I am well aware of Toastmasters and they seem to be a help for many who have trouble with public speaking.
Okay. Never a member and never bothered with them.
Confidence in public speaking is about mastering your subject, knowing the audience, and knowing yourself. You can either speak to an audience or you can’t. Those who can’t naturally can steady themselves with increased subject matter knowledge. I’ve also known many who had extreme knowledge of the subject matter who couldn’t bare themselves to the public.
Realize you aren’t perfect, no one is. Realize that no one judges you as severely as you do. Speak to the audience as you, an audience member as well, would like to be spoken to. Don’t apologize for being imperfect. And, most of all, direct the presentation where you need it to go. As the head of the room, you are running the show. Push in that direction and and make those who want to take it in another direction on the defensive. You are on the offensive and the room is yours if you make it so.
Just saying. I, most thankfully, can assume a room and present my points with success. I have done so in front of field employees and company presidents. It can be done by anyone if you heed the above.
Anyone can do it, if, you are comfortable with yourself and your ideas. That’s all it comes down to....
Toastmasters is a good place for folks who want to improve their self-confidence while learning some fundamental public speaking skills.
I first got involved with the organization while I was a trainer of new circulation managers for a medium sized newspaper early in my career.
One of the fun things I taught was how to control and ultimately overcome fear of speaking before a group by thinking about the fear as the butterflies in their stomachs. The trick was to get them all flying in formation! :)