very strange look. He looked at me from top to bottom and asked me to sit in the lobby.

People entering office 

I started to wait for the HR manager. I waited … waited… and waited… Time is now 10 o’clock and I saw the first soul entering the office. He was in his mid 20s and looked like our Pravin Mani. He looked as if he just got up from bed and didn't even have time to take a bath. His hair was standing stiff with spikes. He was wearing shorts and a T-shirt. I couldn't understand why he was wearing coolers even when he is inside the building.

Minutes passed… another guy entered the office. He looked like our Rajesh. He was wearing a tight red T-shirt and a jeans pant that was torn all over. My first impressions on seeing that guy was... "May be he is from a poor family. He doesn’t even have money to buy good clothes". Later, I was told that it is a fashion to wear tight T-shirts and torn jeans pants.
In the few hours that I waited in lobby, I watched nearly 100 people getting into the office. The HR manager came in at 10.30 am and took care of all the formalities.

Lessons / Conclusion 

Friends, I learned 3 lessons on the first few hours of my IT career:
•    Never go early to office – software engineers start their day at 10
•    IT engineers dress up STRANGE - none of them wear formals, none of them wear polished shoes, none of them wear a tie, and above all, none of them even comb their hair.
•    The IT field is staffed primarily by men; the ratio of male to female software engineers is on the order of 10 to 1. There are a number of good looking girls. But, pretty much all the guys are average. So, for the girls who want to find a man "The odds are very good, but the goods are odd"

Friends, I lost a few hair strands right on the first day at work - because of the excessive stress caused by waiting. This is just the first page from my IT industry experience. You'll see many more pages in my subsequent speeches.

Keeping the Commitment (Successful Club Series)

ALB Speech #1 - Successful Club Series

Keeping the Commitment

May 8th, 2011

What comes to your mind when you hear the word “Commitment”? Well, the first thing that comes to my mind was the contract that I signed 6 years ago. Yes friends, I’m referring to my marriage. That is one of the biggest commitments that I ever made in life & still paying for it ;-)  

(Also read: 3Rs of a Successful Toastmaster)

Don’t worry! I’m not going to bore you with my marriage life again. I do that only during humorous speeches J Today, I’m going to talk about the commitment we all made when we joined toastmasters. The promise is not just to the organization of Toastmasters international or our fellow club members, but it is a promise to our self. This speech is a refresher on the promises we made to our self when we joined toastmasters.

Some body once said “Toastmasters is like an ocean, you can come with a bucket and fill an entire bucket or come with just a spoon and take a spoon full. Keeping the toastmasters promise always helps you to take a bucket full.

Participation

·         To attend club meetings regularly

o   Toastmasters isn’t a correspondence course. We learn to conquer our fears and sharpen our skills by interacting with others. Attending meetings regularly and doing various roles helps us to interact more with others. Toastmaster Priyanandhan once said “I was able to conquer my fears of stuttering because I attended meetings regularly and interacted with others”       

Preparation

·         To prepare all speech and leadership projects to the best of our ability, basing them on projects in the CC, AC, CL, AL manuals

·         To prepare for and fulfill meeting assignments

o   Our performance in toastmasters is directly proportional to the amount of preparation we do. Manuals provide a structure for us to prepare for the  various roles in toastmasters.  

o   Preparation and performance always goes hand in hand. TM Sadayappan & TM Aditya represented us in Division Contest. Can you imagine how many times they would’ve prepared before delivering their best performance in the Division contest.

o   Prepared speeches shouldn’t be impromptu. Table Topics session is meant for that

Patting

·         To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations

o   For example, “Sadayappan… What an awful speech!? How many times should I tell you to improve your vocal variety? By the time you finished your speech the audience were all sleeping”

o   Rather, I can say, “Sadayappan… You have a great message in your script. All you need to do is just come up with a powerful conclusion. Also, I think your voice volume was a bit low when you said roar like a lion. See if you can raise your voice when you say, “Roar like a lion”. I enjoying mentoring you”    

Providing a constructive evaluation helps the toastmaster to understand their strengths and gives them extra motivation to work on their weaknesses.

Positivity

·         To help club maintain the positive friendly environment necessary for all members to learn and grow

·         To treat fellow club members and guests with respect and courtesy

o   Positivity in toastmasters isn’t there just in the evaluations, but on every aspect of toasmastering. Right from the time someone enters this hall, they’re greeted with cheer and enthusiasm.

o   Leaders in toastmasters try to capitalize on the strengths of individuals towards achieving common goals. Thus, impossibles become possible.

Promotion

·         To bring guests to club meetings so that they can see the benefits of Toastmasters membership

o   How many of you joined or attended toastmasters, because a friend said so. Raise your hands. Wonderful!? Let us not keep the treasure called toastmasters just for ourselves. Let us bring-in guests and other new people to the club, so that we can learn from each other.

