D125 : Corporate Bytes - Q2 Edition

“Challengesareapar

Fellow District 125 c CorporateBytes-Theex Corporates, was well re oftheD125formation.

Wehadmanymembers who opened their heart their entries for various 'Chronicles of Cubicl Toastmasters'

We also heard from ou conveyed their vision corporateclubsofdistric

When we talk about comeasapartofthepa the challenges and wh them matters the most or do we see opportu questionthatstandsinf

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As the Corporate Bytes urge you all to partic submissionofentriesforCorporateBytesand feel free to send in any suggestions you may haveforthesame.

Cheers!

DISTRICT LEADER

Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success - Napoleon Hill DearDistrict125members, Wishingyouallhappynewyear2023.Mayyou achieveeverythingthatyouaimandaspirefor.Iam thrilled,withtheresponseandappreciationreceived forQ1editionofCorporateBytesnewsletter initiative.Myvisionbehindthisinitiativeistoput spotlightontheprofessionalgrowthand transformationofourcorporateclubmembersat theirworkplace,alsohighlightthevalueproposition ofToastmasterseducationprogramtocorporates whoalreadyhaveclubsandtoothercorporates memberswhowanttohaveaToastmastersclubin theirorganisation. InFeb'231stweekD125willbeconductingitsfirst everCorporateLeadershipConclave, 'ToastmastersThe Corporate Catalyst'.Weareinviting nominationsfromourmemberswhowanttohave Toastmastersclubintheirrespectivecorporate, supportofthesameissolicitedfromallmembers. Itisindeedafeelingofgreatprideandhonourthat withtheeffortsandinitiativesofDPRMteamour District125LeadershipTeamandToastmasters InternationalwasfeaturedbyNationalDailydigital editionofTimesofIndia.Wealsohadasuccessful pressconferenceinwhichTop6Districtleaderswere featuredinregionaldigitalmediachannels Iamalsogladtosharethatwehavegrown consistentlyinlasttwoquartersonbuildingour socialmediapresenceonD125socialmedia channels.SpeciallyforLinkedInpagewherewe crossedthemarkof500followers.AlsoourFacebook MembersGroupcrossed400membersmark.Let's continuethemomentumforothersocialmedia handlesofD125.OurinitiativeDreamcatchersfor memberstoacknowledgecontributionofclubs, mentorsandleadersintheirprofessional,academic growthisalsogainingmomentum,yourresponses aresolicited.

Ibelievethatweareallsettotakeagiantleapin upcoming6monthstocontinueourgrowth,learnings andincreaseourmembershipbycharteringnew clubs.DPRMofficewillcontinuetopublishupdates fromDistrict,TIandlaunchcampaignsforupcoming renewalandcontestseasons.Let'scontinuetotake ourDistrict125togreaterheights.

As a member of the Program Quality Director’s team (PQD), I would like to congratulate you for hostingyourtoastmastersclub.ThisIbelieveisthe first step. As a cognizant employer you have recognized the potential of this 98-year-old institution. Toastmasters offers experiential learning, peer evaluation, mentorship and a programthatisselfpaced.

I have been a member of the fraternity for over a decade now and have seen clubs who have followed this principle move from strength to strength. Many clubs have gone on to achieve distinguished club status and won awards How many of these are corporate clubs? Oddly the numberfallsratherlowontherung!Why?

I have observed three problems underlying this attrition.

A.Theinitialenthusiasmwanesifthereisnoprime mover

B. The pressures of being on call or attending urgentmeetingsoftenclashwithclubtimings

C. If the company pays for the membership the toastmastersfeelnoobligationtoattend

I am not saying that every corporate club fails… Then that begs the question…what makes them successful?

A. The prime mover or the head HR who initiated thecharteroftheclubhastobeastrongleaderand tie all office events with toastmasters. Every recognition in toastmasters has to be mirrored in theofficenewsletter.Afterhim,thereinshavetobe handedovertosomeoneequallycapable.

B.Ifsomebodyhastoleavewhiletheclubmeeting is going on the president has to have somebody steppinginhisshoes.

C.Monetarycommitmentfromtheemployeesgoes alongwaytomakingthemobligedtoattend.

