TALK YOUR WAY TO THE TOP: HOW COMMUNICATION BUILDS BUSINESS Just about anyone who has established themselves as a successful entrepreneur can tell you how important communication and leadership skills are to the startup and continued growth of a business. And they have to be able to tell you: being able to effectively and authoritatively communicate is one of the biggest personal assets you can bring to your business. People who can’t express what their business is about will have a hard time selling it. It’s that simple. So what’s an entrepreneur – budding, new, or established – to do? Many programs exist to build skills of this type, but as with any skill, it makes sense to develop and practice these over time. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has provided an ongoing program of training and support to nurture the development of communication and leadership skills. The fact that thriving clubs exist in nearly every country across the globe speaks to the power of this program. Here at home, nearly 20 clubs have already been established in south Durham Region, ranging from Pickering to Bowmanville. However, only a single club exists (barely) north of Highway 7 in Brooklin, and until recently, none have existed in North Durham’s Uxbridge/Scugog/Brock area. But that looking like it’s going to change - and soon. What does Toastmasters offer the entrepreneur? Affordability, encouragement, and the opportunity to practice and hone their skills in a supportive environment. Toastmasters clubs provide a nurturing atmosphere where encouragement and positive reinforcement create the central component of evaluation, and provide an opportunity both to develop new skills and put existing skills into practice - not only in the giving of speeches, but also in areas such as meeting management, providing effective feedback, and heightened listening skills. It doesn’t matter if you are a novice or experienced speaker: each meeting assigns individuals different roles, so anyone has the opportunity to learn from every aspect of the experience. While regular attendance is a key asset in a member’s development, a “come as you’re able” environment makes it easy to accommodate commitments effectively. An added benefit: networking in any setting provides an opportunity for collaboration for all entrepreneurs. Many Durham Region residents are in the process of trying to establish or expand new businesses, and many of these people work or live in the North Durham townships. This demographic is currently the focus of a new early-morning Toastmasters club launching in the Town of Uxbridge, and new members are actively welcomed at the Uxbridge Toastmasters Club (details below). Already, participants are seeing the undeniable, tangible and lucrative benefits of the program in action. Stop by and see for yourself. Uxbridge Toastmasters Club President: Kris Nelson E-mail: toastmasters@uxbridge.com @UxbridgeToastmasters
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