The Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) designation can sometimes cause some lively debate, especially among DTMs who earned their designation meeting different requirements (i.e. before 2001) and those looking for fresh excuses not to meet the current ones. If you’re not a Toastmaster, don’t take this to mean there are issues with the program.
The fact is Toastmasters is a fantastic organization with members far and wide ready to support you and help you be more successful, whether you just want to overcome your fear of speaking in front of an audience, or you want to become a DTM and beyond. But because less than 1% of all Toastmasters ever finish their DTM requirements, there are a lot of misunderstood facts about the program.
For those of you that aren’t aware of the specifics, the DTM designation is the highest award an active Toastmaster can earn under the organization’s educational program. Here’s how the award breaks down:
Communication Track
Competent Communicator award (10 Speeches)
Advanced Communicator Bronze (10 Speeches)
Advanced Communicator Silver (10 speeches and 2 modules)
Advanced Communicator Gold (10 speeches, 1 advanced program and mentor a new member)
Leadership Track
Competent Leader (10 Leadership projects completing about 20 individual tasks)
Advanced Leader Bronze (6 months-1 year as a club officer and 2 modules)
Advanced Leader Silver (1 year as a district officer, leadership project w/2 speeches and providing specific support to another club)
Some of the specifics take a bit of explanation, but you can tell from this is that it is a very real effort to complete this award, and anyone who takes the time and effort to get there has earned the respect of their peers. Period.
As for timing, this is an individually paced program, but here are some specifics:
All told, there are 40 speeches that will mostly fall into the 5-7 minute variety, but can include some 8-10 or even optionally 20-40 minute ones as well. Very few people speak at a “speech-a-month” pace or better (especially in their first few years), so this normally takes four or more years to complete (on average).
The four modules are basically prepared speeches of about 12-15 minutes each on specific educational topics.
The one advanced program is a seminar-style presentation that can range from 60 minutes to 4 hours. This takes extra preparation and special scheduling considerations.
The High Performance Leadership Program (HPL – I refered to it as a leadership project above) can take any amount of time, but expect 4-9 months, on average.
The 6-month to 1-year as a club officer should be done before being a district officer, and usually folks will serve in (at least) one position before being a club president. Then they’ll look toward district leadership.
So what does that mean in terms of a timeline? I’m glad you asked. I know a person who was able to go from joining to DTM in under 3 years, a member of one of my clubs did it in ~3.5 years, and I was able to do it in under 4 years. I also know folks who finished in 10 or more years, but those weren’t concentrated efforts. I don’t have a good number for an average, but it seems that there is such a broad range of answers that saying “8 years” or something would be misleading.
Speaking of misleading, there are a few misconceptions I’ve come across in my experience attaining my DTM. Disclaimer: These are my opinions, not anyone elses. I do not represent the Toastmasters organization with these comments, just my own opinions.
Misconceptions
1. The process for attaining a DTM has become too easy.
- MythBuster: The process actually became a bit more difficult in 2006 with the addition of the Competent Leadership (CL) Manual. Plus you’ll notice from the other requirements that this isn’t going to be replaced by a three-week bootcamp anytime soon.
- Fact: the entire process is self-paced and integrity-based. There are standards to be met (as shown above), but you don’t have to earn “straight As” to finish. In fact, the whole process is about gaining experience and increasing your confidence. If that is easy to you, then you’re probably not actually doing it.
2. A DTM should be able to speak like a professional speaker.
- MythBuster: The accredited speaker program is for those wanting to validate their professional abilities.
- Fact: Many DTMs start out having never spoke in front of an audience. It’s tough to be a pro after 400 speeches, much less 40.
3. A DTM should know everything there is to know about Toastmasters
- MythBuster: Any DTM you meet will know more than many non-DTM Toastmasters, but it’s not a PhD in Toastology.
- Fact: DTMs are encouraged to continue learning and serving, but it’s not a requirement: http://www.toastmasters.org/ToastmastersMagazine/ToastmasterArchive/2007/February/Departments/IdeaCorner.aspx
4. Some DTMs took a “shortcut” to completing their requirements
- MythBuster: There are no shortcuts. Some Toastmasters do accomplish more than others, but I’ve personally never met a DTM who didn’t meet the requirements.
