Cindy Coffin has been a Toastmaster for five years and is a current member of Lindsay and District Toastmasters Club. Cindy is travelling along the Team Collaboration Path and has achieved Level
3 and is working on Level 4. To select her Path, she used the Online Assessment Tool on the Toastmasters International website. Cindy said, “I completed the assessment and went with what it “told” me. True to life, it has been correct!”
Initially, Cindy found the navigation challenging but realized she could still have her “paper” manual, by printing the pdf versions of her projects. “I find that it is growing on me over time. I loved the refresh from the legacy manuals in the beginning, then I was not impressed with it from a navigation standpoint and not being able to work ahead if I wanted.” (In September, Pathways was changed to allow members to see all of the Projects in their Path and to do them in any order they want to.) “Since the update in September, I have been able to see what is coming next, make some choices on what in my “life stories” will/could work for certain projects.”
One of the surprises Cindy found in her Path journey was the challenge of certain projects, mainly the mandatory projects. It took her some time to wrap her head around some of the projects, then come up with a concept and execute it.
Cindy said, “So far, one of the most helpful projects was the Active Listening project in level 2. I find it difficult sometimes to listen to what is happening and then transition between speakers without sounding fake or dismissive towards the speaker. Pathways has impacted my life. It has forced me “more” outside of my comfort zone. I find that I am thinking more creatively about my speech topics and how to deliver them. I have some really great role models in my club and all the members are very encouraging that helps! For those who may be hesitant about Pathways, I suggest that you give an honest try. You will continue to learn new things about yourself even in this newer format of the Toastmasters program!”
