Improve your self confidence
By practicing speaking to a group in an environment where everyone is also learning, you become more comfortable
with the task. All Toastmasters know what it's like to feel butterflies when called upon to speak. Experienced
Toastmasters also know that the fear can be overcome just by trying.

• Learn at your own pace
• Toastmasters share and understand your feelings
• Opportunities every meeting to speak at the podium
• Do what you want - prepared or impromptu speeches
  

Improve your listening skills
We learn about listening as well as about speaking. To fully participate in Toastmasters meetings, you must listen
carefully to the other speakers. We develop our skills by listening on different levels. We listen to the content but we
also learn to be aware of the impact of the speech organization and presentation.

You need to be alert at Toastmasters meetings because:

• You may be asked to answer an impromptu question
• You may be asked to evaluate another speaker
• We learn by listening to evaluations of other speakers
  

Sharpen your thinking
A Toastmasters meeting excites your brain. Participants at meetings who are not giving a formal prepared speech
are usually asked to participate in "Table Topics". This is a 2 minute impromptu speech on a topic selected by the
Table Topics Master with the speaker having no time for preparation.

Develop your leadership skills
There are many opportunities to be a leader within Toastmasters.

• Clubs need club officers to run them
• Clubs need an Area Governor to help look after clubs
• Area Governors report to a Division Governor
• and there are many other opportunities - being a club coach or to start a new club just naming a few