Any training or tips I include support you in your speaking progress. However, I am regularly asked “How do I get experience?” from my readers. By this I am assuming you are wanting experience in a ‘safe’ environment and where you won’t jeapodise your career development by visibly making mistakes at work!

I have been researching opportunities for volunteer public speakers; and there are a lot out there! The best known of these is the Toastmasters organisation http://d71.org/ There are local branches of this organisation, and members are encouraged to prepare and deliver speeches which are adjudicated with a criteria of areas marked. You really learn from this – not only performing yourself, but watching other speakers and what works.

A number of charities actively seek volunteer speakers. They offer free training, pre written speeches with power point slides and pictures. Some even provide free merchandise for the audience! You might want to explore your own favourite charity’s website to see if they want volunteer speakers, but here are some charities I have found.

www.heartresearch.org.uk Volunteer speakers are required to either give talks in schools about healthy lifestyles, and to talk to adult groups.

www.wdcs.org.uk The whale and Dolphin Conservation Society. Full training is given as well as a well scripted presentation/speech with powerpoint slides.

www.wateraid.org.uk advertise for speakers to talk about their work.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk The National Trust sometimes require volunteer speakers at specific properties. See the website for more information.

www.bluecross.org.uk This animal charity seeks children’s educational speakers, and will give training.

www.mercyships.org.uk This charity provides free medical care for people in Third World Countries. They regularly train and use volunteers to deliver speeches to a variety of organisations: businesses, clubs and schools.

If you decide to do some public speaking to develop your skills, do consider how to make the most of the opportunities offered you;

• Keep a diary of any public speaking opportunity and objectively assess your performance.
• See how you make progress so it becomes ‘easier’ to speak in public.
• Each time you deliver a speech, try to focus on one aspect of public speaking – such as developing an interesting voice, or your posture – and see how it improves.
• Learn to identify areas that you still find challenging. If after a few speeches you are still finding these a challenge, do speak with me, so that I can design an individual coaching session to develop these skills.

I look forward to speaking with you about this. If you are aware of any charities or organisations looking for volunteer speakers, do let me know, and I can share this knowledge with other subscribers to the newsletter.