Distinguished Toastmaster Anne Swartz has been a member for 20 years. Currently, she is a member of Toastmasters of Westfield. We asked her a few questions about her Toastmasters experience.
What do you do outside of Toastmasters?
I am a health and wellness coach at RWJBarnabas Health, working at several hospital and office locations in the Southern region of New Jersey. I help their employees improve their health and well-being.
I am also a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I attended Washington University in St. Louis and earned a business degree in marketing and public relations. I’ve also taken exercise science and physiology courses at Kean University. You may be interested to know that in my early career I worked for NBA Properties, Inc.
Did you have any public speaking experience prior to Toastmasters?
I had limited public speaking experience and when I worked at the NBA in the 90s, I would freeze and get nervous. My voice would shake – especially when I interacted with upper management. Interestingly, I always felt comfortable teaching fitness classes, but in a room filled with business executives, I was a deer in headlights.
Were you a shy person?
I was shy as a child, but I loved to perform. Singing has always been one of my passions.
How did you hear about Toastmasters? Who introduced you to it? Why did you join?
My supervisor at the NBA informed me that I needed to get more comfortable speaking at staff meetings and delivering presentations in front of large audiences. She suggested that I enroll in a course to improve my speaking skills, and it was during the course that I learned about Toastmasters.
Were you nervous delivering your first speech? If so, how did you overcome it?
I was very nervous but I had taken some presentation courses and understood the basic foundation of how to organize a speech which helped a lot. My experience as a fitness instructor and as a singer in choral concerts and musicals helped reduce some of the nervousness that comes with presenting. Over time, I learned how to channel that energy. I still get a bit nervous with each presentation, but I’ve learned how to transfer it into smiles, gestures, vocal variety and using props.
How do you use your skills from Toastmasters in your career/personal life?
Toastmasters has helped me immensely in my career. Professionally, Toastmasters has helped me get a promotion at the NBA. After just five months in Toastmasters, I was promoted to director. Later, because I had solid presentation skills, I was able to leverage that ability and change careers. Toastmasters has been vital to my success as a health coach. In my current position, I deliver a variety of presentations, often on the spur of the moment. Thanks to table topics and the skills learned in multiple Toastmasters manuals, I can deliver in an instant when necessary!
What’s your secret to staying committed to Toastmasters?
Toastmasters has helped me build confidence not only as a speaker but also as a leader. I truly believe in the value of Toastmasters, which is why I am committed to helping my club and individual members succeed. I love to give back and help others.
What would you say to a visitor who is reluctant to join Toastmasters?
If you think your nervousness is a barrier to participation, remember this: most of us have been in your shoes. Come to a meeting and find out how friendly Toastmasters is. Once you join, you will get a mentor who will help you acclimate to the club and help you through the early stages of membership. You’ll learn a lot from other members, and sooner than you know, you will build confidence in speaking in front of others.