Posted by Dorothea Stuart
When did you join Toastmasters? I joined in 1998 when I was in Saudi Arabia. I joined the Kohinoor Club and then Desert Speakers as well. In those days I attended 2 meetings every week.
Why did you join? I got bulldozed into it! I was extremely shy and didn't think that public speaking was my thing at all. I found it helped me build confidence very quickly. I came out of my shell. I could communicate my ideas better and also talk to people at parties.
What happened next? In 2002 I was back in England and joined Riverside Communicators in Twickenham. I became a founder member of Trojans Speakers in 2005. Over the years I have kept working at my communication awards and also taken almost every club committee role as well as being Area 29 Governor.
What has being on club committees taught you? I have learned that leadership is initially about creating energy as well as momentum and then moving behind so that others can move forward and develop. Looking back I can see that public speaking is only 10-15% of what I've gained at Toastmasters. My greatest learning has been around leading - encouraging myself and others to achieve more. I've also developed great tolerance and much better listening skills!
In what other ways has becoming a DTM helped you? It may sound cheesey but Toastmasters has changed my life. All the skills I've gained have helped. For example, practising evaluations means I'm better at giving appraisals at work and teambuilding. Being General Evaluator has helped me appreciate the good things in life and not just look for what needs improving. The art of giving commendations has helped me be a good father and Sunday school teacher. Table Topics is useful because children have a knack of asking such a wide range of questions, at awkward times.
What would you say to someone starting out in Toastmasters? Use the three Ds. Discipline: attend meeting regularly and participate every time. Dedication: learn at every meeting and don't limit yourself to just gaining public speaking skills. Determination: If you ever feel you've got stuck just push through, take all feedback in your stride. Be determined to make a difference for yourself and others.
