According to many polls, the number one fear is that of speaking publicly—a fear even greater than death for the majority of people! According to Jerry Seinfeld, “That means the average person at a funeral would rather be in the casket than delivering the eulogy.”
Joking aside, it is no laughing matter for those who are almost paralyzed by the notion of addressing a crowd.
But, as humans do, we evolve. Many people, especially millennials and teenagers, seem to be a bit more comfortable these days with addressing large groups, especially via social media. According to a study conducted a few years ago by Chapman University, the greatest fear of the average American now is that of politicians and corrupt bureaucrats. No joke!
Through the years, I have trained and coached hundreds of business professionals in the art of public speaking, many of whom told me their jobs depended on them being able to deliver cogent presentations as part of their responsibilities. At this point, developing speaking skills is not an option. One has to deliver.
A wonderful organization stands to help those in need. Dr. Ralph C. Smedley founded Toastmasters in 1924. Almost 100 years later there are over 300,000 members and 16,000 local clubs worldwide.
Each local club is structured like . . . well, a club. Typically, each meets a couple of times a month. They work from an agenda where people have signed up to speak that week. There are officers elected each year as well as a hierarchy of sorts to support regional functions such as contests and training events.
A meeting starts with the strike of the gavel from the Sergeant-At-Arms. Then a Toastmaster member is introduced who will run the meeting. Many times, this is not an officer. In fact, the word “toastmaster” is a Victorian-era term which simply means the master of ceremonies or host. Unlike most civic organizations, all members are responsible for programming responsibilities including the facilitation of meetings.
The host, or “Toastmaster of the Day” will introduce all the speakers scheduled to speak. Most speeches are fairly short, only 5–7 minutes in length. Then, other members will publicly critique the speakers’ skills and offer suggestions for improvements. It’s all done in a spirit of comradery, as the evaluations are intended to be helpful for the individual as well as the other members in attendance. But people take something scary and turn it into something fun, especially with something called Table Topics.
It’s a process that has worked for hundreds in the area.
“Toastmasters is something that I wish I knew about in college. It has greatly improved my shyness and overall self-confidence,” says Zachary Williams, president of Murfreesboro’s True Blue Talkers club. “I joined not only for the public speaking and communication skills, but to also overcome fears that I’ve placed upon myself throughout my life. Toastmasters is the only place where you can overcome your fears, deliver memorable presentations and speak from the heart.”
Shawn Kiser Hawk, an attorney in town, states, “Toastmasters brought me a confidence in public speaking and leadership that I never thought was possible. We are all just practicing for tomorrow, right? Further, I have had so much fun and met so many wonderful people with varied economic, educational, social, religious and international backgrounds, which has simply made me a better person.”
Toastmasters Club Growth Director for Middle Tennessee Dean Phillips says that he has received more compliments on his skills and has become more polished as a speaker because of the organization.
“But, like most things, it’s a journey, not a destination,” he says.
And that’s good advice, as the organization can’t help if those in need don’t show up. There are two such clubs in Murfreesboro and you are welcome to visit either one. The Heart of Tennessee Toastmasters Club meets at 7 p.m. the second, fourth and fifth Tuesday of every month at 520 Highland Terrace, Suite F (above The Exercise Coach). If weeknights do not fit your schedule, The True Blue Talkers meet at 9:15 a.m. the first and third Saturdays. Each meeting runs 75 minutes.
If conquering the fear of speaking or just improving your skills is something on your goal list for 2022, this is where you can achieve that goal. With the annual dues of only about $100, what do you have to lose? Check it out for yourself or visit toastmasters.org to find a club near you.
Toastmasters love guests! All will be welcomed.
“Everyone at the H.o.T. club is so warm and welcoming, which makes it a great environment to practice public speaking. You can go at your own pace without ever feeling rushed, but you are also encouraged to participate,” as Tiffany Trocki puts it. “This makes it a great place for shy and introverted people to comfortably work on their social and communication skills.”
