What Can Toastmasters Do For You? by Dr. Madeline Frank

How would you like to speak faster on your feet with more confidence? Do you believe in investing in yourself?

Recently a man dressed in black came into my office demanding money for a job I had never heard of. I asked him to please hand me a copy of the invoice with the signature of the superintendant of the job that the work was completed. I also asked him for the pictures to show the work was completed. He said he did not have either the pictures or the signed invoice. I asked to return when he had the completed information with the pictures and asked him to write down his name and phone number. After he left, I wrote down what time he came to my office and how he behaved. I learned through Toastmasters how to respond to difficult people quickly and calmly.


What are the six benefits you can learn at Toastmasters?

1)Toastmasters can give you the skills and confidence to speak quickly and clearly in response to almost anyone's tirade. During a Toastmasters meeting the Table Topics Master will ask an unknown question to a Toastmaster member and give them 1-2 minutes to answer. This gives them the opportunity to quickly think of an answer. This is a wonderful way to overcome your fear of speaking in front of others.

2)Toastmasters clubs teach their members, through their manual speeches, how to prepare speeches, how to deliver speeches, how to critically think and improve their written and oral presentation skills. Every new Toastmaster is offered a Mentor to help them improve their speeches at a faster rate. Most speeches in the manuals are 5-7 minutes and are timed. Constructive feedback is given in a positive friendly atmosphere. Every manual speech has an Evaluator who will listen critically to tell the speaker what the speaker needs to improve and what they did well. Constructive feedback.

3)Improve your listening skills. Listening to others is an important part of Leadership. Dr. John Maxwell the Leadership guru says “Everyone Communicates, Few Connect”. In learning to connect with others it is imperative that you learn to listen! By listening to others we will be connecting with them learning their stories and helping to solve their problems and ours as well just by listening.

4) Toastmasters meetings teach time management as each club has a printed Agenda to stay within the time allotted for each part of the meeting. (Meetings begin and end on time.)

5) Toastmasters clubs teach leadership abilities by having every Toastmaster in the club participate in a meeting. Each Toastmaster has some role to fulfill during the meeting. Nobody sits on the sidelines like a spectator at toastmaster. Developing leadership opportunities.

6) To be a member of a Toastmasters club is “Cost effective” The cost is $6 a month that’s $1.50 a week or $36 for 6 months. You too can invest in yourself and your future. Cost effective.

You have a wonderful opportunity at a Toastmasters Club to improve your speaking, communication and leadership skills for 25 cents a day. College and University courses are very expensive. You can spend thousands of dollars a year on just one course. The question is can you afford not to join Toastmasters?

Madeline Frank, Ph.D. is an Amazon.com Best Selling Author, sought after speaker, business owner, teacher, researcher, and concert artist. She helps businesses and organizations "Tune Up their Businesses". Her innovative observations show you the blue prints necessary to improve and keep your businesses successful. She writes a monthly newsletter "Madeline's Monthly Article & Musical Tips" and a monthly radio show "Madeline's One Minute Musical Radio Show". She has just published her new book "Leadership On A Shoestring Budget".

If you need a speaker contact Madeline at: mfrankviola@gmail.com