Toastmasters International -Trust Me

The image features a pair of hands in an abstract, dotted style against a vibrant orange background, with a blue-tinted wavy pattern in the background.

Who or what can you trust these days, in a world beset with fake news and artificial intelligence? It’s a bewildering question for many.

However, there’s one source you can learn to always trust—yourself.

Self-trust is one of the most important life skills you can attain, experts say. It’s not about being perfect or a know-it-all. Self-trust means you’re reasonably confident you can solve problems or resolve situations that come your way. One reason why is because you choose to consistently align your values with your words and actions in all you do.

“Self-trust is our fundamental belief in our judgment, abilities, and values—it’s our internal GPS for navigating challenges,” notes Clara Rispler, Ph.D., a lecturer at Max Stern Yezreel Valley College who studies the effects of technology and trust on organizations and people. “Just as we need a solid foundation to build a house, self-trust is the bedrock of all other forms of trust.”

In uncertain times, self-trust is a “21st century necessity,” notes author Nan Russell in a Psychology Today article. It’s a self-curated journey to finding the best in yourself. “How can you offer the best of who you are to the world if you’re not offering the best of who you are to yourself?” she asks.

Toastmasters Equation

Introspection, vulnerability, feedback. Sound familiar? Toastmasters has provided individuals with trust-muscle training for just over 100 years.

Jesse Scinto, DTM, a longtime Toastmaster and deputy program director of strategic communication at Columbia University in New York City, says that Toastmasters clubs are an ideal place to help individuals learn to speak as self-trusting, reliable communicators, whether inside or outside the workplace.

Local club speaking practice “reinforces the link between action and outcome,” Scinto says. “We come to believe if we prepare properly, we’ll speak effectively. As our perceived self-efficacy [the belief in our own abilities] grows, we begin to trust ourselves.”

Lisa Qu, DTM, says her self-trust journey began when she joined Toastmasters in 2010 and was asked to take a club leadership role right away. She was shocked but said yes.

According to Qu, the entire Toastmasters experience taught her the tenets of self-trust. “I learned that if I wasn’t able to be consistent and honor my word, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything,” says Qu, a former District 119 Director and member of Advanced Public Speakers in New York City and six other clubs.

“You have to know who you are and what you stand for,” she says. “I’ve learned to trust myself to help build results, be vulnerable, to listen, be honest and open-minded, and to own my responsibilities and learn from my mistakes.” It’s an ongoing practice, she adds.

“It’s not a 24/7 belief. There’s no guarantee of success every time for you or your team or your club. A challenging situation can rock your world. What I do trust is my ability to sit down, zoom out on my perspective, and rebuild from within,” Qu explains.

Two hands reaching out for each other inside of a red box

Self-Trust in Practice

Like Qu, Rispler says self-efficacy is an ongoing, deliberate practice. Here are some steps to implement:

Just Start: Begin with a personal mission statement, based on the values that matter most to you. Greater assertiveness? Better decision-making? Write them down. Now you have a distinct roadmap to test, practice, learn, and adjust your thinking as you grow in self-awareness.
Start Small: Try journaling—maybe not daily but often. Track your emotions, reflect on actions and attitudes, and write about the “how” and “why” of your decisions.
Develop Your Trust Muscle: Developing self-trust is “like strengthening any capability,” Rispler notes. Take on an assignment that scares you a little. Ask for feedback from people you admire. Assess the outcomes of your actions—evaluating successes and setbacks will leave you ready to do it again.
Revisit Your Values: No matter how stout your values, review them and make changes if called for. “Maintaining an open mindset and balancing confidence with humility are essential steps in the process,” Rispler says. Listen carefully to others but stand up for your decisions, even under pressure.
Lead with Learning: Competency breeds self-confidence. Think of skills you’d like to master; create a plan to learn them. Once you’ve demonstrated an ability to do something well, then you trust yourself to handle tasks when they come up.

Self-trust, says Qu, “has to be reaffirmed every single day. It’s in the little things: keeping promises, showing up when you say you will, and being honest even when it’s hard. These small actions reinforce the foundation of trust, brick by brick.