Owen was known to be technically competent, performing and due for promotion but he lacked the ability to connect with people and unable to lead project teams.
His friend Claire, who is a Toastmaster, invited him to their club meeting. He reluctantly said yes. He sat at the corner and quietly observed the proceedings. Unlike Claire, who willingly gave a Table Topic (impromptu) speech during her first meeting, Owen never said a word but just “Hi!” with a shy smile.
After the meeting, he whispered to Claire, “I want to join. How can I be a Toastmaster?” The following meeting, he delivered his Ice Breaker speech, the first prepared speech project of a Toastmaster. Months went by and now he is on his way to completing his first path under Pathways, the new educational program of Toastmasters. (More about Toastmasters at www.toastmasters.org.)
Recently, Claire spoke at their officers’ meeting and said, “Remember Owen? He is now more open and happily shares his technical know-how to his colleagues. He now willingly takes the initiative to lead project teams, presents reports confidently, and gets along well with his workmates.”
That is a glimpse of the growth story of Owen in his communication skills. It was clear that he needed training, he needed practice, he needed an avenue to do so. Then came an invitation to which he responded to. And the results came in and will continue to come as he stays and continue to open himself up to learning, to growth, to development.
In your own journey of growth now, I do not know if you are like Owen or Claire. You can be both.
You can be like Claire who have grown her skills and you are called to invite people like Owen to a journey of growth. You can also be like Owen and you are being invited now to an enhanced learning experience. Whichever character you are in, the key is to respond to that call, to that invitation to keep on growing your skills – in communication, in leadership, in life.
Go for it! Because you may be due for promotion but something is limiting or hindering you – that could be your communication and public speaking skills.
I’m inviting you to join us for a Public Speaking Seminar and Book Launch on September 1, 1-5pm. Registration is now open with the Early Bird Rate at P497 (until August 17). Sign up now at www.chrisdaoanis.com/Speak. Your registration entitles you to a seat to the seminar, snack, certificate, and a FREE copy of the book ‘SPEAK: How to Craft and Deliver a Speech or Presentation.’ Register now before it goes up to a higher price. You may also register at Occasions Party Needs Shop, Mabini Shopping Center, Upper Mabini Street, Baguio City. For inquiries, you may text us at 0945-761-6577.
(Chris Dao-anis, CPA, DTM is a communication & leadership trainer, inspirational speaker, and author. SPEAK: How to Craft and Deliver a Speech or Presentation is going to be his fourth book.)
