"Leadership Skills From Toastmasters"
By Hanh Chau, ATM(B)

We all join Toastmasters for one main reason and that is to help us improve on our communication and public speaking skills. Statistic shown that the number #1 cause of fear is public speaking for many Americans. Toastmasters is a place where we come to learn and enhance on our articulating skills and to overcome our fear of public speaking.

But how many people know that Toastmasters also help us to develop our leadership skills besides public speaking. Leadership skills can be obtained and learned from holding an office position in the club like serving a club president or sergeant-at-arms, or being an area and division governor outside of the club. Each step and position you fill will gives you with more learning opportunity and experience to further your professional and personal development. Why not take advantage of the opportunity when is given to you if means to become a better leader beside a speaker.

I can't emphasize the experience and leadership skills that I've gained from Toastmasters seeing myself from a shy person growing out of her own shell with confident and respect.
In addition, Toastmasters has taught me an invaluable lesson about leadership and recognition. My leadership involved being an area governor, division area had served me with the importance value of leadership is not about putting oneself at first, or the position but it's about delegation, management, team work, cooperative, and communication, and most importantly motivation. Recognition with appreciation should be shown to those who have put in their time and effort to help out. Like others say, " little things can make a difference if we seek the effort to recognize others." Leadership with motivation is what calls for inspiration that lead people into cooperative.

So, I encourage everyone to take on a leadership role because you will find out how much you will learn, grow, and improve, and can be part of the team member. We all learn things by doing it and so don't be afraid to volunteer. The experiences will fill you with rewarding, confidence, and respect knowing that you've done something good and positive when you look back…… like I did.

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