Toastmasters For Speech and Leadership Development

Welcome back!

I’ve been an active member of Toastmasters for about 18 months, now.  It costs me about $75 per year for dues.  I cannot think of a less expensive option for developing your public speaking and leadership skills.  Quite frankly, Toastmasters does as good or a better job than any of the really expensive, well-known programs.

Toastmasters is known for developing your public speaking skills, but it goes well beyond that image.  Toastmasters actually has a separate tract just for improving your leadership skills that includes challenges such as running a contest, acting as regional leaders and speakers, and so on.

Additionally, at every meeting, you have the opportunity to speak “off-the-cuff” in an impromptu exercise known as “Table Topics.”  This has been the most valuable part of Toastmasters, for me.  What happens when your boss comes into your office and asks for a progress report on that project your working on?  Or, how about an extemporaneous opportunity to pitch your product or service?  After developing your impromptu speaking, all your speeches become more professional and polished.  It forms the foundation for your speaking skills.

I recently had to attend an officer’s training session for Toastmasters, as I’m the president of my club.  The person presenting at my training told us a story about winning the Division contest for speaking, last spring.

He went on to come in third at the District level, but based on his performance at the Division, the local executive vice president of his company (a top company that almost any of you would recognize — just not sure he wants me mentioning it) contacted him, directly!  He wanted to hear from this employee and about what he’s learned in Toastmasters.  They went on to have a few discussions and this person ended up getting a promotion, all starting with his ability to speak and participation in Toastmasters!

Yesterday, Jim Kukral spoke about the power of speaking for free and what that do for your business.

The power of public speaking is immeasurable.

Tweet This Post