Credibility “Studies show you can lose weight by eating lots of chocolate!” “Studies show that eating lemons can cure cancer“ “Studies show that people fear public speaking more than death“ “Studies show that the economy can be fixed by canceling public radio“ Heard any of these? I’m sure you’ve heard...

According to most studies, people’s number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death. Death is number two. Does that seem right? That means to the average person, if you have to go to a funeral, you’re better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.Jerry Seinfeld This quotation appears around the Internet in many slight variations. I have heard it...

The Toastmasters Competent Communication manual has a project specifically on organizing your speech. In fact, it’s the first project after introducing yourself to your club, which means it’s one of the most basic building blocks… it also means it’s something that people usually face when they’re trying to simply survive a speech, and...

I finished my first ten speech projects in a matter of months. Not because I was so driven and motivated, but because I went to two clubs and very, very frequently we discovered speaking openings at the last minute. In the corporate world, people often found themselves saddled with tight deadlines or last-minute meetings preventing them from attending meetings....

Did you ever stop to think about how much paper is used in presentation handouts? Over and over I have seen speakers labor under the false assumption that they must put some sort of paper in their audience’s hands. Half the time, they simply print out the material on their slides. Since they want to make sure they don’t run out, they print extra, unused...

“Friends don’t let friends give non-manual speeches.” You have speech manuals for a reason. They help you focus on different speaking skills, stretching your comfort zone and always encouraging you to improve. Whether a Toastmaster has given three or three hundred speeches, both of them can work on improving and experimenting with vocal variety. And...