10 Tips for Public Speaking

Feeling some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and even beneficial, but too much nervousness can be detrimental.   I found these tips on the Toastmaster’s website that I thought I’d share:

• Know your material.  Pick a topic you are interested in.  Use humor, personal stories and conversational language – that way you won’t easily forget what to say.
• Practice. Practice. Practice!  Rehearse out loud.  Practice with a timer in front of a family member or close friend.
• Know the audience.  It’s easier to speak to a group of friends than to strangers.
• Know the room.  Arrive early, walk around the speaking area and practice using the microphone and any visual aids.
• Relax.  Begin by addressing the audience.  It buys you time and calms your nerves.  Pause, smile and count to three before saying anything.
• Visualize yourself giving your speech.  Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear and confident.  Visualize the audience clapping – it will boost your confidence.
• Realize that people want you to succeed.  Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating, informative and entertaining.  They’re rooting for you.
• Don’t apologize for any nervousness or problem – the audience probably never noticed it.
• Concentrate on the message, not the medium.  Focus your attention away from your own anxieties and concentrate on your message and your audience.
• Gain experience.  Experience builds confidence, which is the key to effective speaking.  Come and visit our Toastmasters meeting and find out what it’s all about!

 Jonathan

Area F19 Speech and Table Topics Contests

Last night several of us attended the International Speech and Table Topics Contests, a formal Toastmasters speaking competition for our F19 area.  We were there to cheer on Vicki Hubbard and Elizabeth Rajs, who were both representing Chamber Chatters, having won our club’s speaking event a few weeks earlier.

Elizabeth was first up, giving an impromptu Table Topic talk on “After that, everything was easy.”  She gave an exhilarating account of competing in her first triathlon, including an additional two mile detour when she missed a turn sign!  Later in the evening Vicki gave a longer prepared speech on her experience of being a Booklegger and using props to make books more exciting to children.  Of course, lots of props were used to emphasis her points – fantastic!

Throughout the evening, the standard was high and the competition fierce.  Overall we heard twelve great speeches from representatives of all seven local clubs.  Unfortunately we didn’t win any prizes this year, but we competed hard and showed that we are a club with character and able to develop excellent speakers.  Well done Vicki and Elizabeth.  You both made us all very proud!

Jonathan

Speech Contests: Show off your speaking savvy!

On Feb 22^nd we are hosting our 2012 speech contest.  Speech contests are a Toastmasters tradition, offering the chance for participants to further hone their public speaking skills, with a chance to be able to compete against and learn from speakers from other clubs and regions.  Competition begins with club contests and winners continue competing through the area, division and district levels, before going onto national and international competition!

This year we have three formal speeches and three Table Topics contestants.  I am participating for the first time, and I’ll be giving a (hopefully!) humorous talk on my love of Scottish whiskies.  I’m also looking forward to hearing the other participants speak, and picking up tips from them and our ever-present (and ever helpful) evaluators.

For anybody considering joining Toastmasters, this is a great time to visit the club and see our members in action.

Cheers, Jonathan

The Distinguished Club Program. Who Cares?

I’ve only been a member of Chamber Chatters for a few months, and had heard that we were a President’s Distinguished Club.  But I had no idea what this was, or what it meant.  So I did some digging …

Every year, Toastmasters International recognizes the highest performing clubs.  Assessment is made of the club’s membership levels, of individual members’ speaking and leadership awards, of formal training of club officers, and overall diligence in running the club.  Clubs that excel in all these areas are awarded various levels of commendation.  Chamber Chatters has been a President’s Distinguished Club – the highest level award – for the last three years!

So why is this important?

Having the President’s Distinguished award means the club offers the highest quality Toastmaster experience for its members.  It means that the club has a robust membership, which results in well attended, well run meetings that enhance the enjoyment and reinforce the supportive atmosphere of each meeting.  Also the club focuses on keeping members moving through the education program, allowing those that wish to progress through the formal training Toastmasters offers, a chance to keep improving their speaking and leadership skills.  Finally, the club officer training requirements ensure that meetings and club business is conducted efficiently and productively, again adding to the spirit and motivational aspect of the club.

Annual awards are made in June, so we’ve five months left to achieve this year’s goals.  I for one am going to work hard to help us achieve President’s Distinguished Club status for the fourth year running!

Jonathan