Public Speaking Courses in Toronto – Why Groups Work
Group sessions can be just as effective as one-on-one counselling.
Public Speaking Group classes are not only more affordable than private sessions — they’re one of the best ways to gain hands-on experience and learn from others like you.
Why Choose a Public Speaking Group Over Solo Counselling
Many of my clients come to my public speaking groups only to be surprised by how much they enjoyed the experience. Not only is group therapy more affordable, group therapy can be just as effective, if not more so, than one on one.
In fact, research has found that group therapy is effective when treating social anxiety. Although social anxiety isn’t the focus of this program, public speaking anxiety is similarly rooted in concerns over other people’s perceptions of us.
It’s also fun! Group work is inherently social, so the group setting is a bonus for those with a fear of public speaking in the workplace or community. However, it’s not like the movies! Group therapy is often shown in the media as a circle of participants sitting in chairs and going around and around to share. This is not the case here: my public speaking courses in Toronto are skills-based and led by me, which means you don’t have to worry about being put on the spot.
The real magic of public speaking groups is the opportunity to share your experiences and progress, get hands-on experience applying the tools, and practice the skill of vulnerability in breakout rooms.
These are where I see individuals really emerge as leaders, since breakout rooms and other group work naturally create space to show off your fearless new skills. When participants break out into planned activities or speak in front of their peers, their leadership abilities really start to grow — which might be why they’re often the favourite part of my public speaking workshops in Toronto.
Let’s talk about some of the other benefits of joining a public speaking group for public speaking anxiety.
Public Speaking Groups Are More Accessible and Affordable
There are many reasons someone might choose a group over individual sessions, but one of the most common is how affordable they are. For participants who want to improve their skills but don’t have benefits, public speaking workshops in Toronto are often less than 50% of the cost of one-on-one sessions. If your health coverage or organization doesn’t cover individual public speaking courses (or only covers part), you might consider learning with others like you! Most people haven’t participated in a group therapy or program before, but my experience has been that people surprise themselves by how much they actually enjoy it.
Even if benefits do cover the cost of one-on-one, the best option might still be a group.
Many employers also include group therapy in their benefits, and you might find the group setting even more valuable than individual time. Plus, extended group sessions (like my 8–10 week groups) are a great way to ensure you get regular, structured practice — which you might not have if you have to pay for, or book, sessions on your own.
And because my public speaking lessons are virtual, anyone across Ontario can join — no traffic, weather, or distance getting in the way. I’m also licensed in Nova Scotia, so participants there can join as well.
Practice Your Public Speaking Skills in a Safe Environment
My public speaking groups include breakout rooms and exercises where speaking is required. This is where I see the most progress and growth. Participants emerge as leaders when they can use group work to tap into their talents — something individual sessions can’t always match. It has surprised me how empowered group members feel by participating in these breakout rooms! As we work through the weekly activities together, you not only learn science-backed tools for public speaking anxiety and speaking with confidence, you also get to put them into practice with others.
The author of In the Spotlight, Janet Esposito, says hands-on group work helps participants get more comfortable speaking in front of others — not only learning new skills, but reducing their fears and inhibitions at the same time.
In my workshops, participants work together over the course of the sessions, then show up to the final capstone project and pick from a list of options. Top takeaways, a personal manifesto, and a ‘before and after’ are all choices for what you’ll teach your peers and learn more about yourself. These capstones are also practice: when you speak up in front of others, you’re putting down the necessary framework for more public speaking self-confidence one session at a time. But what they also allow you to do is to synthesize and integrate your learning, in a personal way, across your time spent in the group.
Stay Accountable with Scheduled Public Speaking Classes
Just like joining a group exercise class, art class, or sports team, taking part in a public speaking group class holds you accountable to your goal. When you know the session will be going on with or without you in it, you’re more likely to show up (and do the homework, too!). Individual sessions can be rescheduled to accommodate a busy week or a rough day, but group sessions go on no matter what. This gives many people an extra push to make the effort and join in.
Plus, weekly public speaking group sessions come with take-home activities, like reviewing chapters of an assigned book. When your peers are depending on you to take ownership of the task and help provide them with information, you’re more likely to put your all into learning and building new skills.
Why Public Speaking Courses Work for Visual Learners
Group sessions are ideal for visual learners. Weekly Zoom meetings not only introduce you to other participants, they also come with visual tools like diagrams and outlines of the science-backed techniques we use in my public speaking courses in Ontario. If you’re more likely to pick up on a concept when you see it in action — or displayed on a screen — group work might be the best way to go.
Learning as part of a group also gives you the opportunity to hear questions asked by your peers, potentially giving you additional insight or clarification on a concept, as well as letting you know there’s someone else in the same boat. In my public speaking workshops in Toronto, those shared moments often lead to breakthroughs and lasting confidence.
Find Support and Confidence Knowing You’re Not Alone
With a condition as stigmatized as public speaking anxiety, joining a group can help you realize you aren’t alone. There are thousands of people who struggle with public speaking at all stages of their careers. For professional perfectionists (and perfectionist professionals!) who feel ashamed about what they often view as a flaw, this realization can be almost as eye-opening as the course itself.
You aren’t alone in having fear, and you’re also not alone in being successful in your career despite it. Group workshops — and the shared experiences they create — are a powerful answer to why group speaking works. You’ll find plenty of support from others taking the same steps to work through their fears, which helps deepen your connection to the work. As you hear about others’ progress and the tools that are working (or not working) for them, you celebrate successes with people who are equally invested in your growth.
For public speaking anxiety, joining one of our public speaking workshops in Toronto is an affordable and effective way to work on your skills with the best support.
Your privacy is always protected in group sessions.
You are not required to provide your full name or any identifying information about yourself — you could even attend under another name if you prefer. Like all psychological services, your comfort and privacy are top priorities. While you may get additional benefit from joining a public speaking group versus individual sessions, privacy is something you will never have to sacrifice.
Joining a group can feel both scary and exciting! It’s not surprising that people with public speaking anxiety are sometimes hesitant to participate, but these shared experiences are some of the most effective ways to learn. Hands-on activities help you get past inhibitions and reduce fears in a supportive space.
Interested in learning more? Sign up for the waitlist for my next public speaking group and start your path toward speaking with more confidence.
Interested in learning more? Sign up to be on the waitlist for my next public speaking group!
Lecture-led, skills-based group public speaking courses not only provide the exercises and materials to develop your public speaking skills, they also help you overcome public speaking anxiety and feel confident working with others.
Public speaking groups aren’t like the movies: there are no folding chairs, sitting in a circle, or going around the room to share. My groups are skills-based and led by me, with plenty of opportunities to practice tools and step out of your comfort zone. Affordable, effective, and often surprisingly fun — many participants tell me their public speaking anxiety fades faster than they expected.
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