5 Reasons Why You Should Join Toastmasters

It Changed My Life For The Best

It’s a lazy night in 2021. I’m gradually recovering from COVID 19 lockdown fatigue. Browsing through WhatsApp first thing in the morning, I come across this invite to attend a Toastmasters meeting via Zoom from a friend.

Toastmasters? Are people going to make toasts or what?

Since I have nothing better to do, I click on the Zoom link to the ongoing meeting. The first thing I see is a woman speaking. Took me a minute to realise it was a speech. She spoke with confidence, and with a good command of the language. She winds up her speech in the next 2 minutes, and the audience breaks into applause.

It was a reminder of what I always wanted to be when I was a kid. A powerful orator.

The MC goes to the next session, Table Topics. I had no idea what that meant. A person called Table Topic Master was handed the virtual stage, who explained how this will be an impromptu speaking session. A topic will be given, and after a 10-second gap, they’ll call someone in the audience to talk about the topic for 2 minutes.

I was excited more than nervous when I got a chance to speak. I enjoyed the opportunity, because I was being myself; spoke my mind; in good English. The appreciation I got after was a cherry on the top.

Then we moved on to the evaluation session. Evaluation? Evaluating what, I wondered.

They were giving feedback on everything about the meeting. The time taken, the grammar, crutch words used, the speeches delivered, everything!

What grabbed my attention was the evaluation of speeches delivered in the meeting. Which made me think — Whoa! Okay, I’ve given speeches during my school days (Most of them being by-hearted, to impress the audience), but no one ever told me how good it was, or where should I improve. Here, the speech evaluator would point out the good things about the speech, then on how to improve further.

I decided — if not this, where will I get a platform to improve my speaking skills? Soon enough, I was a Toastmaster. And here is how it changed my life.

Improved Spoken English

Most of the Toastmasters meetings are in English. From start to end, every word is in English. If you’re using words from another language, it’s encouraged to give the translation of the same in English. For someone whose mother tongue is not English, attending a Toastmasters meeting once every week, for almost a year, elevated my spoken English to the next level.

There are clubs that conduct meetings in their native languages, where they focus on improving the particular language. For instance, there’s this club called Mathrumalayalam Toastmasters Club, which conducts its meeting strictly in Malayalam (My mother tongue).

Every Toastmasters meeting comprises an Ah Counter and Grammarian. An Ah Counter checks how much a person uses unnecessary filler words such as Ahh, Umm, You know, So, and so on. Grammarian checks for good usages of words and those which might require some improvement. The Grammarian also takes the role of Wordmaster, where she introduces a new word every meeting and encourages the usage of the word.

This increased my vocabulary skills and moulded me into a flawless speaker.

Being Serious about Time

Time is not a joke in a Toastmasters meeting. If a meeting is scheduled at 7 PM, the person scheduled to begin the meeting will begin exactly at 7 PM, unless there is any unavoidable reason.

Every speech has a time limit, every time a speaker speaks, there’s a time limit. An agenda of the meeting is circulated before the meeting, which states when the meeting should begin, how much time is allotted for each role, and when the meeting should wind up.

There’s a timer for every meeting to keep track of the time taken. Unlike attending your cousin’s wedding, which begins at 5 PM when the invite says 4 PM, time is crucial. The person who evaluates the entire meeting will note down where time was wasted.

This made me adhere to time limits outside Toastmasters. From getting ready at 4 55 PM for a 5 PM event, I make efforts to reach at least five minutes early at the venue.

Confidence

I have a grip on my spoken language now. I’m more confident while preparing and delivering speeches. Rather than solely focusing on what the audience is expecting, I bring a touch of myself in everything I do.

In Table Topics sessions, I earn more appreciation when I’m being myself, because I’m not at all satisfied when I try to deliver what I think the audience wants to hear.

Another level of confidence flows through me, to do things I believe are right, outside Toastmasters as well; such as pointing out something wrong or unfair, giving suggestions when someone asks, taking the first step to something new, paying no heed to those who give you wrong vibes, and the list goes on.

Enhanced Leadership Skills

I started my journey as a Toastmaster as the Vice President-Education (VPE) of a newly formed club. When I was made VPE, I didn’t even know the full form of VPE. I had never handled a leadership role.

To put it more clearly, I never dared to try for a leadership role.

A senior Toastmaster explained to me my duties. Being a VPE is like being the Prime Minister of a country. You’ll have a president, but VPE works the hardest of all club members. Scheduling meetings every week, finding role holders, speakers, evaluators, training new members, ensuring all the members are active in the club, keeping a tab on how often a member gives a speech at a meeting, VPE will have his/her hands full.

If the VPE doesn’t do his/her job, the club won’t run for long.

I was terrified and excited about what was to come and thankful for the opportunity I got. Now, every day, I learn more about my duties by visiting the meetings of other clubs, learning the meeting structure, talking with senior Toastmasters. I’m leading and learning every day.

In one year, I’ve learnt so much, about leading, understanding your peers, how to ask for help if you’re in trouble, who you should keep close to yourself, who you should avoid, which, without a doubt, will help you in your life

There are higher leadership positions, including Area Director, Division Director, District Director, and so on, till the International President of Toastmasters International.

Build Network and Social Connections

Are you looking to meet new people? Do you want to build a network with people who might help you in your profession? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Toastmasters International has over 364,000 members, 15,172 clubs worldwide from 145 countries. With the ongoing pandemic, where the meetings are held online, you are more than welcome to join any club meeting, as a guest. If you’re interested, the Vice President-Membership (VPM) of the club will enlighten you on joining the club. You’ll meet tons of people, work with them, solve problems and celebrate success together.

You’ll be loved, protected, and accompanied at all times. If you don’t feel comfortable in a club, you can always move on to another club. Through this, you’ll get to meet people from different places, cultures, professions, age groups, and so on. Within no time, you’ll be amazed how many people are on your contact list, with whom you interact at least once a week, which forms an unbreakable bond.

I love speaking English. After my schooling at an English medium school, I cherish the English language, even though I have little knowledge. When I was in college, I was called a nerd because “I spoke good English”, which made me realize I might be good. Over time, I realised all I do while I speak English was struggle to find words to articulate what my mind wants to convey.

“What We Say is Important. For in Most Cases, the Mouth Speaks What the Heart is Full of” — Jim Beggs

In short, Toastmasters can help you in raising the standard of your living. From greeting a person to handling a top leadership position, Toastmasters can guide you. If you feel it’s a waste of time for you, you can always take a step back. If you want in again, no one is going to say no. Try it. You’ll be amazed.

After all, developing the courage to do new and uncomfortable things is a challenge, which you can overcome with Toastmasters as I did.