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Talking the Talk
by Wendy Lee
I learned the hard way that it's not enough to simply know your job well; it's imperative that you are also able to present yourself well.
When I first became a library manager, I was interviewed by the local newspaper. I was caught off guard near the end of the interview when I was asked what I was going to do about "the terrible image the library has in the community." I was shocked by the question, and didn't know what to say! I ended up stammering that, of course, that would be a priority. When the paper came out later that week, imagine my surprise when the article stated that the new manager's top priority would be improving the library's bad image!
Now, that's not precisely what I said and not at all what I meant, nor was it the professional image I wanted to project. I decided then and there that I would never again allow myself to be placed in that type of situation. I needed to learn how to think on my feet and become a more polished speaker, so I signed up for Toastmasters that very day.
Toastmasters Tips
I quickly learned that Toastmasters is more than giving speeches. It has taught me to present myself professionally in a number of ways. Not only am I more comfortable speaking in front of groups, I have learned to collect my thoughts before speaking, to prepare a speech depending on the purpose of the presentation, to think on my feet, to be a better listener, and to be a better leader. I am also learning to improve my body language, eliminate bad speech habits, and increase my vocabulary. Lastly, but most importantly, the weekly meetings offer important networking opportunities. Many members of the community - people that you might not expect - are members of Toastmasters.
As you might imagine, giving speeches is a large part of the weekly Toastmasters meetings. Generally, two or three speeches are given at each hour-long meeting. That means that, depending on the size of the club, each member gives six to twelve speeches per year. Each speech in the Toastmasters manual focuses on different aspects of speaking. The first speech is the icebreaker, which simply helps the member stand in front of the group and talk about him- or herself. Subsequent speeches focus on how to organize the speech, how to improve body language, how to improve eye contact, how to use humor in a speech, and so on. By the tenth speech, members are feeling more confident and their skills have improved dramatically. However, it is not unusual to have club members who have been members for twenty or thirty years. They realize that there are huge benefits to continual practice. Besides, the meetings are fun and informative!
In addition to speaking, club members are asked to perform various additional duties that also help them to present themselves professionally. One such responsibility is to evaluate the speeches of other members. This helps us to become better listeners, as well as to offer constructive criticism with huge doses of positive feedback. The goal is to recognize the effort and growth of each member while giving them inspiration to continue to improve.
Another feature of each meeting is Table Topics, which allows several members of the group to speak extemporaneously. One by one, as many members as time allows are asked a surprise question often based on a theme for the day, from childhood memories to gun control and everything in between. The individual called upon then must speak for one to two minutes about this topic. This helps us learn to think on our feet, as well as to change the subject smoothly when needed. This is the skill I wish I had mastered prior to my newspaper interview!
Finally, Toastmasters offers many opportunities for its members to learn more about leadership and take on leadership roles. The monthly magazine frequently has informative and inspirational articles about leadership, in addition to other topics. In addition, members of each Toastmasters club are encouraged to take on leadership roles in the organization, both locally and regionally. Each meeting offers leadership roles as well. The meetings are member-led, so responsibilities rotate. For example, members may serve as the emcee of the meeting (referred to as the Toastmaster), evaluate a speech, give a speech, tell the joke of the day, or offer a new vocabulary word for the day. There are many different roles, which help members continue to grow in a variety of ways at each meeting.
Integrating Skills
All of these skills are important aspects of presenting yourself professionally, whether you are a job applicant going through an interview, a children's librarian doing story time, a reference librarian answering a tough question, or an administrator presenting your budget to the city council. Everyone who interacts with people can benefit from the improved communication skills, higher confidence levels, and increased professionalism that membership in Toastmasters can provide. To find a Toastmasters club near you, go to http://www.toastmasters.org. If there is no Toastmasters club in your neighborhood, colleges and community education programs often offer public speaking courses. Sign up for one of these options, and you will be well on your way to presenting yourself more professionally!
Wendy Lee is currently the manager of the Brainerd Public Library in the north woods of Minnesota. She is also Vice-President of Marketing for the Paul Bunyan Toastmasters Club.