Ten reasons for joining a speaking club

There are dozens of situations when we might be faced with having to stand up and say things in public.

This could be a presentation at work, a conversation with your boss or at a family function.

The opportunities for getting it wrong are countless.

But speaking is the key component of how we communicate. We do it all day and every day.

Doing it well is a fantastic skill to have and use.

That’s why it is worth joining a public speaking club.

You can go on a one-day course costing hundreds of pounds but you will be one face in an audience that could range from a dozen or so people to possibly hundreds.

How much individual attention will you get?

How much chance to practice?

How much essential constructive feedback?

In my experience very little – if any.

So here are my ten reasons (there are lots more) for joining a speaking club.

 1.   What type of speech

You need to know what type of audience you are addressing and what you want the outcome to be. Are you entertaining family at a social function? Are you doing a presentation at work? Is it a technical talk or an educational one?

Every occasion is different and every outcome is different. You need to know what you want to achieve. You have to know your audience.

 2.   Construction

There are numerous different ways to construct a talk depending on what type you are giving. But you need to take your audience on a journey. You have to start somewhere and finish somewhere. They need to understand what they have just listened to. A good beginning, middle and end are essential ingredients to any talk and there are many ways to do this.

 3.   Timing

How long is your talk supposed to last? Too long is disrespectful and too short can throw an agenda into chaos. Stick to your allotted time. That means you have to  practice what you are going to say.Practice is essential – don’t think you can wing it. You can’t and if you do people will know.

 4.   Vocabulary

If you know what type of speech you are giving and the audience you are giving it too then you can more realistically judge the type of language you are going to use. Your language has to be appropriate to the subject and the audience.Your use of language also needs to be varied to keep your audience’s attention.

 5.   Tone of voice

How often have you listened to a speaker who drones on and on in a monotone that disconnects the audience?You need to vary the tone and pitch of your voice. Pause to let a key point sink in.All of these techniques keep your listeners engaged and interested.

6.   Visual aids

Most speakers use visual aids as a prop. You absolutely don’t need them. Don’t use powerpoint slides unless they add a real extra to what you are saying. Absolutely don’t use bullet points that you then just stand and repeat.Don’t use slides that people can’t read.A good visual aid is one that aids real meaning to your talk or presentation.You need to practice working with them so that it is a smooth and flawless part of what you do.

7.   Stage presence

A good speaker commands the stage they are one. They don’t hide behind podiums.They don’t hop from foot to foot. They don’t wander around aimlessly. They don’t fold their arms or put their hands in their pockets or adopt the ‘prayer stance’ because they don’t know what to do with their hands and arms.A good speaker will make eye contact with the audience and will make movement an integral part of the talk they are giving.You need to demonstrate confidence and self-assurance to help make what you say more compelling.

8.   Ums and ahs

There is nothing that detracts from your talk more than the constant use of ums and ahs.We use them to give our brain time to think and form the next sentence.For the listener they are the most annoying of distractions.As a speaker how often do you do this?  How do you know? Who counts them for you and provides feedback?What are the tools you can use that help you to stop this annoying habit.Learning to slow down and take pauses is one of the great speaking skills. But it takes a little practice.

9.   Mentoring

As in learning anything new having a mentor is a great bonus. Using the knowledge of a more experienced speaker will help you develop and hone your skills.

10. Feedback

Constructive feedback is a fantastic resource. Having other people who want you to learn and improve and do well and who will provide advice and tips is essential.

Hearing what they liked and thought you did well coupled with some points for how you could improve and do even better is critical if you want to constantly move forward.

All of this takes regular practice. You can’t learn it in a day. You can’t learn it sitting in an audience.You have to get up and do it.

That’s where a speaking club wins every time and is a cost-effective method of learning.

Toastmasters International provides exactly that learning environment in a fun and friendly way.

You can tailor-make the type of public speaking skills you want to develop with a mentor to guide you and practice twice a month.

Check out a club in your area today. It’s free to go as a visitor.