Page 5 - Voices Decemper 2015

Toastmasters is Where
Leaders Are Made

by Gary Schmidt, DTM, PIP

Why did you join Toastmasters? You probably international officer,

joined for the same reason I did—to overcome all provided me the

a great fear of public speaking. Toastmasters skills I needed to be

is so much more than just helping us become a b e t t e r l e a d e r .

better speakers. A joyous revelation for me was Leadership skills are

how Toastmasters develops leaders. intertwined with

communication skills.
I joined Toastmasters Giving an amazing speech means nothing
2 0 y e a r s a g o . M y unless you have a purpose. We use our words
r e a s o n f o r j o i n i n g to inspire others to take action and make our
w a s s i m p l e — I w a s communities better.
unemployed. I was a

newly-minted college Soon after becoming a first-time club officer,

graduate yet I could I was promoted at my job with Senator Hatfield.

not find a job. The My supervisor asked me how I had improved

economy was pretty my leadership skills so quickly. In Toastmasters

good in 1995 so I can’t I proudly replied! I was now hooked on my

say jobs were scarce. leadership development. For me, it meant that

My communication I could progress more rapidly in my career.

skills were scarce. A
book about finding employment, a college Each leadership role in Toastmasters taught
professor and a friend all recommended I join me more about myself and how to be a
Toastmasters. I finally visited a club. I was successful leader. I learned how to organize
terrified. But I had hope that Toastmasters people and paper, create and oversee budgets,
might be the place where I could become a motivate volunteers, overcome conflict,
coordinate huge events, keep on top of the
better speaker and find a job.
details and offer meaningful feedback to others.

It worked. Six weeks after joining Toastmasters, And I kept getting promoted at work! I earned
I talked my way into a job with Oregon U.S. more money! Others were asking me where
Senator Mark Hatfield. I found my dream job they could learn these skills. I brought them
thanks to Toastmasters. What Toastmasters to Toastmasters!
provided to me in six short weeks was

confidence. Delivering speeches, offering
evaluations and thriving in Table Topics all As I kept learning more and more about
slowly built my confidence and demonstrated leadership, I kept progressing in Toastmasters
t o m e t h a t I c o u l d f i n d s u c c e s s a s a officer roles. I gladly served in Toastmasters
leadership roles for 15 consecutive years without
communicator.
a break. After serving the club, I became a

B u t t h e r e w a s m o r e . A c l u b m e m b e r district officer—Area Governor, Division
recommended I become a club officer. But I Governor, Lt. Governor Marketing, Lt. Governor
joined Toastmasters to be a better speaker! That Education and Training, District Governor (the
wise club member told me how being a club tiles were changed earlier this year).

officer would teach me valuable leadership skills
that would not only help me be a better speaker After serving as a district officer, I still had more
but also help me get promoted quicker in my t o l e a r n ! Wi t h a m o t i va t e d h e a r t , a n d
job. Bingo! That was what I needed to hear. encouragement from others, I served as an

international officer—International Director,

That moment was really the turning point in 3rd Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Senior
my Toastmasters career. Serving as a club Vice President and finally International

o f f i c e r , a n d t h e n a s a d i s t r i c t a n d President of Toastmasters International in

Volume 2 Issue 5 - DECEMBER 2015 5