When I was studying in b-school at Pepperdine, we had a Toastmasters group at our university. That was my first time hearing about the Toastmasters program, but in 2010 I didn’t have the fortitude to realize it was something that I could benefit from. I was told I was naturally a good speaker, and I did well in presentations at school, so I didn’t think I needed Toastmasters. Boy was I wrong! Toastmasters is an organization that has been dedicated to grooming leaders, helping people become more competent communicators and providing great networking opportunities that I think all of you can use to excel in a variety of work environments.
I am current in the middle of working on the leadership track in Toastmasters. I am an Area Director, which means I manage five clubs in the Greater Los Angeles Area. I attend many training sessions and functions, while making sure my clubs are thriving in the Toastmasters way. It has provided me with a tremendous opportunity to engage with people from many different industries; I have gained many business contacts, as well as have had many projects, such as planning and executing an Area Contest (which can also be used as a High Performance Leadership Project). I have a Division director that I work closely with, and I have appointed two assistant directors to assist me as well. I feel this is a great opportunity for people who may want to move up at work, but need more leadership experience. Having great volunteer leadership experience like this, with such a highly respected non-profit organization like Toastmasters, not only looks good on the resume but also fosters more confidence in an emerging leader.
During my year in Toastmasters, I have given over 25 original speeches as part of the program, including my District Award Winning Speech “My Mom is No Betty Crocker (seen here)!” Being a performer for many years and even giving a TEDx performance, I can still tell a difference in my speaking ability since going through the Toastmasters program. I have also seen people overcome immense fears and social-phobias, to go on to become great speakers, all because of this communication track. I am halfway through my 3rd certification, with one more to go, and I have no plans of stopping. It has helped me with speaking during work meetings, to answer interview questions for radio and television. If you are a person who would rather be “Dead in a casket, than give the eulogy,” as remarked, by comedian Jerry Seinfeld, then I would recommend you coming to visit a Toastmasters meeting ASAP.
One of the hardest skills to learn, but one of the most valuable; is networking. We live and die by our connections. From social media, to live interaction, people who know how to talk and connect with people will fare much better than those who do not. Toastmasters are a collection of like-minded individuals, who enjoy working on personal development, in a positive environment. The organization has according to Wikipedia serves over 332,000 members in 135 countries, through its over 15,400 member clubs (It has served over 4 million members in its 90+ years running). Within that network are opportunities for advancement. I have heard countless stories of employers hiring employees because they see Toastmasters on their resume, or a fellow toastmaster recommended them, or the recruiter was a Toastmaster themselves. With contests and conferences multiple times a year, there is no shortage of ways for Toastmasters to connect with other Toastmasters, expanding their personal network in the process.
I can’t think of a good reason not to join Toastmasters. If you are looking to propel your career to the next level, gaining certification in either Leadership or Communication, and getting official letters sent to your company for your employee file, may be the golden ticket, to the ladder of success. Come check out a meeting in your area anytime, by using the Club locator here. You won’t regret it. Invest in your future with this fun, exciting group.