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| If you are like most people,
public speaking is not your favorite
pastime. Studies show that presentation skills are crucial to success
in the work place and employees with strong communication skills have a
clear advantage. There are many resources available to gain the skills
and confidence necessary for public speaking. See Effectively
Presenting and Communicating for more information. This month’s spotlight is on two internal CSC metro-area based chapters of Toastmasters International, a group dedicated to improving their presentation skills. Network Express, a chapter of Toastmasters, is based in Falls Church, VA, and holds their meetings at the Fairview Park Drive facility. President of Network Express, Joan Chambers (703-876-1003 or jchamb25@csc.com) welcomes new members to this chapter. The second chapter, based in Chantilly, VA, is called Get The Edge. Prospective members are encouraged to contact chapter representative, Kathy Fox (703-818-5761 or kfox3@csc.com). These chapters meet on regular schedules and enjoy camaraderie in their development of effective presentation and communication skills. Toastmasters International provides a friendly environment for business professionals to improve their speaking and leadership skills through mentorship, practice, constructive feedback, and educational materials. Employees face endless exchanges of ideas, messages and information on a daily basis with internal and external customers and co-workers. Through the organization of local chapters, Toastmasters International provides the tools to help build more confident and effective communicators, at a minimal cost. Through participation in Toastmasters, members learn to give better presentations, effectively develop and present ideas, and offer and receive constructive feedback. For more information on Toastmasters International visit: http://www.toastmasters.org/. Below, Toastmasters members from CSC share examples of how Toastmasters has helped them: “Many people come to Toastmasters with an enormous fear of public speaking. They tell me they get physically sick when they have to speak. We let these people know they are not alone in their fear and we were all in their place at one point. Some members tell me that they wanted to join our club because they did not feel intimidated or pressured in any way. I have seen people who said it was impossible for them to give a speech become excellent speakers.” “My Toastmasters club is the only place I've found where I can go to develop my interpersonal and public speaking skills in a friendly, nurturing environment. While the club has standards and formal evaluations, which are needed for personal growth, it is not as formal or intense as a work or class setting. This makes for a safe learning environment where "mistakes" are merely opportunities for improvement. I really enjoy meeting my fellow Toastmasters twice a month. It is a place where we all gather to become better people.” “Through the caring environment that Toastmasters provided, I gained the ability to speak without the fear that I would pass out. I learned not only to speak, but to listen, which has helped in family situations as well in my profession.” “I like to hear new Toastmasters tell why they joined the club. I decided to join after I missed an opportunity to share some thoughts at the funeral of the mother of a long-time friend. I decided to seriously participate in Toastmasters and to complete the Certified Toastmaster program. Now I feel comfortable in helping someone by getting up to speak. The skills I acquired at toastmasters allow me to take advantage of an opportunity that lasts just a few minutes and will never come back again. I hope to take advantage of such a time in the future.” “Toastmasters' training has provided me with the self-confidence and the tools needed to present my ideas succinctly and cogently to management and my peers. These tools have helped me create satisfying and productive interactions and achieve a higher job satisfaction.” |