Communication Track
Talking on track
Members who wish to focus on communication skills begin with the Competent Communication manual that’s included in the New Member Kit. Once they have completed this manual, they can progress to manuals in the Advanced Communication Series.
Competent Communication manual
The 10 speech projects in this manual will help you develop your speaking skills one step at a time. When you finish all of the projects, you are eligible for Competent Communicator (CC) recognition. Complete the CC application in the manual and ask your vice president education (VPE) to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CC certificate and, if this is your first CC award, two Advanced Communication Series manuals free of charge.
Advanced Communication Series
After receiving CC recognition, you can work in the Advanced Communication Series manuals. There are 15 manuals, each containing five speech projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented. You choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to learn. Working in the advanced manuals, you’ll refine and enhance your speaking skills and become eligible for several awards:
|
|
|
Leadership
Learn to lead with practical practice Members working in the leadership track learn and practice leadership skills by serving in club roles.
The Competent Leadership manual is the core of the leadership track. It features 10 projects, which you complete while serving in various club meeting roles. An evaluator will give you feedback on each project, helping you to improve. When you complete the manual, you are eligible for Competent Leader (CL) recognition. Complete the CL application in the manual and ask your vice president education (VPE) to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a CL certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.
Advanced Leader Program After earning the CL award you can further refine and develop your leadership skills by working in the advanced leader program. Members working in this program are eligible for Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB) and Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) recognition.
Advanced Leader Bronze (ALB)
- To be eligible for this award, a member must have:Achieved new Competent Leader award
- Achieved Competent Communicator award (or Competent Toastmaster award)
- Served at least six months as a club officer (president, vice president education, vice president membership, vice president public relations, secretary, treasurer or sergeant at arms) and participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving in this office
- While serving in the above office, participated in a district-sponsored club officer training program
Conducted any two presentations from The Successful Club Series and/or The Leadership Excellence Series
Advanced Leader Silver (ALS) To be eligible for this award, a member must have:
- Achieved Advanced Leader Bronze award (or "old" Competent Leader award)
- Served a complete term as a district leader (district governor, lieutenant governor, public relations officer, secretary, treasurer, division governor or area governor). A complete term is defined as having served at least from September 1 through June 30. Those assuming office after September 1 do not qualify as having served a full term
- Completed the High Performance Leadership program
- Served successfully as a club sponsor, mentor or coach
To apply for either of the Advanced Leader awards, complete the appropriate section of the AL/DTM application and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send your employer a letter about your accomplishment.
High Performance Leadership High Performance Leadership features five projects offering instruction and practice in such vital leadership areas as developing a vision, goal-setting and planning, developing plans and strategies, and team-building. It also gives you feedback on your leadership skills. The program may be completed within your Toastmasters club, area or district, and even within your company or community.
Perhaps you would enjoy taking on a project for your club or district while serving as an officer or committee chairman. Or, if you are an employee or supervisor in a business organization, you could do a leadership project related to the needs of your organization. Other possibilities include projects for your community, church, an association or professional group, or some other organization. Your project can be almost anything, so long as it is legal, ethical, and socially responsible, and your activities are not represented as being endorsed by Toastmasters International.
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) The Distinguished Toastmaster award is the highest our organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership skills. To be eligible for the award a member must have:
- Achieved Advanced Communicator Gold award (or achieved Advanced Toastmaster Gold award)
- Achieved Advanced Leader Silver award (or achieved Advanced Leader award)
To apply for the Distinguished Toastmaster award, complete the appropriate section of the AL/DTM application and ask your vice president education to submit it online to World Headquarters. You'll receive a plaque and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a letter to your employer about your achievement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
How Does it Work? |
Everyone in a Toastmasters meeting was once at the level you are now. The environment is friendly and supportive, and the self-paced programme allows you to build confidence with each speaking assignment.
- A typical club has between 20 to 40 members who meet either weekly, biweekly or monthly. An evening meeting normally lasts around 90- 120 minutes.
- There is no instructor in a Toastmasters meeting. Instead, members evaluate one another’s presentations, pointing out the strengths and suggesting improvements. This feedback process is a key part of the program’s success. Members also give impromptu talks on assigned topics, conduct meetings and develop their leadership skills.
-
We learn through the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience, an exciting, flexible and interactive way to develop your skills and help others in your club develop theirs. Pathways helps you learn communication and leadership skills that you need to succeed. It gives you:
- The opportunity to build up to 300 unique competencies
- 10 specialized learning paths to choose from
- Online content, so that you can learn anytime, anywhere
- Real-world, transferable skills
One thing that you'll love at Toastmasters meetings is the applause. At first you'll be applauded for your effort; later you'll be applauded for your skill.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Believe it or not, your chances of dying of stage fright are thanksfully extremely slim! You might feel as if you are dying on the stage, but chances are good your audience won’t even notice your wobbly knees and perspiring brow.
The first point to note about fear of public speaking is that it's very common. Even the best speakers were once terrified novices, and some top actors and performers still experience bouts of nerves (strong enough to make the ill in some cases!) before they go on stage.
What the professionals have mastered though is how to manage their nerves and channel that energy productively. The second point to note is that if they can learn such techniques, then so can you.
Here's where Toastmasters can help. The environment is friendly and supportive, and the self-paced programme allows you to build confidence with each speaking assignment. Constructive evaluation is at the heart of the Toastmasters Programme. Each time you give a prepared speech, an evaluator will poitn out strengths and suggest improvements.
The third and final point : if you're ready to tackle your fears now, come along to our next meeting and see how the programme works. Talk to our members and hear their stories of how they're overcoming their fears. Guests are welcome at every meeting and can come as many times as they like.
|
|
|
Why Join? |
Does the mere thought of standing up to say a few words fill you with fear?
If so, you’re not alone! Fear of public speaking is reputed to rank even higher than death! Whether it’s the upcoming wedding speech, an important pitch to a client, or simply making your point in a meeting of colleagues, it’s easy for the fear to take over – so that you don’t perform at your best. There are consequences for how you’re viewed by friends, family and your boss, with follow-on emotional and economic impacts.
So what would you like to do about it?
If you’re employed in a reasonable sized organisation, you might have already attended a presentation skills course. Whilst good, you might have found that the learning wore off quickly and you’re still not that much further forward. If you really want to tackle your fear, and also if you’ve not got access to in-house training, Toastmasters is the perfect answer.
Our wide network of clubs and their learn-by-doing programme are sure to help you become a better speaker and leader because you’ll be building your skills at a pace that you choose. And the regular meetings (typically twice per month) ensure you practice and develop your skills – just as you might build your muscles through regular exercise (well some of you might!).
Here are just some of the benefits of joining Toastmasters:
- Regular and constructive feedback from other learners as you practice organising your thoughts and presenting them clearly
- Access to a wealth of educational materials and resources on public speaking, listening skills and effective communication in conferences and meetings.
- A free subscription to the Toastmaster, a monthly magazine that provides insights on communication, leadership, club activities and other relevant topics.
Members quickly gain the skills that allow them to excel at job interviews, present humorous, informative or special occasion speeches or give powerful business presentations.
Come along to our next meeting to find out more and see it in action. Guests are most welcome and can come as many times as they like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|