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6 Appearance Tweaks for Public Speakers That Make a Lasting Impression

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Public speaking is as much about how you look as it is about what you say. Your appearance communicates credibility, professionalism, and confidence before you even utter a word. Research shows that audiences form first impressions within seven seconds of seeing a speaker, and 55% of communication impact comes from body language and appearance rather than verbal content.

Whether you’re delivering a keynote address, presenting to clients, or speaking at a conference, small adjustments to your appearance can significantly enhance your stage presence and audience connection. Here are six practical tweaks that will help you command attention and project authority from the moment you step into the spotlight.

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Ridgewood Toastmasters 60th Anniversary Celebration!

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photo courtesy of Ridgewood Toastmasters

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, Ridgewood Toastmasters has been around since May 1958 and on June 26th we held our celebration dinner at the Unitarian Society, our home for 30 of those 60 years. Past Club President and current member John Citti served as Toastmaster for the evening. Another past President, Diane Weiss, kicked off the festivities with an invocation. After dinner there was, of course, Table Topics, led by Keith Lazarus. The keynote speech was presented by David Romanchick, a six-time winner of District 46 and District 83 contests who placed second in the 2000 World Championship of Public Speaking. The Toastmaster of the Year award was presented to Akhil Kumar and a special Certificate of Appreciation was given to James Sutherland for his many years of service and mentoring.

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Ridgewood Toastmasters International group opens lines of communication

gable heflin cooper stewart 1957

 

Ridgewood Toastmasters International group opens lines of communication

OCTOBER 1, 2014    LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014, 10:10 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS

The topic was “excellence.”

Speakers had one minute to give an impromptu speech on the subject, guided only by a famous quote.

After his name was pulled randomly from a jar, one young man wearing running shorts got up nervously to the podium in the front of nearly 30 other people, of all ages, sitting in a back room of The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood last Tuesday night.

Mahwah resident Joseph Liberatore, a personal trainer who was only at his second Ridgewood Toastmasters meeting, silently re-read the Greek poet Hesiod’s quote about “badness.”

“Badness you can get easily, in quantity; the road is smooth, and it lies close by, but in front of excellence the immortal gods have put sweat, and long and steep is the way to it.”

“When you’re sitting alone, and you’re just trying to think of nothing, bad thoughts can stream into your mind…” he began.

By the time he was done, with the ding of a bell – 1 minute and 23 seconds later – he leaned over, laughed and breathed a sigh of relief.

“Jitters,” he said, as he walked back to his seat.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/community-news/group-opens-lines-of-communication-1.1099947#sthash.bvJZnWac.dpuf