The Kampala Toasmasters Club is a Treat for Brilliance!
By Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva
“See It. Hear It. Live It.”
This is how Susanne Namuli
Ndikuwera began her speech, one of the contestants of the annual Toastmasters
speech contest. Toastmasters is a club with thousands of bodies around the
globe and the Kampala based one, led by President Davis Tashobya, is following
in the outstanding footsteps of the Toastmasters International. Started a
couple of years ago by Norah Matovu Winyi, lawyer and lecturer at Law
Development Centre, this Kampala Tosmasters club meets bi-monthly, to identify
practical ways to create great communicators and leaders. I was blessed to be
invited by a friend for a life-changing
evening.
Three contestants lined up for
the inaugural annual speech contest. Susanne was exceptional, bringing images
into her speech about being visionaries, how leaders must hold the vision of
where they want their followers to go. She spoke of how we must fix our eyes on
what is unseen since what is seen is temporary.
The next contestant, Steven Umeme, was eloquent about bench-marking
oneself and being better negotiators in our various spaces. His speech offered
lots of comical relief to all of us.
The final contestant, David Mugabi, was truly remarkable. His confidence, ability to speak as to the group as though to an individual and the deep rooted conviction won our hearts and the judges, making him win. Mugabi’s main point was about how each of us needs to ask ourselves: “What is your unique selling point?” A USP is what separates us from the rest. He emphasized that rather than becoming people of success, we should become people of value and if our businesses ceased to exist, would we be missed. Mugabi was gentle yet firm, without flair but with a deep connection with the audience. He won because of his own USP.
The main speaker Peter Kimbowa,
is a renowned international speaker, Executive coach, board member of several
organisations including ESKOM, amongst other accolades. His delivery left the
floor inspired to change and to lead. He said that failing is not fatal and
that we must always have the courage to
move forward because it’s progress that we struggle for and not perfection.
It’s important for us to visualize success everyday in our lives. A GREAT
TEACHER INSPIRES.
In an audience, usually 25% will
like the speaker, 25% may be persuaded to like the speaker, 25% will dislike
the speaker and 25% may be persuaded to like the speaker. To be a great speaker
and leader, we must plan well and rehearse. It’s important to utilize as many
opportunities to speak in public spaces as this builds confidence. Every
presentation must stimulate the audience, have a logical sequence and end with
a memorable bang. Peter Kimbowa does indeed excel in his field as a public and
motivational speaker.
The Kampala Toastmasers Club’s
goal is for its members to become better speakers and leaders. Great leaders
are great communicators.
It was an tremendous evening,
with over a hundred people in attendance, corporates, artists, journalists,
writers, academics and leaders in the making. We all went home with one main
question:
“What is our Unique Selling Point, USP?”
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Dr. Connie Nshemereirwe and Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva (Photo by Maureen) |
The author is a writer, poet, children’s trainer and founder of the
Babishai Niwe Poetry Foundation.