Toastmaster Journey Reflection - Leadership Skills

 Today, I will share – a reflection on my Toastmasters journey, which has been going on for over six superb years. I am doing this as Toastmasters International celebrates its 100 years of communication excellence.

I felt nervous when I entered this place in Oct 2017.

But the friendly faces of the people I met that night were inviting and they reassured me with nods and smiles... showing me that I had made the right decision by coming here!

I learned about Toastmasters in 2005, but I only visited as a guest on October 9th, 2017. I stayed as a guest for over 4 months. I wanted to see if I could attend the meetings every Monday evening.  When I was sure I could dedicate myself to this ardent initiative, I quickly became a member. I became a part of Toastmasters International in February 2018.

I am from India and studied in English medium from kindergarten to my master’s degree, but I was not confident speaking to anyone or a stranger. My virtual job since 2006, not because of the Pandemic, did not help me develop my public or regular speaking skills. I was more comfortable in virtual calls/meetings than in person. – Basically, I am an introvert. Even if someone talks to me, I usually answer in one word. But tonight, I am here in front of you, not as a terrified person, but as an example of how Toastmasters can change/transform someone.

My journey was full of challenges. It was very rough and tough… There were mistakes, hesitations, and the frequent "um" and irrelevant filler words. But with every meeting, every feedback, every supportive word from a fellow toastmaster, I improved step by step… I acquired skills and began to speak with confidence. Slowly, the fear turned into enthusiasm, the nervousness into thrill. 

There is a saying - You are greatly indebted to anyone who ever gave you confidence.

I will mention the names, without any order or preference.

Margie Jones, Barbara Snyderman, Dan Stahl, Miki Baker, Anand, Barb Johns, Beth, Jo Stante, Matt Goldberg, Rhonda Young, Hiro Takata, Rich Kouhoupt, Mohanan, Lorie Arnotte, Krystalyn Jones. Members from other chapters like Herb, and Stanford.

Whether they role-played with me in mock interviews or as an evaluator, grammarian, or timer gave constructive feedback for me to improve and polish my speaking skills. 

My dear fellow Toastmasters, this journey has been amazing for me. I have changed so much because of the Pathways program – Leadership skills.

 Today, I am here, thankful and honored that In Level 1, I learned how to start speaking in public with the Ice Breaker speech.

An icebreaker speech is a brief, humorous introduction.

I used this chance to tell my fellow Toastmasters something about myself. I still recall the topic ‘Home away from home’ - I talked about how I moved my family from India to the US more than 18 years ago.

Evaluation and feedback          

·       I also learned how to evaluate and give feedback, which helped me to improve my skills.

Research and Presenting

·       Effective research tells a story with facts, capturing your audience's attention. 

I remember presenting speeches on - Work work-life balance / Telecommuting /Multitasking 

Also used this platform to share about my loving mom, my first hero dad, my favorite grandpa… Fellow Toastmasters are curious to know about me, and the culture that I come from. I felt welcome and appreciated.  

In Level 2, I learned about time management techniques, an exploration of my own leadership style, and how to work with others... I realized that leadership was not a solo endeavor, but a collaborative one.

Understanding Leadership Style

At this level, you'll dive deeper into your own leadership style and explore how it affects your interactions with others.

TM mentoring

·       Mentors support and challenge, offering advice without dictating speeches, fostering independent growth.

In Level 3, I gained skills in project planning and execution. This was a very useful level for me, as I work in a field that involves projects...

Presentation Software

Used visuals that make an impact, such as images, charts, etc. instead of slides with too much text. Pictures can communicate more than words!

I presented speeches on Resume Writing / Tell me about yourself / Career walking Deck using PowerPoint presentation.

Prepare for Interviews - Mock interviews.

·       If you are seeking a job - Pay attention! I have done this exercise over 4 times... I have used this platform to get ready for my HR screening / Behavioral interviews.

·       Your mock interviewer and your evaluator can give you customized feedback on your answers, and total performance, helping you improve your strategy.

·       Best wishes to you!

I developed my leadership skills further in Level 4 by learning how to be an effective team leader.

Question and answer sessions.

In this program members and guests can ask questions about a particular topic.

Write a Compelling Blog - Becoming a Blogger - Toastmasters also motivated me to start blogging. Hence, I always blog all my speeches - https://suchiguna.blogspot.com/ ..

At last, in Level 5, I learned how to run successful events - from beginning to end.

Valuable Lessons Learned at Toastmasters

·       I discovered my hidden strengths and gained confidence in tackling new situations.

·       Communication is a two-way street. Toastmasters taught me the importance of truly listening to understand, not just to respond.

Prepare to speak Professionally!

This project is all about developing persuasive speaking skills and using them to influence your audience.

These electives allowed me to explore my areas of interest and develop skills that were relevant to my personal and professional goals. Sometimes, I repeated them to my advantage too….

 Through all these experiences, I have grown as a person and as a leader. I have learned to push myself out of my comfort zone, to take risks, and to embrace new challenges.

There are many benefits to being a Toastmaster, both personal and professional!

As many already know, I recently changed jobs from one company to another. It was a difficult change for me - looking for a job for the first time in 25 years in the US. To be honest, it was very daunting. I had official/technical skills from years of experience, but TM helped me to communicate, present, and demonstrate the skills I have. I'm glad I got into Microsoft on the first try.

I have a story to tell. Less than 4 months ago, I switched from a Delivery operation to a Sales operation. My manager messaged me and asked me to lead a process called ORB - opportunity Review board. I was not familiar with the details, but with the confidence given by TM - I replied, 'Sure Scott - I am OK to lean, learn, and lead' replied with a triplet! – the Toastmaster way!

People may think we are arrogant when we do not socialize, but we are shy to talk. Being a TM member changed me and the way my family and friends see me. It also gave me the confidence to do speeches and debates in my native language Tamil.

Thank you, fellow Toastmasters, for sharing this journey with me. I am privileged to be a part of this amazing organization, and I hope to keep growing and learning with all of you. This network of friends, mentors, and cheerleaders became my anchor, propelling me forward on my Toastmasters and career journey. And I am eager to see what this journey will bring me next!