Unexpected Benefits of Toastmasters

A question that I love to ask fellow Toastmasters is, “What are the unexpected benefits you have gotten by being a member?” All of us joined to improve our communication skills with a focus on making speeches. The Toastmasters program does offer great and low cost training on how to present in front of an audience but the program offers so much more! The additional benefits are the reason that I have been a member for 20+ plus years.

Some of the unexpected benefits I have received are:

1. Self Confidence
2. The ability to give and to accept and receive constructive criticism
3. Networking opportunities and new friends from diverse backgrounds

As a child I was shy and awkward. I also do not have an athletic bone in my body and I still remember the awful feeling of always being picked last for a team—the player that no one wanted!

Participating in the Toastmasters program has helped me to develop self confidence and to do things I never thought possible – like participate in contests and approach and talk to strangers. Recently I was representing another nonprofit at a street fair and I was able to walk up to people to tell them about the organization. I have been participating in this street fair for years – this was the first time I was able to initiate conversations with people walking by! My fellow volunteers kept saying, “You are good at this.” I kept thinking, “No, not really, but because of my Toastmasters training I have the self confidence to do it.”

Since I was made fun of as a child it was always hard for me to give or accept constructive criticism. Learning how to accept and to give constructive criticism by giving effective speech evaluations has helped me so much in my professional and personal lives. Practicing and improving my evaluation skills was especially helpful when I was managing a team and had to do face-to-face performance appraisals.

All of these “unexpected benefits” can be found at our upcoming District 83 Conference on November 18, 2017 in Somerset.   The conference theme is, “Awaken Your Power to Lead.” If you think of what makes a good leader you will realize:

1. Good leaders have self confidence. Come to conference to learn, network and be inspired. Being with people who to love to learn and to help others does boast personal self confidence.
2. Good leaders know how to coach and encourage their team to do their best. The conference workshops are always phenomenal and you will learn a lot by attending them.
3. Good leaders have an extensive and diverse network in place to use whenever they need them.

The best reason of all may be that you will have fun! You will learn a lot and all for less than $100.00 and one day of your time. Visit tm83.org for more information or to register.