Toastmasters survival guide to public speaking

by Frank | Jan 11, 2013 | Public Speaking

I recently attended my first Toastmasters session in Newcastle, it’s a very informal and fun way to improve your public speaking skills. I even won an award in my first session for one of my table topics, which was nice. One of the Toastmasters was kind enough to give us an impromptu survival guide to public speaking which I found very useful for a workshop I ran the following week.

Toastmasters survival guide

1. Know your room – does it have a projector? Does it have tables? Are there materials supplied or do you need to bring your own?
2. Know your audience – who is your audience? Is the content you’re about to present it pitched at the right level? is it too highbrow or too lowbrow? What is the understanding of your audience?
3. Know your speech – this is the equivalent of an actor learning his lines, it’s the basics and determines how your audience will perceive you for full.
4. RELAX — Breathe…then find a friendly face in the audience, address that person, but not for too long, people get uncomfortable if they feel you are staring at them. So, pan the audience find another friendly face and repeat.
5. Visualise giving your speech – in the days, weeks, or hours before your speech visualise each key element and how you will present it. Picture your audience and how they will respond to you positively. Picture yourself and how confident you are in your speaking abilities.
6. What’s the message? The audience are your friends.
7. Don’t get up and apologise — remember you are in charge. If you forget something don’t worry the audience won’t know.
8. Concentrate on the message not the audience – emphasise your points.
9. Turn your nerves into positive energy – focus it into your hands, your voice (the volume), and smiles.
10. Take every opportunity to progress (that’s good advice for life to).

All of the above are wonderfully simple, easy to apply, and will enhance your speaking abilities and every level whether that’s to an audience of thousands for an audience of one.
To find out more about Toastmasters in Newcastle go to www.a1speakers.org.uk or http://www.toastmasters.org/ for the international site and to find a group in your area.

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