Toastmasters District 57

As a Toastmaster you develop your speaking ability in a self-paced environment, one skill at a time. The first 10 speeches make up the Basic Communication and Leadership Program, in which all new members participate.

• The Icebreaker – introduce yourself and get started by talking about a subject on which you are an expert.

• Organize Your Speech – organize your thoughts into a logical sequence leading to a clearly defined goal.

• Get to the Point – ensure the structure and content of the speech supports and reinforces its purpose.

• How to say it – find the precise words to communi-cate your ideas clearly, concisely, and vividly; eliminate jargon.

• Your Body Speaks - use stance, movement, ges-tures, facial expressions and eye contact to convey your message.

• Vocal Variety – use volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message.

• Research Your Topic – Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered from research.

• Get Comfortable with Visual Aids – select the appropriate visual aids, use them correctly with ease and confidence.

• Persuade with Power – Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or to take some action.

• Inspire Your Audience – inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging your listeners to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement.