The Workshop Library
The workshops showcased below fall under the following four categories:
- Club Success
- Speaker Success
- Leadership
- Personal/Professional Development
The presenters are happy to present live at your location for an enriching interactive experience. If you wish to review a recording, where available, we have provided a link to a recording of the workshop.
Inquires about booking a workshop should be sent to Shubha Amba at workshops@toastmasters60.com
Club Success
Grow Your Membership
Membership is the life blood of any Toastmasters Club. Discover tips and techniques in attracting and converting guests to members. In this workshop, Carrie Webster will share her wisdom and knowledge in growing club membership. The session will include:
- Marketing strategies for corporate clubs
- Marketing strategies for community clubs
- Strategies for enhancing the quality of club meetings to demonstrate the value of Toastmasters to guests and retain existing members
- Guest followup and finding their “why”
Presenter: Carrie Webster, DTM is an avid Toastmaster who is passionate about helping clubs grow their membership. She has been a member in the Corporate environment for over 4 years, coached a Community club to the highest level of distinction, run training seminars for non-Toastmasters and held leadership positions in clubs and at the District level.
Defining Your Club Brand: Key to Growing Your Membership
In today’s climate, Toastmaster clubs require an enhanced online presence to attract guests and convert new members. Yet, most clubs are challenged to define exactly what their club’s brand is. An added challenge is how to create a distinct club identity while staying consistent with Toastmasters International guidelines. This interactive workshop assists clubs in defining their brand and identifying what makes their club unique. You will be in a better position to improve your club’s website and marketing efforts. Get prepared to promote the true nature of your cherished TM club.
Outcomes:
- Understand the difference between Toastmasters and club branding.
- Identify your club’s unique value proposition.
- Define a strong club brand that attracts guests and new members.
- Apply the above understanding to create a compelling club website.
Presenter: Roman Smolak, DTM has delivered over a dozen VP Public Relations related executive training sessions and participated on a D60 Public Relations guidelines committee. The committee released the District60 PR Guide, an excellent aid for building a club marketing program. View this related video: Toastmasters Club Website Design, Branding and Marketing – YouTube
Speaker Success
The Secrets of Super Evaluations
Ever feel hesitant to volunteer to be a speech evaluator? Not quite sure how to go about putting together your thoughts to provide a meaningful, motivational and measured evaluation? Attend this workshop and learn the fundamentals of creating and delivering a powerful effective evaluation that will help a speaker achieve their full potential while upping the quality of your club as speakers become more and more proficient.
Streamline Your Speech Delivery – It’s Not What You Say, It’s the Way You Say It!
Now and into the future, with so many distractions, it is even more important to get your ideas, your theme and content to connect with your intended audience. Through the tips presented in this workshop, and with patient preparation, you will learn:
- To enhance your vocal variety
- Good breathing and posture
- Intentional pausing, enunciation, and much more
In this workshop you will receive a set of guidelines through which you will be able to put your newfound skills to work practically overnight.
Presenter: Brian Master, PM3 is a long-time radio announcer with over 50,000 hours of on-air experience and in-person hosting. He is also an experienced event emcee for a wide range of audiences from 10 to 25,000. Brian joined Toastmasters in April 2016.
Speech Building Workshop
This workshop is a hands-on training session teaching members how to develop an idea for a speech, flesh it out and be ready to present at their next meeting, all within 30 minutes. By the end of this session, participants will have completed the outline for their next speech!
One club raves: “It was such an excellent session: well planned and executed. We have gotten fantastic feedback on its relevance and practicality for the participants.”
Presenter: Cate Posner, DL4, MS5: At the urging of her manager, Cate Posner, a Senior Compliance Analyst at Foresters Financial, checked out Toastmasters and has never looked back. Cate has been a club officer trainer, speech contestant, Speechcraft and Youth Leadership program facilitator, Club Coach, Club Mentor, and Area Director. After participating in a “Train the Trainer” district workshop by Roman Smolak, Cate turned her attention to being a workshop presenter. In 2021-22 Cate was honoured as District 60’s Toastmaster of the Year.
To view a recording of Cate’s workshop click here.
Connect to Communicate
When you speak to an audience, are you “connecting” or merely communicating? Through this workshop, Connect to Communicate, learn how to project confidence and radiate warmth; discover the importance of analyzing the audience’s specific needs and why this approach works.
