Q: Should I join Toastmasters? My colleagues speak well “off the cuff,” but I am not a good public speaker. I have been able to avoid it up till now, but given my new role I can’t avoid it any longer.
A. Good speakers are not born. They prepare and practice, practice, practice. Many of my clients have gained confidence and skills by participating in Toastmasters. It is a proven method and you will find an empathetic group to support your professional development
At the same time, don’t miss the opportunity to develop your chops on the job, especially given that you are new to the role. Consider what you can accomplish with the support of your colleagues, mentor and manager by being clear about the following:
- Why are you being asked to present?
- Are you the subject matter expert or does your role mean that you are the key
communicator about your product, service, etc.? - What opportunities can you create to present “parts” of your speech in a supportive environment?
- Are you worried about the content or the delivery? If you are concerned about the content, don’t talk about something that you don’t understand or know.
- Have you written out your speech?
Avoid this common error: Do not think that just because you have polished your PowerPoint presentation you are ready to present. You can work for hours on your deck and forget to craft your opening and closing sentences. If you want to be confident when you speak, do the homework and prepare.