by JMR

Does the thought of speaking in public fill you with dread?  Do you stammer, turn red, or feel butterflies if you are called upon to give a spontaneous report or make conversation with strangers?  Are you at a loss for words when you have to give verbal feedback to someone?

Eleven Evaluation Systems employees who answered "Yes!" to one or more of the above questions, posed in an e-mail from Gary McCauley, were fortunate to be selected to participate in a unique professional development opportunity.  We signed on for Introduction to Speechcraft, a public speaking course led by Cathie McCoy with the assistance of Deb Hartman.  The course was based on techniques used by members of Toastmasters, a group with which Cathie has been involved since 2002.  Cathie and Deb, members of Speakeasy Toastmasters in Northampton, turned CR111 into what one participant called a “fun and comfortable environment,” and another called a "safe space," where we could face and overcome our worst fears about speaking in public.

During each of the eight one-hour sessions, Cathie or Deb gave a brief presentation on an important aspect of public speaking, such as organizing a speech, adding vocal variety or effective gestures to a speech, and handling Q & A sessions with poise and purpose.  At each session, several participants volunteered for Table Topics, which meant giving an impromptu one-minute talk about topic chosen at random.  Thanks to an informative e-mail from Cathie and many chances to respond to Table Topics, we will no longer find ourselves tongue-tied when called on at meetings.  We've learned how to quickly organize our thoughts into an attention-grabbing beginning, a logical middle, and a forceful conclusion, and to present our thoughts confidently and articulately. 

During each Speechcraft session, several participants gave three- to five-minute speeches they had prepared in advance.  Our prepared speeches fulfilled a specific purpose, such as persuading listeners, or focused on a specific skill, such as using visual aids effectively.  Because we chose our own topics for prepared speeches, they covered a range of subjects.  Many participants greatly enjoyed listening to speeches given by colleagues with whom we had only a passing-in-the-hall acquaintance before we joined the Speechcraft course.

Evaluations were a crucial component of each Speechcraft session.  After Cathie and Deb modeled evaluation techniques, participants evaluated one another.  Evaluations were mini-speeches in themselves, during which the designated evaluator offered positive feedback followed by one or two suggestions for a different approach that the speaker might try.  We all wrote brief evaluations for each speaker.  Some especially brave speakers even opted to have someone count their audible pauses (“um,” “uh,” “you know”), with the final count presented to them in confidence. 

 Over the course of eight Speechcraft sessions, we gave a total of 28 prepared speeches and 49 Table Topic responses.  By the last session, those of us who began the course with shaky hands and trembling voices could use our hands and voices to illustrate and emphasize points.  Those of us who had held onto a chair for dear life were able to let go of the chair and walk around the room while delivering a speech.  Those of us who were terrified of glancing up from our notes could make direct eye contact with each listener.  Shannon W credits Speechcraft as having “greatly expanded my toolkit for extemporaneous speaking,” while Megan G says, "I am very happy I had the opportunity to participate in the Speechcraft course and feel it put me in the right direction to improving my public speaking skills."

Does the thought of speaking in public fill you with dread?  Do you stammer, turn red, or feel butterflies if you are called upon to give a spontaneous report or make conversation with strangers?  Are you at a loss for words when you have to give verbal feedback to someone?  If you answered "Yes!" to any of these questions, Cathie McCoy and Deb Hartman may come to your rescue by offering another Introduction to Speechcraft course at ES in the future.