Toastmasters?

[babuji]

Is anyone on this forum a member of Toastmasters?

I've been a member for a few months now thanks to Steve's recommendation and I am very happy with the results. I think it's a great way to practice public speaking in a supportive and laid-back environment.

What have your experiences been like?

[valpal215]

Fellow Toastmaster here! Getting ready to give my Competent Communiciation Speech #5.

Val

[joanmhe]

I am thinking of joining. There is a group at work that I can go to on my lunch hour. I have heard good things about it. I don't do much public speaking, I'm looking for improving my communications at meetings, etc.

[Hugh Hollowell]

The one thing nearly all great leaders have in common is that they are great communicators. While being a great communicator will not in and of itself give you success, no one wants to follow someone who can not articulate their vision.

I say do it, it can only help, in addition to the contacts you will meet.

[Shiminey]

Are there Toastmasters for Teens?

[babuji]

Originally Posted by Shiminey

Are there Toastmasters for Teens?

I don't believe there's any age limit for toastmasters.. you can go to their website and search for the club nearest you... keep in mind that some are private (usually limited to members of a certain company or corporation).. while others are public groups...

Check out the list, and usually they'll have contact information for each club. Get in touch w/ the moderator of the club for more details...

Hope that helps..

[Henry]

I'm thinking of doing Toastmasters as well. Either that or an Improv class.

[ditto]

Originally Posted by babuji

I don't believe there's any age limit for toastmasters.. you can go to their website and search for the club nearest you... keep in mind that some are private (usually limited to members of a certain company or corporation).. while others are public groups...

Check out the list, and usually they'll have contact information for each club. Get in touch w/ the moderator of the club for more details...

Hope that helps..

According to this (Non-PDF version here), Toastmasters is 18+, but, Wikipedia (second paragraph of the membership section) says that in certain cases younger people can participate, but not become official members. Also, the first page I mentioned has to be one of the shortest I've ever seen.

[Morrow]

Just joined two months ago, and going to give my first speech next Wednesday. Wish me luck!

[Margot Stepien]

I am going to join in January 2007 as I move to the city where there is group of Toastmasters. I look forward to it!

[SenorKaffee]

Is there something similar outside of the US?
I don´t think there is a Toastmasters Germany. ^^

[Keith]

I found the big benefit of Toastmasters to be an increase in confidence.

Jerry Seinfeld pointed out that more people are afraid of public speaking than of dying. Standing up in front of a group and making your first speech is pretty scary stuff; but I did it, survived, and since then, nothing else is as scary as it used to be.

[Fusebox]

Another member here looking to join Toastmasters soon.

[Erin Pavlina]

SenorKaffee, go to Welcome to Toastmasters International where we are"Making Effective Communication a Worldwide Reality" and you can look up your city to see if there is a Toastmasters club there. Definitely some in Germany. It's an international organization.

[Stephen]

I think it was Dale Carnegie who suggested that joining a Public Speaking group was one of the most effective ways to enhance your communication skills and self confidence. It is something I should look into myself, come to think about it!

I think it was him or Frank Bettger who said that you should only join a club where you are guaranteed to speak at every meeting!

[SenorKaffee]

Thanks for pointing me there, Erin.
There is a Toastmasters in Düsseldorf - where I work. Coincidence?

[Erin Pavlina]

I go to a weekly club and get to speak at every meeting. Before I joined TM I was terrified of public speaking. But thanks to my precognitive gifts I knew I'd be doing some heavy speaking in the future. So I figured now was the time to get working in that.

Since joining, I am sooo happy I did. My club is extremely supportive and friendly and it's making it very easy to get used to public speaking in a safe environment.

[awu]

Keep in mind that, just as you will enjoy working at one company more than at another, you will like one Toastmasters club better than another. The kinds of people who go as well as the meeting format seriously influence the kind of experience you will have.

Generally speaking, I have found I prefer clubs with shorter meetings (<90 minutes), and a more diverse membership (people of all ages, backgrounds, races, etc.). I once went to a club that had 2.5 hour meetings, starting out with a 30-45 minute parliamentary-style "business meeting" in which they discuss club activities and finances. It wasn't fun. But other clubs I've been to are gems. They get right into speeches and impromptu speaking soon after the meeting starts, and give everyone the chance to speak.

So go out there and give a club a shot. Attend as a guest at least 2 or 3 times before deciding whether to join. If you're not totally happy, dump it and try another club until you find one that meets your needs. Like clothing, Toastmasters clubs are not one-size-fits-all.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by awu

Keep in mind that, just as you will enjoy working at one company more than at another, you will like one Toastmasters club better than another. The kinds of people who go as well as the meeting format seriously influence the kind of experience you will have.

Generally speaking, I have found I prefer clubs with shorter meetings (<90 minutes), and a more diverse membership (people of all ages, backgrounds, races, etc.). I once went to a club that had 2.5 hour meetings, starting out with a 30-45 minute parliamentary-style "business meeting" in which they discuss club activities and finances. It wasn't fun. But other clubs I've been to are gems. They get right into speeches and impromptu speaking soon after the meeting starts, and give everyone the chance to speak.

