Successfully Speaking

Ever listened to someone speak, marvelling at how smoothly they conveyed their ideas without an um, ah or pause? Ever observe a peer speak at a moment’s notice with poise and eloquence? Ever marvel at that individual in a business meeting that accurately makes a motion for a decision to be made? Ever envy the facilitator of a meeting for their ability to preside over the proceedings, keeping the meeting on track and on time? Are you nodding? Are you thinking, “yes! I want to be able to do those things!”?

For the women of Successfully Speaking Toastmasters Club - business owners, Mount faculty and staff, and women from the community employed in various organizations - these are just some of the skills that they have been honing on a bi-weekly basis for the past two years. Each club meeting is run as a business meeting with a chair, there are prepared speeches delivered by members, and there is feedback given throughout the meeting . You might say that Toastmasters embodies the 4-H motto of “learn to do by doing”.

Members take turns at each meeting doing different roles so that they learn how to chair a meeting, deliver a speech, or evaluate a speech. The interesting thing is that feedback is given through the use of various evaluators: there’s someone listening and counting how many times people say um, ah or those other filler words that we so often use when speaking; someone else is listening for the proper use of grammar; there’s another person timing the various parts of the meeting to keep it on track and on time. (You’ve probably been in a meeting or two in your past where you’ve wished that the chairperson had better time management skills!) There’s a ‘word of the day’ and members are encouraged to use it when speaking during the meeting so that they can build their vocabulary.

The Centre got involved in Toastmasters in 2009 at the suggestion of a member, because it provides an opportunity for women in business to develop the communication and leadership skills and confidence that are so important in managing a business. With support from the Centre, Successfully Speaking was launched and continues to meet on the Mount campus on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Why not try out a meeting and see what it’s like to learn hands-on. Visit www.successfullyspeaking.ca for more info or email the club.