Leadership
Leaders head families, coach teams, run businesses and mentor others. These leaders must not only accomplish, they must communicate. By regularly giving speeches, gaining feedback, leading teams and guiding others to achieve their goals in a supportive atmosphere, leaders emerge from the Toastmasters program.
Confidence
Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to effectively express yourself in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retiree, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills.
Personal Growth
Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.
183
# of Clubs
2615
Members
0
Distinguished Clubs
5
New Clubs
Member Spotlight – Mitch Priestley ACB, CL
Q: What is your Toastmasters background?
A: I joined Marylhurst Toastmasters Club in January of 2010. I completed my Competent Communication manual in 11 days and quickly rose into leadership, becoming both club president and area director by July of the same year. During my tenure, both the club and area earned President’s Distinguished status.
Q: Why do you think you excelled so quickly?
A: I knew that, even as a volunteer, I was taking up a spot that would otherwise be occupied by a competent, diligent individual. The only way not to do a disservice to the organizations that I represented was to achieve excellence. If I failed to target excellence and achieve it, then I would feel that I should have stayed out of the way so that someone else could have done that for the club and for the area.
Read MoreToastmasters has provided a path toward who I want to be. I came to Toastmasters to learn how to communicate more effectively and I have stayed because it is so much more. Toastmasters has given me the opportunity to improve myself professionally and personally; it has given me avenues to gain experience where my career was unable, it has introduced me to amazing people I can learn from and it has given me a purpose: not only to learn and improve, but to give back to those around me.
Toastmasters taught me that leaders don’t have to lead, follow, or get out of the way. Leaders first have to follow, to learn the ropes and gain confidence. Later leaders lead, showing followers the ropes and helping them to gain confidence. Once the followers are ready, the leader gets out of the way. This is not an either/or proposition. Follow, lead, and then get out of the way.
The personal and professional growth I’ve experienced since joining Toastmasters has been … extraordinary.
Being a powerful speaker is the result of my participation in Toastmasters.
In 2005, I joined Toastmasters because I wanted my presentations to generate a greater impact on my audiences. A couple of years ago, I earned the highest award, Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM). If you want to improve your speaking, leadership and evaluation skills, you couldn’t find a better place to grow. This year is Toastmasters’ 90th birthday. Happy Birthday, Toastmasters!
Every Toastmasters Journey is going to be unique. Communication verbally is a practiced skill that is developed. It does not matter where you start, just start. A Toastmaster’s club is always a safe and comfortable place that you can make mistakes and improve.
You are surrounded by people who understand, because they have been in that position. Your fellow toastmasters get to see greatness in you before you can see it in yourself. Defeating your fear of speaking up and having the confidence to deliver a message that people can understand is an incredible feeling.
Toastmasters has inspired me to encourage others to join and grow their skills and become leaders or better leaders.
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