Join us at the City Bowl Toastmasters Club SPEECH CONTEST!

On Saturday, 13 March 2021 at 10am, we as City Bowl Toastmasters Club, will be hosting our Speech Contest online via the Zoom App.

This is an opportunity for our members to test themselves on their speech-giving abilities and to compete with other members. It also serves as a great opportunity to bring awareness to our Club as the winner of the contest will go on to compete against other club representatives. I know you might be thinking, okay, so how does this work? Not too worry, we`ve got the details below!

What is a Speech Contest?

A Speech Contest is an event where members of a Toastmasters Club compete with one another in various categories. These categories include International, Evaluation, Humorous, Table Topics and Tall Tales. Speeches are judged and evaluated against a set of rules and guidelines.

*It is important to note that due to Speech Contests being hosted online this year 2021, we will only be doing the International Speech Contest until further notice.

How does this Contest feature in the broader Toastmasters family?

The winner advances to compete further. Winners advance through to the next round of contests consisting of the Area Speech Contest, Division Speech Contest, District Speech Contest and then the International Speech Contest to claim the highly coveted prestigious title.

Roles at a Speech Contest?

Each Club is responsible for organising their own Speech Contest at Club level. Apart from members that wish to compete as contestants, members are also given the opportunity to participate in various roles to ensure that the contest is well organised and runs smoothly. Roles that members can fulfil for the Contest include: Contestants, Chief Judge, Judges, Contestant Chair, timekeepers and Counters.

Below is an outline of what each role entails:

Contestant: Prepare and deliver speech according to rules and guidelines.

Chief Judge: Appoint and advise contest officials, do pre-contest briefings, deliver winner`s names.

Judges: Select first, second and third place winners.

Tie-breaking Judge: Rank all speakers.

Contestant Chair: Room arrangements, ensure flow of programme, serves as the host of the day.

Timekeepers: Record times

Counters: Collect and count ballots

Eligibility

The Primary eligibility to compete as a contestant or to serve in one of the roles are outlined below. For a more detailed and complete ruling on each role, please refer to the attached Speech Contest Rulebook (click on link under the section of Rules below).

• Be a paid member of a club in the Area, Division, and District in which he or she is competing.
• The club must be in good standing.
• A new, dual, or reinstated member must have dues and membership application current with World Headquarters.
• Earned certificates of completion in Levels 1 and 2 of any path in the Toastmasters Pathways learning experience OR have completed six (6) speech projects in the Competent Communication manual (this applies to members who joined Toastmasters prior to the rollout of Pathways in their region).
• However, a charter member of a club chartered less than one (1) year before the club contest is permitted to compete without having completed this requirement. The club must have officially chartered before the Area contest.

Rules

For the rules of each role, i.e. Contestant, Chief Judge, Judges, Contestant Chair and timekeepers, please click on the following link to access the attached Speech Contest Rulebook: https://toastmasterscdn.azureedge.net/medias/files/department-documents/speech-contests-documents/1171-speech-contest-rulebook-2020-2021/1171-speech-contest-rulebook_final-2020-2021.pdf

How does it benefit me as a member to compete?

For any member that`s competed in a Speech Contest before, knows that there`s a thrill to it like no other! It`s about stepping out of your comfort zone and pushing yourself to grow and affirm that belief in your own abilities. Even though there can be only one winner, the experience you gain by just competing is a tribute to your own determination to better your skills and give you that boost of confidence to achieve more.

To the member that does win, the benefit is that you advance to the next round, and if you win the rounds of Area, Division, District and International, it opens a whole world of new opportunities. It is a great way to gain exposure to your Public Speaking and Leadership abilities as you never know who is watching and where your next opportunity might be.

A Speech Contest is an exciting opportunity to learn more about Toastmasters and to find new ways in which to grow. If you want to find out more about this exciting event or you would like to attend, please feel welcome to reach out to us by sending us an email at citybowtm@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters Club)

Get to know our Members. Let`s meet Pedro Roberts!

We asked Pedro a few questions about himself and his journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what he had to say.

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join City Bowl Toastmasters?

