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first person
What Toastmasters Has Done for Me The nonprofit helps individuals with their speaking, listening and leadership skills By Sue Edmonds
T
he first time it happened, it caught everyone by surprise. We wondered what would happen to those who were affected. By the eighth layoff, we were no longer surprised. We simply waited in trepidation while people around us received their phone calls to report to human resources. We realized that the company was not doing well, but few of us expected bankruptcy. Many of us were long-timers. In fact at lunch one day, seven of us added up our combined years of service and it totaled 150. Some had 30 years or more with the company, but now we were all on the market. Our new job was “sales” and we needed to sell ourselves to a prospective employer. I found a way to do that, and so much more. A friend suggested that I join Toastmasters in order to improve my interviewing skills. I had heard of the group but wrongly assumed that it was only for public speakers. I certainly was not a public speaker. Even though I was comfortable doing corporate training with colleagues, like most people I was a bit nervous with the idea of giving a presentation in front of total strangers. The term for this is glossophobia, and most people have it to some degree. So what exactly was this Toastmasters group all about and how could it help me in the corporate world
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and my personal life? I met a myriad of people in the organization. The reasons for joining were as varied as the people. Some, like me, had joined in order to improve the skill of thinking on your feet so that they could concisely and accurately answer interview questions. One gentleman joined because he had attended a family funeral and was too fearful to give a eulogy— something he has always regretted.
groups are open to the public. How do they train people to improve their communications? Every meeting, members are invited to take on specific roles so that they can expand their skill set. The more experienced members may be the toastmaster, leading the meeting for the evening and making sure that each speaker transitions smoothly from one to the next. This skill can be used daily in running office meetings. You may be the invocator, sharing words of encouragement and guidance or the joke teller. Telling a joke is an art form in itself and can contribute to the cohesiveness of a group by sharing a laugh with everyone. Every meeting features one to two speakers with a prepared, timed speech based on the principles explained in one of our manuals. The first communication manual has 10 different goals, each addressing a different aspect of speaking, such as vocal variety or the use of visual aids. After each prepared speech,
Out with the mundane
A 78-year-old gentleman told me that he had become bored with crossword puzzles and Sudoku and had decided to stretch his “gray matter” by creating speeches and sharing his life experiences with others. Still others joined so that they could master the communication, organization and leadership skills needed for their office environment. The nonprofit organization has been around since 1924. Its purpose is to help individuals with their speaking, listening and leadership skills. There are over 30 groups in the Central New York area that meet throughout the week to fit almost anyone’s schedule. It is quite easy to find a group near your home or your office. Often, companies or universities will host a private group, but the majority of
Sue Edmonds