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Look into Toastmasters. It is a successful community that is specifically designed so you improve this skill.

jackgolding 9y ago
I'll give a good example about how toastmasters helped me, I hope it encourages those who are very afraid of public speaking. I have always been a very strong public speaker (loud, booming voice, native English speaker) and decided to do toastmasters to get better at talking about very technical things - I have ADD so I tend to fall over myself a lot when explaining things. I have had a very stressful last few months (organised a marketing conference, moved house, organised two gigs that didn't work out so well) and I was asked to present at a meetup a few days before the conference. I felt really dizzy in the afternoon of giving the talk and thought a drink or two would settle me (the meetup was at a pub.) Turns out it didn't and 3 slides in I became very disorientated. I decided to professionally stop the talk and ask the MC if the next speaker could go first as I needed to get some air. I came back half an hour later and performed the talk. The reason I was able to handle this so professionally was 100% due to Toastmasters. So many people in my club were not native English speakers who had very stressful reactions to public speaking. Every single person given a task would always show the upmost respect for those who struggled and act in a supportive manner, so when I had a rough time I knew how to act appropriately.
vfulco 9y ago
Agreed. I am a member of a club for 2 years in Shanghai, and corporate club coach to help grow a Fortune 500 club stronger. I have seen extraordinary transformations in individuals; often within 1 year. I joke it is a club for all us introverts to get together, support each other, and find our voice. Regrettably I was always too busy or didn't prioritize this craft in my 20s (now 49). It is one of the best, cheapest, most efficient ways to upgrade your career skills bar none.

I'll give a good example about how toastmasters helped me, I hope it encourages those who are very afraid of public speaking. I have always been a very strong public speaker (loud, booming voice, native English speaker) and decided to do toastmasters to get better at talking about very technical things - I have ADD so I tend to fall over myself a lot when explaining things. I have had a very stressful last few months (organised a marketing conference, moved house, organised two gigs that didn't work out so well) and I was asked to present at a meetup a few days before the conference. I felt really dizzy in the afternoon of giving the talk and thought a drink or two would settle me (the meetup was at a pub.) Turns out it didn't and 3 slides in I became very disorientated. I decided to professionally stop the talk and ask the MC if the next speaker could go first as I needed to get some air. I came back half an hour later and performed the talk. The reason I was able to handle this so professionally was 100% due to Toastmasters. So many people in my club were not native English speakers who had very stressful reactions to public speaking. Every single person given a task would always show the upmost respect for those who struggled and act in a supportive manner, so when I had a rough time I knew how to act appropriately.

vfulco 9y ago

Agreed. I am a member of a club for 2 years in Shanghai, and corporate club coach to help grow a Fortune 500 club stronger. I have seen extraordinary transformations in individuals; often within 1 year. I joke it is a club for all us introverts to get together, support each other, and find our voice. Regrettably I was always too busy or didn't prioritize this craft in my 20s (now 49). It is one of the best, cheapest, most efficient ways to upgrade your career skills bar none.