Comments on Ah, Um, Er... A Toastmaster's Blog: Implications of Being a DTM

Hi Sara,Nice post.This has been a topic of ongoing...

2008-09-16T14:42:00.000-04:00

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

Sara!As the 2008-2009 D31 LGET - let me send you a...

2008-09-06T10:26:00.000-04:00

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

Hi Sara, It is amazing that this is the case. In m...

2008-08-20T21:49:00.000-04:00

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.

Hey Sara stumbled upon your blog through alltop. M...

2008-07-21T12:23:00.000-04:00

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 :)

John, I knew I was not along in being critical. I...

2008-07-21T10:33:00.000-04:00

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.

I agree with you even if it might put a little mor...

2008-07-18T21:55:00.000-04:00

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!