Jerry Seinfeld once joked on his show that if people truly fear public speaking more than death, then they prefer to be in the casket rather than giving the eulogy at a funeral.
But for those people who are actually mortified by the idea of speaking to a crowd, Toastmasters International, which has a chapter on campus, is a nonprofit organization whose programs combat this fear by going beyond simply teaching the art of public speaking to delve into the deeper issues affecting people’s overall communication skills.
Established in 1924, Toastmasters International is focused on building people’s leadership and communication skills by teaching them about the intricacies of verbal and nonverbal cues involved in speaking to an audience.
With approximately 226,000 members in more than 92 countries, Toastmasters not only helps people master their fear of public speaking but also teaches them the leadership skills necessary for success in the workplace.
Steve Yu, president of Bruin Toastmasters, said the club’s broader role is to equip its members with the ability to think instinctively, while teaching them less explicit factors in public speaking, like body language.
“We teach you, for example, body language, how to hold yourself, which goes beyond public speaking, and how to think on your feet, which can help you with job interviews,” Yu said.
Yu said that, while Toastmasters is an international organization, each individual club has its own unique approach to teaching communication and leadership skills, including Bruin Toastmasters.
“We don’t spend so much time on content and what you say but teach things like eye contact, body movement and improving confidence. I’ve tried to run the club focused on these things,” Yu said.
Unlike many Toastmasters clubs, which are geared toward helping professionals, Bruin Toastmasters is a mix of students, alumni and staff. Yu said this allows him to focus the club’s meetings specifically on improving the skills important to this group.
By educating people about implicit and explicit factors that contribute to effective communication, Toastmasters programs help members overcome their public speaking fears.
Bob Maurer, a psychologist on the faculty of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, explained one of the factors typically associated with people’s fears regarding public speaking.
“Public speaking is something most people don’t do a lot of, and so it’s a brand new skill for most people,” Maurer said.
Though the idea that people fear public speaking more than death has been widely circulated, Maurer said it is a fear that can be easily overcome.
“What it really requires is two things that Toastmasters does well, and that is to allow you to do it in small steps and to practice in an environment where you’re getting reassurance along the way, so you develop the skill yourself,” he said.
Maurer said he believes Toastmasters is useful in helping people become more confident public speakers, which also translates into having better overall communication skills.
For over eight decades, Toastmasters International has served its members by helping them adjust to new environments, become more efficient workers and prepare for business meetings.
Carlo Chupina, a recent UCLA graduate and Bruin Toastmasters member, is a prime example of someone who has benefited from the Toastmasters program.
“I joined Toastmasters to help me come out of my shell. I was very introverted. … Toastmasters allowed me to improve my presentation skills and how I present myself to other people,” Chupina said.
Aside from becoming a more comfortable communicator, Chupina said that he would strongly recommend Toastmasters for anyone who not only has problems with public speaking but lacks the confidence to speak in social situations as well.