Go for the Gold!
You've struck gold!
Imagine a gold miner from the turn of the last century. He’s been digging in a mineshaft deep in the heart of a mountain and has filled one of his pockets with gold ore. When he feels the weight of the gold in one pocket, he decides he has enough wealth and leaves…abandoning a gold strike worth many millions. After all that hard work, does it make sense to walk away before claiming the entire prize? Of course not! Sometimes, it seems Toastmasters do the same thing.
You may have belonged to a club for a little while and you’re progressing toward improved communication and leadership skills. With this improvement, you may notice more appreciative comments from co-workers and bosses. You may even receive a promotion. At that point, you decide you’re “too busy” to attend further club meetings. But what have you walked away from? Could there be untold wealth that remains untapped?
It’s time to consider further gains in your personal and professional lives:
- A member with improved networking skills may continue to improve communication with family
- A strong presenter may learn more about the art of speechwriting
- A great speech reader can practice presenting memorized speeches
- Great with pauses? How about eye contact?
- Great with eye contact? How about vocal variety?
- And much, much more…
Earning a Competent Communication award is a wonderful step! But it is simply a first step on a road that can lead you to mastering the art of communication and leadership. Some members see only the glitter of the Communication Track in the Toastmasters experience. But what might you miss if you never try the Leadership Track?
- Finding the courage to conquer new challenges, including “stage fright” before subordinates or a team?
- Time management skills?
- Project planning and guidance?
- Dealing with difficult people or challenging relationships?
- Setting a goal for a team and guiding the team to achieve that goal?
The benefits of joining Toastmasters start almost immediately: improved communication, improved relationships at work, improved job performance and improved leadership skills. All that is great! And it’s even better when you continue working to improve…and find that you can claim the entire prize!