The Road to Confidence: Toastmasters Club Helps Caregivers Master Public Speaking

When Benjamin Benedetti, MBA, LSSGB, RPSGT, became a clinical manager at Cleveland Clinic Mercy Hospital, he welcomed the chance to participate in a public radio broadcast — only to discover he had a fear of public speaking.

“My hands were clammy, my mouth was painfully dry, my thoughts raced, and I filled every pause with words like ‘uh, um, you know and so’,” he shares. “It was clear that I needed to develop speaking skills.”

Determined to improve, Benedetti sought other opportunities to speak before an audience. He jumped at the chance to present at a healthcare conference, only to be confronted by his old fears.

“I had carefully prepared my presentation – but as soon as I opened my mouth, my mind went blank,” he recalls. “I struggled to form coherent sentences, and it felt like an eternity passed as I fought to regain my composure.”

Structured support for professional growth

Benedetti’s experience is not uncommon. Eighty-five percent of people report being nervous about speaking in public, according to a Stanford Business podcast. For some, honing this craft may necessitate additional training.

As part of Toastmasters International, which boasts 260,000 members in 13,800 clubs around the world, Cleveland Clinic’s Toastmasters Clubs have remained popular with both clinical and nonclinical caregivers. Through skill-building meetings, online educational materials, a broad support network and personalized mentoring, the clubs provide a welcoming environment where professionals can build confidence and become effective communicators.

“Toastmasters gives participants a fun way to practice speaking in front of others before delivering presentations to real audiences,” Benedetti says. “The meetings provide a place to learn by doing.”

Practice makes perfect

The caregivers in Benedetti’s club, CCAC Toastmasters, are located in Ohio, Florida and London. During twice-monthly virtual meetings, participants practice organizing and expressing their ideas while delivering presentations, providing feedback and serving in meeting roles such as:

• Toastmaster of the day
• Grammarian
• Table topic master
• Timer
• Evaluator

“Members are encouraged to assume a role,” explains Tracey Touma, the club’s president and a senior cybersecurity specialist and business liaison in Cleveland Clinic’s Cybersecurity Division. “The grammarian tracks filler words, the timer helps maintain balance between message and timing, and evaluators offer feedback on things like gestures, audience awareness, vocal variety and clarity.”

Meetings also cue participants to answer impromptu questions with one- to two-minute responses that include an idea, supporting data and a conclusion. Touma says it’s an invaluable exercise. “We’re modeling exactly what happens in leadership meetings,” she explains. “An executive asks a question and then goes around the room looking for clear, concise responses that are backed by data.”

Members also have access to education modules (e.g., assistance with speech writing), a robust professional network and conferences, guest presentations and other resources provided by Toastmasters International.

“The networking is essential,” Benedetti says. “I’ve been able to connect with leaders across the organization who’ve shared similar challenges, experiences and goals. Those relationships have been just as meaningful as the communication skills I’ve developed.”

Benedetti has been a member of Toastmasters for several years now — even serving as a club officer and club president. “The experience has challenged me, encouraged me and continuously pushed me beyond my comfort zone,” he says.

Today, he regularly presents at local healthcare conferences and functions. “Public speaking, which once filled me with anxiety, is now something I genuinely enjoy,” he shares.

Building better leaders

Although Toastmasters is most famous for the speech training it provides, it also helps members develop in other professional arenas, says Touma, recipient of a 2022 Distinguished Toastmaster Award.

“I used to be so focused on data and outcomes that I’d interrupt others and didn’t absorb their feedback,” she admits. “In Toastmasters, you’re taught that being an active listener who’s receptive to others’ input is essential to strong communication and leadership. Now, I put those lessons into practice.”

Touma, who joined the club nearly a decade ago, says the expertise she has acquired continues to shape her leadership style and strengthen collaboration with her team. “The experience has brought out the best in me,” she says. “I’ve learned how to communicate with data and not emotion, be less defensive, embrace feedback, mentor others, encourage growth for my team and more.”

In 2023, Cleveland Clinic received corporate recognition from Toastmasters International. This fall, the CCAC club will be designated a President's Distinguished Club, Toastmasters’ highest level of recognition. The club earned the distinction, in part, by meeting designated education milestones, successfully building and retaining its membership base, and demonstrating exceptional organizational leadership.

Touma emphasizes how well the club aligns with Cleveland Clinic’s organizational values and highlights the opportunities she’s had to witness others grow. “Not only do the club’s goals dovetail perfectly with our values — especially ‘Succeed as one team’ — but also, I get to see caregivers grow and elevate their leadership capabilities. Many have even won speaking contests at the division level. It’s amazing.”