Friday, July 18, 2008

Implications of Being a DTM

Over the past 4 years I have seen some really amazing speakers and some pretty crummy speakers. I can forgive crummy speakers who are working the Toastmasters program. It is easy to assume that a person has worked hard, come far and is still not a great speaker. I can even forgive a bad speaker who has one DTM. The one thing that grinds my gears is a speaker with multiple DTMs, but is still a crummy speaker. Another thing that grinds my gears is a crummy speaker in a major leadership role, with a DTM (or multiple) who stumbles through speaches like a new member. It frustrated me even more when I know speakers in both those situaitons are members of multiple clubs, including an advanced club. It frustrates me to the point of distraction. What has this person been taking away from the program if they speak this way? What has been the point of all those evaluations, every speech being a manual speech and insane number of speaking opportunities if you still stumble through a speech that should be easy for you.
As a newly minted DTM, I am feeling my own frustrations with other DTMs impact me. I have created, in my mind, an image of what it is to have a DTM and to be working on multiple DTMs. Being a polished speaker before my DTM was easy. I did not feel people would expect me to be a polished speaker. It was a point of pride that I was so polished. Now, I feel my own expectations impacting my current skills. Combine this with my real desire to be better at giving advice rather than telling people what to do. Last night, at my TLI session for presidents, it all hit me a bit. I got visibly nervous. Until I got to this point as a speaker (completing my DTM), I never had this problem. Nerves have not been my problem before. Now I have to work on a new fear- the fear of not living up to people's expectations. Chiefly, this is my own expectations of what it means to be a DTM.
The session went very well last night. I was hyper aware of myself and my communication skills and I don't think I needed to be. I think I did a good job of making sure my ideas didn't come off as "the right way", but as the way that worked for me and my club. I spoke about things I did well, didn't do well, or wish I had a chance to do. I allowed the presidents to ask questions related to their club and I said what I would consider. I tried to make sure I made 'I' comments (I would try this, I think you could consider this). I know my fear, my nervousness was a bit silly. Yet, I have to address it if I want to continue to be a good speaker and improve my communication skills.

6 comments:

John said...

I agree with you even if it might put a little more pressure on you ;-)

I expect much more of a DTM, even a person with *just* one DTM. I don't have one.

I also expect more of district officers from AG up to DG.

It "grinds my gears" when I attend officer meetings where everything we have learned goes out the window. No agenda, no timing, ums and ahs all over the place.

Nice post!

Sara M said...

John, I knew I was not along in being critical. I expect Toastmasters to be a bit more aware than the average Joe when it comes to speaking skills. We have been conditioned to do so. It gets worse when they are watching and listening to a DTM. There is a level of expectation that comes with it.
The TLIs are frustrating for many members, but you should try the district business meetings. They can be brutal.

Kaushik said...

Hey Sara stumbled upon your blog through alltop. My take on a similar matter :- http://blog.kaushikgopal.com/2008/07/toastmaster-competence.html
Do let me know what you think. And john I "feel" your pain brother :)

Jeff said...

Hi Sara, It is amazing that this is the case. In my experience the percentage of DTMs who are not very good appears to be greater than the percentage of CCs who are not very good. I think that this is one reason folks leave Toastmasters.

Many Toastmasters don't know how hard you must work to do a really good presentation. They get to their third speech and figure-out that they can get by with little effort. Combine this laziness with slack evaluations and this is what you get. I really want to learn to speak so I became a technical trainer. I wish Toastmasters was more like the process we went through when learning to present courses.

It appears to me that folks who pursue a DTM are really into Toastmasters so their focus changes from public speaking to "leadership." It is a recipe for mediocrity.

Personally, I know of one DTM who is an awesome speaker. The others I have come into contact with love the sound of their own voice and never operate within time constraints.

Toastmasters pushes the goal of comfort way too much. I wish it would push competence.

Love the blog.

Joseph Ponnou said...

Hi Sara,

Nice post.

This has been a topic of ongoing discussions between a few of us in our TM club.

While some feel that "just" doing a project signals milestones, others wonder what is really achieved if a distinct improvement is not visible specially as one achieves DTM and such levels.

Well, let's just complement those great TMs who are a source of inspiration and role model to those who really seek to improve further.

Joe

Sherri Raftery, M.Ed. said...

Sara!

As the 2008-2009 D31 LGET - let me send you a congrats on your DTM!!

You will be honored with a DTM medal at the Fall Conference during the Hall of Fame Ceremony!!

All the best

Sherri Raftery, DTM, LGET

http://sherriraftery.blogspot.com/

www.findyourplatform.com