The general subject of this speech is you. Selecting three or four interesting aspects of your life that will
give your fellow members insight and understanding of you as an
individual. These might include your birthplace, education, or
family. You could explain how you came to be in your present occupation
and tell the audience something about your ambitions. Should you prefer to avoid autobiography, you might talk about your business, your hobbies, or
anything relating to you as an individual.
Like any good story, your talk needs a clear beginning and
an ending. Create an interesting opening sentence that captures the
audience's attention. Memorize it, if necessary, and use it even if a
better idea occurs to you just before you speak. Then devise a good
closing and memorize it, too.
Giving your audience too much information will only overwhelm them. A memorized beginning and ending enable you to start and finish your talk with confidence and ease. In any speech, it's best to select a few main points (three or four at the most) and emphasize them by using examples, stories, or anecdotes. If you merely state a fact and then continue, most of your audience will miss the point. You should make a
point say it again in different words, illustrate the point, and then state it
once more in order to be clearly understood. This is a good skill to
learn.
If you think you will need notes, write a brief speech
outline on 3x5 cards, which you can place on the lectern. Remember, you're
speaking, not reading. Many speakers begin by writing out an entire
speech, then breaking it down into parts, with a word for each part, and finally writing just the key words on one note card.
Now the talk is ready, but are you ready to present
it? You will need to rehearse. Practice the talk until your are
comfortable with it. You won't need to memorize the body of the talk, since
you already know all about the subject. As mentioned earlier, you should
memorize your opening and conclusion.
Present the talk to a family member, a friend or your
Toastmasters mentor. Ask for comments. They may give you some
helpful suggestions. If you have a tape recorder, record the talk and
listen to it carefully, making any necessary improvements. Using a tape
recorder is one of the best ways to improve your speaking
ability.
Rather than thinking of this presentation as "making a
speech," think of it as a talk before a group of friends, sharing
information of interest. Don't be afraid of the audience. They have
already experienced the same feelings you are having. They want you to
succeed and they're eager to help you.
Appearance is important. Be well groomed and
appropriately dressed for your presentation. When you look right, you feel
good about yourself. You will then forget about your appearance and
concentrate on presenting your talk. You will have increased confidence
because you know you have made a good first impression on your
audience.
Once you've completed your speech preparation...
relax. Nervousness is common to every speaker, no matter how
experienced. In fact, you can put this nervous energy to work for you by
using it to add excitement to your delivery. No one is going to notice a
little quavering in your voice, and it will soon disappear anyway as you become
involved with what you're saying.
While being introduced, take a deep breath and slowly
exhale. This will help your voice sound resonant and natural. Begin
by facing the Toastmaster and saying, "Mr. (or Madam) Toastmaster";
then face the audience and say"Ladies and gentlemen..." or
"Fellow Toastmasters and welcome guests..." Pause, then plunge in with
your prepared opening sentences.
While speaking, make "eye contact" with various
members of the audience, first looking directly at one person for a few seconds,
then looking at another, so no one feels left out of your talk. As you're
doing this, glance periodically at the timer. If the red light comes on
while you're talking, move smoothly to your conclusion and finish quickly.
Observe time limits whenever you speak.
Don't worry about what to do with your hands. Leave
them at your sides if you wish. You'll have opportunities to practice
"body language" later.
One final comment: Don't end by saying "Thank
You." The audience should thank you for the information you've
shared. Instead, just close with your prepared ending, nod at the
Toastmaster of the meeting, and say, "Mr. [or Madam] Toastmaster" --
then enjoy the applause. After you finish, you will probably begin evaluating
yourself even before you sit down. You may think you left out some of the
best parts. Everybody thinks that. Just congratulate yourself on
having delivered your first speech, then write down the things you did well and
the things you want to improve. Try to avoid making the same mistakes in
your next speech.
To supplement your own evaluation, an experienced Club
member has been assigned to evaluate your efforts. Before the meeting
begins, give this manual to your evaluator so he or she may make notes on the
evaluation page for this project. This will give you a permanent record of
your progress. If you want the evaluator to observe something in
particular, be sure to inform the evaluator in
advance.
Asking other members for additional comments may not be useful
to you, but you should consider them carefully. Remember the evaluations
are representations of how the audience perceived you and your talk.
OBJECTIVES
Once you have the highlights of your talk in mind, weave them into a story, just as if you were telling it to friends around the dinner table. Share significant personal experiences. The more personal you make your talk, the warmer will be the relationship between you and your audience.
Opening, Body, and Conclusion
Preparing Yourself
Presenting Your Talk
Your Evaluation
* To begin speaking before an audience.
* To help you understand what areas require
particular emphasis in your speaking development.
* To introduce yourself to your fellow Club members.