A few times during the year, I give continuing education workshops through the Massachusetts Library System or the Connecticut State Library. They are generally on cataloging topics such as RDA (the new cataloging standard), MARC (the encoding scheme used in libraries), the Dewey Decimal System (do I really need to explain it?), or similar topics about which practicing library staff need to know.
But I have mixed feelings about them.
The cons:
They are a lot of work. If the topic is new or has changed a lot since I last presented, it takes a lot of time and research to put together or revise a 3 hour program.
Presenting requires a lot of energy. If I'm giving 2 workshops on the same day or one that lasts all day, and especially if I have to drive any distance, I'm wiped out for the next couple of days.
The pros:
They pay well.
There is a lot of ego gratification.
During the workshop I'm energized and feel great. Adrenaline is a wonderful thing.
For the last few years, I've been thinking that this will be my last year of Continuing Education; I'll take in my shingle and spend more time relaxing (or cleaning house). And then I get a call or an email asking if I can give a workshop on Copy Cataloging or another topic.
But something has changed.
Next week I'm scheduled to present a program on Public Speaking for Librarians and I'm REALLY PSYCHED! I'm actually enjoying reading (or re-reading) books on public speaking. And watching TED talks. And reviewing my notes. And making revisions. And thinking about examples. Maybe it's the topic.
All I know is that I'm really happy to be doing this. No mixed feelings whatsoever. And the euphoria is spilling into other aspects of my life. While I always like leading the senior exercise class, this morning I could hardly wait to get to the Town Hall and begin. I felt great! I'm still feeling great.
Watch out world. HERE I COME!
Showing posts with label public speaking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label public speaking. Show all posts
Friday, August 4, 2017
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Serious Reading
In a few weeks I'll be giving a workshop at the Connecticut State Library (Middletown Service Center) on Public Speaking for Librarians.
One may think that Catalogers (who famously sit in a back room and do not interact with The Public) don't need to spend time developing such a skill. In my opinion, ALL librarians - in fact, ALL people - need good public speaking skills. It's a requirement for a professional image and librarians always need a boost in that area.
Public Speaking has been a vital part of my career and I want to encourage any librarian (or anyone else) to become more comfortable giving presentations to groups of people.
Here's what good Public Speaking skills can do for you:
1. Develop self-confidence
2. Project a professional image
3. Help communicate more clearly
4. Build a reputation
5. Show you care about an issue
The books I've been reading (and re-reading) in preparation are
Public Speaking for Success by Dale Carnegie. This is a classic and one I always recommend. Fortunately it's been revised (the previous title was Public Speaking: a Practical Course for Business Men).
The Elements of Speechwriting and Public Speaking by Jeff Scott Cook. I really like the way this book is structured. It spends a lot of time talking about preparation before moving on to presentation and I've structured my workshop similarly.
TED Talks: the Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson. This is a new book for me and I have mixed feelings about it. It began rather slowly and I considered not continuing with it. Nevertheless, I persisted and it did get better, more interesting and I found some useful information that was not included in the other books. Then, it began to bog down; I thought there were too many examples and not much difference among them. Again, I considered not continuing with it. But the last couple of chapters were the best and were really worth reading.
Recommended in the book is a talk by Julian Treasure called "How to Speak so That People Want to Listen". It is really worth viewing and I'm considering showing it to the workshop participants.
While the average librarian my not ever make it to a TED conference, anyone can attend a Toastmasters meeting. I was a member for several years and Toastmasters definitely helped me improve my Public Speaking skills even though I was pretty well experienced by then. I think the best thing about Toastmasters (like TED) is that there are people with lots of different backgrounds, not just librarians.
The "Public Speaking" I usually do involves presentations of technical information to catalogers. Toastmasters provided me with an opportunity to broaden my skills by giving speeches on a variety of topics and in a variety of styles.
I began attending meetings when I was "between jobs" hoping to make contacts and perhaps launch a somewhat different career. That didn't quite happen, but it did give me another workshop to add to my repertoire.
One may think that Catalogers (who famously sit in a back room and do not interact with The Public) don't need to spend time developing such a skill. In my opinion, ALL librarians - in fact, ALL people - need good public speaking skills. It's a requirement for a professional image and librarians always need a boost in that area.
Public Speaking has been a vital part of my career and I want to encourage any librarian (or anyone else) to become more comfortable giving presentations to groups of people.
Here's what good Public Speaking skills can do for you:
1. Develop self-confidence
2. Project a professional image
3. Help communicate more clearly
4. Build a reputation
5. Show you care about an issue
The books I've been reading (and re-reading) in preparation are
Public Speaking for Success by Dale Carnegie. This is a classic and one I always recommend. Fortunately it's been revised (the previous title was Public Speaking: a Practical Course for Business Men).
The Elements of Speechwriting and Public Speaking by Jeff Scott Cook. I really like the way this book is structured. It spends a lot of time talking about preparation before moving on to presentation and I've structured my workshop similarly.
