Overcome your fear of
Public Speaking
Based in Sheffield, our Speakers Club will teach you the skills to deliver your next speech with confidence and composure.
Why learn public speaking?
The ability to speak effectively to small or large groups is a skill that is increasingly required in all walks of life.
Many of us, at some time in our lives, are asked to deliver a speech or presentation.
Some of us need to make presentations as part of our job. Others may want to be more prepared for that wedding toast, or just be able to make better small talk with different people. We all want to feel confident communicating in a variety of situations in our everyday lives.
For many, speaking to audiences large and small can be terrifying, but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Being a confident and captivating public speaker is a skill that can be learned and developed. Even the greatest speakers weren’t born with a special gift – they might make it look easy, but they’ve been working at it longer than the rest of us.
Joining a Speakers Club can help you overcome your nerves, become an effective speaker and increase your confidence in any social situation.
“All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
What is Sheffield Speakers Club?
Sheffield Speakers Club meets in person each month for an informal workshop. Together we learn to develop our speech-delivery and impromptu speaking abilities.
There are usually around 6 to 8 members at each meeting. It’s a low-pressure environment where it’s safe to practice, push yourself out of your comfort zone and make mistakes.
Abilities range from complete beginners to very experienced speakers. We welcome new members of any background, age and experience level.
It’s a friendly and supportive group – together we can help you conquer your fears and achieve your goals. Your speaking development will be at a pace dictated by you, and you’ll enjoy yourself at the same time.
What to expect at a meeting
Each meeting, one or two speakers will present a pre-prepared speech. Speeches are normally 5-10 minutes long and can be about almost anything. The speaker has certain goals to aim for, such as the effective use of gestures, incorporating humour, or developing a coherent speech structure.
The speeches are evaluated by another member of the club, who shares detailed feedback to the group.
At each meeting there is chance for everyone to take part in impromptu sessions – the chair will introduce a particular theme, and speakers are challenged to talk on that subject for two minutes without notes or preparation.
We use a ten-stage programme to ensure that all members have the opportunity to develop to the point where they deliver a Masterpiece speech with confidence. This programme is totally flexible so that members can develop at their own pace.
A workbook, “The Speakers Guide”, is given to each member. It explains each stage and teaches how to succeed at each level.
Meet the Family
Sheffield Speakers Club is a member of the Association of Speakers Clubs, an umbrella organisation that publishes “The Speakers Guide” and provides a framework for clubs to interact and help one another.
There are opportunities to join with other clubs and even enter national competitions.
A proven path to success
To become a master speaker and conquer those nerves you need to practice speaking in front of others as much as possible.
As well as being a willing audience, our Speakers Club provides support, guidance and structure to your development.
Here are some of the ways the Speakers Club will help you on your journey.
Experience
Everyone gets a chance to speak at each meeting.
Whether it’s presenting a pre-prepared speech, giving an impromptu talk, evaluating someone’s speech or chairing the meeting, there’s opportunity for everyone to try something new. We encourage members to have a go at all of the roles as soon as they feel comfortable to do so.
Having a go and pushing yourself will increase your confidence and chase that fear away.
Spontaneity
Part of being a good public speaker is being able to speak spontaneously.
Each meeting, everyone gets the chance to do a short impromptu talk on a random theme. There’s no preparation time – you learn how to build structure on the fly and think while you’re talking.
It’s a fantastic way of building your confidence for those everyday situations when you find yourself unprepared to speak and embarrassingly lost for words.
Feedback
Every time someone speaks, they receive encouragement and support from the group.
A club member will give detailed (and kind!) feedback about the speech.
Public feedback is optional – we all learn and benefit by listening to others, understanding what was great about the speech and where it could have been improved.
Progress
Each member gets our Speakers Guide workbook. This provides a structured plan of how to go from nervous beginner to master speaker.
For each speech you give you’ll be working through the syllabus, focusing on improving one small area at a time.
Get the latest news
Our Facebook page has regular updates and details of each meeting.
Meeting Details
We meet on the second Tuesday of each month. Meetings start at 7:30pm for a 7:45pm start and finish at 9:45pm. Dress code is casual, so wear whatever you’re comfortable in.
The first three sessions are free, so why not check us out and decide if it’s right for you? Don’t worry, there’s no pressure to stand up and speak on your first visit (but good for you if you choose to!). If you become a member, it costs just £5.00 per month. There’s no setup fee and you can cancel at any time.
You don’t need to book or let us know you’re coming – just turn up and say Hi, and you’ll receive a warm welcome. You’ll find details of each meeting on our Facebook page.
We meet here
St Timothy’s Community Hall
136 Slinn Street
Sheffield
S10 1NZ
Get in touch
Contact us for anything else you want to know! We are happy to answer any question you have as quickly as possible.
Fill in the contact form, or send an email to info@sheffieldspeakersclub.co.uk
Contact Form
Testimonials
Helen
Data Manager
“Speakers club has given me the confidence to feel comfortable in everyday speaking situations.”
David
“Before I came to Speakers I dreaded the thought of having to get up and speak in public, but being a member has helped me overcome this.
I can recommend it to all… and it’s good fun!”
Bill
Retired
“Speakers club has made me a more confident speaker with lots of valuable tips on how to present to different audiences in both social and work environments.”
Ewa
Pharmacist
“The club has a very warm, supportive atmosphere where everyone feels welcome and able to practice without being judged. I now truly enjoy giving talks in social and work settings.”
© 2023 Sheffield Speakers Club