President's Tip of the Week

Audience Amenities
(7/6/09)

Are there amenities offered to me if I am simply an audience member with no assigned role? I could start out pointing out that one of the things we promise to do when we join Toastmasters is “to provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations,” then pointing out that you cannot do this unless you are there. However, it might be more productive for me to spend a few minutes on more of the “What’s in it for you” items instead of what’s in it for everyone else.

There is the obvious benefit of participating in TableTopics and improving your impromptu speaking skills. But even if you do not have the opportunity to answer a TableTopics question, there are some additional benefits that may not have occurred to you. I’m going to run with an idea Jodie presented me — based on Abraham Maslow’s descriptions of basic human needs.

Belonging: “Humans need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance.” When you walk into a Gilbert Toastmasters meeting, you’re an important member of the club and that will easily provide you with that sense of belonging and acceptance. This is, in fact, the basic need that led me to join Toastmasters. I craved that socialization with others in a supportive environment. I definitely found it at Gilbert Toastmasters.

Esteem: According to Maslow, “esteem presents the normal human desire to be accepted and valued by others. People need to engage themselves to gain recognition and have an activity or activities that give the person a sense of contribution.” Simply being a member of the audience makes you of great value to at least 3 people (7 on certain nights) to whom you can provide essential feedback. When you sign your name to that evaluation form, fold it in half, and send it off to the speaker, you have just made an important contribution to the progress of a fellow member. Something you write could make a big difference to that individual. Take a deep breath and revel in that sense of contribution—you deserve it!

Additionally, you have the wonderful opportunities to clap and cheer for others and showing them your full support, learning something from the speeches presented, getting ideas for your own future speeches, filling out CL manuals for others, or brushing up on your socialization skills by befriending a guest and making them feel equally welcomed. I hope you’ll take advantage of these benefits and commit to regular club attendance, regardless of whether you have an assigned role or not.