Participants will learn the benefits of “connecting” with their audience before, during and after their speech and why conducting an “AUDIENCE ANALYSIS” is the first order of business when a speaking opportunity arises. Attendees will also see why the following statement, “connections create credibility” is a proven public speaking principle.
Presenter: Harry Ansara, DTM, is an outstanding speaker, keynote presenter, workshop leader and highly respected member of our organization since 1991. He has won numerous speech contests in Districts 60 and 86. He has earned a solid reputation for delivering unforgettable speeches.
Just Talk to Me – A Conversational Style of Speaking
Learn a practical technique to transition from memorizing your script to a conversational style of speaking. Justin proposes to change the way you write, practice and present a speech. With practice, this technique reduces preparation time, improves the quality of your speech and reduces word-for-word memorization.
Presenter: Facilitated by Justin Edenbaum, P Eng., ACB ALB. Justin is a 15-year plus veteran of Toastmasters. He has competed in district-level speech contests and is in demand by clubs and district conferences as a workshop presenter.
Dishing on Diction – Cooking up Analogies for Interest & Impact
Increasingly, we are presenting in a hybrid setting where you don’t get to use a lot of gestures and there are plenty of distractions. As presenters, we don’t always get to dictate the delivery mode. Make sure your message doesn’t get lost between email notifications, DMs, and pop-ups by carefully selecting the right words. Cut through the clutter and wake your audience up by cooking up an analogy to make your message interesting, memorable, and impactful.
By the end of this informative and interactive session, attendees will
- Learn the principles of word choice
- Understand how the proven formula works to spice up any bland narratives with everyday examples, and
- Craft an analogy for maximum impact by following a tried-and-true recipe
Presenter: Janice Law, DTM embraced Toastmasters shortly after she graduated from Toronto Metropolitan University Interior Design program in 2004. When she is not actually designing, she is talking about design. Underpinning all these activities is her ability to articulate her design vision vividly and connect with her project stakeholders – in person or over Zoom – in a mixed audience setting. She credits Toastmasters for sharpening her presentations, honing her active listening skills and developing leadership abilities. She is known as a dynamic presenter with infectious energy and a natural sense of humour. Janice is a veteran member at Grosvenor Toastmasters, a high-caliber hybrid community club rooted in Toronto and facing the world. As a wordsmith and an alliteration addict, her favourite role and segment in a Toastmasters meeting are Grammarian and Word of the Day.
Your Gift – Effective Evaluations that Empower Speakers
Learn how to develop the sensitivity necessary to prepare and deliver effective speech evaluations, plus offer specific suggestions for improvement along with healthy doses of encouragement to help the speaker build courage and self-esteem. A 1-hour workshop.
Tick Tock – Creating a Speech Introduction
A great introduction sets the speaker up for success and builds anticipation in the audience. Learn a fool-proof method for crafting an effective introduction that connects you with the audience, establishes your credibility on the speech topic and conveys how the audience will benefit from your message. A 1-hour workshop.
Presenter: Facilitated by Distinguished Toastmaster, Karen Goodyear. Karen is a 26-year, award-winning Toastmasters veteran. She is a dedicated servant leader who has supported clubs, areas, divisions and District 60 in numerous capacities. She is an accomplished speaker, trainer and workshop presenter. In 2016, Karen received the prestigious George Keenan Award in honour of her longstanding commitment to the club and member success.
Using Proven Structures for Effective Impromptu Responses
Through his workshop, Michel will share three approaches to start, and seven structures or techniques to coherently frame responses to impromptu speaking situations. Michel will explain each approach and structure and will provide concrete response examples for each structure. The participant will have the opportunity to practice the technique in a mini table topic format.
Presenter: Michel Adedokun is a member of Blossoming Voices and SFEAT. He is a seasoned Toastmaster with over six years’ experience delivering speeches and taking leadership roles. Toastmasters has helped Michel overcome his fear of public speaking and improve his communication skills. He is the Past President of Blossoming Voices and the current Director for Area D43.
Micro Storytelling for Effective Virtual Training
As Toastmasters, we can apply our storytelling capabilities to create successful workshops. The key is to incorporate aspects of the story into a micro story, in order to interact with your participants. The micro story encourages communications, visualization, helps to internalize the learning, and keeps the focus on end-user value.