I`m a born and bred Capetonian. I was invited by the City Bowl Toastmasters President, Quinton, to join a couple of online meetings and thoroughly enjoyed the camaraderie and interesting talks. I always wanted to become a better speaker and it became clear that Toastmasters would be a great platform to achieve this goal.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

After 21 years in the aviation industry, and despite the extreme challenges we are facing due to the Covid pandemic, I`m still loving it.

What are some of your goals?

As the future future of aviation globally is uncertain and post the corporate world, I plan a move with the entrepreneurial environment.

What is your favourite…

Food? I`m addicted to Peanut Butter! I get withdrawal symptoms after a week without it.

Book? The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene.

Movie/TV Series? Movie – The Count of Monte Cristo (2002); TV Series – Currently watching Resurrection: Ertugrul.

Music? I grew up with music (both my mom and dad played a variety of instruments) and I’ve come to appreciate all genres; from Hip Hop to Jazz to Classical. I therefore don’t have a favourite artist, but do have a favourite producer due to his longevity and influence on music worldwide – Andre Romelle Young, better known as Dr Dre.

Thing to do in your spare time? DIY, Gardening, Running, Gym, Reading, Stock Market Investing.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

Everyone is so helpful and it’s a safe and welcoming space to grow and develop one’s communication skills.

What speech did you enjoy doing most?

My Ice Breaker speech!

Why do you think good Public Speaking skills is important?

I don’t know any leader of an industry or within a leading political role who doesn’t address audiences regularly. Not that I ever see myself in the role of the State President or Bill Gates, but I have found even within my current role that public speaking or even just addressing staff is unavoidable, but a very important skill to have to clearly convey ideas, instructions and motivate employees (especially in these unprecedented times).

Any advice for potential members?

Don’t procrastinate like myself, just jump in and get on with your self-improvement asap.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters).

Get to know our Members. Let`s meet Nkechi Coker!

We asked Nkechi a few questions about herself and her journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what she had to say.

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters?

I am Nigerian, based in Cape Town. I joined Toastmasters to improve my Public Speaking and Networking skills.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

I am an IT Professional driving projects that have social impact.

What are some of your goals?

Personal goal: To contribute to creating change in my country Nigeria, Africa and globally.

Public Speaking: For my lips to feed many!

Personal Development: To become the version of myself that people will strive to be like.

What is your favourite…

Food? I generally love a variety of foods. My interest changes from time to time.

Movie/TV Series? Madam Secretary.

Music? Gospel (Hillsong).

Things to do in your spare time? Read, watch movies and good conversation.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

The family nature of the community. Patience, support and little or no judgement.

What speech did you enjoy doing most?

My icebreaker speech! It was like breaking a barrier.

Why do you think good Public Speaking skills are important?

Words are a powerful weapon. Learning how to master it has the potential for transformational impact.

Any advice for potential members?

Come in, feel free and enjoy every bit of the process!

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)

Get to know our members. Let`s meet Saras Naidoo!

We asked Saras a few questions about herself and her journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what she had to say.

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join City Bowl Toastmasters?

I am formally form Durban. I moved to Cape Town 5 years ago. When I saw the invite on Meetup, I did not know what Toastmasters was about. I attended a meeting and realised that this is what I need to give me the confidence to speak without being self-conscious. It took me 8 months to pluck up the courage to join. I have not regretted joining City Bowl Toastmasters since.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

I am semi- retired. I love to empower people; I am a Laughter Yoga Facilitator and a Natural Healer. I also dabble in Sales. I am currently an AMC Cookware Consultant.

What are some of your goals?

Self Development. I always look at ways to become a better version of myself. I would like to empower women, men and children and show them that no matter what our background or environment is, we all have choices. We choose who we want to be.

What is your favourite…

Food? Chicken Curry, Mutton Biryani and an occasional Steak (medium well).

Book? You can Heal Yourself by Louise Hay, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and The Magicians Way by William Whitecloud.

Music? I love music that feeds my soul and allows me to dance without inhibitions.

Thing to do in your spare time? Read, cook, being in nature with my grandsons and going to Retreats – especially Silent Retreats.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

The family unit, being with like-minded people who know the importance of investing in themselves and wanting to grow.

