In the Real World...Good
Toastmaster is Easy to Find! By Craig
Harrison DTM
Manuals have been written about
how to be a Good Toastmaster in our
clubs, at contests and within our districts. We read, practice and are continuously improving as
communicators and leaders in our Toastmaster environment.
As I travel the
world at large I constantly meet strangers who turn out to be
Toastmasters. It's not because
they greet me with "Mr. Toastmaster, fellow toastmasters and welcome
guests" or applaud out of reflex in airports, train stations, conferences,
meetings or worship when others speak.
It is because of their values, the way they carry themselves, and their
can-do spirit. Here's a travel
guide to help you identify Toastmasters...wherever you find yourself.
A Good Toastmaster:
Spreads recognition
around. They've received their fair share
of attention but prefer to recognize others for their achievements. They exemplify the notion that it is
better to give than to receive.
Often in a business meeting or at a conference I'll see a participant
excel at this activity. Invariably I find out she or he is a Toastmaster!
Helps others feel better about
themselves: Good Toastmasters
know a kind word, an encouraging word, a show of support or private vote of
confidence can mean the world to another.
It becomes second nature for them to nurture others, whether strangers
in conversation, colleagues in a work environment, or young people they've come
in contact with.
Jumps in when needed: They see the need and fill it. Good
Toastmasters don't wait to be asked or told what to do, they take
the initiative, at work, in transit or at home. Look around.
The people biased to action, who are doing instead of watching...they're
Toastmasters.
Comes prepared in
any situation: Good Toastmasters are in full command of their faculties and can follow agendas while also
deviating from them as the occasion warrants. Good Toastmasters carry these
skills wherever they go. They're
resourceful and adeptly apply their communication and leadership skills
wherever they need them.
Can ad-lib adeptly: GoodToastmasters don't need a script to
know what to say, what to do and how to act. They rely on their natural instincts, honed in Toastmasters
meetings and events. Good
Toastmasters live "in the moment."
Of
course, there's one more reason why Good Toastmasters are easy to find...they're the ones wearing their
Toastmaster pin!
So remember,
your Toastmasters experience helps you stand out from the crowd: whether at
work, in family situations or even on vacation. The skills and confidence you've gained from Toastmasters
are portable they go where you go, and can be drawn upon at any time. Meanwhile, keep your eyes and ears open
for fellow members, you'll find them wherever you go!
Professional
speaker Craig Harrison, DTM, is a charter member of Pro
Toasties #7146-4 in Redwood Shores, California and, as a good
Toastmaster, visits new clubs wherever he travels, domestically and
internationally.