Toastmasters International (TMI) Mission

A Mission in (Real) Action ….

(Submitted for publication in Toastmasters Division 79 Magazine to be issued in April 2009)

How many organizations or institutions do follow or do justice to their mission statements with their actual performance? We could see well written, beautifully engraved and impressive mission statements displayed in the front offices of many large organizations. How many of these mission statements are followed to the word?

On the contrary, what can you say about the mission statement of Toastmasters International (TMI)? Before answering this question, for which I know what your answer would be, let us review the TMI's mission statement once again.

The TMI mission statement is:

The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth.

In order to make an assessment of how effectively this mission statement is followed and implemented, let us pick a few key phrases from the mission statement. I would pick up the following phrases from the mission statement for this purpose. i) Provide mutually supportive and positive learning environment, ii) Opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, and iii) Foster self-confidence and personal growth.

Provide mutually supportive and positive learning environment: As we all know toastmasters clubs provide a very warm environment in which everyone treats the other in a very friendly and supportive manner. There is mutual help and support in preparing for projects, assignments, etc. One can always seek help from others which is readily available. Some of the great qualities demonstrated in toastmasters meetings are that there is no unhealthy competition among the members (the speech contests are conducted in a very friendly manner and meant to determine the best speakers who have benefited for TM training), no one is embarrassed for mistakes or poor performance, there is a plenty of friendly and constructive feedback to members on their performances, excellent scaffolding and hand holding. All this is done in a very positive and encouraging atmosphere.

Opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills: The opportunities provided are enormous. In addition to the standard speech projects, there are plenty of opportunities for members to develop their communication and leadership skills. They include: roles of one-minute toastmaster, joke master, grammarian, general evaluator, speech evaluator, contest master, contest chair, leaderships in club, area, division and district managements, membership campaigns, etc. Each of the above and several other roles available through toastmasters club activities provide members with great opportunities to develop communication and leadership skills in a steady and progressive manner.

Foster self-confidence and personal growth: One of the paramount benefits derived from toastmasters activities is gaining self-confidence. Self-confidence is one of the most important attributes in any one's character which will serve as the prime moving force in their personal development. Acquisition of self-confidence is a result of the mutually supportive and positive learning environment, and opportunities for developing and practicing communication and leadership skills provided by toastmasters clubs. Self-confidence is achieved gradually through the participation of toastmasters' activities over time which will be accompanied with personal growth of members as a natural outcome.

I am sure you will now agree with me more than before that TMI's mission statement is not something written for the sake of it or for display in a beautiful plaque in a front office of an organization, it is something that is carefully written with real meaning to each word and phrase in it, standing for something real and motivating everyone to achieve.

I salute TMI's mission statement.


Dr. Gamini Padmaperuma
Past President, Energy Toastmasters Club
Saudi Electricity Company
Dammam