|
10
Tips For Successful Public Speaking
Feeling
some nervousness before giving a speech is natural and
healthy. It shows you care about doing well. But, too much
nervousness can be detrimental. Here's how you can control
your nervousness and make effective, memorable
presentations:
-
Know the room. Be familiar with the place in
which you will speak. Arrive early, walk around the
speaking area and practice using the microphone and
any visual aids.
-
Know the audience. Greet some of the audience
as they arrive. It's easier to speak to a group of
friends than to a group of strangers.
-
Know your material. If you're not familiar
with your material or are uncomfortable with it, your
nervousness will increase. Practice your speech and
revise it if necessary.
-
Relax. Ease tension by doing exercises.
-
Visualize yourself giving your speech.
Imagine yourself speaking, your voice loud, clear, and
assured. When you visualize yourself as successful,
you will be successful.
-
Realize that people want you to succeed.
Audiences want you to be interesting, stimulating,
informative, and entertaining. They don't want you to
fail.
-
Don't
apologize. If you mention your nervousness or
apologize for any problems you think you have with
your speech, you may be calling the audience's
attention to something they hadn't noticed. Keep
silent.
-
Concentrate
on the message -- not the medium. Focus your
attention away from your own anxieties, and outwardly
toward your message and your audience. Your
nervousness will dissipate.
-
Turn
nervousness into positive energy. Harness your
nervous energy and transform it into vitality and
enthusiasm.
The
Toastmasters Educational Program
The
educational program is the heart of a Toastmasters Club. It is the means
through which you develop your communication and leadership skills and
achieve your goal of becoming a better communicator.
The
Toastmasters educational program is divided into two tracks -- a
communication track and a leadership track. The communication track is
the major part of the system -- almost all new members join Toastmasters
for the benefits this track offers. Some become involved in the
leadership track. The tracks are not mutually exclusive. You may
participate in both tracks at the same time if you wish.
Communication
Track
The core of the communication track is the Communication and Leadership
Program manual (also called the "basic manual"), which
contains 10 speech projects. Every new member is sent a basic manual
within 48 hours after his/her application for Membership (Form 400) is
received at World Headquarters. (Included in the material sent with the
basic manual are three other manuals: Your Speaking Voice, Effective
Speech Evaluation, and Gestures: Your Body Speaks.)
The
CTM Award
The basic manual helps develop your speaking skills one step at a time.
Every project builds upon what you have learned in the preceding
project. As you complete the projects you'll learn the importance of
sincerity in speaking, how to effectively organize a presentation, how
to use body language and voice to convey your message, word choice and
props, persuasive speaking, and how to inspire others.
Your
first goal as a member is to complete this manual. When you do, you are
eligible for Competent Toastmaster (CTM) recognition. When you finish
all 10 projects, complete the CTM application (Catalog no. 223 in the
manual), have the Vice President Education sign it, and send it to World
Headquarters. You'll receive a CTM certificate and, if this is your
first CTM award, two Advanced Communication and Leadership Program
manuals free of charge. If you wish, World Headquarters will send your
employer a letter about your accomplishment.
Advanced
Program
After receiving CTM recognition you can enter the Advanced Communication
and Leadership Program, where you can refine and enhance your basic
skills. This program consists of 15 manuals, each containing five speech
projects. Many of the manuals are career-oriented; several are not. You
choose the manuals you want to complete and the skills you want to
learn.
