Project Speech #3 : Organize your speech - They Taught me to Speak

Project Speech #3 : Organize your speech

They Taught me to Speak

Anil's eyes opened up in pride and delight as he looked at the interview card. The company was Asia's leading mechanical firm. Having the right experience of 3 years in the field and a sound academic background, he knew the interview would be a cakewalk. All his friends congratulated him. This company was a high payer. In front of his eyes gleamed the mettalic green matiz, he hoped to own very soon, as he patiently waited for the D-day.

Fellow Toastmasters', distinguished guest and dear friends, so can any of you guess what happened to Anil.

Excellent Mr Anil, you are really good. People of your calibre are needed in this company. We are offering you a salary of "X" Rupees a year. Would this be acceptable ? WHAT ? "X" Rupees ...... that was way below expectation. Anil thought maybe this company was also hit by the recession .... was it or was it not ? But Anil could not negotiate, he just couldn't speak .... He never found the right words. He kept mum & shook his head in acceptance. As he hung his head down in disappointment, slowly the picture of the green matiz disappeared into oblivion.

As Anil worked for the company, he spoke about his disappointment to one of his colleagues. His colleague and friend gave him a brilliant idea to improve his communication skills. He enlightened Anil about the Toastmaster's club in their company, especially the Table Topic sessions

What was it that was so elegant about the Table Topic Sessions in Toastmasters'? Anil attended the Toastmaster Session as a guest to find out more. All of a sudden he had a host of friends in his life. He felt like he worked for his company since years. He was welcomed with a lot of warmth and made to feel at home. Soon, Anil began attending the ToastMaster sessions regularly and became a member

Little by little, Anil learnt to speak at the moment. Speak without preparation. He learnt to speak on varied topics from galaxies to penguins, from wireless networks to the traffic in Bangalore. He learnt to sum up all points and put them in a convincing way. To talk briefly about a topic, yet to the point.

The same Anil, who hesitated to speak in front of the three interview panelists, now spoke in front of a group of more then 30 people. He could look into the eyes of the audience as he spoke.

As Anil flourished as a speaker in the ToastMaster's club, he learnt to talk with creativity. He learnt to add a dash of humour to his dialogues. And made his illustrations as interactive and comprehensive.

Anil became a very popular member of his team. Very soon he became a manager. Anil would explain to his juniors the importance of communication skills in one's life. Very humourously he relates some stories of people who have suffered due to lack of the same. There was this good friend of Anil, who once had a telephonic interview with a company in Britian. His friend was continously using the work "matlab" which is the word for "means" in the hindi language.

Unfortunately the interviewers at the other end of the phone, thought this guy knew a lot of "MATLAB" which was a graphical software for mechanical engineers, and they hired him anyway. Friends, just imagine the embrassment Anil's friend faced when he learnt he was underqualified for the job, amidst alien people in an alien land.

Due to his popularity and competancy, Anil even asked to represent his group. And this time he murmured "Thanks to the Toastmasters club", as he sat on this side of the table interviewing candidates for his company. He realised how very important it was to have good communication skills. How it had helped him become a leader. How it was the icing on the very large set of technical skills he possessed. How it had driven him from the position of a interviewee to that of an interviewer soon enough in life. Toastmaster's had indeed taught him to speak.
As he thought of this, once again the mettalic green matiz flashed in front of his eyes, and he knew he wasn't going to lose it this time.