Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, Ronald Reagan, Apolo Ono, J.K. Rowling, Clive Cussler, Agatha Christie and Winston Churchill. What does this cast of characters all have in common? The most obvious is that they all rose to the top of their profession and functioned at the top of their game under incredible pressure. Secondly, and most important to note, this august list of personalities practiced more than all the rest.
Tiger Woods was once asked by a fan to demonstrate how to hit the ball out of a sand trap. Tiger refused, saying he never practiced the wrong shot – only the right ones. I am often asked how to get good at public speaking. My answer is always “Practice the right shot.” And the right shot for speakers and communicators is Toastmasters.
Let me give you some background on this amazing organization and then share with you how to connect with a local club. Toastmasters began in California in 1924. Today it is an international non-profit organization boasting over 313,000 members in more than 14,650 clubs located in 126 countries. The one commonality of members is that each is committed to becoming a more effective communicator. The Toastmaster organization supports this common goal by providing a venue for members to hone their communication and leadership skills.
My own experience with Toastmasters was so positive I became a life-long advocate. Never have I been involved in a group as uplifting and positive towards each other. Good communication is not just about talking, it’s about learning how to actively listen, respond and how to give good, productive feedback. By participating in the weekly meetings, you will learn how to do all of this and more.
My favorite story is about “Larry.” My first visit to our local club was about week 3 for him. A part of each club meeting is a section called “Table Topics” when attendees are asked to stand up and speak impromptu for 60 seconds on a given topic. Poor Larry was so scared and nervous and freaked out when it was his turn, he stood, hands glued tightly to the back of the chair, chin tucked firmly upon his chest and whispered, stumbling and stuttering through his speech topping out at about 45 seconds of torture. I hurt for him!
Fast forward 12 months. This time when Table Topics was called, Larry stood confidently. He looked around the room as he spoke. He used humor. He used voice inflection. His impromptu speech sounded like it had been planned and fine tuned for weeks. He not only nailed that activity, but he won the weekly award for best Table Topic! Talk about a turn around! That’s what Toastmasters does for you.
That’s why, if you are serious about becoming a Master Communicator you need to get yourself to local Toastmasters club, join, and start reaping the benefits of this connection. On a side note…each club has it’s own “flavor.” So if you don’t feel comfortable at the first club you visit, find another and go visit it. Even the smallest of communities usually have several clubs to choose from, so you’re sure to find one that’s a fit for you. Here’s a link to help you find a local club.
This is Day 25 of 31 Days of Powerful Communication Skills for Women. You can read all of my #31Days posts here. And check out The Nester’s #Write31Days blog for other great 31 day series.
Question: Have you ever visited a Toastmasters club? What was your experience? What other way to practice has been helpful for you? I’d love to hear your stories! Just leave a comment below.
There was a Toastmasters club at the company I worked for for years. I visited it once to see what it was about and then quickly made up excuses as to why I didn’t want to go again. For me, it wasn’t about the activities – I definitely found them useful – but more because I didn’t want to get too personal with my co-workers. And since I can talk about ANYthing, I was worried about what would come out of my mouth – what I would reveal about myself to people I didn’t really want to know anything about me.
But now I find myself the wife of a pastor and often, without notice, get called upon to answer or respond to things in large groups. I’ve learned to be quick on my feet and I’ve grown way more comfortable being transparent. I’ve found that the more willing we are to be open, the easier it is for someone else to be open. And maybe that’s why we’re meant to speak up – to give someone else the permission they need to share.
Wow. I didn’t expect this post to pull something out of me quite like this but I love it! Thank you for sharing!