What speech did you enjoy doing the most?

There are 2 speeches: “I am a liar, I am a fraud” and “What`s in a name?”

Any advice for potential members?

Don`t allow fear to hold you back. Toastmasters is a platform to make mistakes without criticism. You will find that you will be embraced by a family who will support and encourage you every step of the way.

Any additional information?

Being a member of Toastmasters, I have not only gained confidence speaking in public, I have also learnt leadership and people skills. Toastmasters give you a platform to practice. When you deliver a speech, your speech is evaluated in a constructive and uplifting manner which can only get you to be a better speaker.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)

Get to know our Members. Let`s meet Janis Paulsen!

We asked Janis a few questions about herself and her decision to join City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what she had to say.

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters?

I am from Cape Town. I joined Toastmasters to gain confidence in public speaking as well as to learn to structure my thoughts, so that my communication can be clearer and more logical.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

I currently work in the Strategic Planning unit of a government department.

What are some of your goals?

Career goal: To work as a Development and Systems Thinking practitioner.

Personal goal: To run a marathon within the next 3 years.

What is your favourite…

Food? Sushi, Pasta or a nice hearty stew.

Book? Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, Larry’s Party by Carol Shields, The Cider House Rules by John Irving, Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, The Wind in The Willows by Kenneth Graham. (I could go on. I limited myself to 5.)

Movie/ TV Series? Billions, The Wire, Lost, Veep.

Music? Most genres. My current favourite song to stream is Colors by Black Pumas.

Thing to do in your spare time? Read.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

It’s a welcoming space in which one can grow.

Why do you think good Public Speaking skills is important?

It allows you to connect with people as they understand you better. It allows you to persuade and influence opinions. I think it can also develop your listening skills.

Any advice for potential members?

Try it at least once.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters).

Get to know our Members – Let`s meet Quinton Marks!

We asked Quinton a few questions about himself and his journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what he had to say.

Give us a brief backround of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters?

I am from Retreat, Cape Town. I joined Toastmasters to get out of my comfort zone and overcome my fear of public speaking, as well as network with like-minded people.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

I am a Digital Marketing Consultant.

What are some of your goals?

Personal Goal – Complete the Innovative Planning Pathway by June 2021.

Career Goal – Double the size of my business.

What is your favourite…

Food? Any kind of pasta.

Book? Growth Mindset by Carol Dweck.

Movie/TV Series? Movies: Rocky, The Matrix; TV series: The Office, Flight of the Conchords, Brooklyn Nine Nine.

Music? All kinds of music.

Thing to do in your spare time? Running, Crossfit and Read.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

I enjoy the community of City Bowl Toastmasters, all the members are very supportive, but also challenge you to get out of your comfort zone.

Which speech did you enjoy doing most?

I enjoyed my Pathway Level 2 Speech – Understanding your leadership style. It helped me discover some of my own leadership style and how I can use the strengths of other styles to get better results.

Any advice for potential members?

Attend one of our meetings at City Bowl Toastmasters. You will get the opportunity to listen to some great speeches, meet some of our members, ask questions and even participate in the meeting (only if you want to). This way you can make an informed decision on whether Toastmasters is something that you would like to do.

Anything else you would like to add?

I quit a full-time job to start my own business. I completed several marathons, including the Comrades Marathon in 2018.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters).

Get to know our Members – Let`s meet Steven Kukard!

We asked Steven a few questions about himself and his journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what he had to say!

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters?

I was born and raised in Cape Town. I joined Toastmasters at the beginning of 2019 with the goal of gaining more confidence by speaking in front of groups of people.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

I have a ‘portfolio career’ that consists of data analysis, music composition and copy-editing. My aim is to continue working freelance.

What are some of your goals?

My career goal is simply to develop my business. One of my personal goals is to spend more time with friends.

What is your favourite…

Food? Lasagne

Book? I love the Harry Potter series, and also Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels.

Movie/TV Series? My favourite TV series at the moment is Star Trek Discovery.

