Toastmasters International

Are you interested in improving your public speaking and leadership skills but don't know how? Perhaps you want to enroll in a presentation delivery course but you find it too expensive. Well, you don't have to worry that much. You can always just find a Toastmasters International club near you.

What is Toastmasters International?

Toastmasters is a non-profit organization that aims to assist those interested in developing their communication and leadership skills. The group achieves its aims primarily through local clubs or chapters that meet weekly or bi-weekly to practice public speaking. Leadership skills are practiced through the rotation of various roles integral to the conduct of the meeting.

How Does the Organization Work?

Every week, speakers are assigned to deliver a presentation. There are no instructors in a Toastmasters meet; the group serves as peers who critique one another, and offer each other constructive feedback. Standard and Advanced manuals on Competent Communication provide structure for the workshops.

Aside from the weekly meetings, Toastmasters International also provides access to quality resources on public speaking and leadership. If you visit their official website, for example, you'd get relevant tips on issues like managing speaking fears, creating visual presentations, teamwork and positive leadership. There's also an annual convention of Toastmasters club members; with keynote presentations and public speaking competitions as regular highlights.

The great thing about the Toastmasters International program is the relaxed environment of learning. Because you're with fellow learners, you're likely to feel supported as you go through the exercises. And since the club is primarily an informal group of like-minded people, you don't have to deal with the pressure of having to make the grade at the end of the semester. In fact, it's likely that you'd develop in the club, not just long time friends, but business networks as well.

Great! How Do I Find a Toastmasters Club?

The structure of Toastmasters is similar to that of Alcoholic Anonymous; there is no central governing body that controls different chapters. Instead, anyone is free to start a Toastmasters club in their locale. Because of this, Toastmasters Clubs are literally everywhere, and if there's no club near you, you're always free to form one.

If you're looking for a Toastmasters Club, start by perusing the listing on Toastmasters official website. A quick search engine query is also likely to come deliver results. Toastmasters clubs are also typically hosted by companies, schools, churches, community centers, government agencies and other non-profit agencies; it wouldn't hurt to ask these institutions for leads.

A Mark of Prestige.

For an informal organization, Toastmasters International carries with it a lot of prestige. In fact, many respected communicators, such as Linda Lingle, the Governor of Hawaii, and Debbi Fields of Mrs. Fields Cookies are Toastmasters Alumni. Being a member of the club then, offers not just qualified learning, but credentials as well. Toastmasters is like a brand recognized by many in the field; if anything else your membership is a great boost to your resume!