Helpful Articles
If you’re looking for articles or additional content on a particular subject, below is a list of some topics people search for most frequently, along with relevant articles. These can be shared via a direct link in newsletters, on websites, social media pages, or emailed to friends, family, and colleagues.
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Club Meeting RolesBack to Top
This meeting role comes with powerful responsibilities.
Club Speakers Have the Opportunity to Shine
This meeting role involves much more than meets the ear and eye.
The most effective functionaries go beyond “Gotcha!” in monitoring filler words and sounds.
Shake Up Table Topics® With Creative Ideas
Keep guests and members engaged with a grab bag, story, or tall tale.
10 Tips for Terrific Table Topics®
Settle your nerves with these simple strategies for sharp responses.
Assessing the quality of your club meeting helps everyone improve.
Are You Ready to Take on Toastmaster of the Day?
When you serve in this club meeting role, four different leadership qualities will emerge.
The Theme of Today’s Meeting Is…
Add a spark to your sessions with a unifying topic.
How the club’s guardian of language helps speakers find words that work.
Tips and tricks for becoming a better Table Topics® speaker.
Creative Tips for the Topicsmaster
Use imagination and humor to make Table Topics® come alive.
Tackling the Topicsmaster Role
Solutions for more creative Table Topics®.
Making the Most of Evaluations
Are your evaluations benefiting the entire club? They should be.
The Secret to a Meaningful Evaluation
You hold yourself to a high standard—apply the same expectations to all speakers.
Evaluations: Bridging the Culture Gap
How levels of directness in feedback vary by culture and why that matters.
Learning to Evaluate Everybody
Don’t be intimidated by title or tenure; both new and advanced members benefit from honesty.
As the timer, you play a fundamental role in keeping club meetings and members’ speeches on track.
Maximize Your Meeting Role Lineup
From Quiz Masters to Mystery Greeters, some clubs are adding non-traditional roles.
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Club OfficersBack to Top
Get Creative in Your Club Meetings
Refresh your meetings—and your members—with these invigorating ideas.
When clubs flounder, experienced members lend their expertise.
Meet the Vice President Education
This club officer is a master Pathways guide.
It takes creativity, energy, and some thoughtful attention to meet members’ needs.
Vice President Public Relations increases a club’s visibility and helps attract visitors.
The Value of the Vice President Membership
VPM’s efforts and enthusiasm help recruit and retain members.
Club Mentor Program: A Win-Win-Win!
How your club can benefit from a strong member mentoring program.
5 Social Media Tips for Club Leaders
Learn how to effectively use social media to gain and retain members.
Sergeant at Arms: Make the Meetings Shine
Tips for successfully filling this challenging role.
Why the Club Executive Committee is a valuable training ground for aspiring leaders.
Club President: The Team Leader
The President helps members and fellow officers achieve results.
Set the stage for more inclusive meetings—in Toastmasters and beyond.
Distinguish Yourself and Your Club
How the Distinguished Club Program helps members meet their goals.
How to best represent and leverage the Toastmasters brand.
You’re a Club Officer—Now What?
Tips and tricks to help you lead and serve.
Be respectful, clear, and firm in resolving meeting disruptions.
What’s the Scoop on Your Group?
Friendliness and fun build a quality club culture.
Member-satisfaction surveys polls lead to valuable club feedback.
The True Value of Speech Contests
Winning isn’t the reward—the journey is.
How to find leaders and encourage members to jump in.
Bring in visitors to build a bigger, better club.
Introducing Your Club Path Master
The Vice President Education— advisor, scheduler, celebrator of achievement.
Club Coaches, Learn From My Mistakes
The experience can be transformational for both club and coach— if you go about the right way.
The Value of Virtual Connections
Online mentoring relationships can flourish even when members are a world apart.
How to get press coverage in a disrupted, digital world.
Make your meetings a special draw for club visitors.
Leadership program for young people helps anchor one club’s rejuvenation.
A digital component and Pathways connection highlight the revision.
Tips for creating an inclusive club for people with all abilities.
