What Toastmasters Can Do For You?
Your potential is limited only by your excuses.
Whether you work in a corporate environment or from home, whether you are a student or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining communication and leadership skills.
Become a Better Speaker
Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. By learning to formulate and convey your ideas, you open a new world of possibilities. You will be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations and you will improve your one-on-one dealings with others.
Become a Leader
Leadership is the art of persuading others to do what you wish. To succeed, you need to communicate, and you need to work as a team. In Toastmasters, you’ll do both. And you’ll find out how to vary your approach to suit the needs of different people, be they the audience for a speech, the committee for a fundraiser or your coworkers and managers.
It Really Works!
Don’t worry! Everyone in a Toastmasters club was once at the level you are now. The environment is friendly and supportive, and the self-paced program allows you to build confidence with each speaking assignment.
And you’ll love the applause! Constructive evaluation is the heart of the Toastmasters program. Each time you give a speech, an evaluator will point out strengths and suggest improvements.
The “Toastmasters” Experience
The Toastmasters experience takes place in a Club. A typical Toastmasters Club is made up of 20-30 people who gather regularly. A meeting lasts about two hours and consists of the following:
• Prepared speeches, based on projects from the Communication and Leadership manuals, from several of the Club members
• An evaluation session, during which each speaker is provided with valuable feedback regarding the strengths of the speech, and provided with information that will assist the speaker in areas to improve
• A critique of the evaluations and of the meeting as a whole by a general evaluator
• A short business session, which gives members a chance to practice club’s management and parliamentary (meeting) procedures.
Besides speaking, each member will also have the opportunity to serve as Toastmaster, Table Topics Master, Evaluator, General Evaluator, etc. Each assignment is rotated among members to provide a variety of experience.
How Toastmasters Meets Your Needs
Established in 1924, Toastmasters International uses time-tested programs that are continually updated to meet participants’ needs. Self-paced programs allow you to progress as rapidly or gradually as your needs dictate. The hands-on Communication and Leadership program provides the how-to and the practical experience so critical to progress. In total more than 2 million people in over 50 countries around the world have proved that Toastmasters works.
The Toastmasters program is cost effective, especially when compared to seminars charging tens of thousands of dollars. An atmosphere of professional camaraderie makes your Toastmasters Club a unique learning environment – informal, yet dedicated to learning. The Toastmasters program can be tailored to meet your personal objectives. Whether you desire improvement in prepared or imprompt speaking, greater skill in the use of visual aids, experience and knowledge is to be gained in the areas that most interest you.
How The Program Works
The Toastmasters program exposes each participant to a wide range of communication experiences. Each new Toastmaster receives a New Member Kit. The kit features a copy of the basic Communication and Leadership manual, general orientation materials and information regarding skill improvement in areas such as speech evaluation and the use of gestures. The initial prepared speeches, as outlined in the basic Communication and Leadership program manual, are designed with the new Toastmaster in mind. A variety of assigned speeches help develop competency in areas such as organization, voice inflection and persuasiveness.
During the meeting’s Table Topics session, members learn to think on their feet by delivering short impromptu speeches, lasting one to two minutes. After giving a prepared speech, each Toastmaster receives a constructive speech evaluation. This process recognizes speakers for their strengths and provides valuable insight into areas to improve. Upon completion of the basic Communication and Leadership program, Toastmasters may participate in the Advanced Communication and Leadership program. Participants may choose from specific business oriented topics such as Speeches by Management and Technical Presentations.
Each member also receives The Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that offers the latest insights into speaking and leadership techniques. Members also may purchase other educational materials, including books and cassette albums. A complete list of these materials is found in the Toastmasters supply catalogue.
How Toastmasters Can Help You?
Your success is based on how effective you are. Through participation in the Toastmasters Communication and Leadership program, people from all backgrounds learn to speak effectively, conduct a meeting, lead, delegate, and motivate.
What’s Involved In Joining a Toastmasters Club?