In this interactive workshop, you will learn proven techniques for delivering engaging virtual training sessions:
- How to use micro stories to develop interesting workshop training.
- Utilize story visualization for crafting mental and emotional scenarios.
- How to identify the basic structure of emotionally laden stories.
- Apply micro story scenarios for effective interaction with participants.
Adapt micro storytelling for improved facilitation and learning outcomes.
Presenter: Roman Smolak, DTM. Roman joined Toastmasters in 2006 and is an active trainer and workshop presenter. He has created and delivered over 30 workshops, including presentations at ten D60 Conferences. For 22 years, Roman was an account manager selling software technology to Fortune 500 companies in Canada and the USA.
To review a video recording of Roman’s workshop click here.
10 Comedy Tips to Influence Any Audience
Become a funny, confident speaker with amazing presentation skills in front of clients, colleagues and executives!
Presenter: Stephan Dyer, DTM: is a bilingual, award-winning stand up comedian with 400+ shows in 8 countries including Peru, Mexico and Malaysia. In 2017, after becoming one of the youngest senior managers at Scotiabank Toronto, he quit his lucrative bank job to pursue his professional careers in stand up comedy. Since then he’s appeared on Comedy Central, TEDx Talks, The Second City and some of the world’s biggest comedy festivals. He is also the proud co-founder of MalPensando, a Toronto-based bilingual public speaking and comedy school (English, Spanish) that has empowered thousands of professionals to become funny, confident speakers. Stehpan has taught hundreds of workshops in 5 countries with extraordinary results.
To review a video recording of Stephan’s workshop click here.
Leadership
“I Love Working With You!” The Leadership Trinity Applied
Learn crucial leadership techniques that will help your team work more effectively together. Your team will learn, grow and perform at their best … leading to outstanding results.
Presenter: Facilitated by George Anastasopoulos, a 20-year business veteran in senior sales, marketing, and general management. His experience includes developing superior employees and empowered teams in high-profile roles with Pepsi-Cola, General Mills, and Bausch & Lomb
Tools and Updates for Virtual Meetings
If your meetings are the same as before COVID, you are not running effective meetings. This workshop teaches attendees new tools and techniques to lead better virtual business meetings. Steps include preparing an agenda in the cloud, tools to use during the meeting, and how to prepare meeting notes and action items after the meeting.
Presenter: Justin Edenbaum, DTM has been an engineer and toastmaster for 20 years. As an engineer, he has attended many meetings. Out of total frustration from sitting or leading through too many boring meetings that lacked purpose and direction, he undertook the challenge to research how to conduct meetings properly. A workshop incorporating this research, “Lead Productive Business Meetings,” has been presented 15 times at multiple Toastmaster events, RBC, Professional Engineers Ontario, and Apotex. Then COVID hit. Justin went back to research best-practices for virtual meetings. While the same fundamentals still apply, this workshop incorporates tips and tools for “Planning an effective virtual meeting”. Note: This workshop focuses on business meetings, not club meetings for Toastmasters.
To review a recording of Justin’s workshop click here.
Lead Well. Lead Right.
Leadership is not about you. It’s about us. It’s about dreams and achievements. It’s about direction and progression. A leader must know the way, go the way and show the way.
Presenter: Facilitated by Shukla Datta, DTM. Shukla is a coach, trainer and motivational speaker with over 20 years’ experience in conducting workshops in various countries. She has authored three books, obtained a master’s degree from Sheffield University, U.K and taught Economics, Business Studies, and Life Skills.
Leading in a Volunteer Organization
Leading in a volunteer organization is a very fulfilling experience. However, there are different skills required to lead in a volunteer organization and the importance of recognition and reward in motivating volunteers. Through his workshop, Dinesh will share how leading in a volunteer organization helps individuals build skills that enable them to bring together different aspects of life.
Presenter: Dinesh Sharma is a Relationship Builder and a Change Agent. As a Human Resources Leader with more than 25 years of global corporate experience, Dinesh has worked both in India and North America. One of Dinesh’s benchmarks of success is his community work. He believes in life-long learning and sharing his knowledge with other professionals in the industry. He has helped a number of skilled immigrants settle in the country. The work Dinesh does in the community has been awarded numerous awards and has
earned him recognition as an emerging community leader.
