A good way to reduce the fear of speaking to groups, develop better speaking skills and improve your ability to communicate verbally is through participation in an International Toastmasters Club. This lesson will explain how Toastmasters can help you improve your speaking skills. There is a mini-quiz at the end of this lesson. Toastmasters is an non-profit organization dedicated to helping people improve their public speaking skills, as well as minimizing the natural nervousness involved in speaking. It also teaches leadership and meeting management skills.
Participation is relatively inexpensive, with fees for a monthly magazine and administration.
Meetings are usually held weekly or bi-weekly in various community meeting rooms. It is an extremely non-threatening environment where members help each other improve by giving positive feedback. Everyone usually gets a chance to speak at a meeting, whether to give a formal speech, to participate in impromptu table topic mini-speeches, to evaluate another's speech, or to give a report on the meeting activities. Not only do you get a chance to speak in front of a group, but you also can go at your own speed. Some people use what they have learned in Toastmasters to advance in their careers, some go on to become professional public speakers, while others simply enjoy the increased confidence of being able to effectively speak to groups on a variety of subjects.