You’re definitely not alone if the thought of speaking in public gives you a jolt of anxiety.

The stress comes on many occasions: a job interview, a presentation at work, or a loved one’s eulogy, to name a few. The fear of public speaking, no matter the size of the moment, impacts 40% of the population, according to a National Institute of Mental Health report. You can’t always hide from those moments, but you can prepare.

Main Line Toastmasters in Conshohocken is a great way to improve your public speaking skills. The club will help you prepare and deliver speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and build confidence for those key moments.

Here are some of the best features of our club:

1.    Camaraderie: We all share a common goal of sharpening our skills, so it has been easy to build good relationships with other members. And in an environment like ours, trust goes a long way stepping outside your comfort zone and taking chances.

2.    Knowledge Expansion: Our members bring a range of experiences, ideas and interests, which allows us to learn new subjects and hear different perspectives. Not only do we learn more about things, we’re able to identify people that may be able to help us in certain areas.

3.    Constructive Feedback: While receiving and responding to feedback is a soft skill on its own, perhaps the biggest value is in sharpening methods to effectively give feedback and advice to others.

4.    Set Your Own Pace: While Toastmasters outlines a process and offers training to assist in improving your skills, you can progress in your own timing. There’s no pressure to take the next step before you’re ready.

5.    Leadership Opportunities: Our club has officer roles, such as president, treasurer, etc. that add a nice touch to any resume. In addition, all members can lead parts of a meeting, or become mentors to others.

Join us! The first two visits to club meetings are free to non-members.

·        Dates: Second and Fourth Wednesdays
·        Time: 6:45-8:30ish
·        Venue: Great American Pub in Conshohocken (second floor)

For more information, check out www.mainlinetoastmasters.org of follow us on Instagram at @mainlinetoastmasters.