"If you really are into the topic you're talking about, you will become very passionate." Rafael Castillo, in our Toastmasters member spotlights

We would be lost if we have to count all the members that have joined our Toastmasters club since its inception in April 1993. However, few of these faces and voices had a second round in the traditional lectern of our sessions (and later, in each of our screens). And this is the case of our fellow Toastmasters, Rafael Castillo. After an in-person member experience with our club in 2012, and once back to his home in Lima, Rafael embarked on a search and belonging in several local clubs until the pandemic allowed him to challenge geographical limitations and thus to rejoin remotely our group.

In a new edition of our Toastmasters member spotlights, we got the chance to talk with a global citizen—born in India, half-Peruvian, half-Austrian—who has found in the IDB Development Speakers Toastmasters Club a safe and friendly place to put in practice his public speaking and leadership skills. We covered the times when he used to attend our regular sessions while he was working at the Inter-American Development Bank, and of course how he has re-engaged with Toastmasters during these virtual times while working in Peru as an international banker for the Export Development Canada.

What brought your attention to joining an organization as Toastmasters??

I always wanted to develop my public speaking skills. I was seeing different people giving speeches that were very well elaborated and they were talking to diverse audiences, and I picture myself there as well, giving a great speech. And the second reason is in my current job, where I'm often asked to give public speeches. I've been invited to certain conferences as a panelist where you have to speak to a wide audience, and I definitely wanted to become more proficient when delivering a speech.

With so many clubs around the world, how did you get to know our group?

Back in May 2012, when I was working at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C., I saw an advertisement in the cafeteria, and I wondered what it was. Then, I heard from a former boss that the club was amazing and that I should give it a try. It was during lunchtime, so I wouldn't lose much time. I went and I really liked it. It was very collegial and I liked how welcoming and well-structured the sessions were. I immediately noticed that it was the perfect setting for me to improve my skills. I started joining as a guest until I said, "Okay, listen. This is a perfect opportunity to become a member. Why not?"

And a couple of years later, you asked yourself that question once again. How was that experience of rejoining Toastmasters and our club?

When I moved back to Lima by mid-2014, I visited different local clubs but none of them compared to the great energy of the IDB Development Speakers Toastmasters Club. The pandemic has been terrible in many aspects, but in this case, it was a great excuse for me to rejoin this amazing club, which I did in September 2020. Interestingly enough, this time I’ve been much more active than during my first membership when everything was in person. To be honest, at that time, I didn't attend as often as I do now. I had to travel a lot as well, and thus, I wasn't able to give many speeches. In my second stint as a member, I’ve tried to always have an active role during our sessions.

Speech: Simple concepts to live a fulfilled and happy life. May 13, 2021 /?Min. 18:01

What a story to rejoin our club in virtual times! What do you miss from the face-to-face meetings? And what changes have impressed you so far?

Obviously, if you're standing in person, in front of the audience, it gives you a completely different feeling. However, being able to join the club virtually is still very good because the dynamic is exactly the same—you still keep on learning a lot and keep on improving your public speaking skills. The only part I miss is the chit-chat, the opportunity to get to know more the members before or after the session happens. From that first experience to nowadays, I've noticed a very positive development and evolution in terms of making this club appealing, not only for the existing members, but also for potential new members that are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity. Hopefully, I get to invite some of my friends or even family to join the guests.

Going back to the remote sessions, do you have a tip in terms of public speaking?

Keep distractions away and try to focus on the session. Last but not least, try to dress up as if you were attending a real meeting.

We know that each Toastmasters session is unique: its participants, content, vibes... But in general, what do you like the most from our meetings?

I really like that there is always something new to learn. It can be the different and interesting topics that are being presented, about the person when they introduce themselves while giving their icebreaker, or even something else. I also enjoy the Table Topics session, when we practice our impromptu speaking skills. It's always fun to participate—you need to be very creative, speak without preparation. And then there’s the word of the day, which is great way to expand our vocabulary.

Speech: Tech-pendency. June 17, 2021 /?Min. 17:38

Please share with us something that you learned in Toastmasters and that you are applying in your day to day.

Whether it is in my personal or professional life, I try to provide effective feedback by using the Toastmasters sandwich methodology: Provide a piece of positive feedback, then identify an area for improvement, and then follow it with another positive comment. Giving constructive feedback is always helpful for the person giving the observations, but also for the person receiving them. It's so important to start with the positive aspect. It really is a game changer, and obviously, you don't try to stick on something very negative, but you always try to articulate it in a positive way for improvement.

And do you have a story about a barrier that you faced while giving a public speech? If so, how did you solve it?

Once, I was invited to a big conference and I had to speak about a topic I didn't actually know a lot about. But I took the opportunity to speak because that's something I always do. So, I went to this conference about gas, something I know relatively little about. I did my homework and beefed up my knowledge a lot, including about potential questions. However, when a question was asked that was kind of technical, it was like black out to me. It was a really difficult question. I was silent and didn’t know how to respond. But then, after breathing and taking a very short break of one or two seconds, I tried to rephrase the question, which is always a great way to gain a bit more time to think about how you are going to respond. And, I responded in a very general way that was actually good enough for the question I was asked.

In your opinion, what distinguishes a speech as unique and impactful?

The topic needs to be interesting to you. And once you’ve identified an interesting topic there are two elements that are super important. It's the authenticity of the speaker, and it's the passion. To be authentic, you can't fake that. I mean, you really notice an authentic person. And if you really are into the topic you're talking about, you will become very passionate. And that passion translates in your looks, in your voice, in your body language. And that together, the topic, the authenticity, and the passion, makes a difference for sure.

Last but not least, as you know, the other learning component of Toastmasters is leadership. What makes good leaders?

A leader is someone that can inspire others, and is who can also deliver trust. Good leaders are great communicators, they are authentic, and they show empathy.

Thanks Rafael for sharing your Toastmasters experience with us!

You can also be a part?of this great human group, and thus of the Toastmasters magic.?Join our next virtual session!

The?IDB?Development Speakers Toastmasters Club?is dedicated to fostering excellent communication, public speaking and leadership skills?through feedback and practice in a fun and supportive environment. Our Club is sponsored by the IDB Staff Association and we follow the methodology of Toastmasters International, being an official club since Apr. 1, 1993.        

MORE TOASTMASTERS MEMBER SPOTLIGHTS!???? Read the stories of Sonia Vadillo,?Guillermo Cabrera?and?Hanna Churay, and what other?members and friends?had to said about our club.