Toastmasters International Introduces its new Pathways Program

The new Toastmasters Pathways learning experience is not a departure from the current Toastmasters program, because it builds on the established educational foundation. However, Pathways is a modernized learning experience suited to the changing global society. It offers members more benefits and more opportunities to learn, grow and meet personal and professional goals. Members now have the opportunity to develop additional skills that they can use not just in their club, but at their job or in their community as well. Club meetings will still remain at the heart of the Toastmasters experience. However, Pathways builds on the best of what Toastmasters has now and takes the education program to the next level. And Pathways is now rolling out to all Toastmaster Clubs in the Chicago area.

Pathways sets each member on a journey of personal and professional development. It offers many different avenues for exploration and achievement. There are ten different learning paths. Each of the ten paths includes a minimum of fourteen learning projects, a mix of required and elective. Projects span a wide range, with many different topics to interest members and stretch their skills—and each of the ten paths is unique:

1. Dynamic Leadership helps build skills as a strategic leader. Projects on this path focus on understanding leadership and communication styles, the effect of conflict on a group and the skills needed to defuse and direct conflict. These projects also emphasize the development of strategies to facilitate change in an organization or group, interpersonal communication and public speaking. This path culminates in a project focused on applying leadership skills.
2. Effective Coaching helps build skills as a positive communicator and leader. Projects on this path focus on understanding and building consensus, contributing to the development of others by coaching and establishing strong public speaking skills. Each project emphasizes the importance of effective interpersonal communication. This path culminates in a “High Performance Leadership” project of one’s own design.
3. Innovative Planning helps build skills as a public speaker and leader. Projects focus on creating innovative solutions and building public speaking skills. These skills include developing strong audience connections, speech writing and delivery. Each project contributes to building an understanding of the steps needed to manage a project. The path culminates in a “High Performance Leadership” project of one’s own design.
4. Leadership Development helps build skills as an effective communicator and leader. Projects on this path focus on learning how to manage time, as well as how to develop and implement a plan. Public speaking and leading a team are emphasized in all projects. This path culminates in the planning and execution of an event that will allow one to apply everything he or she has learned.
5. Motivational Strategies helps build skills as a powerful and effective communicator. Projects focus on learning strategies for building connections with the people around you, understanding motivation and successfully leading small groups to accomplish tasks. This path culminates in a comprehensive team-building project that brings all of one’s skills together—including public speaking.
6. Persuasive Influence helps build skills as an innovative communicator and leader. Projects on this path focus on how to negotiate a positive outcome together with building strong interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. Each project emphasizes developing leadership skills to use in complex situations, as well as creating innovative solutions to challenges. This path culminates in a “High Performance Leadership” project of one’s own design.
7. Presentation Mastery helps build skills as an accomplished public speaker. Projects on this path focus on learning how an audience responds to one as a speaker and on improving one’s connection with audience members. The projects contribute to developing an understanding of effective public speaking technique, including speech writing and speech delivery. This path culminates in an extended speech that will allow one to apply what he or she has learned.
8. Strategic Relationships helps build skills as a leader in communication. The projects on this path focus on understanding diversity, building personal and/or professional connections with a variety of people and developing a public relations strategy. Communicating well interpersonally and as a public speaker is emphasized in each project. The path culminates in a project to apply one’s skills as a leader in a volunteer organization.
9. Team Collaboration helps build skills as a collaborative leader. The projects on this path focus on active listening, motivating others and collaborating with a team. Each project contributes to building interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. This path culminates in a project focused on applying one’s leadership skills.
10. Visionary Communication helps build skills as a strategic communicator and leader. The projects on this path focus on developing skills for sharing information with a group, planning communications and creating innovative solutions. Speech writing and speech delivery are emphasized in each project. This path culminates in the development and launch of a long-term personal or professional vision.

Each path is divided into five levels that build in complexity. The levels help one build on and apply what he or she has learned.

LEVEL 1: Master the Fundamentals. Develop or enhance one’s understanding of the fundamentals needed to be a successful public speaker and evaluator. He or she will focus on speech writing and basic speech delivery, as well as receiving, applying and delivering feedback.

LEVEL 2: Learning Your Style. Develop an understanding of one’s personal styles and preferences. He or she will have the opportunity to identify his or her leadership or communication styles and preferences.

LEVEL 3: Increasing Knowledge. Begin increasing one’s knowledge of skills specific to his or her path. He or she will complete one required project and at least two elective projects that address personal goals and interests through a wide variety of topics.

LEVEL 4: Building Skills. Build the skills one needs to succeed on his or her path. He or she will have the opportunity to explore new challenges and begin applying what has been learned. He or she will complete one required project and at least one elective project.

LEVEL 5: Demonstrating Expertise. In this final level, demonstrate one’s expertise in the skills he or she has learned. One will have the opportunity to apply what he or she has learned at all levels to accomplish larger projects. Completion of a required project, at least one elective project and finally the “Reflect on Your Path” project will complete one’s chosen path and then he or she will have become Proficient.

Toastmasters International is a worldwide nonprofit educational organization that empowers individuals to become more effective communicators and leaders. Headquartered in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, the organization's membership exceeds 352,000 in more than 16,400 clubs in 141 countries. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. Costs for joining Toastmasters is nominal and the benefits are phenomenal!

If you'd like to learn more about Pathways, plan on attending Deerbrook Park Toastmasters February 8th meeting at the Deerfield Public Library; the meeting begins at 6:45 pm and the first hour will be devoted to discussing Pathways. Guests are always welcome so plan on joining us and see what Pathways can do for you professionally and personally. For more information, contact us at:

http://deerbrookpark.toastmast...