In a couple of weeks, Toastmasters International will be holding their yearly International Convention. One of the key highlights of the convention is the International Speech Contest - where winners from each District compete for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking.
Judges will chose one person who started the contest at their club level, along with thousands of other contestants who started the contest at their club, mostly in the last 6 months.
However, many Districts are already warming up for the next cycle of contests. My home organization, District 26, holds contests twice a year. In the fall, we have 2 contests that go up to District Level - usually Humorous and Evaluation contest, though every now-and-then they will switch out Humorous for Tall Tales. In the Spring, they hold Table Topics with International Speech Contest. The Table Topic goes up to District level. International, as I mentioned before, goes on to the International Convention.
I was one of those people who was not in a rush to compete in a contest. Yet, I knew I wanted to do more with Toastmasters beyond my club. At first, I helped as a functionary. As VP Education for my club, I decided if I was going to ask my members to take part in the contests, I needed to show them I was willing to step up to be in the contest as well. I was surprised to be selected over another person to represent our club in the Evaluation Contest. I wound up representing at Area and Division.
I was very nervous about being in a contest. But I found it was so much more valuable that I could have imagined! I learned a lot about myself and the Toastmasters process. I learned how much more I still needed to learn in Toastmasters and it gave me a much better focus about what I could gain and give in my club.
I was a very different person between the Area Contest and the Division Contest. By the time I went to the Division level, I found I had a giant boost in my confidence. I still felt the nerves, but I felt much more in control of them, and they didn't distract me or stay with me like they did at Area.
6 months later, I pushed myself to take on the International Speech Contest. Yes, in spite of the greater confidence, I still wasn't sure about being in front of a group of strangers, competing. But I knew with my idea of wanting to help serve in the District, I had a limited window. Again I went on to Area and Division. At Division, I stopped - I had gone over on time. But the strength I gained from the process was amazing and invaluable.
From there, I felt the confidence to take on a higher role in the District: instead of going for Area Governor, I went for Division Governor, and was voted in.
Before the contests, I was one of the people who rarely added much in the officer breakout sessions, and avoided being the person to speak in from of the TLI group. I usually needed 6 weeks between speeches to be able to recharge and work up speeches.
About 9 months after taking part in my first contest, my gauge of personality had swung from being solidly in introversion to being solidly in extroversion. Yes, I still need to recharge now and then, but it is rare. Now, not only am I comfortable speaking up in groups, I look forwards to my next speech, and feel lost if I don't get to do a speech for more than a couple of weeks. Instead of being a person who avoids speaking in front of the group for a TLI, I am a person who wants to speak in front of the group. I am comfortable leading officer break-out sessions and come up with my own educational sessions.
I realized today where my strongest skills lie. People look up to me as a leader. I have done very well as a leader. But I still have some more stills to work on for being a great people leader. My skills are much more about educating and inspiring people. I get the most emotional reward from those aspects.
To my surprise and amazement, I have become a very strong speaker. Anyone who knew me even 10 years ago would have no idea that it was even possible. I took a number of baby steps, at first on my own, then as being a leader in an outdoor hobby, then with Toastmasters. However, the giant steps came when I took part of the Toastmasters contest. They can help cause the biggest growth in the Toastmasters process.
I know it is hard, and scary and emotional. Those are all okay, because the personal value gained by trying yourself with the contest process. Don't wait until you are ready. Do it now to get your value and perspective!
