Toastmasters Europe - Have Your Say       
   
Have Your Say
Toastmasters Europe 
Public url for this Club
https://haveyoursay.tmclub.eu


easy-Speak Training


District 59 Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Monaco

District 95 Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden

District 107 Spain, Portugal, Morocco

District 108 Estonia, Finland, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Russia

District 109 Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Lichtenstein, FYR Macedonia, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City

District 110 Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Rep. of Moldova, Romania, Slovakia and Ukraine

District U Undistricted Clubs in Europe


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About Our Club


Welcome to our Have your Say Toastmasters Club . We are an English language public speaking and leadership club that is part of a worldwide Toastmasters Organization. Both native and non-native English speakers have opportunity to hone their speaking, listening and leadership skills in our Club.

A FRIENDLY AND MUTUALLY SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Our members are committed to help each other improve their public speaking and leadership skills.

  • Do you want to express yourself better in front of people?
  • Are you dreaming of a more efficient self-expression style?
  • Do you want to enhance your leadership qualities?

Whatever your aim is, Toastmasters provides you a friendly and mutually supportive learning environment that helps you achieve your personal goals.

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Great opportunity to practice public speaking in a safe environment

Do you regularly give presentations, feel reasonably comfortable in front of an audience, but still feel as though you could improve? Or are you thinking of changing job and would like to develop your confidence along with your impromptu (or improvised) speaking skills? Or does your stomach tie itself in knots, do your palms sweat, do you feel nervous at the mere thought of giving a presentation or speaking up in a meeting?

Whether you just want to learn the tips and tricks of speaking in public, improve your speaking skills or get rid of your fear of public speaking, there is a very easy way to practice public speaking in Eurostat: a Toastmasters club.

Toastmasters is an easy way to practice public speaking, to meet new friends (from inside and outside Eurostat), to learn about many new topics, and to have fun! The Have Your Say club has been active in Eurostat for many years now. We meet two times per month at lunchtime in hybrid meetings (BECH + Zoom) to practice public speaking.

The club survived the limitations and the challenges of lockdown conditions and of teleworking by adapting to organising meetings on Zoom. With some colleagues back in office, we continued our activities in a hybrid format, which gives you two options: attending in person in BECH, or attending online from the comfort of your own sofa. Whichever way you participate, you practice one more crucial skillset: the ability to give speeches and presentations in hybrid meetings. We are constantly developing Tips and tricks to combat these challenges.

For example, in the beginning of the pandemic, online meetings had a lot of connection issues, and the first advice was to switch off the camera. Switching off the monitor is, however, not at all helpful for the active participation in the meeting. The current best practice is to keep the camera on whenever possible. In this way a presenter can get immediate reactions from faces and signs, and the meeting immediately becomes more interactive.

Here are experiences from three members of the club. We hope they inspire you to drop by, learn something new and meet old and new friends and colleagues. Welcome! We look forward to meeting you:

Sophie Crushovalieva

I was involved in the start of the club in 2016. The Toastmasters' programme all around the world has two tracks: speaking and leadership. We recognised the need to improve both. At the time, we wanted to create a safe space where we would support and help colleagues who wanted to improve their public speaking and presentation skills. Many of our colleagues had to present on a regular basis and often in front of representatives of senior management and in front of Member States. We were often invited to organise different types of work-related meetings, including knowledge sharing and training of staff. The Toastmasters educational programme gave us the tools and materials, while the Have Your Say club provided the safe space to practice and improve. 

Ewa Stacewicz

I am not a shy or introverted person; on the contrary, I don't mind initiating a conversation or expressing my opinion among a group of acquaintances. However, when I started working at Eurostat as a contractor 10 years ago, I realized that talking to people and giving a speech or handling an official meeting are two very different experiences.

Working as a business analyst during that time, contacting and cooperating with many colleagues at Eurostat, I felt the need to improve my public speaking skills and gain more confidence to actively participate in meetings. Fortunately, a few weeks after my arrival at Eurostat, I was able to attend the Toastmasters Speechcraft course. Subsequently, I naturally became a member of the Have Your Say club, which I am still a part of today. I believe I have not only become a better public speaker but also a much better organised person, capable to handle structured meetings and not be afraid to present my opinion, in particular to my superiors. I have improved my leadership skills in planning, involving people, and pursuing goals.

