Colchester Speakers ClubJames McGinty
Occupation:
Systems Manager
Joined
Why did you join
Colchester Speakers Club
I wanted to become more confident and proficient in speaking in a
group situation and the Speakers Club offered me development in both of
these areas.
Why do you feel you need
to improve your public speaking?
I’ve always found it difficult to speak in large groups – I’m fine
speaking one to one or in a small team but where more than four or five
are gathered together, I find it more difficult to articulate myself.
What is your career to
date?
I’m a hospital systems manager in
Prior to my current job, I was a test consultant
for a computer company and also worked in the test industry for a
financial systems company.
Before that I took a business admin course and worked for an export
business. My first job was in a record shop.
When did you first realise
you had a problem speaking to large groups?
At school – Going bright red when speaking up in front of the
class!
How did you find out about
the Speakers Club?
Well actually I didn’t find out about it myself.
A friend of mine was on a course in
So, I looked it up on the
Internet and found there was a Speakers Club in
What was your first
meeting like?
It was February, very cold, I remember it well.
When I first contacted James I said I would just call in to see
what it was all about.
It was very relaxed and I
found people there who felt just like me about speaking and who had
found their way out of their fear through the Speakers Club in
James managed to persuade
me to have a go at a topic on that first night. I hadn’t realised unseen
topics were part of the agenda – but I gave it a go.
I only lasted about 20 seconds but I got a huge round of
applause!
What stage are you up to
in your Speakers Club manual?
I’m still near the beginning – I have done what they call the Ice
Breaker which is the one where you talk about anything you want to. Next
time I am going to do my B2, which needs to be a speech about something
I feel passionately about. I
have plenty of ideas but have not yet decided the subject I will go
with.
What have been the
benefits of the Speakers Club for you?
It’s early days of course but already my confidence has grown and I am
more comfortable taking part in larger meetings at work.
The Speakers Club has
brought me into contact with other people who share my fears about
speaking. This has helped me put those fears behind me and start
concentrating on my actual speaking.
The Speakers Club has
given me an opportunity to start from an easy base in having a go at
speaking myself in a very safe, supportive and friendly environment but
also it has enabled me to learn from listening to other people speak.
What would you say to
anyone who is anxious about speaking in public?
Come along to one of the Speaker Clubs and have a go.
You have nothing to lose!