This is the
4th of 8 posts sharing on why I like being a member of
Toastmasters(TM).
Speaking of TM, many of us, myself included, associate it with speaking, especially in our earlier years of joining. We did not join TM, aspiring to improve in our leadership skills.
Over the years, I’ve learnt that speaking and leadership comes hand in hand. Especially when I’m delivering a speech with a message to inspire others, it is only better received if I’m speaking from a position to service. For example, if I were the VPE and would like to inspire new members to start their Pathways’ project speeches, I’d tell them a story about how I first started and how anxious I was before I got over the fear. Compare this with if I were a member, showing up at meetings only when I am delivering a project speech, and delivering the same speech telling juniors “in order to improve, you should do this, and that” .
As the new member,
which speech would have a better impact on you?
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| Every speaker's dream audience |
Personally, as someone from the sales engineering profession, I have been working independently most times. I guess it is the same with people who works in other sales profession, in the lab, as well as IT personnels, where one doesn’t collaborate much in a team in his/her day-to-day work.
As a TM member, I have
been given ample opportunities to:-
a) Mentor new members
b) Take up EXCO positions i.e Sargeant At Arms (SAA), Vice President Public Relations(VPPR), VicPresident of Education (VPE), President
c) Become an organizing chair and form my organizing team to put together successful contests
While I am not a born leader, these experiences of working with fellow members of diverse age group and backgrounds, are great practices to help me to collaborate better with my co-workers, and to inspire and motivate them towards accomplishing a common goal.
To many fellow
members, these opportunities allow them to sharpen their leadership skills in-line with their aspirations to progress into managerial positions at their
respective workplaces.
TM gives me the opportunity to take up leadership roles I would otherwise not have, had I not joined TM. These roles are essential experiences to build up my soft skills collaborating and motivating others towards accomplishing a common goal.
Many of us are not keen on leadership roles and often keep
it on the side, but over the years, I’ve learnt that in order for my message to
become more acceptable, I need to speak from a position of service, to help
them achieve their goal, and help them see that their contribution is significant towards accomplishing the bigger vision.
Are you looking for opportunities to practise and sharpen
your leadership skills?
Want to check out our next
meeting?
Follow our Facebook page at
‘Super Speakers Toastmasters Club’
P/S: We have entered the year of 2021! Happy new beginning everyone. May this new year bring you joy, abundance and great health!
This is my 4th gain as a member of Toastmasters. Stay tuned to fine out 4 more.
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