TED Talks: the Official TED Guide to Public Speaking by Chris Anderson. This is a new book for me and I have mixed feelings about it. It began rather slowly and I considered not continuing with it. Nevertheless, I persisted and it did get better, more interesting and I found some useful information that was not included in the other books. Then, it began to bog down; I thought there were too many examples and not much difference among them. Again, I considered not continuing with it. But the last couple of chapters were the best and were really worth reading.
Recommended in the book is a talk by Julian Treasure called "How to Speak so That People Want to Listen". It is really worth viewing and I'm considering showing it to the workshop participants.
While the average librarian my not ever make it to a TED conference, anyone can attend a Toastmasters meeting. I was a member for several years and Toastmasters definitely helped me improve my Public Speaking skills even though I was pretty well experienced by then. I think the best thing about Toastmasters (like TED) is that there are people with lots of different backgrounds, not just librarians.
The "Public Speaking" I usually do involves presentations of technical information to catalogers. Toastmasters provided me with an opportunity to broaden my skills by giving speeches on a variety of topics and in a variety of styles.
I began attending meetings when I was "between jobs" hoping to make contacts and perhaps launch a somewhat different career. That didn't quite happen, but it did give me another workshop to add to my repertoire.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Enjoying Life
I wish I could say I haven't posted recently because I've been so incredibly busy. In fact, I've been incredibly lazy. I could get used to this lifestyle. I have been reading a lot. I finished Sue Grafton's latest book U is for Undertow.
The Hatfield Public Library has done lots of much needed weeding in the last year. For some reason, Fanny Flagg's first book, Coming Attractions, was missed and I'm glad. It's old and in rough shape but I checked it out anyway. I love all the books I've read by Fanny Flagg. Remember Fried Green Tomatoes? The term that comes to mind most often is "feel good" and this one was no exception. It's funny, witty, thought-provoking and the characters are worthy of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaason and yet totally believable and unique.
Simultaneously I'm still reading Change Your Brain, Change Your Body. I just finished the chapter on stress which I found valuable although learned nothing new. Dr. Amen does include laughter as a stress reducer. Reading Janet Evanovich, Carl Hiaason and Fanny Flagg helps with that.
Now I'm reading the chapter on memory and the fact that, like muscles in your body, your brain deteriorates if you don't stimulate it. A lazy brain increases your chances of memory loss and also dementia as you age. I had intended to use this free time to improve my computer skills which would enhance my resume. Now I have more reason to do so.
Last week, I attended a Toastmasters meeting. I used to be a member of the Northampton club, Speakeasy, but after several productive years I reached the point where I knew I was going to have to put a lot more work into my speaches in order to improve. And at that time, I just didn't feel like it. Rather than attend meetings and languish, I chose to terminate my membership. I've thought about going back and this is a good time. In addition to getting me out of the house and socializing, attending Toastmasters meetings is a good opportunity to network and improve my public speaking skills. Good public speaking is an asset in so many ways: giving reports at a meeting, speaking at Town Meeting, giving a presentation at a conference, etc. And even if you don't do any of those things, just being able to get up in front of a group of people and speak knowledgeably on a subject is a great way to develop self-confidence. Having good public speaking skills helps to project a polished and professional demeanor - definitely an asset in job hunting.
And it 's great exercise for the brain.
The Hatfield Public Library has done lots of much needed weeding in the last year. For some reason, Fanny Flagg's first book, Coming Attractions, was missed and I'm glad. It's old and in rough shape but I checked it out anyway. I love all the books I've read by Fanny Flagg. Remember Fried Green Tomatoes? The term that comes to mind most often is "feel good" and this one was no exception. It's funny, witty, thought-provoking and the characters are worthy of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaason and yet totally believable and unique.
Simultaneously I'm still reading Change Your Brain, Change Your Body. I just finished the chapter on stress which I found valuable although learned nothing new. Dr. Amen does include laughter as a stress reducer. Reading Janet Evanovich, Carl Hiaason and Fanny Flagg helps with that.
Now I'm reading the chapter on memory and the fact that, like muscles in your body, your brain deteriorates if you don't stimulate it. A lazy brain increases your chances of memory loss and also dementia as you age. I had intended to use this free time to improve my computer skills which would enhance my resume. Now I have more reason to do so.
Last week, I attended a Toastmasters meeting. I used to be a member of the Northampton club, Speakeasy, but after several productive years I reached the point where I knew I was going to have to put a lot more work into my speaches in order to improve. And at that time, I just didn't feel like it. Rather than attend meetings and languish, I chose to terminate my membership. I've thought about going back and this is a good time. In addition to getting me out of the house and socializing, attending Toastmasters meetings is a good opportunity to network and improve my public speaking skills. Good public speaking is an asset in so many ways: giving reports at a meeting, speaking at Town Meeting, giving a presentation at a conference, etc. And even if you don't do any of those things, just being able to get up in front of a group of people and speak knowledgeably on a subject is a great way to develop self-confidence. Having good public speaking skills helps to project a polished and professional demeanor - definitely an asset in job hunting.
And it 's great exercise for the brain.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)