CIPM Toastmasters Speech Craft program focuses on leadership and character development

CIPM Speech Craft participants with CIPM officials and CIPM Toastmaster members

CIPM Sri Lanka, the nation’s leader in human resource management, together with the CIPM Toastmasters Club organised a Speech Craft program with the objective of enhancing the communication and leadership skills of HR professionals. 

The grand finale of the Speech Craft program was held recently at the Members’ Lounge of the CIPM Sri Lanka head office ‘HR House’ in Colombo-5. CIPM Sri Lanka Governing Council Secretary Ken Vijayakumar graced the occasion as the Chief Guest with Guest of Honour CIPM Council Editor Group Capt. Manoaj Keppetipola. CIPM Business School Director G. Weerathunga accompanied by members of the CIPM Toastmasters Club and program participants were present at the grand finale.         

“It is essential that young and aspiring managers develop their communication and leadership skills. We have organised the Speech Craft program to give a well-structured opportunity for the members of the CIPM Toastmasters Club to develop and hone their skills not only in the area of communication and leadership but also in an array of other important areas vital for professional development,” said CIPM President Dhammika Fernando.      

18 out of 20 participants who completed the required seven public speaking training sessions conducted by CIPM Toastmasters Club were honoured at the grand finale. The glamorous event was further highlighted by a speech contest among participants which showcased their newly acquired speaking skills. 

Speech Craft program is a proven and tested method of speech training delivered to enthusiastic young men and women for developing their communication and leadership skills where Toastmasters follow a structure designed by Toastmasters International (TMI). 

The program also focuses on leadership and character development which is brought about by active participation in conducting, controlling, monitoring and evaluating the training sessions (meetings) by the participants themselves under the supportive environment provided by Toastmasters. The Speech Craft program was launched by CIPM Toastmasters Club under the guidance of Dhammika Fernando. The CIPM Toastmasters Club will be reaching its 10th successful milestone by June. 

Club members expressed their pleasure on the progress by emphasising that it was a privilege to celebrate their long journey since inception by giving back to the society with the Speech Craft program which reached out to the CIPM stakeholders. 

As Toastmaster members they have experienced the level of confidence and boundless opportunities a person gets, when communication skills are enhanced. Therefore, they had chosen the theme ‘The sky is not the limit, when the whole galaxy is out there’ for the recent Speech Craft program. The members of the CIPM Toastmasters Club consider this activity as an opportunity to transform the Toastmasters value proposition of Integrity, Respect, Service and Excellence.  CIPM is affiliated to the Asia Pacific Federation of Human Resource Management (APFHRM) and to the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). CIPM, being a professional institute is also a constituent member of the Organisation of Professional Associations (OPA) Sri Lanka. 

Currently, CIPM membership comprises of over 1,200 professional members who serve in both public and private organisations. The Chartered Status was conferred on CIPM by the Parliament of Sri Lanka on 28 September 2018 by amending the original Act No. 24 of 1976.