Do you want to become a more confident communicator?
Are you interested in improving your public speaking skills?
Do you want to build leadership abilities but don’t know where or how to start?
Cleary University can help. The college now serves as a site for Toastmasters, an international organization that will help you increase your self-confidence, overcome your fear of speaking in front of groups, learn to become more comfortable when you are uncomfortable, and improve your leadership skills.
For some people, public speaking comes naturally, but for many, they dread it and agonize over standing in front of a group. Through Toastmasters meetings, you will receive supportive and positive tips to improve your public speaking skills anywhere. Public speaking is not limited to presentations in front of large groups; it can be small group conversations, one-on-one talks, meeting someone for the first time, a job interview or a lunch meeting. Toastmasters will provide you with the tools and resources to feel comfortable when you are in an uncomfortable setting. You will gain the skills and confidence to express yourself effectively in any situation.
Toastmasters is designed to build your self-confidence, push your fears aside when speaking to groups, and strengthen your skills in leadership, effective communication, problem solving, critical and creative thinking, and persuasion. Toastmasters will bring out the best in you professionally and personally – whether you are a business executive, an entry level employee, a college student or a stay-at-home mom.
The next Toastmasters meeting at Cleary University will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at the Cleary Chrysler Building, Room 205. Cleary University is located at 3750 Cleary Drive in Howell (off Grand River Avenue west of Latson Road).
Anyone at least 18 is welcome to attend online or in-person. Visit Cleary.edu/toastmasters to sign up.
Established in 1924, Toastmasters International is the leading worldwide nonprofit educational organization dedicated to helping people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. The organization exceeds 280,000 members in 150 countries.
“A Toastmasters chapter at Cleary is an ideal fit for our university and our community,” said Matt Oliver, Cleary’s associate dean of students. “Cleary’s focus as a business school is to teach strong, effective communication skills and ethical leadership techniques so our students will be fully prepared for the ever-changing and competitive workplace.
“Toastmasters will provide our community with this same opportunity. It is an excellent resource for students, faculty, graduates, employers, employees and the public to sharpen their communication skills, presentation techniques and leadership qualities as well as improving self-confidence, problem solving abilities and critical thinking skills.”
Toastmasters’ focus not only is on developing leadership potential and effective listening skills, but also on improving management and organizational techniques, and learning how to present ideas more effectively, conduct meetings more productively and motivate others. You will develop more effective presentation skills, learn how to offer and receive construction criticism, build your self-confidence and lose your shyness.
Meetings usually are weekly and last one hour. You will have speaking opportunities at every meeting. All members will work at a pace that is comfortable for them.
