Episode 96: The Secrets to Polished Speaking with Sharon Hill

Welcome to Episode #96 of The Daily Interaction podcast and to my conversation with a brilliant communicator, a vibrant source of energy and delight, and also someone that I consider a good long-time friend, Sharon Hill.

The podcast motto is simple: You can have anything you want in life if you can communicate well enough!

A little about Sharon: Sharon A. Hill, author, speaker and MBA, spent more than 20 years as a development and marketing manager at Fortune 500 giant IBM. As a Toastmasters International award winner, Sharon displays mastery and confidence speaking for audiences ranging in size from 20 to more than 500.

Sharon Hill teaches, writes, speaks and coaches individuals and companies about the skills necessary to become grounded in all human interactions while leveraging the advantages of technology. She offers learning combined with a keen sense of humor to enhance and complement each experience.

The topic we explore is two-fold, first, her passion with Toastmasters and what you my listeners can expect to get from considering a toastmasters club in your area and communicating with poise, etiquette and grace whether you are on or off the stage. Ready?

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Interview Questions on The Secrets to Polished Speaking

1- Sharon, let’s start off by having you tell us how and when you came by Toastmasters, and what makes you still SO passionate about Toastmasters. I was active in Toastmasters between 2003-2010 and of all the people I met, you left the largest most indelible impression on me.

2- There is this “je ne sais quoi” about some people that just attracts us by being there. You talk about “becoming grounded in all human interactions” and I suspect this has a lot to do with their ‘elusive’ power if you will. I want to hear you talk to us more about that. How do we become grounded?

3- I’ve heard and seen you speak on numerous occasions, Sharon. You are always so polished, so resonant in your voice and so connected and yes very grounded. Is there a prep routine that you follow, anything from warming your voice or meditation or mind work that you could share with us?

4- As you know, Sharon, we get terrified when we think of public speaking. Even after years of doing it, I get nervous about it and I’ve just come to believe this is a human condition. But there are so many ways to deal with it. What are your recommendations? What are some techniques that work particularly well?

5- You know, I think of these processes as a journey, and in this case to becoming a great communicator. And in my experience, in these journeys, there is often a turning point where you experience a shift so great that it helps you leapfrog to the next stage. Sometimes it’s just a bolt of self-awareness, sometimes a particular event or something a friend/coach shares with us. Did anything similar happen to you and could you share it with us?

6- To what extent would you say that Toastmasters has been instrumental to your success as this fabulous polished communicator? I know that it helped me tremendously. And would you say that anyone can get these benefits from Toastmasters?

7- For those of my listeners that may still have doubts or other reasons not to consider joining a club, what other ways can they improve their communication skills? What do you recommend?

8- Sharon, there is so much more I’d love to ask you! Is there anything else that you wish I had asked or that we had shared with our listeners today? Any parting messages for my listeners?

So did you take one tip away from how to become grounded in your speaking? 

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This podcast is part of Prolific Living Media and it is produced weekly and released every Friday. For questions and comments, please email the podcast: tdi@prolificliving.com.