Just over a year ago I started a new job that has taken me out of the classroom for the most part. I have the opportunity to join a Toastmasters club through my employer. I am thinking of joining because I do not want my public speaking/training skills to get stale. I am hesitant to join because my last boss did not like Toastmasters because she felt it did not help people with the appropriate skills to be a trainer. I agree that the skills needed to give a speech and the skills to effectively lead a training session are different, but having never participated in a Toastmasters event, I don't know if Toastmasters would really be a waste of time. I consider (and have been told) that my presentation skills are above average. I believe what my last boss said, but she is also the type of person that if she received negative feedback from a Toastmasters session she would 1) never go back and 2) would carry a grudge against the organization. Can anyone give their opinions if they, or someone they know, has participated in Toastmasters?

Thanks!

I would strongly urge you to join a toastmasters group. The skills learned and practiced in a toastmasters meeting are most definately helpful and useful for training delivery.

In my opinion, it was not how to develop the speach, but more the time management, body positions, non-verbal interaction with the participant groups, delivery inflection, changing up delivery style to keep things interesting, and the awareness of filler words during the delivery. Just a slight improvement in your delivery in any one of these areas can make a marked improvement in the way participants respond and react to the training.

Just my opinion.

RichS,
I believe joining Toastmasters would be very beneficial for you. As stated in InNoVA91's earlier post, Toastmasters does teach you excellent skills. I will add that Toastmasters is more than just about speaking publicly.

Toastmasters is about communication. I will share with you two, quick expamples. First,the ability to speak "on your pins" intelligently and without prior notice is a critical skill for all aspects of a job - presentations, meetings or 1x1 discussions. Secondly, Toastmasters also will strengthen your command of language.

I encourage your to join and become highly involved. I did years ago and it has helped me tremendously in all avenues of communication.

I hope you found this helpful,

Best regards,

John92N

Toastmasters is an excellent way to build presentation and leadership skills. You learn how to run and manage a meeting, practice impromptu speaking, along with prepared presentations. I would visit different clubs, some are run and organized with slight differences that maybe more suitable to your already above average skills.

I agree that Toastmasters is an excellent way to hone presentation skills (including things like thinking on your feet, communicating clearly, etc.). However - I urge you to balance that with some type of coaching/study in facilitation skills... a good trainer gets the learners started in the learning and then steps out of the way to "guide on the side." Training isn't about presenting information - it's about helping people learn.