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"To be a successful coach you need to do everything from teaching athletic techniques to motivating peak performance to counselling players on dealing with off-the-field problems," it says.

Toastmasters is an excellent training ground, providing coaches with first-rate speaking and listening skills.

For those who wish to get into public speaking, Toastmasters offer tips on how to control your butterflies and give better presentations:

• Know your material. Pick a topic you are interested in, know more about it than you include in your speech and use humour, personal stories and conversational language;
• Practice. Practice. Practice. Rehearse out loud with all the equipment you plan to use. And revise;

• Know the audience. Greet people as they arrive. It's easier to speak to friends than to strangers;
• Know the room. Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids;

• Relax. Begin by addressing the audience. It buys you time and calms your nerves. Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything;

• Visualise yourself giving your speech. Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident. Visualise the audience clapping;
• Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining;
• Concentrate on the message, not the medium. Focus your attention away from your anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience;

• Gain experience. Your speech should represent you - as an authority and as a person. Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking. A Toastmasters club can provide the experience you need.

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Tue May 21 13:30:31 SAST 2013 ::

Jan 24, 2011

danderhead

I am a proud member of Soweto Positive Speaker Toastmasters International club. Im now able to write and present my speech clear with confidence. I used to talk fast , i can now use my puases excellently.

It has really helped me to communicate better and understand the communication world even better. My leadership skills have also improved as now im more responsible and execute the task given to me at the required deadline.

Its the best environment to improve communication and leadership skills.

Tsholo Pilane ( Club Treasure)
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