Set Your Toastmasters Goals for the Year

Every Toastmasters year brings a chance to try something new. That is true whether you joined last month or have been a member for years.

Maybe you want to give more speeches, become a stronger evaluator, take on a leadership role, or make time for Pathways again. Perhaps you have achieved the goals you first set for yourself and are ready for a new challenge. Or maybe this is the year you want to help someone else grow.

Whatever stage you are at, it helps to ask: What do I want to get out of Toastmasters this year?

Choose a goal that matters to you

Your goal does not have to be about speeches. You might want to enter a speech contest, mentor a member, visit other clubs, lead a project, or try a meeting role you have avoided.

Make your goal specific enough to act on. “I want to improve my evaluations” is a good starting point. “I will evaluate three speeches this fall and ask for feedback on each one” gives you a way to practise.

Make it achievable

Think about the time you can realistically give. If your schedule is full, one speech every two months may be a better goal than one every two weeks.

Then choose a first step you can take this month. Sign up for a role, pick a date for your next speech, or ask another member for help. You can adjust your goal later if life gets busy. The point is to keep moving forward.

Look beyond your club

If you are ready for a different challenge, consider getting involved at the district level. A district conference, for example, takes volunteers to help with planning, welcoming attendees, coordinating sessions, and many other tasks. You could set a goal to offer your time or take on a role when opportunities are announced.

It is a chance to work with Toastmasters from other clubs, practise skills you may not use in your regular meetings, and help create an event others will enjoy.

Connect your goal to your club’s goals

What would your club like to accomplish this year? Perhaps members want more opportunities to speak, stronger meetings, more guests, or better support for people working through Pathways.

There is recognition for some of that shared work. Clubs can work toward the Distinguished Club Program, which recognizes progress in education, membership, training, and club administration. Toastmasters International also offers membership-building awards for clubs during the year: the Smedley Award, Talk Up Toastmasters, and Beat the Clock. Clubs that meet a program’s membership goal can earn a ribbon for their banner.

Members can receive recognition too. Completing Pathways levels marks your educational progress, while the Distinguished Toastmaster award is Toastmasters’ highest educational achievement. If inviting people to join is one of your goals, the individual membership-building program offers pins for sponsoring five or 10 new members in a program year, and a store discount for sponsoring 15.

Awards are a nice way to celebrate progress, but your goal can be worthwhile even if it comes with no ribbon or pin.

Take the first step together

At your next meeting, share one goal you have for yourself and ask what your club wants to accomplish this year. See where you can help each other. If you want to do something beyond your club, let your district leaders know you are interested in volunteering.

District 208’s first year is a chance to grow together, one member and one club at a time. What will you work toward this year?

Vesna Ivkovic, DTM
District 208 Connect Designer