So go out there and give a club a shot. Attend as a guest at least 2 or 3 times before deciding whether to join. If you're not totally happy, dump it and try another club until you find one that meets your needs. Like clothing, Toastmasters clubs are not one-size-fits-all.

Good points awu. I think to attend and not speak would be discouraging.

[DanielBrenton]

For those of you considering Toastmasters, Scott Young posted a link to a great post of his explaining the benefits, "Why You Should Join Toastmasters." In it he talks about giving it at least six months, which I think is a very good suggestion, and realistic.

I've also posted an article on my blog on what the organization has done for me, about what I gained from my participation in the spring 2004 speech contest season. It's called "Yes, Talking Fish."

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by DanielBrenton

For those of you considering Toastmasters, Scott Young posted a link to a great post of his explaining the benefits, "Why You Should Join Toastmasters." In it he talks about giving it at least six months, which I think is a very good suggestion, and realistic.

I've also posted an article on my blog on what the organization has done for me, about what I gained from my participation in the spring 2004 speech contest season. It's called "Yes, Talking Fish."

Great link to your post Daniel.

How is it for absolute rookies who are flung in at the deep end. Do people freeze on the spot? I really want to get involved in one of these clubs as the benefits, socially, for business and PD seem to good to miss out on.

[DanielBrenton]

Stephen --

I think part of what you describe depends on what abilities you already have to bring to it. My experience of this Toastmaster district (the "Golden Sage District," which covers southern Nevada and central California) is probably pretty common. Both clubs I've joined have been extremely supportive, but my first club more so because it was a general club, rather than a specialized one as the second club is. I basically had to read my first few speeches, and I still have to prepare quite a bit, which doesn't make me a particularly flexible speaker. I've frozen in speeches, and I've seen a woman actually cry because she was so terrified, but she worked through it, and the club was there to help her work through it.

There are two practices within the club environment that help in that regard, "Table Topics" and evaluations. Every meeting usually has a theme for the day, and Table Topics is a part of the normal club agenda where members who don't have speaking roles for the meeting are tapped to speak extemporaneously for 30 to 90 seconds on a subject usually relating to the theme. Evaluations are critiques on the prepared speeches given during the meeting, and doing a good one forces you to organize your thoughts quickly and think on your feet as well.

There are a couple of basic manuals that teach fundamentals of speaking and leadership roles, and then a mess of other manuals that each more advanced projects on both areas. It's a volunteer organization, so if you're interested in leadership skills applicable to a volunteer organization, it's a good opportunity.

There are other programs, including one that points you at speaking outside of the Toastmaster environment, but the one I've enjoyed the most so far is the contest arena, and I've written about that pretty extensively on my site.

Really, Stephen, you can get out of it whatever you want. I've become pretty much inactive because of the time I've been spending writing/blogging, but I know I can go back to it any time I want.

Forgive me if I seem like a Toastmaster shill (believe me, I'm not -- it's not a perfect organization, but what is?) but there's a lot there for you if you want it.

[Stephen]

Originally Posted by DanielBrenton

Stephen --

I think part of what you describe depends on what abilities you already have to bring to it. My experience of this Toastmaster district (the "Golden Sage District," which covers southern Nevada and central California) is probably pretty common. Both clubs I've joined have been extremely supportive, but my first club more so because it was a general club, rather than a specialized one as the second club is. I basically had to read my first few speeches, and I still have to prepare quite a bit, which doesn't make me a particularly flexible speaker. I've frozen in speeches, and I've seen a woman actually cry because she was so terrified, but she worked through it, and the club was there to help her work through it.

There are two practices within the club environment that help in that regard, "Table Topics" and evaluations. Every meeting usually has a theme for the day, and Table Topics is a part of the normal club agenda where members who don't have speaking roles for the meeting are tapped to speak extemporaneously for 30 to 90 seconds on a subject usually relating to the theme. Evaluations are critiques on the prepared speeches given during the meeting, and doing a good one forces you to organize your thoughts quickly and think on your feet as well.

There are a couple of basic manuals that teach fundamentals of speaking and leadership roles, and then a mess of other manuals that each more advanced projects on both areas. It's a volunteer organization, so if you're interested in leadership skills applicable to a volunteer organization, it's a good opportunity.

There are other programs, including one that points you at speaking outside of the Toastmaster environment, but the one I've enjoyed the most so far is the contest arena, and I've written about that pretty extensively on my site.

Really, Stephen, you can get out of it whatever you want. I've become pretty much inactive because of the time I've been spending writing/blogging, but I know I can go back to it any time I want.

Forgive me if I seem like a Toastmaster shill (believe me, I'm not -- it's not a perfect organization, but what is?) but there's a lot there for you if you want it.

Thanks Daniel for your insights. Appreciated!