Working in a Team Environment
Today in business and Toastmasters, people are talking about teams. The days of the directive or authoritarian-style leader where the boss tells everyone what to do are fast disappearing. They are being replaced by team environments, where each member knows they are part of something bigger than the individuals involved. People working in a team environment determine goals and plan and share the work. This interactive workshop will focus on the three keys of a successful team – Communication, Collaboration and Commitment.
Presenter: Wendy Williamson, DTM, has honed her team development skills during a 20-year career as an executive account manager with a global financial software company and during her eight years of D60 leadership. During her 12 years in Toastmasters, she has led many successful teams including her roles as Club Growth Director, Program Quality Director and District Director. Wendy is a trainer, coach and facilitator of public speaking programs for youths.
Personal/Professional Development
Kaizen – Continuous Improvement, a Japanese Way to Improve Processes
Learn how to improve your professional and personal success. With this workshop participants will: 1) be able to identify future steps to improve or increase the success of their personnel and business goals; 2) learn and understand the KAIZEN Methodology; 3) increase job success; 4) increase customer satisfaction, and; 5) learn what how to influence one’s career in positive ways. Find out how to apply KAIZEN in your everyday life. No matter what you do, success is guaranteed.
To review a video recording of Azhar’s workshop click here.
KAIZEN – The Japanese Secret to Lasting Change
Through his workshop, KAIZEN – The Japanese Secret to Lasting Change, learn how to improve professional and personal success. With this workshop participants will be able to identify future steps to improve or increase the success of their personnel and business goal:
- Learn and understand the KAIZEN Methodology
- Increase job success
- Increase customer satisfaction, and
- Learn how to influence one’s career in positive ways
Presenter:Azhar Khan, DTM, is a Kaizen Coach and Consultant since 2001 who has implemented Kaizen Methodology in many corporations including Toyota, Lexus, Amazon, FCA and Bombardier. A Toastmaster since 2012, he has and continues to hold leadership roles at the Club, Area and Division levels and in the Youth
Leadership Program. In addition to travelling, Azhar’s hobbies include listening to music, photography, research on history, and community service. He holds a Master’s in Economics, Project Management, BS Computer Science and Bachelor’s in Business.
Getting to Yes – The Art Of Successful Negotiation
Explore key points related to negotiation, encourage the use of research and empathy to understand the competing viewpoints and demonstrate effective methods of coming up with alternate solutions when negotiations come to a stand-still.
Presenter: David Bachan, DTM. District 60’s Logistics Manager 2022/23, David is a member of the FRMT team negotiating use of domed spaces within Toronto. As a Riverdale resident, he is negotiating with Metrolinx to add new train lines along the east-west corridor.
Power of Networking & Relationship Building
In North America, Networking & Relationship Building plays a very important role. Most of the work is done by Trust & with Relationship. Even for jobs, 80% of the jobs are in the hidden job market. However, doing effective networking & building an effective relationship is a skill, which many people are not aware of. It can be learned through some simple steps.
Presenter: Dinesh Sharma: Considered one of the biggest Relationship Builders in the industry, is an Author / Speaker & Inspirational HR Leader with more than 25 years of global HR experience in North America & India. He is a Relationship Builder and a Change Agent, and one of Dinesh’s benchmarks of success is his community work. Dinesh has organized more than 15 webinars to help new Canadians learn the skills necessary to successfully integrate into Canadian culture and build their career in Canada. The webinars have been attended by 700+ session attendees, and recently one of his companies was awarded a community service award by the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC).
To review a video recording of Dinesh’s workshop click here.
Do Less, Accomplish More, Make a Difference!
Want to do less, accomplish more and make a difference? We’ll give you the power, voice, and tools to:
- Sculpt work relationships with your manager and colleagues producing outstanding outcomes
- Love your work and who you do it with
- Collaborate more effectively and impact those you work with
To review a video recording of George’s workshop click here.
