Why do I enjoy Toastmasters? While it is a great way to improve public speaking skills and build confidence, there are several other facets that have elevated my experience in the club:
1. Camaraderie: We all share a common goal of improving our skills, which makes it easy to build good relationships with other members. And in an environment like Toastmasters, trust goes a long way in stepping outside your comfort zone and taking chances.
2. Knowledge Expansion: Our members bring a range of experiences, ideas, and interests, which allows us to learn new subjects and hear different perspectives. Not only do you learn more about things, but you are also able to identify people who may be able to help you in certain areas.
3. Constructive Feedback: Giving and receiving feedback is a feature of Toastmasters. While receiving and responding to feedback is a soft skill on its own, perhaps the biggest value is in refining methods to effectively give feedback and advice to others.
4. Set Your Own Pace: While Toastmasters outlines a process and offers training to improve your skills, you can progress at your own pace. There’s no pressure to take a step before you’re ready.
5. Leadership Opportunities: Toastmasters’ structure includes club officer roles, such as president, treasurer, etc. In addition, all members have opportunities to lead parts of a meeting or become mentors to others.
If you’re in the Philly area, consider joining us at Main Line Toastmasters, on the second and fourth Wednesdays, 6:45-8:30, at Great American Pub in Conshohocken.