Getting the Most out of Public Speaking Classes

One of my favorite Seinfeld monologues is from the episode called "The Pilot." In this episode, Jerry opens his trademark comedy routine with an observation about people's fears, proclaiming that public speaking is most people's number 1 fear, above even death.

The punchline, if you don't recall, was that the average person at a funeral thinks they'd be better off in the casket than giving the eulogy.

In reality, Seinfeld's observation was only little bit off. According to a recent Gallup poll, most people are actually more scared of snakes than public speaking, leaving the latter in the number 2 spot on the fear hierarchy. It is true, however, that public speaking outranks death as a self reported fear according to most polls. So if you're thinking about inviting your best friend to speak at your wedding, thinking again. Better to invite someone you'd rather not show up at all.

Needless to say, public speaking is a major problem for a lot of people. Most of us are called upon to give a speech at least a few times in our lives, and for many of us, the moment of having to walk up to the podium can feel like walking to meet our maker. The fear associated with public speaking is so pervasive that many personal development organizations have appeared to help people overcome this fear. These groups, such as Dale Carnegie Associates and Toastmasters International, offer shy people the opportunity to face their fears by speaking in front of groups week after week.

If you are interested in personal development, chances are you have put at least some thought into getting help with public speaking. The average person is nervous when faced with the prospect of giving a speech, and certain that at some point in their life they will be expected to give one. Deciding to overcome your fear of public speaking is a positive step on the path to becoming an effective leader. But before you sign up for a public speaking class, make sure you're prepared to get the most out of the experience.

All public speaking courses have a few elements in common. First, they attempt to minimize your anxiety through a kind of gradual exposure therapy, by getting you to speak on a regular schedule. Second, they try to hone your speech writing and delivery skills, giving you advice on diction, phrasing, poise, and tone. Third, they encourage you to observe other public speakers work their magic, giving you the opportunity to learn by watching ace speakers in action. The combined effect of these strategies can be powerful; not only can they teach you to speak more effectively, but by getting you to practice week after weak, they can practically eliminate your fear of public speaking.

But even with all the potential benefits that can come from a public speaking class, you'll only get out of it what you put into it.

When I was in college, I participated in all the public speaking activities I could find. Debating. Toastmasters. Model UN. You name it. Any group that offered me the opportunity to practice my public speaking skills, seemed like a ticket to never never land--never never having to stutter and hyperventilate my way through a speech again land, that is. Every opportunity I got to speak, I took. Between debates, speeches, and presentations, I probably spoke an average of 3 times a week during my college years.

At the same time, I noticed an interesting phenomenon. It seemed like in every group I joined, there was always a contingent of regular attendees who never seemed to participate. They would show up week after week and talk *about* speaking, but would never actually give it a shot themselves. The phenomenon was consistent at pretty much every group I was involved with. Whether it was debating or toastmasters or mock parliament, there was always a group of regulars who would consistently show up, and consistently remain silent. Every now and then, if they were poked and prodded into doing so, they would give it a try. But they never seemed to improve, because they only practiced when they were forced to.

It never occurred to me at the time, but now I realize that what I was seeing, was just a manifestation of something that is all too common in self development. I like to call this phenomeno
"Reality TV Syndrome."

Remember when reality TV shows first started appearing? Back in 2000, before anyone had heard of Jersey Shore or Millinaire Matchmaker, the first season of Survivor debuted on CBS. At the time, people couldn't help being taken in by the concept. The drama unfolding on the TV set was not scripted (or so we thought!), but a collection of highlights from footage of real people competing to survive on an island. What drew people into the show was the fact that it was, or at least seemed to be, real. When you went to bed at night wondering who would be kicked off the island next week, you were wondering about an actual event, not a pre-scripted performance.

So how does that tie into self development?

Take a look back at your experiences in self development seminars. If you've been involved with the industry for a while, you've probably noticed "seminar junkies". These are the people who have a regular circuit of seminars they attend, often following one teacher with an almost religious devotion. They always ask questions. The instructor knows them by name. They have memorized the instructor's material to the point that they could teach it. And yet, when they are called upon to describe how they have been implementing the material in their own lives, they are at a loss for words. The implication is obvious: they haven't been practicing!

Reality TV syndrome is what seminar junkies and armchair public speakers have in common. Like the spellbound viewers of Survivor or Big Brother, they get satisfaction in watching dramas unfold in real life. They follow their instructors' careers like a soap opera, knowing that when they show up for the next big event, their teacher be there to unveil the latest installment in the drama that is their teaching career. They follow the speech or debate like a blood sport, relishing the victories and defeats of speakers who get up week after week to try and deliver a persuasive, impassioned elocution. The ability to develop a rapport with teachers and participants adds to the thrill; not only are they watching the drama unfold in real life, but they're participating in it, if only as a walk on with a minor speaking part.

Not that there's anything wrong with being a spectator. But if you get involved with public speaking, or any other form of self development, remember why you decided to sign up in the first place. You decided to sign up because you wanted to make a change in your life. You wanted to get off the couch, take your eyes off the TV set, and start making progress. You wanted to change your path in life, not the scenery on the path. You wanted to tackle a challenge.

So if you've got a public speaking event coming up soon, do yourself a favor, and be the first person to volunteer to speak. No matter how nervous you are, just take the plunge. The difference between a practice at the club and a performance in public, is that in the former, people are there to support you, while in the latter, people want to see a good performance. No matter how nervous you are, or how badly you think you're going to do, the people in your group WILL support you. Push through the experience enough times, and you'll soon be so comfortable with public speaking, that you'll be jumping at any opportunity to show off your new skills in public. Avoid the experience for too long, and you'll find the podium has become just another TV set, and the thought of saying a few words will still seem scarier than saying your last words.