Do you remember the first time you had a big disagreement with your mother? Not that little skirmish over your curvew. You were upset but dear mommy wasn’t.

I’m talking about your first big fight. Where your blood boiled. The one where you proclaimed your adulthood. The one that took her off your Christmas card list!

Yes, that.

I am sure that image is very vivid and clear in your mind. Do you remember all the emotions you experienced? If it was anything like mine, then you were stunned, confused, upset, furious, and 100% sure you were right.

This is how I feel when I sit to the right of this article. I feel like I’m arguing with a parent. Toastmasters is the organization that sparked my interest in public speaking. Toastmasters has shaped me as a speaker and leader.

In theory Toastmasters is great. In practice, Toastmasters fails quite a few people. Read on for my take on the CONS of the great organization known as Toastmasters.

good boy society

Your average Toastmaster is a very nice and well-meaning person. They smile from ear to ear when commanded, provide encouraging feedback, and will go out of their way to make you feel at home. This personality is generally good for an organization like Toastmasters.

The desire to be friendly often overrides the need to provide good feedback. Attending Toastmasters meetings has given me the opportunity to experience the extremes of public speaking. I have experienced a small number of high quality submissions. These were met with rave reviews.

I have also heard several appalling speeches. These were also met with rave reviews.

I see you’re frowning now, so let me explain. I think it’s great that Toastmasters encourage each other. It’s great that we want people to keep thinking positively. It can even be noble to protect people from the painful reality of their weaknesses.

There is only one problem with that. When you give a bad performance in the real world you know immediately. People give their hard-earned Federal Reserve Notes to Toastmasters. There should be an obligation to provide a valuable speech evaluation, not the most popular speech evaluation.

lose the cheese

You have to be incredibly mature to put up with Toastmasters. Meetings can be almost cheesy. Sometimes I have to check and make sure I’m not at a National Clappers Society meeting. Every meeting has a part that goes something like this:

Toastmaster: “All of our guests will get up and talk about themselves a bit. You in the green shirt, we’ll start with you.”

Green Shirt Guest: “Hello, my name is Chris and I heard about your group in the paper. I decided to come by and check it out!”

Toastmaster: “Let’s give Chris a round of applause!”

*Standing ovation*

Toastmaster: “You in the purple shirt, I’ve seen you here before. Stand up and tell us about yourself”

Purple Shirt Guest: “Hi, my name is Samantha and I’ve been wanting to join for a long time. I’ve been here several times and finally decided to take the plunge. Today is my first day as a member!”

*Standing ovation*

Toastmaster: “Now I’ll have the helpers stand up and say what they’re going to do today”

Table Topics Master: “I am the Table Topics Master and my job is to provide impromptu talking points.”

*Standing ovation*

Grammarian/Ah Counter: “I am the Grammarian/Ah Counter and my job is to make sure no one kills the English language.”

*Standing ovation*

Timer: “I am the timer and my job is to make sure we are on time with each and every speech!”

*Standing ovation*

Toastmaster: “Some other announcement”

Member: “My cat transitioned from wet food to dry food!”

*Standing ovation*

Toastmaster: “That’s great. Let’s get this meeting started.”

After so much emotion, the meeting begins. Some people say it’s good and boosts morale. I say it’s over the top and gives the meeting the dreamy feel of a recovery support group. It starts to get a little cheesy when the fireworks go off because a cat is now eating dry food.

*Standing ovation*

No participation standards

Toastmasters can do wonders for an energetic entrepreneurial personality. From day one I was able to jump in feet first and reap the rewards. I made sure to participate in every meeting. I always volunteered to speak, participate in tabletop items, or play a role in a meeting. As the days, weeks, and months passed, I was able to see myself grow by leaps and bounds as a speaker.

There were other people who joined at the same time as me and got absolutely nothing out of it. They never made a speech. They never participated in table topics. They never took on a role. They never did anything. As a result, they did not receive any benefit from the program.

Most outsiders see Toastmasters as a structured class that will teach them the ins and outs of public speaking. When they realize that Toastmasters is anything but, they often turn around and run.

Toastmasters is a very flexible organization. You talk when you want. You evaluate when you want. You participate in table topics whenever you feel like it. Flexibility is good for some things. When you’re trying to improve as a speaker, flexibility can lead to your downfall.

In my opinion, the organization fails each and every person who leaves the same way they entered. The structure needs to move away from the flexible “do what you feel” to a more structured “do what you must.” In this way, everyone who collects a manual will get the rewards. Most people need structure.

Show up and we’ll reward you

When you earn a degree from a university, you have demonstrated a certain level of competence in a subject. He has taken tests, exams and final exams. He has written papers and thesis papers. You are graded on your performance and rewarded accordingly.

If you are a musician who aspires to gain recognition you must create a lot of quality music. Once you’ve created enough material, you can start approaching people and work towards signing a deal. After you’ve proven yourself and caught the attention of the right people, you’ll be rewarded with cash and a recording contract.

I can go on all day listing events and tasks that require a proven level of proficiency before doling out the rewards. It is the way of the world.

At Toastmasters, you’re awarded titles based on the number of speeches and activities you’ve participated in…not your competition.

The levels are as follows:

1 -> Proficient Communicator (10 speeches and all have the same manual)

2-> Bronze Advanced Communicator (10 more speeches. 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)

3-> Advanced Communicator Silver (10 plus speeches. 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)

4-> Advanced Communicator Gold (10 plus speeches. 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)

5-> Distinguished Toastmaster (10 plus speeches. 5 of 2 advanced manuals of your choice along with leadership milestones)

Speakers at the advanced levels are often the cream of the crop. I have only seen some advanced speakers that were poor. I have seen many people receive the competent communicator award and be the same nervous speaker they were when they joined.

Toastmasters does not offer tests, quizzes, or final exams. You do not have to demonstrate proficiency to move to the next level. You don’t have to do anything but show up and fill the air with words.

For my part, I don’t think prizes should be handed out that way. The current Toastmasters model gives people the motivation to show up, give 10 speeches, earn the Competent Communicator award, and then ride off into the sunset with no improvement.

In all other fields you register, demonstrate competence and then receive an award. Toastmasters must follow the following.

conclusion

Toastmasters is a wonderful organization. I don’t want you to read this article and think that I think anything other than that. If it weren’t for Toastmasters, I would have no idea what I want to do with my life. That doesn’t mean the organization doesn’t have much room for improvement.

The purpose of Toastmasters is to create better public speakers. The organization would get much closer to this goal if it followed these 4 steps:

1) Abolish the “Nice Guys Society”

2) Lose the cheese

3) Create participation standards

4) Create competition metrics

Fellow Toastmasters do not take this article personally. I only say these things because I want Toastmasters to better serve each and every person who walks through the door.