The cons of Toastmasters
Do you remember the first time you had a big disagreement with your mother? Not that little skirmish over your curfew. You were upset, but not my dear mommy.
I’m talking about your first big fight. The one in which your blood boiled. The one in which you proclaimed your adulthood. The one who took her off your Christmas card list!
Yes, that.
I’m sure that image is very vivid and clear in your mind. Do you remember all the emotions you experienced? If it was something like mine, then you were stunned, confused, upset, livid, and 100% sure you were right.
This is how I feel when I sit to the right of this article. I feel like I’m arguing with one of my parents. Toastmasters is the organization that sparked my interest in public speaking. Toastmasters has shaped me as a speaker and leader.
In theory, Toastmasters is great. In practice, Toastmasters fails quite a few people. Read on for my take on the CONS of the great organization known as Toastmasters.
Good boy society
The average Toastmaster is a very personable and well-meaning person. They smile from ear to ear when commanded, provide encouraging feedback, and will go out of their way to make you feel at home. This personality is generally good for an organization like Toastmasters.
The desire to be friendly often overrides the need for good feedback. Attending Toastmasters meetings has given me the opportunity to experience the extremes of public speaking. I have experienced a small number of high-quality presentations. These were met with rave reviews.
I have also heard several gruesome speeches. These were also met with rave reviews.
I see that frown now, so let me explain. I think it’s great that Toastmasters encourage each other. It’s great that we want people to keep thinking positive. It can even be noble to protect people from the painful reality of their weaknesses.
There is only one problem with that. When you perform poorly in the real world, you find out right away. People give Toastmasters their hard-earned federal reserve notes. There should be an obligation to provide a valuable speech assessment, not the most popular speech assessment.
Lose the cheese
You have to be incredibly mature to put up with Toastmasters. Meetings can be almost cheesy. Sometimes I have to check and make sure I am not at a National Clappers Society meeting. Every meeting has a part that looks like this:
Toastmaster: “Will all of our guests get up and talk a little about them? You, there in the green shirt, we’ll start with you.”
Green Shirt Guest: “Hi, my name is Chris and I found out about your group in the newspaper. I decided to come and see it!”
Toastmaster: “Let’s give Chris a round of applause!”
* Standing ovation *
Toastmaster: “You’re there in the purple shirt. I’ve seen you here before. Stand up and tell us about yourself.”
Purple Shirt Guest: “Hello, my name is Samantha and I have wanted to join for a while. I have come several times and have finally decided to take the plunge. Today is my first day as a member!”
* Standing ovation *
Toastmaster: “Now I’ll have the helpers stand up and say what they will do today.”
Table Topic Teacher: “I’m the Table Topic Teacher and my job is to provide spontaneous speaking topics.”
* Standing ovation *
Grammarian / Ah Counter: “I am the grammarian / Ah Counter and my job is to make sure that no one destroys the English language”
* Standing ovation *
Timer: “I am the timekeeper and my job is to make sure we are on time with each and every speech.”
* Standing ovation *
Toastmaster: “Any other announcement”
Member: “My cat made the transition from wet food to dry food!”
* Standing ovation *
Toastmaster: “That’s great. Let’s get this meeting started.”
After all that excitement, the meeting begins. Some people say it’s good and it boosts morale. I say it’s over the top and gives the meeting the gloomy feel of a recovery support group. It starts to get a little cheesy when the fireworks go off because a cat is now eating dry food.
* Standing ovation *
No participation standards
Toastmasters can do wonders for an energetic and passionate personality. From day one I was able to put my feet first and reap the rewards. I made sure to participate in every meeting. I have always volunteered to speak, participate in table settings, or play a role in a meeting. As the days, weeks, and months went by, I witnessed myself growing by leaps and bounds as a speaker.
There were other people who joined at the same time as me and got absolutely nothing from it. They never made a speech. They never participated in table themes. They never took on a role. They never did anything. As a result, they did not receive any benefits from the program.
Most outsiders view Toastmasters as a structured class that will teach them the ins and outs of public speaking. When they realize that Toastmasters is anything but they often turn around and run away.
Toastmasters is a very flexible organization. You talk when you want. You evaluate when you want. You participate in the topics of the table whenever you feel like it. Flexibility is good for some things. When you’re trying to improve as a speaker, flexibility can lead to ruin.
In my opinion, the organization fails each and every one of the people who go the same way they came. The structure should move away from the flexible “do what you feel” to a more structured “do what you should”. In this way, everyone who collects a manual will get the rewards. Most people need structure.
Show up and we’ll reward you
When you earn a degree from a university, you have demonstrated a certain level of proficiency in a subject. He has taken quizzes, exams, and final exams. He has written papers and thesis papers. You are rated for your output and rewarded accordingly.
If you are a musician who aspires to gain recognition, you must create a lot of quality music. Once you’ve created enough material, you can start reaching out to people and working to sign an agreement. After you’ve proven your worth and caught the attention of the right people, you are rewarded with cash and a recording contract.
I can go on all day listing events and companies that require a proven level of competence before handing out rewards. It is the shape of the world.
At Toastmasters, you are awarded titles based on the number of speeches and activities you’ve participated in … not your competition.
The levels are as follows:
1 -> Competent communicator (10 speeches and all have the same manual)
2-> Advanced Communicator Bronze (10 more speeches 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)
3-> Advanced Communicator Silver (10 more speeches 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)
4-> Advanced Communicator Gold (10 more speeches 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)
5-> Distinguished Toastmaster (10 more speeches. 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)
Speakers at the advanced levels are often the cream of the crop. I’ve only seen a few advanced speakers who were poor. I have seen many people receive the Competent Communicator award and be the same nervous speaker that they were when they joined.
Toastmasters does not offer exit tests, quizzes, or exams. You do not need to demonstrate proficiency to move to the next level. You don’t have to do anything but introduce yourself and fill the air with words.
I, for my part, do not believe that the awards should be presented in that way. The current Toastmasters model gives people the motivation to introduce themselves, give 10 speeches, earn the Competent Communicator award, and then ride into the sunset without improving.
In all other fields, you sign up, show competition, and then receive an award. Toastmasters should follow suit.
Conclution
Toastmasters is a wonderful organization. I don’t want you to read this article and I think I think of something else. If it weren’t for Toastmasters, I would have no idea what I want to do with my life. That does not mean that the organization does not have much room for improvement.
The purpose of Toastmasters is to create better public speakers. The organization would get much closer to this goal if it followed these 4 steps:
1) Abolish the “Nice Guys Society”
2) lose the cheese
3) Create participation standards
4) Create proficiency metrics
Fellow Toastmasters don’t take this article personally. I only say these things because I want Toastmasters to better serve each and every person who walks through the door.