Coaching Presenting Skills With Toastmasters

Submitted by mauzenne on Mon, 06/27/2011 - 02:55.
in

This guidance recommends having any of your directs who present, and maybe even yourself, join and attend a Toastmasters Chapter.

We don't often recommend external sources for managerial development, but it's hard not to just bow low to an organization as effective a tool for managers as Toastmasters is. Toastmasters is probably the most effective quasi-professional member-driven voluntary organization we know of.

And why Toastmasters? Because presenting matters, and most of us just aren't very good at it. That said, it's not as if we're all naturally born with the skill, or that we're taught it well. Some schools in the US have started students presenting more…but there's very little instruction on it. (To be fair, though, let's not go the other way and just teach it without having young people do lots of presenting.)

A brief definition for those of you unfamiliar with Toastmasters International: TI is an international organization dedicated to helping people become effective presenters and communicators. There are over a quarter of a million active members all over the world, who generally meet in weekly or bi-weekly meetings. There are HUNDREDS of chapters in most of the major cities in the US. Over 200 in Chicago. There are 12 in Paris, and 25 in London. It's an incredibly LOCAL organization – local chapters meet and practice speaking, and that's about it. You go to TI to become a better presenter and communicator. There aren't service projects which are a big push for you to be "more involved." There are some small fees, and it's unlikely that you as a manager couldn't afford paying yourself for your team, let alone having your company do so.

The modern workplace has become much less vertical and formal than it used to be. More folks are expected to be able to present at all levels. (It used to be 95% of all presenters were managers). More folks know that they have to manage their own careers. Not as many know that results are where their career marketing starts…but surely folks know that others' impressions of them matter a great deal.

If you have directs who present, it's your job as a manager to help those directs be effective when they do it.



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mbaker's picture
Submitted by mbaker on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 01:26.

Couldn't agree more

Mark and Mike,

Thanks for devoting a cast to describing how Toastmasters can be beneficial to a manager and their directs.  I've been a member of a local community club for many years and have found tremendous value in it.  It has helped me not just in terms of improved speaking skills, both formally and informally, but increased confidence and better meeting facilitation skills.   Also, it's one of the most supportive environments that I've ever found myself in.  

Now a few of us within my organization have taken the first steps to starting a corporate club to benefit fellow employees.  Your recommendations will be useful as I talk to directs and present to other employees regarding the benefits of toastmasters.  

As I look at my professional growth and development over the past few years, I can honestly say that Manager Tools and Toastmasters stand out by far as the two programs where I have experienced the most tangible and measurable positive results.  Listening to this cast helped me realize how compatible the two are.   

If I can be of assistance to anyone out there even considering Toastmasters, I'm happy to help.  

Mike

artsmith222's picture
Submitted by artsmith222 on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 22:27.

I started the Toastmasters

I started the Toastmasters club at my company and it's gratifying to watch how people have grown, and the improvement in all aspects of their lives. The magazine itself, is worth the annual dues.

However, don't forget Toastmasters is also to become a better leader. There are TWO manuals, the Competent Communicator manual, AND the Competent Leader manual. The CL manual has you practice giving feedback, motivating others, and listening by taking on roles in meetings like being an evaluator, being the Toastmaster, or leading a club membership campaign. I have personally mentored our new club President from being chair of a speech contest, to VP of Membership to VP of Education, where she's had leadership roles that someone at her level would never get to show in the company.

jhbchina's picture
Submitted by jhbchina on Tue, 06/28/2011 - 23:59.

Even In China

Toastmasters has close to 200 clubs in China, over 40 in Shanghai alone. It is the most cost effective way to get your teams to practice their meeting skills, English while learning to be leaders. TOTAL Value!

 

JHB  "00"

joemeirow's picture
Submitted by joemeirow on Sat, 07/02/2011 - 03:17.

Toastmasters

 The knowledge presented about Toastmasters was mostly accurate but a little suspect in spots. I've been a Toastmaster for over two years, finishing my CC over 18 months ago. I was disappointed to hear Mark imply that once you have your "CC", your basically "done" and you can stop going to meetings. That's analogous to saying "well, I hit my target weight and fitness level, I'll stop going to the gym now".  No-ah-ah... that's not the way it works...at least if you want to retain your skills. 

canuck's picture
Submitted by canuck on Sat, 07/02/2011 - 05:02.

Toastmasters

Great cast, glad to see you recommend Toastmasters.  I haven't been a Toastmaster for a couple years now and I've been meaning to go back as my skills are slipping a bit (as Joe alludes to above).  Your cast has inspired me to do something about that.

Although Joe, I believe Mark just said he wouldn't recommend the Advanced series of Toastmasters Manuals- not that you're "done" after the CC.   Subtle difference there I think.  If a manager is recommending TI as a development tool, then specifying "complete the CC manual" is a perfectly reasonable way to measure things and set an objective.  Otherwise the development task doesn't have an end date.

A TI governor once told me that most people join Toastmasters and leave between 18-24 months later.  In other words, they do the CC manual and that's enough for them.  As great as Toastmasters is, most people don't stick around for the Advanced Manuals.  Their loss.

 

 

Bernie's picture
Submitted by Bernie on Thu, 07/07/2011 - 11:25.

Additional Options in Australia

If you are in Australia you also have the option of Rostrum Clubs. 

I found them through the book "The gentle art of persuasion - how to argue effectively" by Chester Porter QC.  They are also on the web.

The clubs I attend are lunch time and business focused - chairing meetings, prepared speeches and impromptu questions.

willisk's picture
Submitted by willisk on Thu, 08/04/2011 - 02:55.

Toastmasters

Great Podcast!  My membership in Toastmasters has helped me in my growth and development as a manager.  I gave a speech out of one of the advanced manuals last night and continue to be amazed at the level of feedback provided.  Not only do you learn to be an effective communicator, but you also improve leadership skills either as a club officer or by  following the leadership track.  Thanks again for an excellent resource

vbhill's picture
Submitted by vbhill on Tue, 09/20/2011 - 14:41.

Coaching presentation

Thanks for the toastmasters idea.  Here is a cool bonus that came from thinking about the necessity of coaching presentations (coupled with staff meeting recommendations).  One of my directs is remarkably good at presentation.  So I can coach her on a strength.  Once I began to think about coaching in that area, I noticed her particular capacity.