Does anyone think it\\'s weird to spend reach meeting practicing speaking skills, yet the Toastmasters motto \\"Where Leaders Are Made\\" focuses more on leadership than on public speaking? Perhaps you thought it was some sort of remnant from a previous iteration of the program, or that Toastmasters is trying to be something that it\\'s not. Or maybe that it shows where we\\'re going, and we haven\\'t yet arrived.
No, the motto is accurate. Perhaps it\\'s not visible to the person attending our club meeting, but in order to be a good speaker in Toastmasters, you need to be a good leader.
A leader is simply a person that others follow. Taking it a level deeper, in order to attract followers, a leader has to have a goal and be able to remove obstacles. They have to motivate others to support the goal, nurture others to succeed, and coordinate others top accomplish the shared vision. Life provides access to resources to help them succeed. Every person\\'s definition of success is a little different, and the milestones for accomplishing success in life are set by the leader. A leader is more effective when they communicate clearly. The message you send someone when you speak is not the message transmitted but rather the message that the listener interprets. So you see, public speaking is just one component of being a great leader.
Toastmasters provides the shared vision of becoming a good speaker, as well as access to resources to help a member succeed. Timelines are set by the member, and through educational programs the member learns from peers how to achieve the shared vision.
For example, mentors are available to assist members with understanding what resources are available to help them succeed, but a mentor is not a parent, or a manager, or a peace officer. Mentors provide advice and guidance. The consequences of not following that advice are life consequences -- either you don\\'t succeed or you have to find your own way to succeed.
Toastmasters\\' educational program to become that leader is the Competent Leadership manual. Not just volunteering for roles -- filling a role will only take you partway. By focusing on developing specific competencies as you fill meeting roles, you will develop the skills to pursue your goal and become a more confident speaker.
\\"Where Leaders Are Made\\" boils down to this:
We\\'re all here to assist you as you pursue your own goals. We won\\'t pursue them for you, but with good advice supporting you and great communication skills, others will follow your lead, regardless of your title. That is what will make you a leader.