They have a whole process including things like counting your "umms" and "aahs" and "likes" and other verbal fillers. A good group gives you constructive criticism from others who have gone through the process themselves. I learned to pace myself better and to slow down. The speaking skills I had developed in presenting to technical audiences were not as useful for non-technical presentations and Toastmasters helped me improve there.
I learned a ton and didn't even make it through the first 10 speeches[1]. Some off the top of my head:
* Organization -- learning how to center a speech around a topic with 2-3 supporting points.
* Brevity -- the 3 min time limit is hard to adhere to, and it takes practice. Which leads to...
* Practice -- practicing giving speeches, speaking extemporaneously, standing in front of others... all incredibly valuable.
* Handling criticism -- criticism is built into the process. After you give a speech, someone else follows up with a critique. Which may seem incredibly frightening at first, but normalizing it and making it part of the process in this manner is incredibly powerful and confidence/resilience boosting. (Plus, in my experience, people are quite positive and uplifting in their critiques.)
Beyond any specific insights or ideas that I learned, I think it's the overall process that's the magic. It builds confidence that extends beyond formal public speaking and impacts your everyday interactions as well.
[1] I wish I had stuck with it longer. I moved and never found a new group to join. This thread reminds me that I should look for one again!
I will second this. I went to a few meetings before everything shutdown (they still meet on Zoom, but I'd rather do it in person). It is very welcoming and I was impressed by how well many of the people who'd be doing it for a while spoke.
Thirded. Toastmasters has a great education program, and the groups are populated by supportive people, usually including both experienced speakers who are willing to share tips, and beginners who are willing to commiserate. Highly recommended.
Would you mind sharing a couple of key insights that you learnt there?
Thanks ^_^