Meeting Role Guide

Speaker

Your Quest

Prepare, practice, and present a speech while developing speaking, leadership, and time-management skills.

The Role

Speakers present both the speaking and the leadership side of Toastmasters. Ralph Smedley, the founder of Toastmasters, said, “Speakers are leaders.” The better able you are to organize and articulate your thoughts, the more likely you are to advance in your career or volunteer organization. In addition to gaining confidence as you improve your speaking skills, you gain experience in time management, planning, organization, implementation, and accepting feedback.

This guide covers the process of giving a speech. If you are new to speaking, work with your mentor on topics, organization, and doing some dry runs. Your Ice Breaker speech is the baseline for your future improvement.

All speeches in Toastmasters have the following steps:

READ THE PROJECT – Pathways has instructions for getting started!
Come up with a topic.
Put it on the calendar.
Create your outline (fill in as desired). Try to avoid memorizing a written speech word for word.
Practice with a timer and adjust as needed.
Hint: Memorize your opening and closing.
Do a dry run with your mentor (optional for later speeches).
Present your speech!
Review your evaluation.
Complete your project.

To get the most effect from your speaking experience, try to speak regularly. Once a month or every other month is good. You may certainly speak more often if you wish. However, if you stretch it out too long between speeches, you may lose all you have learned from the experience.

Before the Meeting

Read the project.
Sign up for a speech on the appropriate agenda. Be sure to include a speech introduction.
Prepare and practice your speech.

During the Meeting

Expect to be nervous.
Watch your time. Some clubs start clapping if you go a full minute over time.
If you get lost, just go on.

After the Meeting

Review your evaluation and any comments.
Save your evaluation for future reference.
Complete your project in Pathways.
Schedule your next speech!

When You’re Called On

It is not necessary for speakers to describe their role in the meeting (that's what your written speech introduction will be used for).

Skills You’ll Practice

Time management, planning, organization, implementation

Why Take This Role?

Improving your speaking skills gives you confidence. You will have a greater impact in meetings, interviews, and on the perceptions of your colleagues and management.

From the Competent Communicator Manual: “More than four million people will confirm that the Toastmasters program works, but it works only when you prepare carefully, actively participate, and speak as often as possible. Apply yourself, and you will experience the benefits you want in all aspects of your life.”