Area 4

A Toastmaster with a Humane Touch

Interviewed by: Saleh Abdullah Alkhamyasi

 She is a toastmaster who is full of energy and grace. TM Hamdah Alshamsi had an out of the box initiative when she thought of forging a corporate club in The Public Authority for Social Insurance (PASI). The birth of PASI Toastmasters made it the second toastmasters’ club in the public sector.

Being from out of Muscat, toastmasters enabled her to network and hone her social skills.
TM Hamdah is  a prolific writer, columnist, trainer and lecturer. She writes a column in the business section of Oman Daily Newspaper since 2005. Her dedicated efforts resulted in a published book in 2008. She is a role model mother for her child Bashair.

TM Hamdah currently works as an Assistant General Manager Administration and Finance at The Public Authority for Social Insurance. She has BSC in Business Administration, from the University of South Carolina, USA and MBA- Professional Accounting, Victoria University, Australia.

Let TalKI met this marvelous human being at their club contest and extended an invitation for her to share her toastmaster’s experience.

She welcomed our invitation with her usual smile and deft touch of humor. Our conversation delved in the following direction:

·        On the personal front, I felt that networking and meeting people from different walks of Oman would be an essential initiative for developing my social skills.

·        Chartering PASI Toastmasters as corporate club was one of my thinking out of the box initiatives to identify potential leaders within my organization and develop their skills.

·        The fact that I'm not originally from Muscat makes it difficult for me to meet people and start new circle of friends this is why I needed some kind of group to allow me to do just that.

·         Seeing that assuring smile in the faces of my club members a result of conquering stage fright gives me a sense of achievement and tempts me to extend the helping hand further and further.

·         I enjoy motivating my members and see them advance and eager to learn. I love to share with them their celebrations and accomplishments.  

·        Getting people to commit to the meeting and to their role is really a challenge. Most people look at Toastmasters as public speaking program that help individuals cope with their fear of public speaking.

·        As a leader you could develop either in the session playing various roles or within the Toastmasters community. Starting from organizing a meeting, taking notes, to organizing events and election processes.

·        I make sure to take one idea from each book I read, each audio book I listen to or any seminar I attend to take one idea and implement it in my life.

·        My advice is to take full advantage of what the Toastmasters program provide.

·        It is critical to keep yourself updated with what goes on around you. By joining groups like Toastmasters' you can improve your knowledge in so many ways.

When and why did you join toastmasters?

I joined Toastmasters in December 2011 because on the personal front, I felt that networking and meeting people from different walks of Oman would be an essential initiative for developing my social skills. You would agree that such a competency is crucial in today's business world.  On the other hand, chartering PASI Toastmasters as corporate club was one of my thinking out of the box initiatives to identify potential leaders within my organization and develop their skills. I felt Toastmasters program is the only program that will help me achieve these goals simply because it is done in a mutually supportive & positive Learning environment. It is learning by doing and enjoying as well.

What are some milestones you have achieved in toastmasters?

To me, getting to meet all these people with some of whom developed friendship was an accomplishment. I identified some real talents within the organization which was surprising to me. The fact that I'm not originally from Muscat makes it difficult for me to meet people and start new circle of friends this is why I needed some kind of group to allow me to do just that. Besides, seeing that assuring smile in the faces of my club members a result of conquering stage fright gives me a sense of achievement and tempts me to extend the helping hand further and further.

What roles did you serve earlier? And what are the lessons learnt from that role?

I only joined recently, so the only role I played was Club President. I've learned so much despite the fact that I just joined Toastmasters. One of the most valuable lessons is that Toastmasters doesn't stop at the club’s meetings. It happens between the meetings and outside the club as well. I've learned the importance of working for bigger purpose than my own and being part of a larger community. I am also part of my area committee as AG marketing. 

Tell us about your role as the president of your club?