Music? At the moment, I listen to a lot of gypsy jazz: Jimmy Rosenberg, Angelo Debarre, Bireli Lagrene, etc.

Thing to do in spare time? Hiking.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

It’s very welcoming and relaxed. We have fun, and there are plenty of opportunities to grow.

Which speech did you enjoy doing most?

I did a speech where I explained how music works. That was fun.

Any advice for potential members?

If you think you can’t do it – yes, you can, but you’ll never know until you try.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)

Get to know our Members. Let`s meet Roy Machingura!

We asked Roy a few questions about himself and his journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s find out what he had to say.

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters?

I am originally from Harare, Zimbabwe. My main motivation for joining Toastmasters was my love for public speaking, it’s something that I actually enjoy despite how frightening it can be. I was always looking for a platform to practice and to grow my public speaking skills. Also, I need to regain confidence and ensure that I live by my motto, which is continuous improvement. One day I searched public speaking on YouTube, and watched the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking, I then looked  for a local toastmasters club that very day.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

Currently I am an Accountant in a facilities management company.

What are some of your goals?

Career-wise my goal is to become a seasoned Currency Trader and an Equities Investor/ Analyst. My personal goal is to compete in the Toastmasters Public Speaking Contest.

What is your favourite…

Food? Rice with peanut butter and beef stew.

Book? Principles by Ray Dalio & The Richest Man In Babylon by George S Clason.

Movie/TV Series? Billions

Music? Christian Hip Hop

Thing to do in your spare time? In my spare time I read books and play basketball.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

The positivity, energy and commitment of the City Bowl Members.

Which speech did you enjoy doing most?

The speech I enjoyed doing the most was “the Beauty of Listening.” I enjoyed the feedback from the audience as I was speaking. It was also the speech I gave when I volunteered to provide a sample speech for the Evaluation Workshop.

Any advice for potential members?

Toastmasters, especially City Bowl Toastmasters, is a safe and positive environment where you are given constructive criticism in a warm and friendly manner. You will see your presentation, networking and communication skills improve tremendously.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR at City Bowl Toastmasters)

Get to know our members: Let`s meet Sazi Mnyazi!

We asked Sazi a few questions about himself and his journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s see what he had to say.

Give us a brief background of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters?

I am the first of 5 kids from my parents. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters. I grew up and still stay in Khayelitsha. I have always been a keen student of self-development. In 2016 I was reading an article by Jim Rohn on how to improve communication and presentation skills, in the article he suggested that if you want to improve your communication and presentation skills, you should join toastmasters. At the time I had to do a presentation at work every 3 months and with each presentation I always saw a big gap between what I planned to say and what I ended saying. I joined Toastmasters to close that gap.

I joined toastmasters shortly in 2016 with Vodacom toastmasters but because of a difficult work scheduled I couldn’t attend meetings and I ended up dropping out. Last year in 2019 I returned and signed up with City bowl toastmasters.

What is your current/ or ideal career?

I work as a junior service engineer for Heat And Control SA.

What are some of your goals?

My immediate goal or focus is to settle down, marry and start a family. Career wise I want to register with the engineering council of SA as a professional and obtain my government certificate in the next 2 years.

What is your favourite…

Food?  I don’t really have a favourite food, but I love anything with pork in it.

Book? Think and Grow Rich.

Movie/TV Series? Currently I enjoyed The Heist.

Music? Hip Hop.

Things you like doing in your spare time? I like hanging out.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters?

I enjoy being part of a group of people who also show a keen interest in developing themselves. As we all develop ourselves in the environment provided by Toastmasters there are other interpersonal developments which are happening in the background. Social relationships are developing, business networks and contacts are being formed. I enjoy being in such a possibility filled environment.

Which speech did you enjoy doing most?

My speech; Depression is a disease. I enjoyed it because I had to research about the topic I spoke of as compared to the previous times where I was speaking about personal experiences.

Any advice for potential members?

If you keen on improving your leadership and communication skills, Toastmasters is what you need.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)

Get to know our members: Let`s meet Roxanne Rhode!

We asked Roxanne a few questions about herself and on her journey with City Bowl Toastmasters. Let`s see what she has to say.