Parliamentary

·         To serve the club as an officer when called upon to do so

o   Clubs do not run spontaneously. Each meeting requires planning, co-operation and plenty of team effort. If meeting participants are the movie stars the club officers are the directors. They act behind the screen for the members to have a wonderful learning experience. When the club needs your leadership, you can volunteer for that to sustain the momentum of the club.

·         To adhere to the guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters educational and recognition programs

·         To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters meetings

o   For those of you who might’ve watched the scenes in Assembly and Parliament, Toastmasters meetings are very different. There is high energy and enthusiasm, at the same time it maintains a high standard and there is a lot of discipline/decorum being maintained.

o   We don’t bribe the judges in contests. We maintain high levels of integrity when we play various roles.

I wrote a short poem to summarize our toastmaster’s promise:

I’m a toastmaster…             

I participate in meetings, but don’t precipitate

I’m always prepared, so I’m not afraid

I help others to perform, so that their skills can reform

I give everyone a pat, that’s the best way to get them to act

I’m a toastmaster …

I remain positive, even if my blood group is negative

I treat everyone fair, they being a guest or a DTM doesn’t matter

I’m ready to serve the club, because my heart says so with every single lub-tub

I’ll follow the rules, as it helps the club to reach its goals.

I’m a toastmaster!!!

You are what you eat

AC Gold - Humorous Speaker (Project II)
Leave them with a Smile
April 4th, 2011

Last week, I had been to Sadayappan’s house - he was rehearsing his modified contest speech.

If you want to be a monkey, eat bananas and insects

If you want to be a giraffe, eat shrubs, leaves and barks

If you want to be a buffalo, eat the movie posters

If you want to be a lion eat the monkey, giraffe, and buffalo

His little niece Aishu looking at his uncle doing the gymnastics… asked… Mama… If you want to be a human what should you eat? For a change, Sadayappan wasn’t puzzled on getting this googly from his 6 year old niece. He said “Aishu! Humans eat Chicken 65, deep fried aloo tikka, and double cheese burgers”. 

Good evening toastmasters and guests… If you eat a chicken, you’ll be a chicken… if you eat an animal, you’ll behave like an animal… if you eat a fried potato, you are sure to put on more weight. You are what you eat!!!

Some people are overweight due to heredity reasons and some have animal instincts by birth. I’m not going to address them. I’m going to talk to the remaining folks who chose to be overweight and who chose not to have control on what they eat.

When God originally created man, man was lean and fit. God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflower, spinach; with green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so man would live long and healthy. But, look at what man did using God's gifts;

God gave man healthy vegetables, nuts and olive oil to cook them. Man created deep-fried chicken 65, butter-dipped chicken popcorn. Boom… man's cholesterol went through the roof and started chocking his valves.

God gave potato, which is naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition. Man peeled off the healthy potato skin … sliced the starchy centre … added lots of salt and deep-fried them in animal fats to create French fries.  Boom… man became like a potato – fat and obese.

Think about how our life style and eating habits have changed in the last several decades. Rice, dhal and roti … GONE … Burgers with chicken patty ON.  Dosas are GONE… Pizzas are ON. Ice more and fruit juices GONE… Ice Creams and SODA… ON.

Our food habits not only made us unhealthy, but also forced us to be cruel to animals. My friend dragged me to McDonalds last week. After having our dinner, he was reading a newspaper. He saw the headline “Tiger enters a village and eats a farmer”.  He told me – “I feel bad for the farmer. How can an animal possibly prey on an innocent victim?” I looked him up and down and said “Explain your feelings to the chicken you had in the burger just now”. What is the difference between the tiger that ate the farmer and the man who kills animals to satisfy his appetite? 

Do you know – it takes 3 times more land, energy and water to feed a non-vegetarian when compared to feeding a vegetarian. Nearly 30% of Indians are without proper food and nutrition. Toastmasters are nice and kind people. Do you want to be cruel to the people who starve to death – because you are practicing a non-vegetarian diet?

At the end, a healthy body creates a sound mind. Eating healthy vegetarian food definitely helps you to live longer. Look at me now… I’m vegetarian for the last 10+ years and I’m healthy active and very energetic. Look at Ramesh Daswani who just looks like a college grad even at this age because of his healthy vegetarian diet.

I was doing my regular morning walk one day. I saw an old man rocking in his chair on the portico of his house. I couldn’t resist looking at the old man… he was short… but fat… his skin had wrinkles, hair was grey. The old man was happily reading a newspaper with his thick glasses.

I went to the old man and said "Sir! I couldn’t help noticing how happy you look. What’s your secret for a long happy life?"

"I smoke three packs of cigarettes a day," he said. "I also drink a case of whiskey a week, eat fatty foods, and never eat vegetables. Oh… I never exercise."

"Wow! You managed to live this long. So, how old are you?" I asked.
The man got off his chair … folded the newspaper and said... "I’m just twenty-six; I look very old because of what I eat".

I know you don’t want to be like that young man who looked like very old because of his unhealthy diet. I request all of you to eat a healthy vegetarian diet… because YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

Table Topics - Theme "Christmas"

If you are the Table Topics master for the Christmas special toastmasters meeting, you can get benefited by the questions listed here. This blog post has table topics questions that you can ask in your toastmasters meeting with the theme as "Christmas".

Also read: Table Topics - Theme "New Year"

1) What is your most memorable Christmas celebration?

2) Even today, I believe in Santa Claus because ...

3) I love getting gifts, but I hate buying it for others.

4) Why do you think we should not have a holiday for Christmas?

5) If you have an option to change the costume of Santa Claus, what would you do?

6) I'm jealous of Santa Clause because ...

7) Christmas reminds me the state of our economy, every year

8) I don't believe in buying things during Christmas Sale because ...

9) 5 things that you like to do during Christmas holidays.

10) Why do you think Christmas should be celebrated by everyone in this world?

11) Why do you like Christmas so much?

12) 5 reasons why we should not give gifts to others on Christmas.

13) Christmas holidays should be a month long

14) If you have unlimited money, what is one electronic gadget that you would buy for yourself? Why?

15) You get a phone call from Christ on the day of the Christmas. What would you ask him?

Also read: Table Topics - Theme "New Year"

Table Topics - Theme "New Year"

This blog post has table topics questions that you can ask in your toastmasters meeting with the theme as "New Year".  If you are the Table Topics master for the New Year special toastmasters meeting, you can get benefited by the questions listed here.

Also read: Table Topics - Theme "Christmas"

1) What is your most memorable new year celebration?

2) I love new year ! But, I hate the celebrations.

3) I hate taking new year resolutions because ...

4) What are the changes that you want to see in our country in the new year?

5) What are your new year resolutions?

6) What is the ONE new year resolution that you take every year?

7) 5 things that you would like to stop doing, starting this year?

8) New year resolutions are meant to be broken.

9) What if you got promoted to be the CEO of your company, this year? What would you do?

10) I love new year celebrations. I hate new year.

11) The BIG THING that is going to happen in your family in the new year.

12) If you are given the power to change the new years day (i.e., from January 1st to some other day), which day in the year would you choose?

13) I'm already perfect. I don't take new year resolutions.

14) Why do you think the world is going to come to an end, this year?

15) Every day is a new years day to me.

Also read: Table Topics - Theme "Christmas"

Table Topics - Theme "Independence Day"

This blog post has table topics questions that you can ask in your toastmasters meeting with the theme as "Independence Day".  If you are the Table Topics master for the Independence Day special toastmasters meeting, you can get benefited by the questions listed here.

Table Topics - Theme Independence Day 

1) What is your most memorable Independence day celebration?

2) What do you normally do during Independence day holidays?

3) Which is the most memorable trip that you took during the Independence day long weekend?

4) I wish we had not got Independence

5) The modern generation does not understand the power and value of Independence

6) What if our country has not received Independence?

7) If you were a leader who fought for Independence, what would you have done differently?

8) 5 mistakes that our country did post Independence

9) I love the movie "Independence day" much more than the actual "Independence day"

10) Who is your favorite national leader? Why?

11) Why would you not join politics?

12) Why should our youth take an active part in our country's politics?

13) Why should the country not declare holiday for Independence day?

14) Independence day celebrations should be month long. Not just a day or a couple of days.

15) I love to be a slave, than being independent?

16) We are slaves even post Independence.

17) If we are going to be slaves again, which country would you think will capture/control us?

18) Assuming that we are not a Independent country today, how do you think the modern Independence

day struggle would be?

19) Today, we are Independently Interdependent.

20) Women has not still received Independence from the male dominated society. You can talk for or

against this topic.

21) Why do you think Independence day celebrations are not environment friendly.

Table Topics - Theme "Memorial Day" or "Flag Day" or "Defender of the Fatherland Day"

"Memorial Day" or "Flag Day" or "Defender of the Fatherland Day" - The day may have many names. But, the purpose is the same. To thank the heroes who protect us, protected us and are protecting us. 

The following are some table topics that can be used in toastmasters meetings with the theme as "Memorial Day" (USA) or "Flag Day" (India) or "Defender of the Fatherland Day" (Russia)

1) If you have unlimited sum of money, which job would you like to do?

2) What do you normally do for Labor Day weekend?

3) If you are given an option to join our army, will you take the offer? Why or Why not?

4) I'm proud of my army men, because ...

5) If your son/daughter wants to join the army, will you allow them? Why or Why not?

6) Should we spend more money on the army? Why or Why not?

7) Quote: War does not determine who is right - only who is left. - Bertrand Russell 

8) Quote: If we don't end war, war will end us.  - H. G. Wells 

9) Quote: In peace, sons bury their fathers. In war, fathers bury their sons. - Herodotus 

10) Quote: The best weapon against an enemy is another enemy.  - Friedrich Nietzsche 

11) Quote: Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.  - John F. Kennedy 

12) Quote: Only the dead have seen the end of the war. - George Santayana 

13) You don't have to be really part of the army to serve the nation.

14) Who is your hero in life? Why?

15) If you would want to be a real hero? Who would that be?