The
manuals are:
The
Entertaining Speaker (226-A)
Speaking to Inform (226-B)
Public Relations (226-C)
The Discussion Leader (226-D)
Specialty Speeches (226-E)
Speeches by Management (226-F)
The Professional Speaker (226-G)
Persuasive Speaking (226-H)
Technical Presentations (226-I)
Communicating on Television (226-J)
Storytelling (226-K)
Interpretive Reading (226-L)
Interpersonal Communication (226-M)
Special Occasion Speeches (226-N)
Humorously Speaking (226-O)
When
you work in the advanced manuals you are eligible for several awards:
Advanced
Toastmaster Bronze (ATM-B) Award
To
be eligible for this award, you must have:
Advanced
Toastmaster Silver (ATM-S) Award
To
be eligible for this award, you must have:
-
Achieved
new Advanced Toastmaster Bronze award or achieved Able Toastmaster
award
-
Completed
two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for
previous awards)
-
Conducted
any two programs from The Better Speaker Series and/or The
Successful Club Series
Advanced
Toastmaster Gold (ATM-G) Award
To
be eligible for this award, members must have:
-
Achieved
new Advanced Toastmaster Silver award or achieved Able Toastmaster
Bronze award
-
Completed
two additional advanced manuals (may not be those completed for
previous awards)
-
Conducted
a Success/Leadership Program, Success/Communication Program
(Success/Leadership or Success/Communication programs may not be
those completed for Able Toastmaster Bronze award) or a Youth
Leadership Program
-
Coached
a new member with the first three speech projects
By
the time you earn the Advanced Toastmaster Gold award, you will have
completed six of the available Advanced Communication and Leadership
Program manuals and will have learned many valuable advanced speaking
skills.
To
apply for any of the Advanced Toastmaster awards, complete the
appropriate section of the Advanced Toastmaster Award application
(Catalog no. 1207-A). This application also is in the back of each
advanced manual and is available from World Headquarters.
You'll
receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a
letter to your employer about your achievement.
Accredited
Speaker Program
Toastmasters International has a special program which recognizes those
members who have professional-level speaking skills. The Accredited
Speaker Program is not for everyone. Only a handful of Toastmasters have
what it takes to become Accredited Speakers. Less than 25 percent of
those who apply for the program become Accredited Speakers.
The
program is conducted annually. To qualify as an Accredited Speaker, an
applicant must be a current member of a Toastmasters Club. He or she
also must be an Able Toastmaster or Advanced Toastmaster Bronze and have
had a minimum of 25 speaking engagements to non-Toastmasters audiences
within three years of application date. Five copies of letters of
acknowledgment or appreciation from any of the 25 engagements must be
provided as documentary evidence of successful presentations. In
addition, applicants must pass a rigorous two-stage judging process.
If
you or someone in your Club has professional-level speaking skills, call
or write World Headquarters for the Accredited Speaker Program brochure
and application. Deadline each year for entries is November 1.
Leadership
Track
As mentioned earlier, the Toastmasters educational program also includes
a leadership track, where you acquire and practice the skills necessary
to be an effective leader. You can serve as a Club leader, developing
skills in planning, training, motivating, and managing. You even can
become a District leader, where these skills are further enhanced. You
also can participate in the "High Performance Leadership"
program (Catalog No. 262), which requires you to conduct a project of
your choice in which you serve as a leader. The program provides study
material and activities to complete.
Following
are the awards members may earn in the leadership track and the
requirements for each.
Competent
Leader (CL) Award
To
be eligible for this award, you must have:
-
Achieved
Competent Toastmaster award
-
Served
at least six months (June 1 through December 31, or January 1
through June 30) as a Club officer (President, Vice President
Education, Vice President Membership, Vice President Public
Relations, Secretary, Treasurer, or Sergeant at Arms) and
participated in the preparation of a Club Success Plan while serving
in this office
-
While
a Club officer, participated in a District-sponsored Club officer
training program
-
Conducted
any two programs from The Successful Club Series
Advanced
Leader (AL) Award
To
be eligible for this award, you must have:
-
Achieved
Competent Leader award
-
Served
a complete term as a District officer (District Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, Public Relations Officer, Secretary, Treasurer, Division
Governor, or Area Governor)
-
Competed
the High Performance Leadership program
-
Served
successfully as a Club Sponsor, Mentor, or Specialist
To
apply for any of the leadership awards, complete the appropriate section
of the Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application (Catalog
No. 1209-A). Applications also are available from World Headquarters and
are on this website.
You'll
receive a certificate and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send a
letter to your employer about your achievement.
Distinguished
Toastmaster (DTM) Award
The
Distinguished Toastmaster (DTM) award is the highest award our
organization bestows and it recognizes both communication and leadership
skills. To be eligible for the DTM award, a member must have:
To
apply for the DTM award, complete the appropriate section of the
Leadership/Distinguished Toastmaster Awards application (Catalog No.
1209-A). Applications also are available from World Headquarters.
You'll
receive a special plaque and, if you wish, World Headquarters will send
a letter to your employer about your achievement.
|