- Fact: This is just mean. If you think someone isn’t measuring up to the standards, man-up and talk to them, not about them.
5. All DTMS are perfect, or are supposed to be.
- Mythbuster: You may think that’s what I’m trying to say, but it’s not.
- Fact: If you expect perfection in anything human, you’re going to be disappointed.
The Distinguished Toastmaster award is a difficult to attain and meaningful program for any Toastmaster to complete. It’s challenging, but if you have the time and the desire to serve and improve, you can reach the level of DTM and see the increased confidence, experience and skill that the journey will bring you.
Tomorrow I’m going to the SCORE workshop here in Wichita. It’s a session on starting and growing your own small business. In my case, a one person consulting, training and speaking business. Mostly, I want to be sure I’m familiar with whatever is unique about being a business in Kansas, and I hope to make some good contacts there.
They only hold these workshops one Saturday a month, and this is the first Saturday in 5 months where I wasn’t otherwise engaged somewhere (usually Kansas City).
I definitely need to move through these next steps to get my business off of the ground. Especially since I’ve had some expenses already this year, and need to take advantage of the tax break based on my current “losses”.
One important note there: 2009 will be the one and only year I claim a business loss. That’s right…I said it.
One facet of my involvement in Toastmasters is that I periodically attend meetings as a member of our District 22 leadership team. Tomorrow, we’re having our District Executive Council (DEC) meeting in Kansas City. Missouri or Kansas you ask? Doesn’t matter, since it’s a three hour drive either way. I guess I should find out though, before I leave here at 6:30 in the morning.
Being the Lt. Governor Marketing means that I’m in charge of the marketing efforts for our entire district, including all of Kansas and Western Missouri. Also, it means I have to give a report at the meeting, and lead a one-hour training session before lunch. It would be so cool right now if I felt more prepared, but running one club contest last night and being chief judge the night before has left me a bit drained. Actually, I’m not complaining. I volunteered for each of those things. And I’d probably do it again next week.
For the training, I’m going to lead a panel discussion (Facilitating Discussion Advanced Manual – speech #1) on Club support, specifically on coaching methods to help out the clubs in our district that are having challenges with membership. I have two other experienced leaders that will be helping, and the main focus is going to be the Q&A led discussion. I anticipate that it will go pretty well.
In other good news, I finally received my replacement hard drive from HP. You may remember in an early post that I mentioned my Laptop crashing in the Newark Airport a few weeks ago. Well, I finally finished reloading everything back onto the hard drive, so I’ll have it with me at the meeting tomorrow.
Three tips (that I just thought of) to success in training presentations:
1. Preperation
2. Sleep
3. Don’t drive more than two hours before the presentation
4. Bonus tip: Talk to the Human!
Hmmm…
Have you ever come home from a day in the life, and realized your tank was pretty much empty? If I could pay $2.39 for a gallon of thought right now, I’d be all over it. I’m torn, though, between rambling on to see if you’ll stay with me, or admiting defeat and going to bed.
arrrgggg. If I admit defeat, you’ll no doubt notice on another post something I said about not giving up or some such, and my credibility will be shot. Shot! So ramble I shall, and remember, this is your fault.
I received a package in the mail today. A friend of mine wants me to provide some feedback on a CD he’s created, and I was happy (!) to agree. That’s part of the reason I’m spent. I listened to about 40 minutes of amazing content, and wrote a full page e-mail to him to let him know my thoughts. Here’s a slightly shorter version:
>>>>>>>>
Dude,
Wow. Great content bla…bla…
Fantastic 40 minutes with one very short audio glitch yada…yada…
Thanks for including me such…such…
Rob
>>>>>>>>>>
So, a tip of my hat to a friend (and his partner) for creating what I’m sure will be an amazing and successful product. If I didn’t know how hard he works and how much he cares, I’d probably attribute his success to luck. Of course, anyone who I can call friend must have at least a little luck working for them…