How many times do your guests visit before you make it official?
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For the Novice/BeginnersBack to Top
Create rhythm in your speeches for easier memorization and delivery.
Understanding Your Communication Style
A fast breakdown of four types of communicators.
Three tips to get started in your public speaking journey.
Learn the basics to navigate the learning management system.
5 Ways to Calm the Pre-Speech Jitters
Transform your anxiety into helpful energy to fuel your speeches.
How to Succeed in Speechwriting
Experts share tips on crafting succinct, potent speeches.
Structure, stories, and word choice are all key to crafting a compelling presentation.
Pay attention to your life and the ideas will come.
What to Expect at Your First Toastmasters Meeting
Visiting a club for the first time? Get ready to connect, communicate, and clap.
Simple Steps to Writing a Fantastic Speech
Don't give up after "bombing" with that first speech. Here's how to succeed next time.
Like, Um, How Do I Stop, Ya Know, Using Um and Ah?
Use the science of disfluencies and techniques to clean up your speech.
Your First Few Speech Evaluations
Learn to report on what you see and hear.
Define the purpose of your speech to avoid losing your audience.
Use three basic structures to organize your speech and guide your listeners.
Why Vocal Variety Is So Valuable
Use this skill to bring emotion and personality to your speech.
Decoding the acronyms of Toastmasters.
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LeadershipBack to Top
How the pandemic has pushed leaders to chart new waters.
Does the Board of Directors Beckon You?
Consider being a candidate for International Director. Serving in the role brings growth, emotional rewards, and new Toastmasters friends.
Active listening is not about you; it's about the other person.
Have something important to say? Make sure your gestures support your message.
Empathy is at the heart of how you communicate in difficult times.
Leadership Is About Behavior, Not Titles
Learn seven techniques to help you better communicate and connect as a leader.
Are you a parachute packer? Do you know how to find one?
How teamwork allowed our Area to shift a crisis into a legacy.
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Online and Hybrid MeetingsBack to Top
Bring Your Online Meetings to Life
Best practices for virtual hosts.
To Hybrid or Not to Hybrid? That is the Question.
Ask these four questions to determine if hybrid meetings are right for your club.
Technology for Hybrid MeetingsBuild the bridge between online and physical meetings with the right setup.
Hybrid ClubsHow to make club meetings work when members are online and in person.
Tips and tricks for holding successful online meetings during the health crisis.
How to Appear Your Best While Delivering an Online Speech
Consider your setting, appearance, and delivery.
Optimize the Performance of Your Video Conferences
6 steps to reduce technical glitches and enhance your online meetings.
Online Speech Contest Tips From a World Champ
Aaron Beverly shares his top techniques for succeeding in the International Speech Contest online.
Don’t limit yourself to streaming videos, food delivery, and same-day shipping; use this time at home to improve.
Present With Executive Presence Online
Learn how to convey confidence in a virtual setting with these five key elements.
Creating Inclusivity in Online Meetings
Help members of all abilities actively participate in your club.
The Value of Virtual Connections
Online mentoring relationships can flourish even when members are a world apart.
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Personal GrowthBack to Top
A Surprising Truth Behind High Achievers
Could you be feeling impostor syndrome too?
Rebuild Your Self-Confidence and Self-Esteem
By building your confidence as well as your competence, you build executive presence.
How to Have Those Awkward Conversations
You really can say anything to anyone if you’re prepared.
Managing and Resolving Conflict
Strong communication skills can help you defuse thorny disagreements.
Confronting Our Hidden Beliefs
Unconscious bias can undermine your message. Here’s how to identify and address it.
Growth, diversity, and relationships keep some Toastmasters in for the long run.
Emotional Intelligence: The Other Kind of Smart
Unlike IQ, which is set, emotional intelligence can be learned and enhanced.
How to Have a Better Conversation
Engage, stay present, and listen.
How Volunteering Improves Your Health
The mental, physical, and overall health benefits of helping others.
Oops! The Surprising Gift of Making Mistakes
Don’t punish yourself over errors—use them to learn and grow.
