While the pen might be mightier than the sword, I believe in the power of the spoken word to transcend the quill and inkwell. I recently marked my six-month anniversary of joining Toastmasters, the non-profit educational organization that helps its to members improve their communication, public speaking, and leadership skills.
Joining this organization has been a phenomenal experience thus far. I have always been comfortable (and thrived on!) the endorphin rush from speaking in front of copious amounts of people, and the courage required to speak frankly and off the cuff. I have become more comfortable dealing with the challenges of difficult persons and situations in the business world, and in expressing myself with grace, ease, and eloquence. Over the past half a year, I have learned two very important things:
- I am a talented speaker
- I have so much more to learn
With a mixture of pride and humility, I am looking towards the future – achieving my CC (Competent Communicator) designation after my 10th speech (I am currently working on #6) and selecting my specialization of Story Telling. In the past 6 months, I have delivered 5 speeches, won a fair number of ribbons for “Best Table Topics”, participated in club and regional competitions, and spoken at the University of Waterloo.
Going forward, I am looking forward to exercising the power of the spoken word, and offering my advice and encouragement to those who are looking to improve their skills in this forum.
No comments