Should you join Toastmasters?

People often ask me whether I would recommend Toastmasters for aspiring public speakers.

My answers is always a resounding yes!  As communication coaches, we provide great value to our clients, a value that is quite different and potentially complementary from the unique experience that participation to a Toastmasters Club can offer.

While a Club has its protocols and rhythms and it may take months or years to attain certain levels, we can customise our intervention to match our client’s needs and deadlines. Our expertise, in fact, draws from disciplines that go beyond Toastmasters techniques and principles and our focus extends beyond public speaking to managing challenging conversations and other business related leadership situations.

So, I always suggest to my clients to join Toastmasters. Since I moved to London, I also re-joined this exciting worldwide organisation.

The first speech in Toastmasters is called an Icebreaker. Its purpose is to introduce a new member to their club. 
Returning to Toastmasters after a 15-year hiatus, I shared with my new Club three key learnings from my previous five-year tenure. The text of the speech is below

There is no ice to break!

The word icebreaker conjures an image of a wall of ice one must pierce through — a cold, intimidating wall.

Mr. Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, esteemed guests, I see no ice to break in this room. You have been the most welcoming and warm audience. Thank you.

As I take my first step onto my new pathway, I reflect tonight on my five-year journey in Toastmasters. There are many lessons I learned along the way; I will share with you the three that had the most significant impact and changed my world.

If you had been in the room in that January morning of 2001, you would have seen me slowly walking to the podium. Then, you’d see me gripping on to its edges as you would hold, white-knuckled, a rollercoaster bar when the free fall begins. I was terrified.

You can see me, now. I am reading my speech, word by word, without a pause, without a breath. Soon afterward, it’s time for the evaluator to comment.

After pointing out the strengths of my script – John P. who is evaluating my speech adds – I have one recommendation for you:

“Don’t ever hide behind the podium, come forward, let the audience see you. Be with us, you are too short for the podium anyway, from next time onward no lectern, no notes.”

Distinguished Toastmaster John P. is one of the best evaluators in our club, and his words are still with me every time I stand in front of an audience. Be it a Club meeting or an international conference I hold his advice in my heart. From that day onward, I spoke with no notes and never put another barrier between the audience and me.

That day I learned to throw my heart at the audience. To focus on connecting, to strive to be vulnerable rather than perfect.

And the time goes by. I keep speaking and improving. I am now a known well contest winner, the President of one of the most famous clubs of Southern California, and the recipient of the coveted Sparkplug of the year award. I have become complacent, probably a bit cheeky for my own good.

The Topicsmaster calls on me in a regular meeting. Because I have another role, I don’t expect to be called. I stand up completely bewildered, I utter a few words, and I sit down in shame. But when the meeting ends I leave the room, my head held high. I realise that I don’t mind that I really made a fool of myself and no one seems to mind either: This is the power and beauty of the supportive Toastmasters environment.

So I learn that it’s ok to fail. I have finally accepted that you make a fool of yourself and still be gracious about it. And I realise that, when you are willing to be a fool, you then become unstoppable.

In life as well as in our Clubs, real growth awaits at the edge of our comfort zone.

The third important lesson moment of my earlier Toastmasters experience stems from the hardest decision I had to make as the newly elected Vice President of Education. It’s the early afternoon of September 11, 2001. Gerald, the Club President, is on the phone asking for my opinion. We are all in shock. We have just seen the Twin Towers crumble on our tv screens.

“Should we cancel our meeting tomorrow given the attacks?”
No, let’s go ahead, life must go on! I firmly declare.

Since our usual venue is closed, we gather in a smaller conference room. After an emotional opening one by one, we share our dismay, our sorrow and show our support to a member of our club who lost friends in the New York skies. We are a community, and we beat as one heart.

As a Club officer, I learned that you must lead your community in fun times and in the most somber of occasions as well. Leadership is about being present.

So in summary, where ever you are on your Toastmaster journey, whether you have been a member for one day or 30 years always dive in, heart first, be a gracious fool and embrace our community. In this way you will discover, meeting after meeting that there is no ice to break. Just a great unfolding adventure in one warmest worldwide community you will ever have the privilege to belong.

Mr. Toastmaster.