No Action Talk Only: Overcoming NATO with toastmasters

Toastmasters occasionally get a bad rap. Some people believe that because we are into public speaking, we only know how to speak and cannot execute our plans.

That is totally UNTRUE! Having participated in toastmasters activities for 5 years, I've realised that No-action, talk only (NATO) is the very antithesis of what it means to be a toastmaster.

Toastmasters emphasises ACTION
When you join toastmasters, you don't only join a club that teaches you public speaking. You have to LEARN and GROW by actively participating in doing your speech projects from the very first ICE BREAKER all the way to your final speech INSPIRE YOUR AUDIENCE in project 10 of your basic leadership and communication manual.

I personally improved my public speaking not because I sat around and listened to my seniors practice their speeches. I improved because I prepared, wrote and delivered at least 30 speeches so far. I have done 10 speeches from the basic communication and leadership manual to attain my Competent Communicator title. I followed up with my Advanced Communicator Bronze by doing another 10 speeches: 5 from each of the 2 advanced project manuals of inter-personal communication and story telling. I have also completed my 2 advanced project manuals covering speak to inform and the entertaining speaker and need 1 more educational presentation before clinching my advanced communicator silver title.

Taking up appointments in an executive capacity in the club also helps develop one's organising ability. Toastmasters action oriented portfolios include being the Vice-President Education where you have to plan out programs for all the toastmasters meetings plus other events. Helping out in the other roles such as sergeant-at-arms, Vice-President (VP) Membership, VP Publicity, secretary or treasury also helps one develop skills in recruitment, logistics, public relations and writing minutes.

Toastmasters Lead by Example
I have encountered many entrepreneurial toastmasters who have written books, set up their own education and training businesses and who are their own bosses. I have also seen many other toastmasters volunteering their time, effort and energy in organising various toastmasters programs, conferences and contests all without any form of tangible remuneration.

The end result is that I am inspired by many of the men and women I met during my toastmastering and believe that it is through interactions with these self-motivated individuals that will help me maintain my DESIRE to learn new things and to become better every day.

If you share the same DESIRE to improve yourself, to focus on being a better public speaker, in challenging yourself to become a better speaker, leader and manager, consider a stint in toastmasters, you'd be simply amazed by the results!

Speak well, live well.