The saga of Toastmasters is initially a story of youth empowerment. As Toastmasters International celebrates 102 years of empowering individuals and cherishing countless success stories, it is inspiring to look back at its humble beginnings. On October 22, 1924, the organization was officially chartered, embarking on its enduring mission to empower individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. The seed planted by its founder, Dr. Ralph C. Smedley, in 1905 has since flourished worldwide, spanning nearly 150 countries and supporting over 260,000 members on their personal and professional journeys.
As we celebrate Omani Youth Day on October 26, it is both timely to ask: what does Toastmasters offer our youth, and how can it serve as a catalyst for their growth? Perhaps an instant answer would be that it can simply take them from stage fright to confidence, ultimately empowering them to lead their own personal growth.
In the 20 years during which Toastmasters has been present in Oman through both community and corporate meetings, participants have experienced noticeable personal growth and crafted their own success stories. Stories of taking a leap of faith to be the change they want to see in the world. From humble beginnings to remarkable achievements. Some remember how frightened and timid they were before joining Toastmasters. The mere thought of speaking in public was like a nightmare. However, today they have become trainers, lecturers, and leaders, showcasing their talents in their own right.
The Toastmasters learning programme labeled “Pathways” offers six options, namely, Dynamic Leadership, Engaging Humor, Motivational Strategies, Persuasive Influence, Presentation Mastery, and Visionary Communication, to help members build strong skills in public speaking, leadership, and communication. Every path guides them through five levels from basics to mastery. Along the way, members deliver speech projects, and take on practical meeting roles like timing speeches or giving feedback.
DTM Yasser Alshalwani, recalls during the early days of joining toastmasters there was one place that provided toastmasters training.
Today, however, there are numerous community and corporate venues operating in both English and Arabic. He said: “It is time to view Toastmasters as a youth grooming platform, one that should be considered in our schools, universities, and SMEs, to shape our youth for the present and empower them to pursue excellence in all spheres of life.”
Undoubtedly, Toastmasters can empower students to bid anxiety, fear, and self-doubt goodbye, stand up to bullying, and embrace public speaking as a life skill that adds value to their education. By encouraging them to speak up rather than leave questions unanswered, it transforms curiosity into strength and creates a supportive and positive learning experience.
On the other hand, Toastmasters can help university students maximise the benefits of their learning, debates, hackathons, conferences, and external representation opportunities, multiplying the value of their education. Many students have brilliant ideas but hesitate to share them, or can answer in writing yet struggle to speak before an audience? Toastmasters offers a safe space to practice, make mistakes, receive feedback, and navigate from fear to confidence and ultimately unleash their potential. These competencies are essential for excelling in a dynamic and rapidly changing marketplace.
Elham Albalushi, a member of the Ministry of Energy & Minerals Toastmasters, recalls how Toastmasters helped her gain confidence, dare to share her thoughts, and become goal driven. She shared: The skills I gained from SQU Toastmasters back then empowered me to ace my interviews, shine while serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the Ministry’s annual event, and excel in many other engagements. Therefore, I had no hesitation in joining my colleagues at the Ministry to charter the MEM Toastmasters, where we identify talents and nurture them to unleash their full potential.
Toastmasters takes the pride in being where leaders are made. Therefore, it can serve as a vital pillar of support for job seekers. Many graduates possess the exact qualifications employers seek, yet they struggle to articulate their strengths during an interview. Others have valuable ideas but lack the confidence to speak up. Toastmasters offers them a safe, structured platform to practice answering questions under pressure, speak spontaneously, organise their thoughts logically, and present themselves with confidence. The Ministry of Labour may consider integrating the Toastmasters programme as a core component of its employment-oriented training initiatives, specifically by introducing the Presentation Mastery pathway as part of the requirements to empower job seekers with essential workplace communication skills.
Likewise, the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority, in its quest to nurture entrepreneurs and innovators, would benefit significantly from integrating the Toastmasters program into its development initiatives. One of the most critical benefits is enabling participants to effectively pitch their vision, after all, as the maxim goes, ‘If you cannot tell it, you cannot sell it.’ Toastmasters equips entrepreneurs with the storytelling skills, executive presence, and spontaneous thinking required to pitch to investors, engage customers, and lead their ventures to success.
Other government organisations can learn from the Ministry of Energy and Minerals. By adopting Toastmasters, the Ministry encourages employees to take charge of their own personal growth and dream big. This initiative succeeds because it has the full support of HE Eng. Salim bin Nasser Al Aufi, Minister of Energy and Minerals, along with the Ministry’s senior leadership.”
The Toastmasters educational program can be seamlessly woven into corporate leadership development, succession planning, and the wide spectrum of initiatives private sector organisations embrace to develop and retain talent. The Royal Academy of Management could explore incorporating Toastmasters into its innovative leadership programs. In fact, Toastmasters can serve as a powerful platform to groom budding diplomats, frontline talents, tour guides and other career aspirations.
The Toastmasters community in Oman, under District 105, will spare no effort to support organisations by delivering free demo sessions. These sessions demonstrate how Toastmasters operates and the wide spectrum of benefits it can bring. Through active participation, team members grow their self-assurance, strengthen collaboration, and cultivate a positive work environment that inspires peak performance
In conclusion, the question remains: how can Toastmasters empower our youth and prepare them to fly on wings of fire? In a nutshell, Toastmasters can shape and reshape their personalities. It can enable them to become competent self-leaders who believe in the beauty of their dreams and spare no effort to turn them into tangible reality. They will develop a firm belief that what they can conceive, they can achieve and that is entrepreneurship mindset we want them to embrace.
An Omani writer focusing on youth development and cultural issues. Can be reached through [email protected]