OK! So I didn’t win first place at last night’s Toastmasters Contest in my local Golden Gavel (GG) Richmond Hill Club, but I didn’t set out to compete to win. I solely wanted to enjoy the experience and learn from actually doing it!
It’s hard to believe from the shy girl I’d been at nineteen that I’d be standing in front of any crowd and have the guts to evaluate a speaker, and win third place. But that’s what happened last night. Toastmasters is a not-for-profit organization with thousands of clubs across North America and the world. Any adult over the age of 18 can join (at a very small fee for the value one gets) a local club, practice their speaking skills, even meet like-minded souls and make great contacts. I’ve always enjoyed meeting people, I get recharged in big crowds, unlike my reserved Englishman of a husband, who feels drained after a party. At my GG Club I’ve learned so much about myself and the opportunities of expanding my business and social skills. I truly believe that networking is the heart of us all; personally, socially and for business.
So here I was wondering if I should rather stick to winning the small prizes and pats on the back in my weekly meetings, and not embarrass myself by entering a contest that was for the ‘real’, more experienced speakers. After all, even those who are gifted with the talent of entertaining and inspiring, and using their persuasive skills can sometimes have a brain freeze. Or a mental-pause moment! Then where would I be?
But I’ve always believed in the addage of “nothing ventured nothing gained”. To me this means constantly getting out of my comfort zone, even with my heart hammering away like it’s about to explode like a Valentine massacre mess within me. So I committed to participate in the contest. The Evaluation Contest is where a target speaker (a guest Toastmaster) delivers his or her speech, and we the contestants have 2.30 minutes to 3 minutes to give our impressions and how we felt the speaker could improve on the delivery and the speech content. The timing is crucial, as one of the important things we learn at Toastmasters is being punctual and keeping to the allocated time. I believe this makes us more effective as speakers and businesspeople. One gets disqualified if going over 3.3o minutes. Pressure, pressure.
But I reminded myself that this was for fun, whether I placed first, second or third was inconsequential; the practicing of the learned skills among friends and like-minded fellow Toastmasters was the most important thing. And it was a great experience. It’s such a different perspective when standing in the front of the room, on the stage, than when one is sitting in the audience, giving silent, written evaluations.
So I’m encouraged to I jump in regularly, and take every possible opportunity to speak in front of people, and when I talk, I teach, I share and I learn…. constantly. So we’re ALL WINNERS!
So, are there any fellow Toastmasters or fellow public speakers out there who’d like to input your own opinions and share your experiences, good or bad, embarrassing or envigorating? Share with us on this blog! Be our guest and teach us!
See more about my love for public speaking in these two links:
http://www.tanyafreedman.com/publicspeaking/speechsamplesbytanya.html
http://www.tanyafreedman.com/publicspeaking/firstimpressions.html