Presenter: George Anastasopoulos makes a difference with people who want to make a difference. His clients become influential leaders, perform at their best, build championship teams, produce superior results, and reach their goals; because he helps them do less, accomplish more and make a difference. George has taught at the University of Toronto and Schulich Executive Education Centre, is an ACC credentialed Coach with the International Coach Federation, a Certified Sales Leader with the Canadian Professional Sales Association, a Certified Analyst with Thomas International on a variety of assessment tools, and a veteran business operator with a 20-year corporate career in senior sales, marketing and general management roles. Most of George’s clients are senior managers, executives and business owners across a variety of industries.
George brings fun, flare, and passion as a storyteller with poignant insights, and anecdotes.
YOU Are the Solution
YOU Are the Solution will help you transform yourself and those around you, to love what you do, and who you do it with. Rediscover the joy and fulfillment in your work. George will give you some practical tools to take action, to build transformative relationships, to become a great leader.
Presenter: As Head Coach at Leadership Fundamentals, George Anastasopoulos’ mission is to enable every manager and employee to accomplish more while doing less, and make a difference. Ever the contrarian, George refuses to accept “that’s the way it is.” He is dedicated to serving others, to helping them transform from manager to leader, and to creating workplaces where people love their work and who they do it with.
George is the author of I LOVE MONDAYS: Accomplish more, make a difference, and create a culture shift. He is a long-term Toastmaster and member of Albany Club Toastmasters. He’s taught at the U. Toronto and Schulich Executive Education Centre, is a Professional Certified Coach, a Certified Sales Leader,
and a veteran business operator with a 20-year corporate career.
Near, Far, Wherever You Are – Communicate with confidence and impact, in-person and on-screen
Effective communication is essential in today’s hybrid job market as more and more companies are shifting towards a mix of virtual and in-person interactions. By developing the ability to communicate effectively in both settings, individuals will better equip themselves to navigate the new and rapidly changing business landscape with confidence, impact and increase their chances to successfully “Chart” their future.
In this interactive session you will learn the 4 essential strategies that will enable you to approach all your live and online interactions with confidence and impact.
Presenter: John Godoy, DTM: John Godoy is an experienced speaker, trainer, and entrepreneur who combines insights from a diverse 20-year career spanning 6 countries and 8 industries to empower individuals to succeed and make a positive impact in their communities. John speaks on the topics of confidence, communication, executive presence, creativity, and resilience. By blending Eastern wisdom, healthy lifestyle, and entrepreneurial practicality, John strives to empower his audiences to get the most out of their personal and professional lives.
Your Best Interview: How Storytelling Techniques Can Make You the #1 Candidate
‘What is the successful narrative for a promotion or new employment opportunity? Participants will learn how to present professional assets and personal attributes in an informative story that meets the three criteria on every employer’s list.
Presenter: Marenca Kherani, DTM: Founder and President of an executive search firm, Marenca has coached hundreds of clients for job interviews in the areas of senior management, human resources, finance, law, information technology, marketing and sales. Recognized by National Personnel Associates (a global network of over 200 firms): ‘Hall of Fame’, Top Canadian Consultant, Three Times Quota Achiever, Regional Revenue Producer, Counseling Excellence. Marenca combines her expertise in the employment market with ten years of Toastmasters story telling experience to develop masterful, winning interview narratives.
To review a video recording of Marenca’s workshop click here.
Seven Steps for Mentee Success – Learn how to be your mentor’s preferred mentee!
Mentoring is a means to quickly learn and develop new skills that will boost your career. Many organizations including Toastmasters offer mentoring opportunities to help their members improve or quickly develop new skills. While some members take advantage of those opportunities, others face challenges that hinder the relationship and the learning opportunity. The most common challenges are lack of structure or focus, unmet expectations, lack of commitment from either party, overdependence, or incompatibility.
This workshop will help you develop seven steps to proactively manage mentoring relations to meet your expectations and achieve your goals. You will learn about:
- Mentoring and the benefit of having a mentor
- The attitudes of good mentees, and
- Seven steps to “manage up” a mentor, and make the most of the mentoring relationship
Presenter: Michel ADedokun, DTM is a member of Blossoming Voices and SFEAT. He is a seasoned Toastmaster with over six years of experience delivering speeches and taking leadership roles. Toastmasters has helped Michel with personal and professional development. He is the Past President of Blossoming Voices, past Director for Area D43, and current Finance Manager for district 60.
A Toastmaster’s Guide to Publishing Your Book!
