Toastmasters bring the attitude

The theme for the Honeydew Toastmasters meeting on November 8 was ‘It is your attitude not your aptitude that determines your altitude’. Members and speakers were enthusiastic about their topics and not even load-shedding could stop them.

Onicah Masangane’s prepared speech was on different personality types. She relayed a story from her childhood which forced her to take on a parental role to her siblings, thus developing her into the powerful or choleric personality. “People with this personality are good at planning and problem-solving. They get things done. Their weaknesses include being bossy and impatient.” She continued that the perfect, melancholy personality type is peaceful, organised and a perfectionist, “… but they can be too cautious and very difficult to please”. The sanguine or popular personality is talkative and is energised by people. However, they may not always have proper jobs and they always have creative excuses. “The phlegmatic personality follows. They have a casual attitude and are indecisive; they want to please everyone.” Masangane said it was important to understand personality types because it accelerates learning.

During her prepared speech, titled ‘Time for some popcorn’, Maralize Mulder addressed the members as if she had just won an Oscar for a movie role. She detailed how perseverance and never giving up led her to that moment of winning the prestigious award. Although the award ceremony was not real, the message resonated; failing at something once does not make you a failure, and ultimately a positive attitude is what you need to become a winner.

VP of education, Tebogo Mailula said the theme was testament that anything is possible. “Not everything is one dimensional and the speeches were apt for the theme.”