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What Is Toastmasters?

If it has been suggested to you that you should join Toastmasters to improve your public speaking, you’re probably wondering who or what Toastmasters is. Toastmasters had humble beginnings back in the 1900s as a club to train young boys and men in how to make a speech, how to face an audience and how to express their thoughts clearly.

The organisation grew rapidly and by 1999 they had 170,000 members in 68 countries and by 2016 they had more than 16,000 clubs throughout the world. To find out much more about Toastmasters, keep reading.

What Exactly Is Toastmasters?

Toastmasters is a non profit organisation that teaches public speaking and skills in leadership via a network of clubs spread all around the world. Toastmasters is based around local chapters or branches and typically meet for around an hour every week or every other week.

An average sized club has around 20 members and members can take on various roles within their club. These roles include; Ah counter, grammarian, time keeper and more besides.

Members give organised and impromptu speeches and get feedback on their speeches from other members.

Toastmasters also holds the World Championship Of Public Speaking which is one of the biggest speech contests in the world. Every year thousands of members from more than 100 countries compete for the title of World Champion Of Public Speaking.

The competition runs for several months and ends at the Toastmasters International Convention where 28 semi finalists compete for the title and award.

A Brief History Of Toastmasters

Toastmasters International was founded in October 1924 by Ralph C. Smedley in Santa Ana, California. Smedley, an education director at the YMCA, established the organisation as a small club where young men could learn to speak in public, conduct meetings, plan programs and work on committees. The concept quickly gained popularity, and new clubs began forming across the United States.

In 1930, Toastmasters became a non profit educational organisation, and by 1932 it had expanded beyond California. The first international club was chartered in British Columbia, Canada in 1935, marking the beginning of Toastmasters as a global movement.

Today, Toastmasters International has over 16,000 clubs in more than 140 countries, helping individuals from all backgrounds develop their communication and leadership skills through a proven, supportive program.

Here’s What You Should Know About Toastmasters

Let’s look at what you should know about Toastmasters so you can decide whether it’s for you or not.

Where Do Members Come From?

People from all walks of life join Toastmasters including estate agents, corporate business men, and even stay at home mums who just want to become more confident when speaking in public. Each individual has their own reason for joining and their own perceived flaws that they would like to improve.

Some members join to be better prepared for an upcoming boardroom presentation, aspiring stand up comedians join to feel more comfortable about standing up and speaking in public, others join to improve their performances at job interviews. Whatever your background, there’s something to gain.

What Will You Gain From Joining Toastmasters?

There are several advantages in joining Toastmasters which include;

• Public speakers join to find out what material works
• Nervous people join to gain enough confidence to speak in public
• Others join simply to practice their speaking in front of others
• You can practice planned speeches and unplanned responses
• Give and receive helpful feedback
• Learn by taking part
• Improve through feedback
• Build meaningful connections with like minded people

However, it’s not just for public speakers, in fact many members aren’t public speakers or aspiring to become one. Toastmasters isn’t specifically for those who want to become public speakers (although it will help if you do). It’s really for anyone that wants to be better at speaking in public.

It’s an easy way to speak in front of others in a friendly space where you will get honest feedback on your speech. You will also receive coaching, instruction and above all else, you’ll be able to practice your public speaking.

The idea is to keep attending the meetings, keep speaking and trying the different roles in the club to gain confidence and feel much more at ease whenever you do need to give a speech either at work or at another more formal gathering.

A Quick Word About Leadership Opportunities

You’ll also find plenty of opportunities to develop your leadership skills. Members can take on club officer roles such as President, Vice President of Education, or Secretary. 

You can even rise through area, division, and district leadership if you want to challenge yourself further. It’s a fantastic way to grow not just as a speaker, but as a leader too.

How Are Toastmasters Meeting Structured?

Toastmaster meetings tend to vary slightly from chapter to chapter but the general format tends to be as follows;

The meeting lasts for around 60 minutes or thereabouts and has three major sections which are, impromptu speaking (also known as Table Topics), prepared speeches and formal evaluations.

