It makes you nervous just thinking about it. Your heart rate increases, you
break into a cold sweat, and you think again to yourself, “Why would
anybody ever enter a speech contest?” I started participating in contests
almost as soon as I joined Toastmasters. And, based on my experience, I can’t
think of a better way to grow as a public speaker than by competing. If you’ve
ever thought about entering a contest, but decided not to, consider the benefits
of competing:
1. Push Your Limits
Competing removes you from the comfort zone you build up in your local club.
Even if you never compete at a higher level, competing forces your speaking
into a new perspective. In a contest, you’re not just going to receive
a (probably very friendly) public evaluation, you’re going to be graded
on the quality of your speaking and of your speech. Knowing that can help
you overcome the complacency we all can feel when we’re preparing “just
another manual speech.”
2. Feel the Support
Competing is an excellent way to discover how supportive your fellow Toastmasters
can be. When I won the Founder’s District International Speech Contest
earlier this year, several of my fellow competitors immediately offered their
assistance and support in preparing me for the next level. That spirit of
support is visible throughout Toastmasters. By participating in contests,
you open yourself up to praise, constructive feedback, and encouragement
that go a long way toward making your next speech better and better.
3. Increase Your Confidence
2001 World Champion of Public Speaking Darren LaCroix lists the three most
important things for becoming a better speaker: “stage time, stage
time, stage time.” Any time you speak, you develop more confidence
in your abilities. If you’re serious about improving as a speaker,
the message behind “stage time, stage time, stage time” is that
you should take advantage of every opportunity to practice your skills. Competing—even
if you don’t expect to win—gives you another chance to get that
practice.
Participating in Toastmasters contests is a great way to grow. As you push yourself to improve, the confidence and support you feel can only make you better, as a speaker and as a person. So, the next time your club announces a contest, overcome your doubts and join in!
(Jerry McMillan is a three-time Founder’s District speech contest champion,
including winning the District’s 2005 International Speech Contest and
the 2004 Humorous Speech Contest.)