by Joyce Piñero
“If you want to be the best YOU that you can be, join Toastmasters.” Lydeisha Gossett proclaims.
Lydeisha joined Toastmasters three years ago after she was stumped by the question, “What do you do?” She found herself tongue tied and stumbling through her words. Although Lydeisha worked for the same company for almost 15 years, she couldn’t clearly articulate her job. She didn’t feel confident enough to have a seat at the table. She wanted to be more visible within her company and realized she needed to gain some speaking skills.
Lydeisha reached out, visited, and joined a Toastmaster’s club. She learned to speak more eloquently. She learned to stop and start a conversation, something she’d always struggled with. She learned to adjust her speeches to her audience. She learned to work through her nervousness, and she learned that it was ok to be quiet sometimes.
She still gets nervous, both in Toastmasters and at work, but she trusts her gut. When her stomach flip-flops it no longer means stop trying. It means lean in.
“That feeling in your stomach is stretch. Walk into it. It’s a moment of growth.” Lydeisha advises.
She listens to her body and how it feels. It stretches her out of her comfort zone and pushes her towards her goals. The stretch is a catalyst for personal growth. Failing and knowing how to recover has enabled her to make mistakes without fear, knowing it’s pushing her towards new growth.
Because of her positive experience, she loves recommending Toastmasters to others. “If you have the drive to pour into yourself, give Toastmasters a try. It will give you opportunities to refine your skills and be the best you can be.”
Lydeisha has been given opportunities to use her Master in Management within the club and district. In return, Toastmasters has given her the confidence to become more visible at work. She feels like she has a seat at the table. After two and a half years in Toastmasters she applied for a leadership program at work, which she never felt good enough to apply for before, and she got in!
Toastmasters continues to shape Lydeisha into the best version of herself that she can be.
