Toastmasters Teach Confidence

February 2, 2009 by Josh Morgan

You look out into the audience and see a hundred unfamiliar faces. Your hands become clammy, a bead of sweat forms on your brow, and you mumble “um” a few times before moving onto your next thought.
Sound familiar? Most people dread public speaking, especially in front of large groups. Whether it’s for a business presentation or an informal speech, some people just can’t shake the nagging fear of talking in front of a group of strangers.
Luckily, the Cheshire Toastmasters, a group of like-minded individuals who are trying to better themselves through the art of public speaking, is here to help. Toastmasters members take part in various exercises — from random two-minute impromptu topics to 10-minute speeches — and then the group gives constructive criticism, which allows them to improve their public speaking ability.
“We try to develop communication skills and foster growth,” said Toastmasters President David Tankoos. “There are varying degrees of experience and interest here. Plus, we try to have fun.”
On Jan. 21, the Toastmasters held an open house to let the public know who they are and what they do. To begin, they do not have anything to do with warm, crispy pieces of bread. Secondly, there are no toasters. Third, it’s not a class to learn to give the perfect wedding toast, although the lessons might help with that task. After debunking these perceptions, guests got to witness a typical Toastmasters meeting.
There were some introductions, a joke that induced a few laughs, and of course, there was a lot of talking. During introductions, people were asked why they decided to attend the open house. Most of the answers from the handful of guests referenced a fear of public speaking or the desire to improve their communication skills.
After moving past the formalities, Toastmasters member Tracy Mariano got up to give a five- to seven-minute speech of her choosing. In the Toastmasters world, there are 10 levels of speaking, and once completed, you can be considered a competent communicator, explained Richard Frantz, Jr.
Mariano was working on her Level Two speech. As she spoke, fellow Toastmasters timed her speech and counted how many “ums” or “ahs” she used. There was also a member who offered a full evaluation of the speech at the end of the meeting. Oh, and we can’t forget the random word of the day that was introduced earlier in the meeting – multifarious. It is a speaker’s job to incorporate the word into their speech, and other members are encouraged to do the same during their exercises that night as well.
At the end of the meeting, the evaluator pointed out that Mariano exceeded her time limit by roughly a minute and uttered six “ums.”
Mariano was surprised at the evaluation but found it to be important to her growth. “I didn’t even realize I was doing that while I was up there,” Mariano said after the meeting. “But, I hope to improve each time.”
But nobody’s perfect, including Tankoos, who has completed the 10th level. During his speech, he uttered two “ums,” according to the counter.
Frantz explained that, as members progress through the levels, they learn different skills. Each speech has a different focus, from motivational speaking to comic relief.
“Each speech is a project,” Frantz explained. “It builds on itself.”
Mariano has been a member for about a year and decided to take a few months off between her Level One and Level Two speeches. She originally came to the Toastmasters because of her fear of public speaking and after a year, she felt like she was improving.
“I love the building block idea, it is step by step,” Mariano said. “I’m glad I can get up and do it. I treasure these evaluations.”
The group also discussed “table topics,” which are random questions that members are asked to answer in a specific timeframe. A Toastmaster asked what was the perfect vacation, or the perfect pet, and members had to respond, earning additional kudos if they used the word of the day.
The first Toastmasters Club started in 1924, in a YMCA basement, with a group of people who wanted to improve their communication skills. Over the years, the club grew and there are now more than 11,000 clubs worldwide with over 200,000 members.
Erik Johnson said he had wanted to attend a meeting for over a year, and he was finally able to find time to attend last week. He explained that, in his sales job, it’s important to communicate effectively with clients.
“My job requires me to speak and express certain ideas and points of view,” Johnson explained, “but, when I get in front of a group, I freeze. I’m like a deer in headlights.”
Johnson said the Cheshire Toastmasters have a “good format” and he thought the group could help him improve his ability and confidence to speak in front of a group.
“Maybe they started out like me at one point in time,” Johnson said. “It gives me hope to achieve those same goals.”
Dick Frantz, Sr., a founding member of the Cheshire chapter of Toastmasters International, has been attending meetings for more than 30 years. Why, might you ask, does he still attend the Toastmasters meetings after three decades of speaking each and every week?
“Because I’m not perfect, yet,” Frantz, Sr. said with a smile. “I’m revitalized every time I go. I really enjoy what we do here.”
The group meets the first and third Wednesday of each month at the Cheshire Public Library. For more information on the Cheshire Toastmasters, visit the Web site at www.cheshire.freetoasthost.biz.