You already know the potential of our educational program Pathways and how it is designed to suit corporate leadership and communication. All you needtodoisreachouttousforaffirmation.

Sandesh Banger, DTM

AWinningFormula

Having worked in corporates for nearly 10 years, I understand that a corporate setting is quite competitive.Togrowinsuchanenvironment,one needs to have an edge over others. Toastmasters helpyoubuildthatedgebybeing:

1)Enterprising–beingenterprising(venturingout and participating in organization-wide activities, taking lead even when it’s not your turn, being proactiveanddriven)helpsyoustandout.Itgives you immense visibility in the organization, help build connections, and foster a confidence in othersthattheycandependonyou.

Toastmasters help you do that by providing opportunities to lead, host and participate in events of different magnitudes. It helps you go beyond your comfort zone, and still feel safe. It makes you confident to grab bigger opportunities atyourworkplace

2) Effective leader– most young professionals work as a team member and don’t relate with the challengesofleadingateamuntilafewyearsinto their career. Toastmasters give them an early advantage of leading teams, collaborating, planning and executing. It gives them positions of responsibility and help them mature much early intoaleadershiprole.

3) Eloquent - the ability to put across your ideas clearly, converse with stakeholders confidently, and communicate with your team succinctly is an asset that sets you apart. While Toastmasters’ pathways program focuses on 300 such competencies,theweeklyorbiweeklyToastmaster meetings provide ample opportunities to speak and refine one’s communication skills, in an environmentthatissupportiveandencouraging.

Overall, Toastmasters is a winning formula in a corporate setting. It helps employees create their unique identity and help them build an edge over others. It also helps employers provide an environment to their employees where they can feelsafeandhonetheirskills.

Club Coach and Mentor Training Chair

To grow in such a competitive environment, one needs to have an edge over others.

"

PQD Team

Dr.

HavingaToastmastersclubinaCorporategivesan in-housechancetoemployeesfordevelopingtheir soft skills, such as listening, leadership, communication, and time management skills. Recently I have been closely observing the challengesofCorporateToastmastersClubs&Ifeel thatonlythefittestclubssurvive.

The first challenge is that if the total employee strengthoftheCompanyislessthan500,thenthe clubwillhavedifficultysurvivinginthelongrun. In terms of role players and renewals. My fitness recommendationtothemisthatInsteadofkeeping it a choice, to join toastmasters, the HR or Managementshouldselectemployeesandmakeit compulsoryfor20-25employeeseveryyeartojoin toastmastersasanincentivefortheirperformance.

They can pick top performers at the lower grades whoaretobetrainedforleadingteamsorprojects to use toastmasters as a tool for creating more effective managers. Also, instead of two meetings per month, they should have weekly meetings because then there are high chances of education goals completion. The Corporate Club meetings should have at least one senior official of the Company addressing the toastmasters at least bimonthly.

The Corporate Clubs should pay fees annually but otherwise avoid being an annual club if the membership strength is going down because if they miss uploading officer’s list in term 1, then theydonotgettheoptiontouploadofficerslistin term 2. The Ex-COM of the Corporate Club should strategically plan to achieve the DCP Goals. I personally feel that the Corporate Club has more chanceofbecomingafitclubiftheclubmembers work like a team and work on the smooth successionintheClub.

TheLonggame

Warren Edward Buffett is chairman and CEO of company called Berkshire Hathway. The annual generalmeetingofBerkshireHathwayishappening on 6th May 2023 in Nebraska. More than 40000 investors local and across the world converge for thisdaylongeventinNebraska.

The floor is open from 8:30 am, and investors are allowedtoaskanyquestionsunderthesun.Buffett andhisfellowpartnerCharlieMungeranswerallthe questionsasked.

Let me take you back to the year 1949. 19-year-old Warren, is rejected by Harvard business school. He enrolls himself in Columbia Business school He applies for security analysis class as this class is taught by Benjamin Graham (author of Security analysis,theBhagwadGitaofinvestments).

Young Warren was a very shy person and since Mr Grahamsclassareinteractive,Warrenjoinsapublic speakingcourse.

Berkshire Hathway had its first annual general meeting in 1974. This AGM every year gave Warren exposure to speak about his investment ideas and talkabouthisprocessandplans.Thishelpedhimto reachouttomoreinvestors,regulators,universities as a keynote speaker and made him popular and respectedinanon-internetandnon-cabletvera.

