Quora Answer: How Does Toastmasters Develop Your Interpersonal Skills?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “How well does Toastmasters develop your interpersonal skills?”

This depends on how serious you are about participating in the club.  A lot of people have gym memberships, but never go, so they never benefit from it. In the same manner, Toastmasters clubs have members who have been there for years but do not speak well, or engage others well because they never take up the opportunities to speak, to hold appointments and better themselves.

Toastmasters is more than just about public speaking.  The programme is executive training, to prepare for leadership, management and presentation.  The various projects train you up to eventually be that inspirational leader you envisioned yourself to be.  But to benefit, you must step up.