ASSISTANT'S VIEW: Public speaking: I'll toast to that

Statistics show public speaking is the No. 1 fear in life, greater even than the fear of death. Yet for golf course managers, speaking in front of groups is a necessary skill. I had the opportunity recently to join a local Toastmasters chapter and I am very grateful for the experience. No matter what your skill level when it comes to public speaking and interaction, everyone has room to improve and Toastmasters can make you better. I have personally seen tremendous change and skill development from members of the group. Members who are naturally very shy gave speeches with confidence and conviction.

Toastmasters has nearly 250,000 members internationally. The group can be found on the web at toastmasters.org. There you can find an existing group in your area. You also can find free resources on public speaking to get you started. Tips on how to prepare for speeches, overcome the fear of public speaking and what to do when things go wrong are included.

Toastmasters groups typically meet every one to two weeks for 60-90 minutes with 10-20 members per group. Before each meeting group members are assigned a role. For example, each meeting consists of a member giving a speech (speaker) from his or her handbook, which outlines a number of speeches to complete towards certification. At first the speeches are short (three to five minutes long) and gradually become longer and more challenging. Over time, members learn to use visual aids and PowerPoint presentations to enhance their speeches. Because each speech is timed, one member serves as the timer and lets the speaker know if he or she has exceeded the time limit. Another member critiques the speech (evaluator) and offers advice, and there’s also a junk word counter who identifies words like um, ahh, so, etc.

Even if you don’t have an assigned role for the meeting, the Table Topics exercise is a great way to work on your impromptu speaking skills. This skill takes time to develop and weekly practice can really help. The Table Topics master determines a subject for the evening and then presents members a question. Each member has a minute or two to formulate a response. This simple exercise is a great way to practice answering questions you may be unprepared for during staff or board meetings. Toastmasters is a self-paced group, so you can work toward certification at your own pace. Group members are friendly, helpful and inviting. Membership dues are inexpensive, especially in comparison to professional development seminars that may only last a day or less. There is no instructor; group members evaluate and critique each other, which can be very helpful.

The ability to stand up in front of a group and deliver a message with confidence demonstrates leadership, preparedness and competence. Those in the turf industry at every level can benefit from this skill.

So what’s the next step? Whether you’re terrified to speak in front of a group of people or have been doing it for years, Toastmasters can take you to the next level. GCI