How I Got Over My Fear of Public Speaking

1
How I Got Over My Fear of Public Speaking

• (With Help From Toastmasters)
• Alex S. Brown, PMP
• President, Chubb Sound Bytes Club

2
What Do You Fear Most?
vs.
Death or Public Speaking?
3
My First Performance

• Fear of Failure, Fear of Audience. FEAR
• Got Coaching
• Supportive Audience
• Got Through It
• Felt GREAT At The End

4
Speaking Is Part of the Job

• Product Demonstrations
• Status Reports
• Appeals to Management for Budget, People, and
  Time
• Requirements Gathering
• Staff Meetings
• I JUST DID IT...

5
You Have Talent, BUT...

• UmAhEr
• Hands -- too much, too little?
• Fumbling with slide show presentations
• Awkward starting and ending
• Stumbling over transitions, from topic to topic
  or after questions interrupted me
• One of these days I will sign up for a class!

6
Toastmasters - Benefits for Me

• Guaranteed Audience
• Practice, Practice, Practice
• Ten-Speech Learning Program
• Lifetime Learning
• Supportive, Friendly Community
• Coaches

7
Exercise - Your First Speech

• Five Sentences About Yourself
• Open Up and Talk About YOU
• NOT Your USUAL Introduction
• Say anything, except
• Years with Chubb
• Department or Group Name
• Title or Work Role
• At the end everyone CLAP!

8
What Toastmasters Provides

• Ten-Speech Learning Program -- CTM
• More Advanced Programs for Later
• An Audience
• Grammarian, Timer, Evaluators
• Table Topics -- Think on Your Feet
• Coaches and Support
• Opportunities to Practice, Up to Twice A Month

9
What You Provide

• Motivation and Energy -- Everything is at your
  own pace
• Speech Topics and Contents -- Every speech is
  your own
• Discipline
• Support for Your Fellow Members
• Patience -- Real change takes time, but you will
  see results with just a few speeches

10
Unexpected Benefits

• Leadership
• Running Large, Formal Meetings
• Motivating Volunteers
• Mentoring Others
• Giving Constructive Feedback
• Larger Circle of Friends At Chubb

11
Questions Answers

• How Do I Join? Applications At The Front!
• When Can I Join? Right Now!

12
How I Got Over My Fear of Public Speaking

• (With Help From Toastmasters)
• Alex S. Brown, PMP
• President, Chubb Sound Bytes Club