Thinking of a “new” New Year’s resolution! How’s your speaking ability? Does it need improvement? Would you like to learn new skills for public speaking? Need more leadership skills? Then let me tell you my story to help you decide if you would like to give yourself a boost!
Two years ago, when I first became a REALTOR, I had a secret that I knew would hold me back! I was a smart educator with a Masters degree, with a “hidden disability” for holding myself back! I was “extremely shy” since childhood, due to a young childhood illness! I always learned quickly by visual & kinesthetic means. In other words, I learned by reading and doing.
Shy people tend to be online socially! I’m connected on every social media I can find and probably more online than any of my Realtor co-workers in the Saint John, NB area. Shy people tend to avoid groups of people and usually try not to attend any activities that involve massive amounts of people where they are forced to communicate verbally. Social media is there savor and are very computer savy.
Knowing I had to come out of this dilemma I searched my options to see if I could learn the social skills to come out of “my shell”. I learned that there was a weekly program called “Toastmasters” where I could learn the skills to work on speeches, face-to-face social skills and leadership skills.
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization that began in 1924 at the YMCA in Santa Ana, California. They currently have 250,000 members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries and are still growing. There is a nominal fee to join Toastmasters International, but you automatically sign up for their monthly magazine on improving your speeches and leadership skills.
I joined 1-1/2 years ago and went to the Saint John Monday weekly meetings. This group is very sympathetic with any of their members and they all have various reasons for attending the group. Our group has had members that have been their over 10 years and brand new members. Our group has the following weekly positions to be done: Sergeant-At-Arms, Chairman, Invocator, Toastmaster, Table Topics, Timer, Ah Counter/Grammarian, Quiz Master, General Evaluator, Joke Teller & 2-5 Speakers, 2-5 Evaluators for each speaker. Some weeks we could have 1-2 positions to do, which helps us multi-task meetings.
My first manual to work on was the “Competent Communication” which is a practical guide to becoming a better speaker. You have to finish 10 speeches at your speed of choice to receive a recognition diploma that is also sent to your employer’s broker. The 10 speeches you have to complete are: The Ice Breaker, Organize Your Speech, Get to the Point, How to Say It, Your Body Speaks, Vocal Variety, Research Your Topic, Get Comfortable with Visual Aids, Persuade With Power and Inspire Your Audience. Usually the Ice Breaker is the first speech you give to introduce yourself. The other speeches can be given in any order. After you give a speech the manual has a section that can be filled out by the evaluator on the good and improvements that can be worked on. Evaluators usually change for every speech you give. They are two times that you will get a “standing ovation” in the group; the 1st speech and the last speech you give within each manual.
On December 1st, 2009, I received my “Competent Communicator” recognition diploma for finishing my 10 speeches.
Yesterday, I received my new Toastmasters package to work on my Advanced Communicator Bronze (ACB) manual. I have to finish three manuals with 5 projects in each manual, with a total of 15 speeches before I receive my Bronze recognition. There are also 15 manual choices; The Entertaining Speaker, Speaking to Inform, Public Relations, The Discussion Leader, Specialty Speeches, Speeches by Management, The Professional Speaker, Technical Presentations, Persuasive Speaking, Communicating on Television, Storytelling, Interpretive Reading, Interpersonal Communication, Special Occasion Speeches and Humorously Speaking. I have chosen: Persuasive Speaking, Storytelling and Humorous Speaking.
I can tell you that most of my shyness has been eliminated and that I now have the confidence to speak to anyone that I come across. This confidence was also reinforced due to all of the areas I've lived in across the world! After this training, I learned my strengthens & weaknesses and look forward to the future.
Recently I was given the title of VP of Public Relations for the Saint John Toastmaster's group and I'm going to love the challenge of this job. I will be getting former training in the next week, from Toastmasters International on what the job consists of and plan to be the best VP this club has ever had.
If you are one of those shy individuals that need that extra “kick in the pants” to be more successful, here is more information for you to get started:
Toastmasters International
P.O. Box 9052
Mission Viego, CA 92690-9052
(949) 858-8255 – phone
(949) 858-1207 - fax
Our local information for the Saint John area is:
Saint John Club (# 1479, District # 45) Established: 03/01/1954
Trinity Church (rear entrance on Charlotte)
115 Charlotte St, Saint John, NB
(506) 693-2019
e-mail: contact@saintjohn.freetoasthost.org
Website: http://saintjohn.freetoasthost.org/index.html
Ann-Marie,
Congratulations on overcoming your shyness. What a wonderful thing you have accomplished. Happy New Year!
I have had a Toastmasters brochure on my desk for the past nine months! I'm glad to hear your testimonial that it actually helped you! I can feel tears forming whenever I have to speak in front of a group! Maybe I will give them a call!
Hi Jeana,
It's a definite confidence booster! ;>))
Hi Kristyn,
Check out the website also, it has many other books & tips for improving your speaking and leadership skills. Let me know how you like it! ;>))
Hi Ann-Marie ~ Thanks for sharing this and congratulations - it's really quite the accomplishment. I did Dale Carnegie years and years ago but never knew that much about Toastmasters. As an extroverted introvert it's probably something I'll consider at some point.
Liz
Ive heard great things about TM. I have also learned from other network groups where we speak to the audience on a regular basis and it has definitely improved my frontline communications. Congrats on your achievement!
Ann-Marie
Sometimes I get caught in large crowds and I really have to focus on my objective. What an excellent read. Thank you.
Hi Elizabeth,
Dale Carnegie was also suggested to me, but i didn't have access to it over here in New Brunswick. I do like your title as a "Extroverted Introvert"... Have a wonderful year in Massachusetts!!! ;>))
Hi Craig,
I try to learn everywhere I can get information! Speaking, speaking, speaking is probably the key to overcoming any speech difficulties anyone has.... Have a great prosperous mortgage year!!! ;>))
Hi Tom,
Hope that helped you!!! I think all of us have some level of "stage fright" that we have to work on... Have a FANTASTIC year and I'm looking forward to reading your blogs... ;>))
I ran in to a much different problem and I can't seem to find a group for it. I am great in front of large groups and love it, but get me in front of a group of only 4 to 5 people, I can't come up with a thing to say. One on one I'm fine, two or three I'm fine, but much larger up to about 10, I'm fresh out of speech.
Hi Todd,
Definitely check out the Toastmasters' International Link above (or at the end of my blog). I'm sure they have places in the City of Portland, Oregon. I used to live there and with the amount of people now, I'm sure you could easily go to a few of their meetings and find 1 Toastmasters' group you will flourish in. Good Luck!!! & " GO VIKINGS!!!" ;>))
Ann - marie - My brother in law joined toastmasters some time ago and felt it did him a world of good
Every toastmasters group I've been to is always about 30 people and that I have no problem with, it brought me back to my days of being a DJ. Very hard to find a group of 10 that wants to stay only at 10, but if they are out there, I hope to find them soon.