Give us a background of yourself and what motivated you to join Toastmasters? I was born in Cape Town but grew up in Gauteng. I came back to Cape Town to study and never left. I joined Toastmasters to spend my free time doing something effective and purposeful. When I look back at the past 4 years, I realise I learnt so much more than I had initially intended to. My confidence has grown by leaps and bounds!

What is your current/ or ideal career? I am currently an Account Manager for a Market Research company.

What are some of your goals? I want to further my studies and do an MBA.

What is your favourite…

Food? Chocolate

Book? Mind Power by John Kehoe

Movie/TV Series? My favourite movie of all time is The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Music? My favourite song of all time is Karma Chameleon by Culture Club

Thing to do in your spare time? I love to cook and try new recipes. I also love googling random facts all in an effort to increase my general knowledge.

What do you enjoy most about being a member of City Bowl Toastmasters? The club’s membership is so diverse which make the speeches from everyone so much more interesting to listen to. We have members ranging from students to grandmothers; artists to business owners; and the brave ones to the those who are absolutely afraid to speak in public. Any person can feel at home with us.

Which speech did you enjoy doing most? My first Icebreaker in April 2017 was my favourite speech. I introduced myself to the club describing my perfect birthday party – I also won best speaker for that meeting!

Any advice for potential members? You will never be ready for any opportunity that comes your way. That’s why you should always say YES and LEAN into the discomfort because that’s where you LEARN!

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)

Why public speaking is important for your career

Have you ever received a call for an interview and experience an overwhelming sense of joy knowing that your application has been selected? After a while, did the thought of going for the interview make you anxious? On the other hand, have you ever had a brilliant business idea, but the thought of presenting it to potential clients shook your confidence?

These are only two of many scenarios that one encounters in a career pathway where public speaking plays an important role and in some instances can be the dealbreaker. Below are some reasons why public speaking is important for your career?

• Communicating ideas to your team or clients

It is widely known that great ideas can boost a career and business. What`s equally important is the communication of those great ideas. In order for a great idea to serve its purpose, public speaking plays a crucial role in expressing your idea so that the intended recipients can listen and understand the message you are trying to convey. 

• Promote your skills

Each and every person is valuable and has a skill that they can offer. Often, people don`t realise just how good they are at something and only feel validated once they hear it from someone else. Public speaking is important in being able to promote your skills in a confident way without someone else needing to do it for you. An example of this is during an interview where it is required of you to demonstrate your skills through speaking.

• Expressing your opinions in a confident way

Your voice is important and your opinions matter. During your career, you will be working with different people. Expressing your opinion confidently allows people the opportunity to see where you stand and following it up with doing what you said places confidence and trust in you. It also establishes your leadership skills. Public speaking is important because at some point you might have to debate or negotiate on a public platform (e.g. team meeting, workshop or conference) whereby these skills will be essential.

How Toastmasters can help you?

City Bowl Toastmasters provides the tools necessary to be an effective public speaker which you can use to empower yourself and become successful in your career. Apart from following a pathway and delivering speeches in line with educational projects, Toastmasters provides you with the opportunity to perform various roles with which you can gain some practical skills. For example, you may be the Toastmaster for the day whereby you serve as the official host of the meeting. This would be an ideal opportunity to practice your hosting or facilitation skills should you have the opportunity in your career to host an event, meeting or workshop. You might serve as an Evaluator where your role requires you to provide feedback to a particular speaker with the purpose of motivating them while also helping them to improve. This can help you in your career by giving you confidence and skills to provide feedback to your colleagues on work that they do in an effective manner.

Apart from the meeting roles, Toastmasters provides its members the opportunity to serve on the Executive Committee. For example, you might get the opportunity to serve as president where you would be the leader of the club and execute duties that are part of that role.  

The opportunities members have with Toastmasters to help them become better public speakers are endless and there are numerous testimonials from members that have stated Toastmasters as being influential to their career success.

