Getting Better With Age

I recently had a birthday, and although I hate to admit it, I don’t feel as spry as I once did. That happens when you get as old as I am. But guess what? Toastmasters is even older. Is the organization a mere shadow of what it once was? Or has it improved with age?

When it’s my birthday, I like to sit down and reflect on where I am now and where I am going. Let’s do that with Toastmasters.

When I first joined in 2006, I saw plenty of opportunities. And I have grown a lot these past 18 years. But, with that growth, do I still see those opportunities in Toastmasters? The answer is yes. Here are four ways Toastmasters has gotten better with age.

Continued Value of Speaking Skills

The key benefit for all of us within Toastmasters, since day one, has been to improve our communication skills. Whether you are in a corporate environment, running your own business, or even retired, having good speaking skills is always of great value. Two years ago, I worked with several political candidates for state and local offices. They did not have any speech training and it showed. But what if they had been working on their speaking skills all along? What if they had been members of Toastmasters? They would have been much better prepared for what was ahead.

Maybe you have started to hone your speaking skills but are no longer feeling challenged in your current club. There are many advanced clubs throughout the organization where you can connect with more experienced speakers. With the wide availability of hybrid and online clubs, you can take advantage of expert advice from afar.

Increase in Confidence

Gaining confidence is another area that has long been a benefit of Toastmasters, and that hasn’t changed. We talk a lot about confidence in our speaking, but having the confidence to take on leadership roles is another way Toastmasters has helped people.

I recently sat before my county commissioners to interview for a position on the board of a local committee. That is something I would not have considered doing a couple of years ago. Although my confidence came from an accumulation of responsibilities over time, it started with Toastmasters, and my club and District leadership experiences.

Opportunities for Growth

One aspect of Toastmasters that has increased since the early days are the different ways to challenge yourself. That is true in both the speaking and leadership areas. Look at the leadership page of your District website and you will be amazed at how many ways you can get involved. There are support positions available in addition to Area, Division, and District Director roles.

If you are more focused on the speaking side, you can challenge yourself by entering speech contests. Participating in contests has pushed me forward more than any other aspect of Toastmasters. The initial challenge of competing at the club and Area levels gets you moving. But when you compete at the Division and District levels, you not only grow in your speaking skills, but you also grow your mindset as well.

One last challenge: If you are seeking to distinguish yourself in the public speaking arena, the Accredited Speaker Program will provide a greater challenge for you. The program’s criteria drives you to become better at your craft so that you can compete in the marketplace.

Career Connections

The final area I would like to highlight is that of career growth. If you work for a corporation, you probably have professional growth opportunities within the organization itself. But those opportunities also abound for those of us who work for ourselves, and Toastmasters can help with that.

My Toastmasters contacts have introduced me to other connections within my local county and state. I am on a first-name basis with three county commissioners and four state legislators. In addition, I have been selected to serve on the board of our local museum. This will challenge me at a higher level and expand my network even further. Where will that take me?

Every one of my current responsibilities and opportunities can be directly traced back to my Toastmasters involvement. The organization continues to be a springboard to new and better challenges.

So, is Toastmasters slowing down with age? On the contrary, the opportunities are only increasing and expanding at this 100-year-old organization. Where will it take you?

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