The secret to Warren Buffets wealth has been the power of compounding. Whether you are compoundingmoney,relationshipsorskills,timeis your greatest force multiplier. Do not break the compounding.

Even in Toastmasters, think of the long game. The role you play at the meeting or the speech you deliver you improve with every performance with feedback implemented.

IaminToastmasterssinceSept2015andIthinklike you all, I am still learning and allowing time to be themultiplier.

Communication has been one of the tangible benefitsalongwithotherlonggamebenefits.

Fellow toastmasters, do not think what 3 months will do, zoom out for 10 years. Invest in yourself, havepatience,givetimeandPlaytheLongGame.

CorporateLeader

Mr. Satyam Raghuvanshi

FROST & SULLIVAN

Senior Consultant

I still remember my first Toastmaster meeting at Infosys Pune in July 2016...where stage fear would hold me from flying higher in the sky of achievements. Breaking the shackles of nervousness and hesitation was one of the biggestchallengesinordertoimprovemypersonality Today after 6 years it’s a different story. I don’t hesitate, I don't stammer and I know the weapons to fight nervousness.ThiswasmadepossiblethroughToastmasters and its ardent members who mentored and provided numerousopportunitiestolearnandgrow.Now,it’stimeto givebacktothissocietybyhelping"manySatyam'sof2016" intheirstrugglestobecomeaneffectiveleaderandagreat public speaker along with continuing my own journey of learning,exploringandtouchingnewheightsofsuccess.

Captivating LinkedIn Statistics -

D125 Page Visitors on their Job functions

TravellingBeyondCorporateTowers

Trip to Kanyakumari

A boy who dreamed of joining the Indian armed forces. Their uniform and Royal Enfield bike always fascinated the young lad. He could not make it to the army but love for bike remained in his heart, and that’s how my journey started into adventurous world of Bikers I love travelling on bike because it triggers a surge of intense elation. I started Bike travelling in 2016. Explored lots of places in India - Kashmir to Kanyakumari. I would like to share some of them. I was on a trip from Pune via road on bike, covering 3600 kms long journey.

Rameshwaram – This place gives me immense pleasure just like toastmasters. It is the second closest point to reach Sri Lanka from India and geological evidence suggests that the Rama Sethu was a former land connection between India and Sri Lanka Kanyakumari – I consider this as a place of wisdom It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland India, thus referred to as 'The Land's End'.

My favourite quote: ‘If you are not living on the edges, you are taking too much space”

Trip to The Statue Of Unity

District125

It was nice winter day, I am traveling to world's highest statue that too in our own country. Yes, you have understood it correctly, I am traveling to "Statue of Unity". After reaching Statue of Unity, we need to deposit our bag at counter outside. Water bottle and few personal items like id card, wallets are permitted to carry with us. While I was going through security check they ask me what am I holding in my hand? I told him it's a Toastmaster Magazine, I quickly show to him and with a smile he allowed to carry it. Wow such a nice experience. Immediately I brought out the Magazine and clicked few pictures. Few people do enquired there what a Toastmaster is and explained to them showing magazine. I found, it's easy to explain with related things like magazine with us. Altogether it was a wonderful experience travelling with Toastmasters magazine to Statue of Unity. BhaskarJha

AreaDirector,D3

District125

AnkushRajput AreaDirector,A1

Chronicles Of The Cubicles

ToastmastersTeachesBetterCommunication

When I attended my first ever Toastmasters meeting as a guest, I wasgivenatabletopicinit.IcanstillrememberthatdayaswhenI stepped on stage, my legs were trembling with fear and words founditdifficulttocomeoutfrommymouth.Somehow,Imanaged tocompletethe40sec.Butstillgettinganappreciationforaneffort wasIlovedthemost.

I was in 3rd year of college back then. The final year was approaching and I had to sit for placements, prepare for Group DiscussionsandInterviews.MyfirstmeetingmademerealizethatI immediatelyneededtoworkonmycommunicationskills.Littledid I know then that attempting speeches and just taking up roles will help me to improve at a rapid pace. Just within few months I was confidentlyabletositforinterviews,attendgroupdiscussionsand even develop an effective communication. The idea of attempting withoutthefearoffailure,receivingthefeedback,andimprovingon them is the thing I loved the most about it. Each meeting now is a chance to learn and grow skills and apply them not just in professional but also in personal life as well of becoming a better communicatorthanwewerebefore.

SurvivalOfTheFittest

HavingaToastmastersclubinaCorporategivesanin-housechance to employees for developing their soft skills, such as listening, leadership,communication,andtimemanagementskills.RecentlyI have been closely observing the challenges of Corporate ToastmastersClubs&Ifeelthatonlythefittestclubsurvive. The first challenge is that if the total employee strength of the Companyislessthan500,thentheclubwillhavedifficultysurviving in the long run. In terms of role players and renewals. My fitness recommendation to them is that Instead of keeping it a choice, to join toastmasters, the HR or Management should select employees and make it compulsory for 20-25 employees every year to join toastmasters as an incentive for their performance. They can pick topperformersatthelowergradeswhoaretobetrainedforleading teams or projects to use toastmasters as a tool for creating more effective managers. Also, instead of two meetings per month, they should have weekly meetings because then there are high chances ofeducationgoalscompletion.TheCorporateClubmeetingsshould have at least one senior official of the Company addressing the toastmasters at least bimonthly. The Corporate Clubs should pay fees annually but otherwise avoid being an annual club if the membershipstrengthisgoingdownbecauseiftheymissuploading officer’s list in term 1, then they do not get the option to upload officers list in term 2. The Ex-COM of the Corporate Club should strategicallyplantoachievetheDCPGoals.Ipersonallyfeelthatthe Corporate Club has more chance of becoming a fit club if the club members work like a team and work on the smooth succession in theClub.

Chronicles Of The Cubicles

ABeautifulJourneyofGrowth

My journey started on 19 Jul 2019 when one of my friends suggested me to join him in extracurricular that he was doing at that time. It was to join the Non-Profit Organization of Toastmasters to enhance my public speaking and leadership skills. I had heard of it from my other friends too. After multiple thoughts, I became the member of Infosys Pune Toastmasters Club from where it all started. Six months after starting my journey,IwasofferedtobecometheVicePresidentMembership whereinIhadtoconvincepeopletojoinToastmasters. Everything seemed to be perfect I grew through that journey by takingmultiplerolesnotonlyinthemeetingandtheclubbutalso in my Project as well. These kinds of proactive things made my manager believe that I am capable to handle these extra curricularsandwillbeagreatchoicetogivetheresponsibilityfor managing the events organized by the Fun committee of our project.IwasalsoselectedasTheManagerofthatfuncommittee as a part of which we used to have the refreshment parties, events,projectcallsandmuchmore IalsowontheawardofRisingStarandtheicingonthecakewas the increment of a good amount for three times in a row by just having that enhancement of confidence from my Toastmasters' journey. Toastmasters has helped me in my carrier, in my personalitydevelopment,professionalgrowthandmuchmore.

JourneywithTeradataToastmastersClub

Toastmasters club got introduced to us in year Feb 2019. First Demo meeting was organized in office cafeteria. I got impressed with detailed planning shown on that day from staring the meeting on time to completing the meeting in time, followed by answering queries by guests. It was a wonderful experience I decided to join and journey begins. I started understanding what’s in it for me & got the answer soon when I got a role as Associate Practice Lead in my organization. For leading a team, we need to care & mentor our team. My mentor in Toastmaster helpedmealotintakingvariousroleinmeeting,improvingonmy public speaking skills, taking leadership roles. With all that support, I was able to complete two of my pathways. I have mentored almost 25+ toastmasters so far. Our organization also supportedToastmastersandwehavegottwoclubsinIndia,one at Pune and another at Mumbai. I got a lot of connects within Toastmasterscommunitywhoaremygoodfriends,andIbelieve myNetworkismyNet-Worth.IalsogotanopportunitytohostAll handswherearound350Indiadeliverycenters'employeesjoined and appreciated my role. I have taken leadership role in Toastmaster as well Associate Area Director in past term, President,VPEducation,VPMembershipaswellasAreaDirector ofD3incurrentterm.

BhaskarJha AreaDirector,D3

5P Culture of Public Relations