Impromptu Speaking (table topics)

During Table Topics, a member who has prepared a list of topics (called the Table Topics Master) presents a topic/question and calls on someone to speak about it on the spot. That speaker then has 1 to 2 minutes to respond.

Prepared Speeches

A few members (typically around 2 to 3) present a prepared speech in front of other club members for a set time period which can be anywhere between 5 to 15 minutes. They can present a speech on any subject they like but should be within Toastmasters guidelines.

Evaluation

Each prepared speech is evaluated by a designated member who provides positive, constructive feedback. This helps the speaker recognise their strengths and identify areas to improve.

Other Meeting Roles

Once the evaluation of the speeches has finished, three more members give their reports on different technical points. These three are; the Grammarian, the Ah Counter and the General Evaluator.

The Grammarian

The Grammarian highlights any grammatical errors or opportunities to improve word choice and clarity.

The Ah Counter

The Ah Counter tracks filler words like “um,” “ah,” and “you know,” helping speakers to communicate more clearly and confidently.

The General Evaluator

The general evaluator gives a general comment on the whole of the evening and offers some advice for future improvements.

The Vote

When all of the above has been completed, all of those attending the meeting can vote for the speaker they feel gave the best performance during their presentation. It’s a fun and encouraging way to acknowledge great performances.

The Pathways Learning Experience

Toastmasters uses an educational program called Pathways. This allows members to choose a learning path based on their interests and goals. With 11 different paths to pick from, including Presentation Mastery, Leadership Development, and Persuasive Influence, you can tailor your learning experience to suit your personal or professional needs.

Each path is broken into levels that increase in challenge, helping you build your skills step by step.

Education Opportunities At Toastmasters

Toastmasters also offers an Accredited Speaker Program designed to support professional speakers. To apply, you must be a current member, have given at least 25 non Toastmasters speeches over the last three years, and hold the appropriate education award.

If Toastmasters are looking for a professional level speaker, they’ll be directed to the Accredited Speaker profiles. There, they can browse all the Accredited Speakers who’ve chosen to share a profile and get in touch with you about potential speaking opportunities.

Once you’ve earned the designation, Toastmasters International will work with you to gather your details and put together a professional profile that highlights your skills and expertise. When you’re happy with it, your profile, along with your contact information, will be published on the website.

Awards & Recognition

Toastmasters offers various awards as you progress through the Pathways program and take on leadership roles. The highest recognition a member can achieve is the Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award. 

This prestigious title recognises a high level of accomplishment in communication and leadership. It’s a great long term goal for those who want to challenge themselves and mark their Toastmasters journey with a significant milestone.

Is Toastmasters Right For Everyone?

While Toastmasters is a great resource for many, it’s not for everyone. Some people find the structured format a little too rigid and might prefer a more casual setting. Others might feel that the pace of progression is too slow if they’re looking for more rapid development. 

However, the flexibility of roles and paths means most people can find value if they give it a fair try.

How To Join Or Visit A Club

If you’re curious about Toastmasters, the best way to get started is by visiting a local club. You can search for one near you using the Toastmasters International Club Finder. Most clubs welcome guests to attend a few meetings before deciding to join, so you can get a feel for it with no pressure.

And if attending in person isn’t practical, many clubs now offer online or hybrid meetings, giving you the flexibility to join from anywhere.

Ready To Give It A Go?

If you’re looking to build confidence, improve your communication, or develop your leadership skills in a supportive and welcoming environment, Toastmasters might be just what you need. 

Whether you’re preparing for a big presentation, hoping to speak more confidently at events, or simply want to challenge yourself, there’s a place for you at a Toastmasters club. Why not visit a meeting and see for yourself? It could be the first step on a truly transformative journey.

SEE ALSO: How To Take On The Grammarian Role At Toastmasters

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