Why do people join a community? Let’s get more personal: Why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters 11 years ago because I was looking for a place where I could practice my English and presentation skills. But as time went by, what captivated me the most was you, the members. The clubs I visited were always full of talented members. The best part was that they were willing to share their knowledge and skills with other people, for FREE!!!
Members such as these are the incarnation of Toastmasters' true values. To fully taste this ambrosia, you need to build good relationships. Then the question is how can we build good relationships? Today I would like to share three basic things you can try to keep your members feeling loved and appreciated.
First listen to your members.
“My dear child, be a good listener.” You might have received this advice from your parents thousands of times when you were young. Maybe some of us are still getting this advice, though I really hope not...
People like to share their own opinions and thoughts, but may have difficulties concentrating on what others are saying. Bryant H. McGill, a famous author, once said, “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
I still remember my first speech, the Icebreaker. When I was on stage, I was nervous, like I was swimming in the ocean with no land in sight. But when I looked around, I found the warm and supportive looks in the members' eyes. After my speech, my table was full of heartwarming comments on my clumsy speech. That was the first moment that I felt my voice had been truly heard by somebody, and that's why I'm still delivering speeches even today. Don’t you have that experience?
Being a good listener is the first step to show your love and appreciation toward your fellow members. (Don't forget to write a comment if you have a meeting today.)
Secondly, be patient.
In any kind of community, people occasionally misunderstand each other and might feel frustrated by what they do and how they are treated. Sometimes your good will can be misconstrued as an irritating action. Have you ever heard the expression, “people see what they want to see, and listen to what they want to hear, and believe what they want to believe?” It’s obvious, because we are all different.
Whenever you are faced with any kind of disagreement, it is critical to step back, and put yourself in the other’s shoes. It sounds easy, but in reality it is not!!!
Then what could help? Patience. Patience is the key in any dispute, and everyone will appreciate your patience. Through my Toastmasters leadership journey, I met quite a few unique members, and they gave me a hard time. One way I utilize patience is by reminding myself that we all love Toastmasters, but the way that we show that love can be different because we all are different. That really helped me to keep myself calm and to listen to their issue
Last but not least, always remember to say these two, simple words: “Thank you.”
We all love helping and supporting our family and friends, and do so without any expectations. But sometimes we forget to actually verbally acknowledge our gratitude. Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone. If you received support from your members, It’s important to recognize them publicly. If we can recognize them for what they did for us on a big stage, it’s even better.
But, the more important thing is a personal message. Whenever you get support from your members, please thank them to show your appreciation and love. It may take you only a second to say it, but for them it could last a lifetime.
I truly believe that we can improve and achieve our goals only with the help of our members and community at large. These are 3 small, but important, things you can do to show your appreciation and love toward your devoted members and community. I hope my tips will remind you of what you can do to build better relations with your beloved members and community.
Remember, together we can create a stronger community and a better world.
Why do people join a community? Let’s get more personal: Why did you join Toastmasters?
I joined Toastmasters 11 years ago because I was looking for a place where I could practice my English and presentation skills. But as time went by, what captivated me the most was you, the members. The clubs I visited were always full of talented members. The best part was that they were willing to share their knowledge and skills with other people, for FREE!!!
Members such as these are the incarnation of Toastmasters' true values. To fully taste this ambrosia, you need to build good relationships. Then the question is how can we build good relationships? Today I would like to share three basic things you can try to keep your members feeling loved and appreciated.
First listen to your members.
“My dear child, be a good listener.” You might have received this advice from your parents thousands of times when you were young. Maybe some of us are still getting this advice, though I really hope not...
People like to share their own opinions and thoughts, but may have difficulties concentrating on what others are saying. Bryant H. McGill, a famous author, once said, “One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say.”
I still remember my first speech, the Icebreaker. When I was on stage, I was nervous, like I was swimming in the ocean with no land in sight. But when I looked around, I found the warm and supportive looks in the members' eyes. After my speech, my table was full of heartwarming comments on my clumsy speech. That was the first moment that I felt my voice had been truly heard by somebody, and that's why I'm still delivering speeches even today. Don’t you have that experience?
Being a good listener is the first step to show your love and appreciation toward your fellow members. (Don't forget to write a comment if you have a meeting today.)
Secondly, be patient.
In any kind of community, people occasionally misunderstand each other and might feel frustrated by what they do and how they are treated. Sometimes your good will can be misconstrued as an irritating action. Have you ever heard the expression, “people see what they want to see, and listen to what they want to hear, and believe what they want to believe?” It’s obvious, because we are all different.
Whenever you are faced with any kind of disagreement, it is critical to step back, and put yourself in the other’s shoes. It sounds easy, but in reality it is not!!!
Then what could help? Patience. Patience is the key in any dispute, and everyone will appreciate your patience. Through my Toastmasters leadership journey, I met quite a few unique members, and they gave me a hard time. One way I utilize patience is by reminding myself that we all love Toastmasters, but the way that we show that love can be different because we all are different. That really helped me to keep myself calm and to listen to their issue
Last but not least, always remember to say these two, simple words: “Thank you.”
We all love helping and supporting our family and friends, and do so without any expectations. But sometimes we forget to actually verbally acknowledge our gratitude. Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone. If you received support from your members, It’s important to recognize them publicly. If we can recognize them for what they did for us on a big stage, it’s even better.
But, the more important thing is a personal message. Whenever you get support from your members, please thank them to show your appreciation and love. It may take you only a second to say it, but for them it could last a lifetime.
I truly believe that we can improve and achieve our goals only with the help of our members and community at large. These are 3 small, but important, things you can do to show your appreciation and love toward your devoted members and community. I hope my tips will remind you of what you can do to build better relations with your beloved members and community.
Remember, together we can create a stronger community and a better world.