I try to represent the club outside the meetings whenever possible by attending various District, Division and area events and functions in order to gain experience and get more ideas that I can bring back to my club. In the club I play the leader role, I motivate my members, mentor and guide them in every possible way. Motivation is a natural skill for me, so I enjoy motivating my members and see them advance and eager to learn. I love to share with them their celebrations and accomplishments.  

What are some of the creative ideas you introduced along with your team?

I connected the management in our organization to the club. This way the members feel that they are part of the bigger picture. We invite managers to attend our sessions a step through which we are showcasing and marketing our club’s talents. In addition we made it a point to invite Toastmasters from other club to provide diversity and enrich our members’ experience. It goes without saying that mentoring is one of the initiatives as well.     

What are some challenges you are encountering?

Getting people to commit to the meeting and to their role is really a challenge. Most people look at Toastmasters as public speaking program that help individuals cope with their fear of public speaking. But what I try to tell them is that Toastmaster is much more than that. It is a complete self-development program that would just change your life if you commit to it and will transform you to a totally different person. It will improve even your relationships in the house and within the community because it will hone your social and communication skills.

Toastmasters is where leaders are made relate this to your experience as president of your club?

Like anyone else I thought Toastmasters is all about public speaking but actually it is more than that. It really helps identify leaders and develop their skills. All the skills you need as a leader you could develop either in the session playing various roles or within the Toastmasters community. Starting from organizing a meeting, taking notes, to organizing events and election processes.

From my own experience I could attest that the range of soft skills I improved through this nourishing platform were amazing. It has gifted me an immense peer learning experience and made me realize that there is always room for improvement. What one should do to realize it just to stretch to excel. Dream, believe and do. Certainly it has inculcated in me that fact that excellence is a journey not a destination.  Therefore, let us reap the power of 3Ps that is planning, perseverance and patience.  

Our Theme this year “Touch to Transform” how did you reflect this in your club?

Touch to Transform is an attitude. It is a gesture to extend a helping hand. We have increased the membership level, enhanced the quality of our sessions and motivated our members to join out of club activities. For example one of our members joined a regional Arabic contest in Bahrain. I must also include that the intension is to form an Arabic club as well.

Tell us about your reading habit & what are you reading at the moment?

For the last ten years I'm concentrating in reading about self-development and work related materials only. I read minimum of two books a month in addition to audio books which accompanies me everywhere I go. I just came back from Europe and brought a suitcase full of books because I found them very cheap compared to our country. Books are the only friends I knew for as long as I remember. I just love the company of a good book.  

What other approach do you follow in developing yourself?

I attend seminars whenever I come across one. I surf the net and listen to audio books. Being a writer and blogger I meet all kind of people whom I feel are a source of inspiration and knowledge sharing. I learn so much by just talking to people and listening to them irrespective of their background. Nature also is a continuous source of learning for me. I make sure to take one idea from each book I read, each audio book I listen to or any seminar I attend to take one idea and implement it in my life.  I also love to travel and I think traveling is the biggest learning experience ever as it broadens your mind and give you on hand experience on many things.

What is your advice to the budding toastmasters?

My advice is to take full advantage of what the Toastmasters program provide. Whether it is skill developments or networking and getting to meet people because that alone is very critical in today's business environment. It helps individuals develop their social intelligence and communication skills on all levels. As the late Jim Rohn once said: you are the average of the five persons you spend most time with. It is also a chance to work for a bigger purpose than your own by being part of a bigger community.  

A last word you want to conclude with?

We are living in a very fast changing world where by information doubles every seven years. It is critical to keep yourself updated with what goes on around you. By joining groups like Toastmasters' you can improve your knowledge in so many ways. Do take this chance, and remember that Toastmasters happens between meetings not just during the meeting. Be part of the Division activities in order to benefit from what the program is designed for.

 Area Governor

AG Dr. John Valliattu

Area 4 Clubs

PDO Toastmasters

 

Royal Hospitals Toastmasters

PASI Toastmasters

 

SAB Toastmasters

JAL Toastmasters