It helps you improve your public speaking skills because it understands how important public speaking is to your career.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)

Five Tips for Public Speaking Anxiety

I`m going to go out on a limb here and say that most – if not all people – have been there before. You know the feeling? You`re in a room full of people listening to a conversation. You enjoy it until…someone looks at you and asks for YOUR opinion. Suddenly, you feel yourself go numb. Your heart starts pounding, your mouth goes dry and everything you gathered from the conversation escapes you as your thoughts abandon you and leave your mind blank. It`s a terrible feeling. That feeling is known as public speaking anxiety.

What is Public Speaking Anxiety?

Simply put, Public Speaking Anxiety is the fear you get when called upon to speak in front of a group of people. Whether it be at a meeting at work or at a social gathering, it is the feeling of fear and distress you experience right before speaking. The very thought of speaking in front of people makes you quiver. The intensity of the anxiety differs from person to person.

What can I do about it?

The good news is that there are many things you can do to manage it. You are not alone. In fact, it is one of the most common fears in the world. The fact that you are reading this article means that you are searching for ways to manage it. I will try my best to help you. I`ve been on a long journey with public speaking anxiety and some of the advice below is from personal experiences that I hope will help you too.

Here are Five tips for managing Public Speaking anxiety

1. Join a Toastmasters Club

I know that this sounds biased, but I guarantee that it`s my number one recommendation for managing public speaking anxiety. Why? Because it’s a safe space and it guides you slowly through different levels and types of Public Speaking. It promotes a culture of positivity and encouragement. Plus, it`s practical and clubs are very supportive. It`s a place where you feel comfortable to make mistakes and learn from it as you grow. It also allows you to visit a club as a guest to see whether you like it before signing up as a member. It`s much more affordable than most public speaking courses. If you`re based in Cape Town, I highly recommend City Bowl Toastmasters Club.

2. Practice in front of small groups that cheer for you

If there`s one thing I`ve learned from managing Public Speaking anxiety is that the more you speak in public, the more comfortable you become with it. Easier said than done right? Be easy on yourself. Start small and build your way from there. If a big group is too overwhelming, start with one or two people. It has to be people that will cheer for you because the positive feedback can do wonders for your confidence. I remember one time I was asked to deliver a presentation. It gave me sleepless nights. I decided to first practice my speech in front of my niece and nephew a few times, then in front of a few more family members and friends before I did my presentation. I was still anxious, but the practice helped me develop my trail of thought while speaking.

3. Research and understand the topic you`re speaking on

If you`re going to a place where you will most likely be asked to speak in front of a group of people, it`s best to research and understand the topic you`re going to be speaking on. Why? Because it gives you something to fall back on. Just memorising a talk might get you through the moment of speaking, but researching and understanding will help you with those follow-up questions, whether it be an informal or formal talk. Human beings are curious beings and if you are going to be put on the spot to speak, most likely you will enquire people who are interested and want to know more. It also boosts your confidence when you are sure of what you are speaking about. 

4. Find natural ways to calm yourself physically

A bit of advice that I come across a lot is when people say that you need to let your personality shine through. While some of the best public speakers do this as they are speaking, it is often only once they`ve reached a level of confidence in front of their audience that it comes naturally to them to connect on that level. However, if you`re still battling with public speaking anxiety to the extent that you dread it, this is incredibly difficult. The feeling of public speaking anxiety is accompanied by physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth and shaking. There are many natural ways to help you instill some sense of calmness and centre yourself for your personality to shine through as you speak. Recommendations include moderate exercise and meditating in order to release those endorphins (feel good hormones). The ways to calm you can vary from person to person, for instance, herbal tea might work for some while music works for others…or even a combination of the two. Basically, anything that helps to calm you will help you manage your anxiety.

5. Your thoughts matter!

The biggest critic you`ll have is your inner critic. While on your journey in conquering your fears and becoming a better speaker, learn to believe in yourself more, learn to be more kind and compassionate with yourself…because your voice matters. Your opinions matter. The more you practice speaking and share your thoughts with others, the easier it becomes.

Check out our Facebook page and drop us an email if you`re interested in joining us at City Bowl Toastmasters Club.

*Written by Zaghra Savahl (VPPR of City Bowl Toastmasters)