Public Speaking - Introduction

In 1979, I was working as a Systems Analyst for Airborne Freight. A few months into a major new system design effort, I had to make a presentation to senior management. I knew about the presentation in advance, I had plenty of time to prepare my remarks and worry about potential questions. The day arrived and I gave my presentation. Afterwards, my boss took me aside and said: “You were really prepared for that meeting; it’s too bad none of the attendees know that!”

It was well deserved and expected criticism – my presentation was a disaster. I did know what I was talking about but I didn’t think about what they (the company President and Executive VPs) wanted to hear. My education in chemistry and business had done little to prepare me for that meeting and my fear of public speaking overwhelmed my ability to think on my feet. Sadly, the only thing my boss liked about my presentation was that I answered one question by saying “I don’t know” – he was impressed that I didn’t try to make something up on the fly.

The next thing that happened was not at all expected. My boss tore an announcement for an upcoming meeting of Seattle Toastmasters out of the paper, handed it to me and said: “go to this meeting, join this club and stay in it until you get your CTM!” Fearing the loss of my job, I followed his advice. Several months later when I had another opportunity to once again speak in front of that tribunal, I had already made noticeable progress.

It has been reported that most people fear public speaking more than they fear death. Even if that’s an exaggeration, we have all witnessed and perhaps given presentations like the one I gave 30 years ago. And while we might feel like we can hide behind technology (a.k.a. PowerPoint), my experience is that PowerPoint gives bad speakers a chance to look even worse. Learning how to speak in front of an audience, any audience, is an essential life lesson. It’s not just for business; I have a friend who was asked recently to offer remarks at a memorial service for a friend who passed away. Any of us can be thrust onto the stage.

Fortunately, there are organizations to support us in this task. Toastmasters, the path I “chose” is one option and there are a variety of educational institutions that specialize in public speaking education. Over the next few weeks, we’re going to hear from two guests that are going to help us better understand these educational opportunities. First, Roger Brown is going to tell us more about the non-profit educational organization called Toastmasters. Roger's formal education is electrical engineering and, early on, he too was unprepared to make a good presentation. Today, Roger is an active and avid Toastmaster; a member of two community based Toastmaster clubs in Hartford and West Hartford Connecticut. Roger applies his communication and leadership skills as a member of the faculty at Rensselaer (RPI) at the Hartford campus.

Roger will discuss the benefits of the Toastmasters Communication & Leadership Programs that take members step-by-step ... from being a person hesitant to speak before an audience ... to a person who can comfortably participate in any speaking situation with confidence and assurance. Toastmasters International celebrates its 85th Anniversary this year and now has nearly 250,000 members in more than 12,500 clubs in 106 countries, offering a proven – and enjoyable! – way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills. Find a club near you, today.

After we hear about Toastmasters, Vince Stevenson will join us to talk about formal education specifically targeting public speaking. Vince is the founder of the College of Public Speaking in London England. The College of Public Speaking sponsors the Speakers Trust, a charity designed to encourage effective communication skills throughout all strands of society.
I’m looking forward to hearing what these two experts have to offer on this most important subject. Join us next week as we begin the debate.