Division 4 public speaking club

I'm not great at public speaking. Not because I hate talking (I really like people). I'm sometimes terrified of not getting my message across in big groups.

So when I have to give a presentation, I sound like this: "Hi! Thank you all for coming. Today I'm going topresentyouanewconceptonhowAIbridgesthegapewithdesign.Asoftodaywe’reseeingasurgeofaidesigntoolsandthechoiceisnotgettingeasierwithtimesinceweseealotofproductsemergingeverydayohmygodthisguyislookingathisphoneI’mboring…”

200 words per minute.

I knew I needed help, but Toastmasters felt like the Premier League of public speaking. I felt more on the level of a Division 4 of some small town. So I broke the piggy bank and signed up for beginner improv classes instead.

I wanted a safe place to practice with other people who were equally not 100% comfortable passing big messages in front of people.

So I spent two hours a week listening to NSFW jokes from other people. Because when someone puts you in a random social situation and says "react immediately", what happens happens.

Here's one improv exercise: you're on a bench with someone, and your goal is to make them leave. How fun!

We were all cringe together, and that made it okay. Nobody was judging because we were all equally getting better at this.

Improv classes: highly recommend.