Pep Talk: Why Toastmasters Really Works

We all know how to talk.
 
It’s doing so in front a sizeable crowd that throws many of us for a loop -- or gives us the shakes.
 
A 2006 study conducted by WebMD revealed that those who suffer most from speaking in public get more anxious -- not less -- as their presentation gets under way. And, unfortunately, the end doesn’t bring relief: When the speech is over, they feel even more anxious.
 
"It is even scarier than rattlesnakes," Paul L. Witt, PhD, assistant professor of communication studies at Texas Christian University, Fort Worth tells WebMD. "The idea of making a presentation in public is the number one fear reported by people in the U.S."
 
There’s a clinical term for this. It’s called Glossophobia, and it is characterized by speech anxiety or the fear of public speaking; stage fright is a common symptom.
 
Those who suffer from this know this is no laughing matter, which is why the name of Plymouth Toastmasters threw me for a loop: the Laff Out Loud Club. Perhaps it’s a play on words. But, what sounds more appealing? The notion of public speaking inducing laughter or the notion of public speaking inducing white-knuckled fear? I’ll take the laughter, thank you very much.
 
I recently spoke with Laff Out Loud Toastmasters’ Vice President of Education, Marilyn Albee, DTM -- read on to find out what the DTM means -- about why everyone stands to benefit from public speaking practice.

Plymouth Patch: Why do you think people have such a disdain for speaking in public?

Marilyn Albee, DTM: I think public speaking scares people because they are afraid of forgetting what they’re going to say or appearing foolish. That’s pretty much it…there’s not much more to add.

Plymouth Patch: Tell me a brief history of Toastmasters. How did it come to be?

Albee: The organization began on October 22, 1924. It began as a males only club. A man named Ralph Smedley started the organization in -- I believe it was -- Illinois at the  YMCA. Several years later -- when it was still males only -- it moved to California. Women were invited into the organization in 1973. The organization has progressed from there…it’s changed here and there. Over the years it was primarily public speaking, now it’s public speaking and leadership.

Plymouth Patch: Obviously, those who join Toastmasters want to confront their fears, but, beyond that, what are some of the reasons why people join Toastmasters (i.e. professional reasons, personal gratification, etc.)

Albee: All of the above. The primary reasons for joining Toastmasters are: Your boss told you to go because you have to give presentations at work; you have to get up in front of a group at church or PTA; or they’re out of work…we do a lot of impromptu speaking, which helps people with interview skills, that is a big deal in Toastmasters. Our membership actually doesn’t decrease when there is high unemployment. It actually stays steady. Although veteran members leave, people who are newly unemployed see Toastmasters as a good way to improve their skills, it’s a good resume-builder, and it’s inexpensive -- to join most clubs, it’s less than $100 a year.
 
Plymouth Patch: Walk me through a regular Toastmasters meeting.

Albee: Well, number one, at most Toastmasters meetings you’d probably be greeted by everyone in the room. You would be seated next to someone who is a veteran member so that you could have the agenda explained to you as the meeting progressed. We usually do a word of the day to improve our vocabulary. Also, part of Laff Out Loud’s mission is to help people put humor in their speaking because people learn and listen better in times of fun -- not all clubs do that, but that is another part of our mission. Then we have what’s called jokemasters, to lighten the mood. Then we have table topics -- and all clubs have table topics. It is an opportunity for people to practice their impromptu speaking skills…each speech is timed and also evaluated. Evaluation is feedback…not criticism.

Plymouth Patch: How often do you meet? What is the cost?

Albee: Laff Out Loud meets on the second Thursday of every month. We begin our meeting at 6:30 -- promptly at 6:30 -- and the meetings end anywhere from 8-8:30, depending on how many speakers we have. The dues -- to our international headquarters -- are $27 every six months, due and payable in September and March. The club dues are a dollar a month, and we collect those also every six months. So it’s $6 every six months. So, in total, it’s $33 payable to the club in September and March every year.

Plymouth Patch: Why do you think Toastmasters really works?

Albee: Let me begin by saying that not everyone who comes in to Toastmasters has that abject fear of public speaking. Very frequently, people come into Toastmasters because they really need to improve their public speaking. They’re not afraid; they’re just not very good at it. But [Toastmasters really works because] it’s learning by doing, and everyone who comes in works at their own pace. We assign a mentor to anyone who comes into the club, which helps them learn how to get through the manual.

Plymouth Patch: …and this is why you think it works?

Albee: I know it works. In Toastmasters, you’re never forced to do anything; it’s all done by encouragement and helping you repeat those speaking skills that you’re really good at, while, at the same time, working to improve those that you’re not very good at.

Plymouth Patch: How long have you been a member of Toastmasters?

Albee: My husband and I have both been members for a little over 20 years.

Plymouth Patch: What does the DTM after your name stand for?

Albee: DTM stands for Distinguished Toastmaster. There are different levels…once you complete all of the leadership tracks and all of the communication tracks, you automatically become a Distinguished Toastmaster. I’ve actually gone through the entire Toastmasters program -- from beginning to end -- four times. My first time was back in 1995.

Plymouth Patch: What are some words of encouragement for those who would rather chew glass than get up on stage and address a packed house?

Albee: Toastmasters is an educational program designed to help people improve their public speaking and leadership skills. It’s not only public speaking -- It’s all speaking. Everyone -- everyone -- speaks, and being able to speak in a clear, concise, and lucid manner is what Toastmasters is best at. No one is ever -- ever -- forced to do anything. You do it when you are ready.

Join Plymouth’s Laff Out Loud Toastmasters at their open house hosted by the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, August 4 from 6pm-8pm. Light refreshments will be served.  To learn more about the group, visit them online at http://laffoutloud.freetoasthost.biz/index.html