The better public speakers I have known have always had a desire to communicate their message/their story. Even when their public speaking skills were poor. The passion/intention always came before.
Toastmasters changed my life because it made me realize that you can become good at something if you have a simmering desire to become better. I stumbled upon toastmasters in a period of workaholism, and diving into TM allowed me to work towards something non-work-specific-related but broader. And saved me from burning out in my job.
I believe you can only improve by doing and by getting feedback on how to improve. Toastmasters is all about giving you honest feedback on how to improve. After you give a speech, you get honest, handwritten feedback (a Toastmasters standard) from a formal evaluator and from some of the audience members. The value of that is immense. A team of people who want you to get better but at the same time don't want to cut you down to the root (while you are still developing).
Toastmasters is an excellent environment for learning public speaking. Because you have to eventually face your fear and do speech #1 (The Icebreaker). You can only learn by doing. You're going to fall down, stumble umm/ahh but we're there to catch that and support you. The fact that most of your fellow Toastmaster attendees have no tie other than you're all there for public speaking experience - there is no office politics (unless of course, you're in your company club - which I do not recommend - go somewhere else).
If you're not ready for Toastmasters, try asking a question in a public forum. Like at a Q&A after a lecture. Then, if you feel you're still not ready for Toastmasters, just go to a meeting. You don't have to participate. Just observe and watch.
I have spoken publicly a lot (still do). Many of the suggestions in the article are context-specific, or have widely varied appeal depending on the person (I am not going to show up early and have herbal tea, sorry...)
But I am going to rehearse. Many, many times. Not just prepare, mind you, but _rehearse_. With a small tape recorder going, I will practice, analyze, revise and practice some more.
I think this is the one thing that separates those who come off as professional from those that come off as amateurish.
The best way to get over your fear is to practice. Start form smaller groups and work your way up. Eventually the fear goes away and you can turn that fear into positive energy when you are on stage.
I am the president of MIT speech club where members give speeches and participate in impromptu speaking. We meet Tuesdays at 6 pm in room 2-105. Feel free to email me at mpresh@gmail.com or just show up.
The better public speakers I have known have always had a desire to communicate their message/their story. Even when their public speaking skills were poor. The passion/intention always came before.
Toastmasters changed my life because it made me realize that you can become good at something if you have a simmering desire to become better. I stumbled upon toastmasters in a period of workaholism, and diving into TM allowed me to work towards something non-work-specific-related but broader. And saved me from burning out in my job.
I believe you can only improve by doing and by getting feedback on how to improve. Toastmasters is all about giving you honest feedback on how to improve. After you give a speech, you get honest, handwritten feedback (a Toastmasters standard) from a formal evaluator and from some of the audience members. The value of that is immense. A team of people who want you to get better but at the same time don't want to cut you down to the root (while you are still developing).
Toastmasters is an excellent environment for learning public speaking. Because you have to eventually face your fear and do speech #1 (The Icebreaker). You can only learn by doing. You're going to fall down, stumble umm/ahh but we're there to catch that and support you. The fact that most of your fellow Toastmaster attendees have no tie other than you're all there for public speaking experience - there is no office politics (unless of course, you're in your company club - which I do not recommend - go somewhere else).
If you're not ready for Toastmasters, try asking a question in a public forum. Like at a Q&A after a lecture. Then, if you feel you're still not ready for Toastmasters, just go to a meeting. You don't have to participate. Just observe and watch.