When I review a document, I am able to do a better job as Toastmasters has taught me to organize my thoughts effectively and also to see things from the point of view of the audience
When a speaker says something, analyze it. Wow that is a nice way to say it, or maybe he should have said it in this manner – it would have been more effective… In Table topics, we may think… Wow, that is a creative way to tackle the topic… what would I have done differently? We are getting tuned internally, consciously or unconsciously.
As speakers, we learn to know the audience, organize our thoughts, say it clearly, use speech tools like similes and metaphors, use our voice and body, use visual tools, persuade and inspire the audience. Over and above that there is a subconscious learning. Every time I write a mail or a document, or review a document, I automatically check to see if I have put my points clearly, whether I have highlighted the salient points, whether the words are simple and so on. We may have already known these principles, but putting them to effective practice is what we do in Toastmasters. By practicing them, these principles are getting ingrained in us.
Whatever we are learning here does not end with us. In some way or other, we are influencing our colleagues an even our families. I am not talking about saying, “Your diction, body language and vocal variety are appropriate, but the message is
getting lost” to your spouse. When I see a poorly written mail from a team member, I make it a point to send a feedback with pointers to him or her. When I review a document, I am able to do a better job as Toastmasters has taught me to organize my thoughts effectively and also to see things from the point of view of the audience. Our learning today may help us in reviewing the essays written by our kids. So it is not that we are learning something for today or tomorrow, but forever.
DTM Saro Velrajan is an inspiration for all Toastmasters in our District. He says that he joined Toastmasters for one reason only – to talk fluently in English. But by applying what he learned in Toastmasters at his workplace, he was able to become the Director-Technology from a Technical Marketing Engineer – 3 promotions in 4 years. He says that he attributes that to the skills he developed in Toastmasters.
We may not get the 3 promotions in 4 years, but the message is clear. We have chosen a path of learning, and that path has the potential to lead us to greater heights. Believe in it, and we can reap the rewards.
Let me conclude with a small exercise. Raise your right hands. Bend it. Now pat your backs. Congratulate yourselves for a decision well made. Keep Learning and Keep Smiling.
- Aravindan Kuttalam ,ACG,ALB