by Ren La Porte
As we are moving forward to 2030 and striving to meet the UN Sustainability Goals, one thing that is becoming more prominent is the term, ‘diversity, equity and inclusion‘. Many Toastmaster groups are already excelling in establishing this concept – whilst many workplaces are still struggling…
A contributing factor for this is our objectives. Our objectives are read aloud at the beginning of every gathering, to remind us of our common goal:
OBJECTIVES OF TOASTMASTERS
The fundamental objective of Toastmasters International is to educate men and women through the process of self-improvement and leadership training so that they may increase their confidence and usefulness in business, professional and community life. Toastmasters seek to:
- Improve their oral expression and thought.
- Develop their confidence and ability to speak in public.
- Obtain instruction and experience in the conduct of meetings.
- Promote the habit of analytical listening.
- Assist each other through constructive evaluation.
- Develop their capacity for leadership.
- Promote good fellowship among men and women.
- Advance mutual understanding though more effective communication.
- Foster and encourage ‘Better Listening, Thinking and Speaking’.
A TIP FOR PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION - VALIDATION
Having a common goal is great for creating diversity, equity and inclusion. Another tip is validation.
Validation is a term that involves acknowledging & empathising with the words of a speaker. To validate a person is to hear what they have said and repeat it back to them in your own words. This simple act shows you have listened. It also gives the speaker a moment to ensure they have been heard correctly.
Ultimately validation is a skill that fosters trust & connection: valuable assets for an environment of inclusion. Everyone at a Toastmasters group has the opportunity to speak. In roles such as a ‘Toastmaster’ and ‘Topics Master’, you also have the opportunity to practice validation skills.
PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE TO FEEL RESPECTED AND NURTURE GROWTH
As a professional organisation, Toastmasters exercise a culture of respect and support. Regardless of experiences, gender, age, finance, and knowledge, the meeting structure fosters a sense of belonging where everyone’s contributions are valued.
The safe space is designed to allow members to step outside their comfort zones. Encouragement in these situations, allows members to feel confident in their personal growth and leadership challenges. Ultimately, the safe space leads to a great sense of exploration and achievement.
FOCUS ON STRENGTHS
No matter how diverse our group, every person has a specific set of experiences that has given them strengths in certain areas. Part of Toastmasters is performance evaluation.
Evaluations happen from peers and are essential to learning and growth. Evaluations are designed to focus on and build existing strengths. By focusing on strengths, Toastmasters celebrates the uniqueness and diversity of each member.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
Naturally there are bound to be differences when you bring a diverse group of people together. Disagreements are normal and can signal opportunities for expansion. Throughout the learning modules, members are given communication and negotiation skills to address conflict in a healthy manner.
Some of these skills include active listening, focusing on solutions and learning to express your needs. Most conflict is driven by misunderstanding. Toastmasters set out to turn fear into fairness, making diversity, equity and inclusion a reality.
THRIVING IN THE COMMUNITY
Celebrating us as humans, can be done on many levels. Whilst emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion is healthy in regular team environments, it is also healthy on much grander scales. Toastmasters often learn to take their skills to the wider community.
Participating in community events allows members to build their skills. It also promotes a healthy community – one of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Tropic City Toastmasters giving a live demonstration at the ‘Our Townsville’ community event in Anderson Gardens 2025.
‘A Deloitte study shows that businesses with an inclusive culture are two times more likely to exceed financial targets, three times more likely to be high performing, and six times more likely to be innovative and agile. According to the study, fairness and respect are fundamental in the inclusion model.’
Interesting Read – What are your strengths?
