Saturday, March 13, 2010

What is Toastmasters?



Toastmasters is the world leader in helping people become more competent and comfortable in front of an audience - offering a proven – and enjoyable! – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

Most Toastmasters meetings are comprised of approximately 20 people who meet weekly for an hour or two. Participants practice and learn skills by filling a meeting role, ranging from giving a prepared speech or an impromptu one to serving as timer, evaluator or grammarian.

How Does It Work?

Toastmasters makes learning fun!

This non-profit organization offers a proven – and enjoyable – way to practice communication and leadership skills. Here's how it works
  • A Toastmasters meeting is a learn-by-doing workshop in which participants hone their speaking and leadership skills in a friendly atmosphere. A typical group has 20 to 40 members who meet weekly or biweekly to practice public speaking techniques. The average meeting lasts one hour.

  • Members learn communication skills by working in the Competent Communication manual, a series of 10 self-paced speaking assignments designed to instill a basic foundation in public speaking. Participants learn skills related to use of humor, gestures, eye contact, speech organization and overall delivery. When finished with this manual, members can choose from 15 advanced manuals to learn skills related to specific interests.

Why Join?

Survey after survey shows that presentation skills are crucial to success in the workplace. Many people pay high fees for seminars to gain the skill and confidence necessary to face an audience. Toastmasters provides an option that is less expensive and held in high regard in business circles. This organization has been around for more than 84 years and offers a proven – and enjoyable – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills.

You will…

  • Learn to communicate more effectively
  • Become a better listener.
  • Improve your presentation skills
  • Increase your leadership potential
  • Become more successful in your career
  • Build your ability to motivate and persuade
  • Reach your professional and personal goals
  • Increase your self confidence.

How you do it. . .


  • Build speaking and leadership skills with time-tested methods
  • Focus on areas of interest in our self-paced curriculum
  • Receive suggestions for improvement through constructive evaluations

Toastmasters programs are . . .


  • Inexpensive
  • Interactive
  • Convenient
  • Friendly
  • Supportive

 

What Toastmasters Can Do For You


Whether you work in a corporate environment or from home, whether you are a student or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining communication and leadership skills.

Become a Better Speaker


Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. By learning to formulate and convey your ideas, you open a new world of possibilities. You will be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations and you will improve your one-on-one dealings with others.

Become a Leader


Leadership is the art of persuading others to do what you wish. To succeed, you need to communicate, and you need to work as a team. In Toastmasters, you’ll do both. And you’ll find out how to vary your approach to suit the needs of different people, be they the audience for a speech, the committee for a fundraiser or your coworkers and managers.

It Really Works!


Don’t worry! Everyone in a Toastmasters club was once at the level you are now. The environment is friendly and supportive, and the self-paced program allows you to build confidence with each speaking assignment.

And you’ll love the applause! Constructive evaluation is the heart of the Toastmasters program. Each time you give a prepared speech, an evaluator will point out strengths and suggest improvements.

Learn to Lead – Guaranteed!


When you visit a Toastmasters club you’ll see more than people giving speeches. You’ll see members performing various jobs in the meetings that help them develop leadership skills

One of the tools Toastmasters use to learn about and practice leadership skills is the Competent Leadership manual. This manual, which all new Toastmasters receive as part of their New Member Kit, guides you through the learning process and focuses on leadership skills you can learn simply by serving in various meeting roles. Some of the skills you’ll learn as a member include: how to listen effectively, think critically, plan a meeting, manage time, facilitate a contest, motivate listeners, mentor a member and build a team.

The manual offers 10 projects. You will perform several meeting roles to gain experience and complete each of the projects. With each role you carry out, you’ll learn an aspect of the skill covered in that assignment. Most projects let you choose which roles to serve in.

For example, one of a leader’s most important qualities is to be able to listen effectively. Active listening helps you acquire information to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflict and be creative. There are several roles you can perform during a meeting to practice and develop your listening skills.

After you’ve served in a meeting role, a supportive evaluator gives you feedback on each role you complete in the manual. The evaluator will point out strengths and offer suggestions for improvement for your next role. And there are no deadlines for working through the manual. You complete the projects at your own pace.

Communication and leadership abilities are only a fraction of the skills you can cultivate in Toastmasters. Other opportunities include experience in marketing, public relations, event-planning and many more! You have to see it to believe it – visit a meeting today!

Sounds Interesting?


If you would like to join a club in your area, give us a call, or send an email. Is your company, university or organization large enough to support a club of its own? We can start one for you - just contact:

Nikhil Sheth
nikhil.js[at]gmail.com
9911-479900
VP Membership
JPKU Toastmasters Club, New Delhi
Website: http://www.wix.com/jpkutoastmasters/home
Blog: http://jpkutoastmasters.wordpress.com
Find our and other TM clubs' address on this map: http://tinyurl.com/delhitm

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