There have been three pivotal moments in my life where the experience and skills acquired through Toastmasters meetings and contests have been particularly helpful. The first, as I mentioned earlier, was at the beginning of my tenure at Eurostat when I needed support in becoming an effective communicator. Thanks to the friendly environment at Toastmasters meetings and the well-structured personalised feedback I received, I gradually progressed in various aspects of public speaking: voice modulation, body language, eye contact, connecting with the audience, impactful speaking, applying humour, using presentation software and visual aids, not to mention being attentive to my grammar, time management, and avoiding overused words or filler sounds (e.g., "ahm," "so," etc.).

The second significant point in my life where the Have Your Say experience proved invaluable was a few months into the pandemic and the first lockdown. I had a job interview that took place online, and thanks to my prior experience in giving speeches online at Have Your Say meetings, my interview was a success, and I was accepted. I received feedback that my interview stood out for its clarity, ease of presentation, focus, and attention to details like good lighting, posture in front of the camera, good “frame". My natural body language and direct eye contact with the camera were also appreciated, which is still not common as most speakers tend to look at meeting participants on the screen, giving the impression that they are looking down or to the sides.

Lastly, the third significant period began as we gradually returned to the office, and the need for hybrid meetings arose. Since Have Your Say meetings are still in hybrid mode, they offer an excellent opportunity to practice hosting such meetings. This can be challenging due to the varying technical requirements of the software and hardware in the meeting room.

In conclusion, I am deeply convinced that my improved public speaking and listening skills, which I undoubtedly acquired through Toastmasters, have benefited enormously my professional life, and also my private relationships.

Wim Kloek

Before the pandemic, club meetings were characterised by frequent applauding and handshaking. It is part of the Toastmasters culture, but it distracted me; and it felt a bit overdone. Over time I got used to it, and I came to perceive it as part of the positive environment. After the pandemic, we never really managed to put it back in place, especially in hybrid meetings.

Preparing speeches helps me to organise my chaotic mind. I used to be more focused on the content and the structure of the presentation, than on how the presentation was delivered.

Toastmasters has offered me an environment to experiment with the "how": body language, use of the voice, etc. Thanks to Toastmasters, I have been able to try out different types of speeches, different languages and I have even participated in speech contests.

The other skill I have trained is my listening skill. I enjoy listening to others. In Toastmasters, we should always be prepared to provide feedback: You have to listen deliberately and make notes. That is excellent training for your listening skills. Listening is probably the most neglected communication skill. It is often assumed, but it should not be taken for granted.

The best way to find out about our club is to attend one of our meetings.

Come and see for yourself. Our meetings start at 12.30 sharp and end at 13.30. Please arrive by 12.20 so we can start and finish on time.

 

 
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Looking to improve your speaking and leadership skills? Ignite your career? Gain the confidence to speak up?

You’ve come to the right place. Since 1924, Toastmasters International has helped more than 4 million people just like you, from around the world, become more confident speakers and leaders. 

Toastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development, with more than 364,000 members in over 16,200 clubs in 145 countries. This network of clubs and their learn-by-doing programme are sure to help you improve.

Toastmasters will give you the skills and confidence you need to express yourself effectively in any situation. Whether you are a professional, student, stay-at-home parent or retired, Toastmasters is the most efficient, enjoyable and affordable way of gaining great communication skills. You'll learn how to:

  • Formulate and express your ideas effectively
  • Be more persuasive and confident when giving presentations
  • Improve your one-on-one dealings with others

Don't delay! Become the speaker and leader you want to be. Confident, charismatic leaders weren't born that way. As you progress in Toastmasters, you'll get to practice your skills by organising and conducting meetings and motivating others to help you. Become a better negotiator. Gain trust. Inspire your team.

Visit our next meeting - guests are most welcome. You won't regret it!



 
Toastmasters Mission

The Toastmasters Mission
A statement of shared values

Every Toastmasters club shares the same mission, clearly defined in the following mission statement:

We provide a supportive and positive learning experience in which members are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth..

Through this mission, each Toastmaster gains a clear understanding of the club's purpose, and the organization as a whole benefits from a shared set of values and goals.



 

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