Toastmasters

I thought I would take this opportunity to post about an organization that has helped me tremendously as I prepared for and assumed a role as a nurse. Since 2003, I've belonged to Toastmasters, an international organization that helps people become better communicators and stronger leaders. I joined Toastmasters when I realized that I enjoyed teaching and I felt it would strengthen my presentation skills. In reality, it has done much more than that.

Most people familiar with Toastmasters will associate it with practicing prepared speeches. That's certainly part of it. But I honestly think that the real benefit for me has come in my day-to-day communication, rather than in the more rare instances when I teach or present.

Table Topics, which seemed like cruel and unusual punishment when I joined, is the portion of every Toastmasters meeting where members are able to practice speaking off the cuff in response to questions on a given theme. Now when I am able to comfortably answer unexpected questions from an administrator, a new parent or a nursing student, I know that I owe much of that ability to Toastmasters.

Evaluations are my favorite part of every Toastmasters meeting. That's the time when a member highlights a speaker's strengths and suggests opportunities for growth in the next speech. I won't suggest that I've been successful in confronting a physician's inappropriate orders every time, but Toastmasters evaluation techniques certainly make that confrontation much less difficult.

The good news is that, whereever you live, there's likely a Toastmasters club very near to you. Check one out! I hope you'll experience the kind of personal and professional growth that I have.