Toastmasters is a fabulous organization full of many opportunities to further ones expertise at communication and leadership. We all joined for our own personal reasons, but they probably stem from a desire to better our skills and network with other business leaders. I personally wanted to get over anxieties associated with speaking in front of a group of people. Fortunately I was able to get involved with the board in the first six months of being a club member. It has made a big difference in the level of participation with the club allowing growth of talents that had yet to be properly understood. By being pushed to get up at every meeting as the Sergeant at Arms the anxieties of speaking to the group have become much more controllable. It’s also resulted in a change in perspective for how an organization is run and helped in the pursuit of competent leadership.
What can you gain from seeking a leadership position on the board? Ultimately you won’t know the answer to this question until you take the leap of faith to get involved. The time requirements are minimal and it’s an excellent chance to get to know some of your fellow club members better. The board meetings allow everyone to take part in the decisions of the club which helps each of us individually get the most out of the Toastmasters experience. By asking not what your Toastmasters club can do for you, but what you can do for your club your perspective changes from your own self perceived limitations to focusing instead on the strengths of the group.
Rob Laughlin
Sergeant at Arms
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