The secret hidden skill - Joined Toastmasters meeting

[olli_23]

Hi,

During the last few months I got intrigued by the idea that the skill of public speaking is in fact pretty important if you want to start a business. I don't consider this as one of my strengths, as I`m more introverted and shy. I can "make an effort" and I can socialise, but for example I shy away from public speaking and I would avoid getting in situations that require it.

On the other hand, I also realised that most parts of business in fact require public speaking:

- getting your idea across to potential cofounders (you need to convince them or your idea and also about you personally)
- showing your idea or selling your services to potential clients
- and kind of selling
- etc.

All of these are critical and could be deal breakers if you get super nervous in front of "strangers" and can't communicate your idea in a proper way.

So, I decided that this year I would like to improve this skill of communication and get more comfortable at the same time. After doing a bit of research I found that joining a local Toastmasters group might be the best way to improve quickly. The idea is that they have 2-weekly meetings where some people prepare speeches about random subjects, others evaluate, keep time, are the president of the meeting etc.

Yesterday I joined as a guest and it was an intimidating but also a good experience. Due to covid they are meeting 50% of the time online so yesterday was on a Zoom call. There were about 25 people in the zoom call, including 5 guests.

To be honest, I was blown away by the high quality of some of the speeches. Seeing what is possible if you put effort into it, made me really motivated to pursue this skill. Speakers used all kinds of ways to make their speeches engaging : gestures, pauses at the right time, their posture, etc.
There was also a newer member that did a speech, so that made me comfortable that not everyone in the group is already a superstar speaker.
The group was very welcoming and feedback that they gave was always constructive. Just a nice environment to help you forward.

Seeing what is possible and what can be learned (everybody in the club is there to learn..) made me realise how this one skill could really change your life and can supercharge anything you do. Even in a regular job, if you are the one that can convey your ideas clearly and engage an audience, could make you seen as more appropriate for promotions etc.

In the end, I believe that having an idea and not being able to communicate it clearly to others, is not going to help you. (apart from executing on the idea)

I know getting involved with this Toastmasters group is going to push me outside my comfort zone, but I also know that it will change my life drastically, even participating in it for a year or so.
Even introducing myself in the call got my nerves up, as you know a lot of people are watching you. By the end of the session and after asking a few questions to some members, I already felt I was getting more comfortable speaking there.
I think the only way to get better in this kind of thing is doing it more.

I hope this post can help other who are struggling with similar issues.

 

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[Donald Tottras]

I love toastmasters, happy you found it too! Used to go regularly before COVID and it's such a friendly and inviting organisation. No one judges you because they've established the climate that "everyone is shitting their pants before a speech and that's fine. We are here to fail so we can succeed in real life". It's such a concrete challenge to your fear. If you speak, you challenged your fear. Love it!

 

[Steve Myers]

Hi,

During the last few months I got intrigued by the idea that the skill of public speaking is in fact pretty important if you want to start a business. I don't consider this as one of my strengths, as I`m more introverted and shy. I can "make an effort" and I can socialise, but for example I shy away from public speaking and I would avoid getting in situations that require it.

On the other hand, I also realised that most parts of business in fact require public speaking:

- getting your idea across to potential cofounders (you need to convince them or your idea and also about you personally)
- showing your idea or selling your services to potential clients
- and kind of selling
- etc.

All of these are critical and could be deal breakers if you get super nervous in front of "strangers" and can't communicate your idea in a proper way.

So, I decided that this year I would like to improve this skill of communication and get more comfortable at the same time. After doing a bit of research I found that joining a local Toastmasters group might be the best way to improve quickly. The idea is that they have 2-weekly meetings where some people prepare speeches about random subjects, others evaluate, keep time, are the president of the meeting etc.

Yesterday I joined as a guest and it was an intimidating but also a good experience. Due to covid they are meeting 50% of the time online so yesterday was on a Zoom call. There were about 25 people in the zoom call, including 5 guests.

To be honest, I was blown away by the high quality of some of the speeches. Seeing what is possible if you put effort into it, made me really motivated to pursue this skill. Speakers used all kinds of ways to make their speeches engaging : gestures, pauses at the right time, their posture, etc.
There was also a newer member that did a speech, so that made me comfortable that not everyone in the group is already a superstar speaker.
The group was very welcoming and feedback that they gave was always constructive. Just a nice environment to help you forward.

Seeing what is possible and what can be learned (everybody in the club is there to learn..) made me realise how this one skill could really change your life and can supercharge anything you do. Even in a regular job, if you are the one that can convey your ideas clearly and engage an audience, could make you seen as more appropriate for promotions etc.

In the end, I believe that having an idea and not being able to communicate it clearly to others, is not going to help you. (apart from executing on the idea)

I know getting involved with this Toastmasters group is going to push me outside my comfort zone, but I also know that it will change my life drastically, even participating in it for a year or so.
Even introducing myself in the call got my nerves up, as you know a lot of people are watching you. By the end of the session and after asking a few questions to some members, I already felt I was getting more comfortable speaking there.
I think the only way to get better in this kind of thing is doing it more.

I hope this post can help other who are struggling with similar issues.

Congrats on joining Toastmasters! It's a great program. Get involved and give speeches regularly and climb the ranks. It's like with anything, you've got to to the work. Do that and it will definitely help with public speaking and getting your message across.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Toastmasters = highly recommended, as you never know when the call to speak in front of dozens, or hundreds comes calling. Congrats to you for the initiative to test your comfort zones, a true sign of a winner in progress.

 

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[olli_23]

Great to see so much positivity for Toastmasters. That really encourages me even more.

Get involved and give speeches regularly and climb the ranks.

Indeed, I will need to push myself to take speeches/roles. Otherwise no point in being there!
I can see myself getting a lot better with practice and that opening up other possibilities in other areas of my life, one of which entrepreneurship.

Toastmasters = highly recommended, as you never know when the call to speak in front of dozens, or hundreds comes calling. Congrats to you for the initiative to test your comfort zones, a true sign of a winner in progress.

Thank you MJ for your kind words. That means a lot to me.
Indeed, you never know when the call to speak will come. I have a feeling it might at some point in the future. Better to be prepared!

Reminds me of a time when I was in my early twenties. (37 now) A childhood friend of mine (that runs a very successful app building company working with huge clients etc) heard about a little project I was working on. He told me "hey why don't you come over to our offices later so we can talk about it further". Next thing I know I`m there in a conference room with a projector and 5-6 other people listening to my idea. Needless to say I was pretty intimidated. Just want to be prepared and more confident the next time something like that happens.