By Bonnie Sweet
Imagine being able to share your passion with others online and in-person. Your views on important matters are of great value. Toastmasters’ clubs empower you to find your voice and develop your skills to inspire others.
Many people are nervous about speaking to an online camera or in front of a group of people. This fear can create doubt or hesitation, and come across as confusing — altering the very meaning of the words you share.
District 30 Toastmasters is where success happens through communication, opportunity, and integrity. Our clubs supply a great practice venue, train you in successful techniques, and hold you accountable to your own growth goals. Here are three steps that help you succeed in the Toastmasters program:
Practice of Speaking Frequently
No matter how small or big the role you take in a club setting, it counts to build your confidence, vocabulary, and understanding of your audience. You’re also given the opportunity and benefit of visiting other clubs to gain a greater and more diverse understanding. This allows you to finetune and amplify your speech to reach hundreds – thousands of people.
Personally, I have learned a lot from my own interaction in Toastmasters — visiting multiple clubs around the world. It taught me to see my own faults, make the necessary adjustments, and build my confidence levels to where I can speak to people worldwide with self-assurance.
Preparation of Key Points
When preparing for a speech, we follow a basic structure:
- Introduction
- Three Key Points
- Conclusion
If you know the three points of your speech, it’s much easier to create your beginning and end. Therefore, researching and preparing the key points of your speech is important. When structured well, your speech will inspire others.
I have struggled with speech structure many times. I get so passionate that my concept grows into two speeches instead of one. Many great speakers have advised me to tie down my key points before spinning it into a speech. A well-structured topic coupled with great passion turns into a memorable speech for all.
Presentation of One Vision
When working through the two previous steps, your vision will become clear. Constructive criticism will help you adapt your speech to the audience. They will be able to understand your passionate voice and consider your three points.
My vision needed clarity. While many people understood what I was trying to share, I realized that I couldn’t change the world on my own. I needed encouragement and training by a team of people who could help me refine my message, focus it toward my audience, and amplify what was once my small insignificant voice.
District 30 Toastmasters provides that safe environment to help empower your voice and confidence. Our members help each other find success through practice, preparation, and presentation. The end results are members who are empowered to share words that change society one talk at a time.
© 2020 by Bonnie Sweet