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Meet a new member:
Pauline Duncan-Thrasher reveals the secret to happiness and success
By Nicholas Iszakovits
(posted April 9, 2007)
“Communication skills are really the secret to happiness and success,” says Pauline Duncan-Thrasher, the one-woman show behind Communication Excellence, a speech coaching business she began in 2004. Pauline joined IABC London in late February.
When speaking with Pauline, it is easy to see the truth in this statement. She talks about her life and experience as a professional communicator with a passion that is infectious. Through her business, she provides personalized counseling for individuals or small groups who want to improve their oral communication skills. The long list of people she has helped gain confidence in themselves and their abilities includes administrators, politicians and educators.
“Training is in my blood," says the retired school teacher and accomplished orator."I love to watch people learn, and to see them get excited and overcome their nervousness."
Pauline has had a gift for public speaking beginning at a young age, and was selected to give the salutatory address at her high school graduation. She credits joining Toastmasters International as helping her to build and refine this gift over the years, and in 1990 she won an important Canadian Toastmasters competition that provided her with the opportunity to speak on Parliament Hill.
“I love speaking,” exclaims Pauline. “As a person, if you can’t communicate effectively, how can you be successful or happy? By training people to overcome their fear of speaking, it affects their whole being. It doesn’t only mean that they can stand up and deliver a great speech, it means that they have the power to overcome their fears and develop confidence.”
“Ignite a spark,” reads the banner on her website, and it seems less like a slogan and more like an ethos the more she talks. “Speakers have the potential to profoundly change the world. No matter where you are, if you open up your mouth and speak then it can affect people. As professional communicators we need to especially be aware of this.”
Nicholas Iszakovits is a student member of IABC London, and is a diploma candidate in Fanshawe College's Corporate Communications and Public Relations program.
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