2/8 Gains From Toastmasters: Listening to Inspirational Stories

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This is the 2^nd of 8 posts sharing on why I like being a member of Toastmasters(TM).

Everyone is listening intently.

It's not all serious talk.

Before we listen intently again.

   Of course, these are 3 different club meetings I
have been attending during the earlier months of
the pandemic lock down. 

                 

  

Do you know what your family member is now struggling with?

Do you know what your next cubicle colleague care about?

Unless you have coffee with them, to show them you care, that you are willing to lend your ears, you will not know.

It takes time and effort to show them that you sincerely care and not judge.

On another hand, what about people you have not known, that may have interesting stories to share. Someone you don’t know and through their stories, you discover that there is someone who thinks, feels and acts like you?

This, my friends, is made possible at a Toastmasters meeting. There are always new people to meet, whether a Toastmaster or non-Toastmaster guest joining our club’s meeting or I visit others. Even members within my club may open up and share something others have not known about them, of fear and failure, among others, and of how they bounced back against all odds and inspire me to also do the same against all adversities I am currently facing.

Isn’t this interesting?

I remember one time when I listened to an emcee member’s speech. She was a senior member in my club and she was always the eloquent speaker in meetings I looked up to, until one time, she shared about her struggles and fear of speaking just a couple of years back, before she joined Toastmasters. How she was lack of confidence and in a career she didn’t like. She was at a loss. She then quit her job, and started a business. Unfortunately, the business did not survive. The office was burgled, and the profit was not encouraging and she lost most of her capital and went into depression. That was a bit sad. She went on to share that soon after she joined Toastmasters, she discovered her passion in speaking and turned it onto her profession. When I knew her, she was already a much sought after professional emcee in town. That, was truly one inspiring story from someone around me, I would not have the chance to listen to, had I not join Toastmasters.

In a Toastmasters meeting, there are 3 sessions which are the:-

1.       Table Topics Session (Impromptu Speech)

2.       Prepared Speech Session 

3.       Evaluation Session

The first 2 sessions especially, give us the opportunity to get to know members and guests better. The Table Topics Session requires the speaker to speak off the cuff. Naturally, the speaker would say something that is on-going in his current life or something that has been impactful to him. The Prepared Speech Session as the name implies is a session where the speaker delivers a speech he has taken time to research and craft so as to share with the audience. This normally is a topic he deeply cares about and would like to influence the audience to have the same opinion or persuade them to take actions.

Therefore, being a member of Toastmasters International opens up opportunity to learn about others a little bit deeper from just a single meeting. Can you imagine, what comes out of it when it’s more than one meeting?

One thing for sure, we learn that 9 out of 10 people who join Toastmasters at one point in their life were struggling with communications and public speaking skills. This is something all Toastmasters members can relate to, and see this as an opportunity in this global organization to help each other grow, especially a senior towards a junior.

 

Toastmasters offers opportunities to not just busy professionals, but even homemakers and retirees,  to listen to deep stories they do not have much opportunities for otherwise, unless they are highly social. Stories people around us care about and are willing to share, in one meeting. It’s a community of people speaking and helping each other along the way, unlike when one engages a coach. Some members shared that they get energized even after a long day at work, as they join like-minded and high-spirited fellow Toastmasters as they engage and inspire others with their stories. This, my dear friends, make Toastmasters a community of connections and staying connected.

Want to check out our next meeting?

Follow our Facebook page at ‘Super Speakers ToastmastersClub’

 

This is my 2^nd gain as a member of Toastmasters. Stay tuned to fine out 6 more.

*A.S's current location*

Day/ Date: Sat/ Dec 12th, 2020

-Just like everyone, A.S is thinking when she could be on a plane again. :)

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