Rob’s online workshop is designed for Toastmasters and gives participants readily implementable advice as to how they can write, publish, and promote their very own book of which they will be proud. Specifically, Rob will address:
- Why to write a book
- What to write a book about
- How to write a book
- When to write a book
- Who to help you
Presenter: Rob Peck, DTM, has seventy-six years of life experience and over forty years of Toastmasters experience. He is a DTM, a past President of three different Toastmasters clubs, a past Area Director, and a past Division Director. Born in Toronto, raised in Canada, Guyana, England, and Switzerland, and trained as an engineer, Rob is married to Julia, is a father of four, and a grandfather of nine. He worked 34 years as a banker and retired at 59 to concentrate on the important things in life: family, church, and Toastmasters
Hero’s Journey: An Adventure Story Arc
Adventures begin with the awareness of a gap between what IS and what could BE. Many stories, myths, and movies are based on how a hero subject sets out on a quest, full of challenges and obstacles, in pursuit of a higher consciousness. Joseph Campbell described this mission as a Hero’s Journey. In the end, the Hero returns to their ordinary life with fabulous insights and wisdom. Participate in this adventurous workshop and return with new powers to map your personal journey story of success.
Outcomes:
- Understand the standard formula for story development.
- Learn how to map your inner/outer journeys.
- Identify how challenges, obstructions and limited beliefs prevent progress.
- Uncover methods for transformation and personal growth.
- Experience the practical application of Joseph Campbell’s Hero’s Journey.
Presenter: Roman Smolak, DTM. Roman joined Toastmasters in 2006 and is an active trainer and workshop presenter. He shares reflections from his own Hero’s Workshop Journey in numerous D60 training and Conference sessions. Roman completed his Master’s Certificate in Adult Training, from the York University’s Schulich School of Business.
Master Your Power Tool for Success
Everyone has goals, be it to lose weight, start a new business or spend more time with family. Yet, only 1 of 10 people will be successful in achieving them while the rest will not. You would know where you stand from how well you keep your New Year’s resolutions, right?
The truth is that it is not you who gives up, it is your brain that does. Why not understand it better so that you work with it, not against it?
The brain is truly a power tool to be used properly. By attending this workshop, you will learn about the three ways in which you can master your brain and pursue your goals successfully.
To review a recording of Shubha’s workshop click here.
SEE Your Way to Success – Learn a powerful visual strategy that keeps you moving towards your goal
We all have goals we want to reach whether it is writing a book, starting a business or being the best leader possible. Yet, 9 of 10 will not succeed according to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. The effort involved can be disheartening causing you to give up, leaving you feeling unworthy. But there is a power that lies in your eyes which, if you use to SEE your way to towards your goals – literally, will keep you moving towards your goals automatically.
In this workshop, you will learn about:
- The power that lies in your eyes that propels you to act
- Three things necessary to see in your goal pursuit journey
- How to apply a visual strategy that keeps you moving towards your goals
You will learn to create a visual plan that is fun to follow, substantially improving your chances of success.
Presenter: Shubha Amba, DTM: Shubha has a Master of Arts in Psychology who is keenly interested in behaviour change. Passionate about success, she firmly believes that everyone is capable of success. She is eager about sharing her knowledge with her audience to inspire them to release their inherent greatness. Author, writer and poet, Shubha has participated in multiple anthologies. Her interests also include dabbling in art, nature trips and keeping abreast of developments in neuroscience as it relates to behaviour and change.
Crack Your Excellence Code: Be All You Can Be
Do you want to:
– Live a life of excellence?
– Imagine the possibilities of a limitless life?
Attend this workshop to:
– Discover the impact of excellence in all levels of your life.
– Learn techniques to master self-management.
– Craft the right strategy to achieve excellence and be unlimited.
Presenter: Shukla Datta, DTM: A coach, trainer, author and a motivational speaker with over 20 years of experience in teaching, training and conducting workshops. She has a Master’s degree from Sheffield University, U.K and has taught Economics, Business Studies, and life skills. Her motivational book “LIVE LIFE LIKE NEVER BEFORE” and newly published “The MOJO of Relationships” have received enormous positive feedback from readers. As a passionate Toastmaster, she has visited TM clubs in many countries, taken roles in many TMI Conferences and has inspired toastmasters world-wide.
To review a recording of Shukla’s workshop click here.
