Using Toastmasters to Get Comfortable with Public Speaking
You Can Be Successful With Public Speaking
by Suzanne Doyle-Morris, PhD (Read about her here.)
(Listen to it here.)
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As someone who routinely speaks to large audiences, one of the most common questions I get from professional women concerns how to get comfortable speaking in front of groups, whether in a boardroom, at conferences or on panels. My number one piece of advice is to join your local branch of Toastmasters International.
Toastmasters is a nonprofit organization that exists to help people develop confidence in their speaking abilities. It has branches all over world and even within many large companies. In fact, the professional network, Women in Banking and Finance, has its own branch, as do many large employers. Members of Toastmasters practice speaking by giving five-minute speeches. They also learn to give feedback to one another on their improving skills—which is invaluable to members’ development as leaders.
When I started my own company, I quickly realized that I would not make a living simply from one-to-one coaching. In fact, I realized I shouldn’t make my living simply through one-to-one work, since I enjoyed working with a larger audience. However, I knew I wouldn’t be a fantastic speaker overnight and that I couldn’t just wing it every time I got up to speak. My audiences and I deserved better than that. So, while I knew I could speak adequately, I also knew adequate wasn’t enough to differentiate myself as an executive coach and speaker. I needed to get better.
I joined my local branch of Toastmasters, which enabled me to practice crafting and delivering a variety of speeches to a group of strangers who would give me supportive feedback. For my first speech, I had to give a five-minute introduction to some aspect of my life. I mistakenly thought, How hard can that be? I chose to speak about the circuitous journey that had brought me, an Australian-born American, to Cambridge.
I was overconfident and it showed—dreadfully. I told jokes that I hadn’t first road-tested for suitability. I managed to defy the laws of physics completely, by frequently drying up and running out of interesting things to say, while simultaneously going over my allocated time. That was an “achievement” I did not want to repeat.
However, that experience taught me to value more highly both my audience and their time, and to always prepare a presentation worth listening to. For any woman looking to enhance her speaking skills, I couldn’t recommend Toastmasters highly enough. I completed the initial round of 10 speeches, on topics ranging from a past French holiday to what I loved about Britain, getting better with every speech. Toastmasters enables you to become more comfortable with your speaking skills, which is a good lesson for any professional.
Listen to today’s podcast here.
Be sure to visit our site, WomensMedia to get Expert Advice for Business Women.
Or on our website, WomensMedia you should read:
Seven Steps to Overcome Your Fear of Public Speaking or
Add Confidence and Credibility to Your Presentations
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