By TM Ranjana Baghel

When I joined Toastmasters in September 2024, I was a shy and underconfident girl. I couldn’t speak even a single word in front of people. The thought of standing on stage made me nervous and scared. But today, I can say with pride that Toastmasters changed me completely. It helped me find my voice, my confidence, and most importantly, it taught me the power of feedback.

In my journey so far, I’ve realized one thing — feedback is not criticism. It is a mirror that shows us both our strengths and areas where we can grow. Before joining Toastmasters, I used to fear feedback. I thought it meant someone was pointing out my mistakes. But here, I learned that feedback is actually a gift. It’s given with love, kindness, and the intention to help you become better.

I still remember a childhood memory from my class 6 days. I was asked to sing in my music class. I stood up, everyone looked at me, and suddenly, I forgot everything. My mind went blank. I froze in fear. Tears came to my eyes. That day I promised myself never to stand in front of people again. That small incident stayed with me for years. Every time I thought of performing or speaking, that memory came back.

But things changed when I became part of Toastmasters. In my first meeting, I was amazed to see people speaking so confidently. After every speech, evaluators shared feedback — not to criticize, but to help the speaker improve. They started with appreciation, gave one or two points to work on, and ended with motivation. It felt so positive. That’s when I realized — feedback helps you grow without breaking your confidence.

During my first speech, my hands were shaking, my voice was trembling. But I completed it. And when my evaluator stood up, they smiled and said, “Ranjna, you have a natural warmth in your voice. You connected well with the audience. Next time, try to pause before your main message to make it more powerful.” I felt so encouraged! That one line gave me so much confidence. It made me believe that I can get better with every speech.

In Toastmasters, feedback is part of everything. Whether you are speaking, leading a meeting, or evaluating someone, feedback helps you improve. It is given in such a positive and balanced way that you feel supported, not judged. This kind of feedback builds confidence and helps us grow step by step.

With time, I also started evaluating others. At first, I was nervous, but slowly I learned how to listen carefully, observe small details, and give feedback with kindness. When I appreciated someone, I saw their face light up. When I suggested improvements, they took it as learning, not criticism. That’s when I understood that giving feedback is also a skill — it’s about being empathetic, specific, and helpful.

This process also helped me in leadership. In life and work, feedback is very important. A good leader is someone who helps others grow. By giving constructive feedback, you can motivate teams, build trust, and create a positive environment. I learned that when we focus on strengths and give solutions for improvement, we inspire people instead of discouraging them.

Every time I received feedback, I tried to apply it in my next speech. Slowly, I noticed changes — better structure, more confidence, good body language, and clear delivery. And each time, I became more comfortable on stage. From a girl who once froze in her music class to someone who now speaks, evaluates, and leads meetings — it’s been a journey of transformation, all because of consistent feedback and support.

Feedback doesn’t just help in public speaking, it helps in personal growth too. It makes you self-aware. You learn to accept suggestions with grace, apply them, and keep improving. You realize that mistakes are not failures; they’re just lessons. If I could share a few tips from my journey, they would be simple: Ask for feedback often. Don’t be afraid of it. Accept it with an open heart. Apply one thing at a time. Give feedback to others kindly and with a genuine wish to help. And most importantly, celebrate your progress, even if it’s small.

Today, I can say Toastmasters has given me more than just speaking skills. It has given me the courage to express myself, the ability to see potential in others, and the mindset to keep growing. Feedback has truly been the key to my transformation.

So, if you ever feel nervous or scared of feedback, remember — it’s not there to pull you down; it’s there to lift you up. Embrace it, learn from it, and you’ll see how far you can go.

Because every time you take feedback positively, you take one more step towards becoming a better communicator, a better leader, and a better version of yourself.