5 Ways Toastmasters helps you excel in this Agile World!

The Toastmasters experience can immensely benefit our colleagues to excel in this Agile World!

Our work environments have changed considerably over the last few years. Earlier, our colleagues in the Production / Delivery Units were well shielded from Business or customers; but in today’s Agile ways of working everyone is expected to interact with customers as part of daily stand-ups, present updates, actively contribute in the discussions, and even take on additional roles periodically. I have observed this to be a daunting task for some of our team members. Although exceptionally smart on the technical front, they fail to impress with these soft skills – primarily due to their inability to communicate effectively! I believe that the Toastmasters experience can immensely benefit our colleagues to excel in this Agile World!

Toastmasters started in a very simple setting to help youth perfect the art of giving small speeches (like Toasts etc.) and get confident with public speaking. Due to its humble beginnings, the members of the club would rotate their roles, thus giving a well-rounded experience with all aspects of organizing a Toastmasters’ meeting as well. As it grew in popularity across the world (142+ countries) the structure of Toastmasters got more standardised with each activity providing a unique value.

Here are 5 ways in which Toastmasters can help you excel in the Agile world and lead the new ways of working.

1. Master your presentation skills: This is core to the Toastmasters motto! Members progress through their Toastmasters’ journey by successfully delivering speeches leveraging tools and props effectively and getting confident at public speaking, one speech at a time!
2. Get creative at every step: They say creativity is contagious! And this can be creativity in speech, arrangements, topic selection, humour, etc. As you observe your friends it eventually rubs off on you and becomes second nature.
3. Think better on your feet: A crucial skill in every Toastmaster role and activity, especially the Table Topics section. To speak on a random topic for 2 minutes you need to be spontaneous, creative and an expert presenter. 
4. Hone your leadership skills: Toastmasters provides numerous opportunities to learn and hone your leadership skills - as part of the Club Management Committee, Meeting organising Committee and particularly as meeting evaluators. One has to be attentive through the speech / meeting, spot the right areas for improvement and provide the feedback in a constructive manner and within a brief time frame. So one has to be knowledgeable, crisp, genuine and pleasing to listen to – all crucial skills for leaders!
5. Get inspired: As we listen to speeches, anecdotes, life stories shared by friends and colleagues we learn so many new things. This has a lasting impact on us and inspires us at a personal level!

Toastmasters teaches us to value time and communicate effectively. It provides a platform for complete personality development.

Additionally Toastmasters teaches us to value time and communicate effectively. It provides a platform for complete personality development – the core essentials in today’s ways of working. We also meet new friends and forge some great relationships. I believe these are 5 crucial skills that will help you and our colleagues overcome the fear of public speaking, participate actively in (Stand-up) meetings and customer interactions and contribute innovative ideas to the team! If you notice a confident and effective communicator in your team, do check if they are a Toastmaster – there is a good chance s/he would say Yes!

Infosys is amongst the earliest corporate to embrace and promote Toastmasters in India. We have a Toastmasters Club in all our development centres in India and 2 international clubs in Shanghai and now in Melbourne. Our leadership and HR Team are fully committed to this initiative and see this as an efficient corporate tool for personal and professional development.

I encourage you to attend the next meeting at your nearest Club and start seeing the improvement right away!  

Just remember you do not have to speak if you attend the meeting - that’s the biggest fear in people’s mind. Come over for a good time, to cheer your colleagues, hear some great experiences and make some new friends! And if you do not have an Infosys Toastmasters Club near you then walk in to any other club nearby. All clubs very warmly welcome guests!

See you at the next Toastmasters meeting!