Despite being skilled in our chosen line of work, many of us lack the confidence to speak in public, even to a very small group. Part of this is down to nerves, but our reluctance can also spring from a sense of low self-esteem.
Unfortunately, this shortage of self-confidence can also feed through to other aspects of our lives. It can hold us, or our staff, back from achieving our full potential. The good news is that self-confidence can be built, or if it’s been knocked down in the past, re-built, with the right training.
Toastmasters provides a low cost training option
Around 100 years ago, people like Dale Carnegie realised that the ability to speak in public could open the door to better self-confidence. One organisation that grew in order to help people develop these skills was Toastmasters, a set of local clubs that has spread to become a worldwide non-profit operation.
Toastmasters International gives its members a safe, friendly environment in which to practice and refine the art of public speaking. At every meeting, everyone has an opportunity to give a short presentation, even if it’s just a few seconds long.
Through a process of supportive and constructive feedback, speakers can learn what others perceive to be their strengths and weaknesses, giving them the opportunity to work on improvement.
Toastmasters offers both a speaking and leadership development programme that has made a real difference in the lives of thousands of members, and it’s all available for a modest fee and time commitment.
More businesses should make use of Toastmasters
With training budgets squeezed, often out of existence, Toastmasters offers an inexpensive leadership and confidence-boosting training programme that organisations of any kind can choose to get involved with.
It can also help sole traders and other small business owners to overcome their fears of networking and giving presentations. These are barriers which, if not overcome, can hold back growth and lead to missed opportunities.
Today, four Toastmasters clubs operate in Dorset: in Dorchester, Ferndown and two in Bournemouth. Many of their current members can testify to how the speaking and leadership coaching they have received through their peers has made a real difference to their professional and personal lives.
To find out more about Toastmasters in Dorset, visit www.toastmasters.org or for the Dorchester branch, visit www.casterbridgespeakers.org.uk.
