David ShostakInstructor, Coach, Mentor and Retired Senior Program Manager| RetiredMission Viejo, Ca, United States
Communicate, communicate, communicate. Communication is one of the most important things you will ever do. You need to communicate to the administration people, staff people, your team, your peers and executives. You need to learn how to communicate clearly, to the point and how to get your message across. Toastmasters will provide all the material and support to be a better communicator and presenter. Saving Changes...
Toastmasters is the best and by far easiest to develop your communication and leadership skills. It's like going to the gym, where you train and prepare yourself in a safe and feedback guaranteed environment for the communication and leadership challenges in real life.
I've completed the full path from CC (competent communicator) to DTM (Distinguished Toastmaster) before Pathways, and it's the best ROI I've had on any investment. It allowed me to start living up to my potential and grabbing life's opportunities. This year I'm restarting my path on Pathways.
I urge every PM to start attending sessions on a club close to you (maybe your local chapter has one) and take a leap of faith! It will pay off :) Saving Changes...
In PMI Angola we are preparing to launch a TM club within the chapter. Saving Changes...
Raymond MillerIndependent Professional Freelance Project Manager and Consultant| Self-EmployedNorth Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
I am the current president of the PMI Vancouver Toastmasters club, we are affiliated with the PMI Canadian West Coast Chapter (CWCC) and our members are able to claim PDU's while volunteering with our club.
I am working on a presentation that I might give at the CWCC Fall Conference outlining how Toastmasters has affected my Project Management communications and leadership style
I can also see how the Toastmasters Program could be a valuable asset in practice as beyond the base PMBOK training and academic learning. There are few opportunities to creatively practice the application of leadership principals and communication outside of the working environment where the cost of experimentation is much higher. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
I've been a Toastmaster for over 12 years. I've worked the heritage program and obtained the highest award, Distinguished Toastmaster. I am now enjoying the new Pathways program which offers so many differents paths and learning tools.
Toastmasters is my sand box. Saving Changes...
Warren SimonProgram Manager| DoDBaltimore, Md, United States
Yes we just started our own Toastmasters (Toastmasters International, or TMI) club here at work less than a year ago. Slow moving at first but ramping up. I really like the (exactly) one hour meeting format, the various roles that TMI has generated for each meeting, and just the general flow of the meetings. Very structured, but fun and engaging. And, most important, gives everyone who wants to a chance to practice their speaking skills, whether an entire 6-8 minute speech or a 1 1/2 minute "Table Topic", all of which is evaluated in a very constructive way. Saving Changes...
I did Toastmasters for a while. It was helpful in some ways, but eventually started to feel a little formulaic. I would still recommend it to someone with minimal experience giving presentations or uncomfortable in front of groups. Toastmasters provides plenty of opportunities to speak in front of people, get accustomed to time constraints when presenting, and clean up poor speaking habits (and, so, but, um, pregnant pauses...)
I'm considering joining the National Speakers Association, at the recommendation of a friend who is a professional speaker, to take my public speaking skills to the next level.
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1 reply by Kimberly Chatak-Nelson
Jun 02, 2019 3:58 PM
Kimberly Chatak-Nelson
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Aaron: I recommend you check out Toastmasters, again. The new Pathways (education) Program might be more valuable to you. Everyone chooses 1 of 11 paths, so you won’t experience every member following the legacy Competent Communication path. Variety will be more apparent and customization (optional projects) are a big part of each path. Some projects are not speeches. i.e. you might choose to write a blog. Evaluations are more customized, too, enhancing that aspect of Toastmasters.
(I’ve been a Toastmaster for 4 years.)
Saving Changes...
David ShostakInstructor, Coach, Mentor and Retired Senior Program Manager| RetiredMission Viejo, Ca, United States
Great to hear it is working for you. Hang in there YOU will only get BETTER. Saving Changes...
David ShostakInstructor, Coach, Mentor and Retired Senior Program Manager| RetiredMission Viejo, Ca, United States
If you become a student of what makes a great communicator you will learn the tricks of the trade and become a wonderful speaker. There are formulas but knowing what works for YOU and what does not will only make you better. Saving Changes...
Stéphane ParentSelf Employed / Semi-retired| Leader MakerPrince Edward Island, Canada
What Toastmasters does is first help you find your voice, then find your story. Saving Changes...
David ShostakInstructor, Coach, Mentor and Retired Senior Program Manager| RetiredMission Viejo, Ca, United States
I totally agree...and even more, after you find your voice and story. Saving Changes...
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