How to Succeed in the New Corner Office
Working from home? These tips will help you make the most of your new set-up.
The importance of laughter for your health.
Mastering Controversial Conversations
How to balance opinions and civility in volatile times.
Empathy is at the heart of how you communicate in difficult times.
Praise goes a long way when it’s authentic and specific.
Looking to make some changes? Start small. Start now. Repeat.
Self-Care Is Part of the Program
Members find mental-health benefits along with skill strengthening.
How positive thoughts can transform your life.
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Professional DevelopmentBack to Top
Direct, Initiating, Supportive, or Analytical?
Understanding communication styles is key to engaging in more effective conversations.
Use your Toastmasters training to create a connection.
Toastmasters International’s Accredited Speaker Program
Two letters represent decades of excellence in the public speaking profession.
How corporate clubs help both companies and employees.
How to showcase the skills and achievements you’ve gained through Toastmasters.
Can you make a lasting impression in a few seconds?
Master the Art of Interviewing
Learn how to tackle your nerves and increase your chances of getting the right job.
It’s No Secret: How Toastmasters Skills Can Boost Your Career
Use your new skills to communicate and lead in the workplace.
The Benefits of Networking Online
How to build valuable relationships through social media.
6 reasons to hone your public speaking skills early in your career.
Take a chance, fail fast, learn, and grow.
Supercharging Your Storytelling and Sales
Stories add power and persuasion to virtual presentations.
Skilled presenters can reach a variety of outside audiences.
How Toastmasters skills benefit Ph.D. candidates.
Is There a Podcast in Your Future?
This convenient medium is a gold mine if you want to boost your communication skills.
Thinking of stepping on the TED stage? Here's what organizers want you to know.
Reap the Benefits of Being a Distinguished Toastmaster
Achieving the DTM award is more than just three letters after your name.
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Public SpeakingBack to Top
Dive into the details of how to effectively combine your strongest characteristics.
Pull your audience in with attention magnets.
8 Tips for Engaging Your Audience
Break through the “invisible wall” with questions, stories, and more.
Gain valuable tips for constructing a presentation from start to finish.
The difference between a meaningful presentation and a forgettable collection of words may not be what you think.
6 tactics to help slow your speaking speedometer.
You’re not alone. Learn why giving speeches can be terrifying—and how to tame the fear.
5 Great Ways to Begin a Speech
Learn to hook your audience in 10 seconds.
The five things you must know about public speaking.
Perfect your narrative with time-tested themes.
Move your hands with purpose and precision to drive your points home.
Do You Have a Warm-up Routine?
How to be a more confident speaker in five minutes or less.
Step-by-step methods for helping you internalize your speech.
Try different humor tactics to win grins, giggles, and guffaws from your audience.
Tips for turning your thoughts into a speech.
Delivering a Heartfelt Farewell
Tips for giving a meaningful eulogy.
Even World Champions get nervous, especially when leading a deeply personal event.
The True Value of Speech Contests
Winning isn’t the reward—the journey is.
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Workplace PresentationsBack to Top
A Deep Dive into Corporate Jargon
Whether at work or at Toastmasters, it doesn’t have to be a red flag.
Once Upon a Time in a Conference Room
The value of storytelling in professional communication.
Avoid these top 10 mistakes.
Handling the Q&A Session With Confidence
Lead a lively, informative exchange that audiences will remember.
Knowing why you care is key, especially in workplace communication.
The Impact of a Strong Speaker Introduction
Tell the audience who you are and why your words matter.
How to Moderate a Panel Discussion—Virtually
Start strong and show your audience they are in good hands.
Present With Executive Presence Online
Learn how to convey confidence in a virtual setting with these five key elements.
Prepare Your Technology Like a Pro
Take steps to avoid last-minute mishaps and meltdowns.
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Complete Article IndexesBack to Top
Article Indexes are available from 2003 to 2020. You can download the PDF index to search for articles by topic, title, author, month, or page number. Find full issues of the Toastmaster magazine in the Toastmasters Gallery. For issues from 2012 to present, visit the magazine archive.