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A corporate Toastmasters club usually begins as the vision of one person, often an active Toastmaster who wants to share the program's benefits with friends and colleagues.
In the June 2004 issue of The Toastmaster Magazine, published worldwide each month, there is an article which outlines the results of a survey of success strategies from corporate clubs all around the world.
Why is the Toastmasters Club in your cafe, the new training fad?
The Staff are all making their way from their desks to the Boardroom. They all seem to be chatting effervescently. No, it's not strike action or staff being summoned to cop some bad news between the eyes. They are talking about Table Topics and how they are looking forward to today's theme. There are others who are nervous-looking but force smiles as they are introduced to you. You thrust your hand out in greeting and their palms are sweaty. These people do not want to be here! They must be under some kind of corporate decree to attend, or it's their jobs! They are all attending a Toastmasters meeting, set up in their Boardroom.
Toastmasters is one of the new fads in communication training. Many corporates are accepting the benefits of the organization's unique style of training and allowing them in to use the boardrooms. These organizations are
seeing an on-going improvement in their staff's confidence and as the improved communication skills become obvious within the workplace, increased visibility, recognition and promotion tend to follow. You can also see the CEO sitting with the Delivery Driver as they both fit into the corporates new found egalitarian culture, in hopes it permeates the outer reaches of the organisation, and the bottom line.
Corporates in New Zealand are starting to catch up with the overseas phenomenon. Telecom NZ, Vodafone, Foodstuffs, ICANZ, Waitakere City Council, IPENZ, State Services, Auckland, Canterbury, Victoria and Massey
Universities, have their own clubs. The larger corporates are now looking to expand the concept into their branches in other cities. The cost also widens the eyes. These clubs run at about 1/8th of the cost of normal training.
Overseas, the trend is much more pronounced. In the US, there are over 1,000 corporate clubs and the names of the clubs resemble the NASDAQ index. American Express, Apple Computer, AT &T, Boeing, Caterpillar Inc., Coca-Cola Co., Eastman Kodak, Xerox, 3M Co., Merrill Lynch, Microsoft Corp., Motorola and Disney are a sample of corporates allowing this new phenomenon into their hallowed halls.
Community Clubs are by far the largest proportion of Toastmasters Clubs in New Zealand, but the corporate phenomenon is catching on fast. Organizations quickly realise that communication training is a vital ingredient in an organization that wants to harvest staff ideas and energy and to push through the barrier of small to medium style business. A look at the names of the blue chip organizations that have adopted the Toastmasters mission of 'making effective oral communication a worldwide reality', shows clearly that this new trend in communication training is designed to accentuate leadership and professional development, in a venue where the boss can see.
It's like having an All Black trial, except, it's your staff trying out.
Where else can you get that opportunity?
Start a Corporate Club
You can start a corporate club in your workplace or business. Just email marketing@toastmasters.org.nz today with details of your request.
Magazine Articles
Refer to The Toastmaster Magazine, January 2007 for articles on Building New Corporate Clubs.
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