BUSINESS
THOMAS MICKEY
Lessons from Toastmasters
PHOTO COURTESY JANINE MUDGE bout 100 years ago , YMCA staff member Ralph Smedley founded Toastmasters International in Springfield , Illinois , to give people an opportunity to improve their public speaking skills .
Since then , Toastmasters has spread Smedley ’ s philosophy around the world . Today 345,000 people call themselves Toastmasters and make up the 16,000 clubs worldwide .
Toastmasters could improve a GWA member ’ s public speaking skill . Attending a meeting and joining a club may even open the door to a public speaking career . Many professional public speakers attribute their success to Toastmasters .
Educational materials from Toastmasters , such as the Competent Communication manual , reflect the group ’ s long history of training public speakers . Such Toastmaster training defines a speech , highlights its goal and presents the elements of a successful speech .
DEFINING A SPEECH To give a speech means you present your message before a live audience . The structure of the speech includes three parts — introduction , body and conclusion .
The speech begins with an icebreaker , which could be a short story or anecdote . This relaxes the audience , and lets them get to know the speaker a bit .
Then the speaker presents the main idea of the speech . Before the audience invests the time and energy in listening , they need to know what single idea the speech will cover .
Finally in the introduction the speaker will highlight the division of the speech , usually in three parts . So if , for example , you were going to talk about how to grow tomatoes , you might divide your talk into preparing the site , selecting the seed or small plant and maintaining the plant during the growing season .
The body of the speech requires a discussion of the three points you highlighted in the introduction . Here the speaker employs stories , anecdotes , statistics or quotes to make each of the three points believable .
It is important to follow the specific order of the three points because you , as the speaker , set up the audience to follow the speech . The
Thomas Mickey , GWA member for 20 years , joined Toastmasters more than 25 years ago . He has served various officer positions in his local Toastmasters club in Quincy , Massachusetts , including president and area governor , overseeing several Boston clubs . He is professor emeritus at Bridgewater State University , where he taught public relations and writing . You can find his blog at AmericanGardening . net
audience expects that order .
The body of the speech takes 90 percent of the time . This is the part that has to be carefully prepared to develop the main idea in the most interesting and entertaining way possible .
After the third point in the body of the speech , the speaker begins the conclusion by repeating the main idea along with the three points used to develop that idea . Then , the speaker concludes with a story or anecdote that mirrors how the speaker began . Consider this part a neat wrap up of what you set out to do in the introduction .
GOALS FOR THE SPEECH The goal of the speech is usually to educate or persuade an audience . The speaker may intend to teach something or share an idea . On the other hand , you may want to move the audience to take some action , such as buy a book , try a new plan or adopt a best practice . Each represents different goals for a speech and demands a somewhat different structure .
ELEMENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL SPEECH
An effective speech begins with a carefully chosen main idea , expressed in words the audience can follow . That may seem like an easy order , but it is surprising how often speakers use complex language or jargon . It is a good idea to write an outline for the speech with well-chosen words that will impact the audience . Bring the outline to the lectern . It is seldom helpful to write out the entire speech .
Tone and volume of voice , eye contact and body gestures contribute to a successful speech . The speaker ’ s voice needs a certain pace in timing — not too fast , not too slow and with pauses for effect . Volume is important because the entire audience needs to experience the speech . The speaker must look at the audience during most , if not all , of the speech . Where appropriate , hand gestures tell the audience the speaker is human and likable , and not stiff and distant . These issues are different from the choice of a main idea and the structure of the speech , but nonetheless are as important for success .
Speakers everywhere ought give a note of thanks to Smedley . Through his Toastmasters organization , he has provided a philosophy of public speaking in a practical form . Every week , clubs scattered around the world follow that philosophy in their meetings . More confident speakers become the result .
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