Tips:

Don't apologize For Being Nervous - Most of the time your nervousness does not show at all. If you don't say anything about it, nobody will notice. If you mention your nervousness or apologize for any problems you think you have with your speech, you'll only be calling attention to it. Had you remained silent, your listeners may not have noticed at all.

Other clubs:

- Felixstowe
- Colchester

Version: 1.0
(May, 2011)

Learning to Speak - The Speakers Club Approach

Public enemy number One ! Public Speaking ! To some, speaking comes naturally, to others it feels like a living hell. But we really can benefit from a little coaching. Like most things in life, a little effort pays dividends. There are few areas of life that do not require us to speak to groups of people from time to time. Ever feel stifled? Couldn't get your point across? Got all flustered and uncomfortable?

Coming to a Speakers Club really can help you to speak and generally communicate more effectively and comfortably ? How ? Well you learn the basics in a really supportive environment. You will learn techniques that will reduce the anxiety and allow you more time to think and maximise your communicating potential. It really can help in all sorts of situations. From increasingly common business situations like audio conferences to giving a toast or a best mans speech, techniques learned at the club will help improve your confidence and in getting your message across.

  • Improve confidence
  • Get your point over
  • Communicate clearly and concisely
  • Make a positive and lasting impression

You are very welcome to come along to Speakers Club meetings as a guest and participate in some of the activities. Once you join, you will be presented with a guidebook of materials and 'assignments'. It really makes sense to start at the beginning but you can tackle these in the way that is most appropriate to your development needs. Talk to the education director, or any other member of the team, about your aspirations.

The assignments give you the building blocks with which to tackle further challenges with greater confidence.

 

Speech Assignments

  1. (B1) Icebreaker - Making a Start
  2. (B2) Mean What You Say
  3. (B3) Speech Contruction
  4. (B4) Use of Gestures
  5. (B5) Use Your Voice
  6. (B6) Vocabulary and Word Pictures
  7. (B7) The Use of Notes
  8. (B8) Use of Humour
  9. (B9) Audience Rapport
  10. (B10) The Masterpiece (Putting them all together)
  11. Beyond ....

 

The Topics Session

Often the hardest thing we have to do is to think and talk on our feet. The topics session is just that, but with a little guidance and structure to help you along. You may be asked to talk about something you are entirely familiar with, other times something completely mundane but geared to giving you the easiest possible opportunity to get up and 'just talk'. Later you may be asked to discuss something more topical, for example from current or local affairs. Call it a mental workout if you like. Most people that have come to a club session 'not in the mood' have left feeling invigourated and better than when they came. But do please remember - topics are NOT there to catch you out. Don't be afraid to take a pause and think, even repeat the question. If you really do get stuck, you can simply stop and return to your seat. And never be afraid to ask for further advice or guidance. Many members would welcome the opportunity to take on a coaching or mentoring project.

Beyond The Masterpiece

Other roles may be undertaken on club nights and these will be assigned by the Education Director when he feels that individuals are ready for them.

  • Chairman
  • Topics Leader
  • Evaluator (Speech, Topics, General)

Education Director

A key role at the club is that of the Education Director who makes recommendations as to the content of each weekly programme based on which members are ready to tackle which assignments.

Chairman for the Evening

The chairman will plan and execute the evenings programme. This sometimes requires a little quick thinking to fill gaps and a little spontaneous comment to link items. But again, if in doubt .. ask!

For more general information on speaking there are also a number of links more>>