What does being a Toastmaster do for me?

The Toastmasters program helps you through various Pathways, such as the Competent Communicator, but is not a formal course such as Communications 111. There are no grades or tests, but instead you get to participate in speaking opportunities like Table Topics and the Ice Breaker Speech to get started. Club meetings help you to work together to study and practice your communication and leadership skills.

You can work with introductions, perform roles during club meetings, and work on projects, such as the ten speech projects in the Competent Communicator. In this pathway you build speaking skills with each new project. Most of the speeches are five to seven minutes, focusing on a single skill. It works on everything from organization, to body language, to researching a topic. This will help you learn to speak with clarity, and confidence.

With each speech you give, you will be evaluated to help you grow and learn. They will point out strengths and offer suggestions on how to improve the speech. This pathway focuses on the basics of public speaking, and your evaluator will focus on the basics as well. If you are working on vocal variety for your speech, they will also focus on it when giving your evaluation. The pathway will help you gain the skills through it's ten projects. At then end of your pathway projects you will receive an Award, for this pathways it is the Competent Communicator Award.

Want to learn more than just the basics? There are plenty more pathways for communication that you can work on, ranging from storytelling, to career related learning. After you have finished the pathway, Toastmasters International can send a letter to your employer if you wish them to, notifying them of your achievement. Different professional organization provide compensation, recognition, and even professional development credit for your participation in Toastmasters. To find out whether your organization has any of these offers contact your supervisors.

At the end of the day the experience of being a Toastmasters member can provide insight, learning, and connections to curriculum and community you may not have access to otherwise. What are you waiting for?