“There are only two types of speakers in the world: the nervous and liars.” – Mark Twain
Effective communication skills are important regardless of your profession. Whether negotiating a purchase, interacting socially, engaging in important conversations, or just getting your kids to listen, being able to state your case succinctly and effectively is a skill that will serve you well. Statistics tell us that 74% of people suffer from some degree of speech anxiety, skewing just slightly higher for women.
Glossophobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking or of speaking in general.[1] The word glossophobia comes from the Greek glōssa, meaning tongue, and phobos, fear or dread.
Most studies rate the fear of Public Speaking ahead of the fear of death. Comedian Jerry Seinfeld famously joked that at a funeral people would rather be in the coffin than delivering the eulogy.
I was one of the anxious masses. Even after a long career that included sales presentations, I would occasionally find myself unable to remember the carefully rehearsed presentation or even to look at the discreet notes I had prepared. I had good presentations and not so good presentations, but often left beating myself up and wishing I could finally overcome this barrier to success. One-on-one and small group communication were rarely a problem. I struggled with larger audiences or when the stakes were really high.
After years of procrastinating, I finally responded to an invitation to a Toastmasters Open House. Toastmasters offers a supportive learn-by-doing environment that allows you to achieve your goals at your own pace. I quickly delivered my Ice Breaker speech and advanced through the first book, before moving on to more specialized projects. Most early speeches are 5-7 minutes in duration and allow you to communicate and share what’s important to you. I’ve always loved the research in preparing. I’ve taken advantage of opportunities to learn more about Organ Donation, William Shakespeare, Human Trafficking and more. We all learn together and the ribbons and words of encouragement help keep us motivated.
I only wish I had joined sooner. Although I still get butterflies, they now fly in formation. Take the first step and begin your journey today!
There are 14,650 Toastmasters clubs in 126 countries. You can find clubs in your local community, corporate environment or college/university. Visit www.toastmasters.org to find a club near you.
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