TIPS FOR
SUCCESSFUL PUBLIC SPEAKING
  
10 Tips For Successful Public Speaking
Some Opening Techniques
Attention Getting Openings
Steps for preparing a speech
DO'S and DON'TS For Conclusion
What Makes a Good Speaker?
A Toastmaster Promise - Keeping the Commitment!

Some Opening Techniques

  • State importance of topic.
  • Startle the audience.
  • Arouse suspense/curiosity.
  • Tell a story.
  • Ask a rhetorical question.
  • Begin with a quotation.
  • Reference the occasion.

from Beginning Your Speech (Better Speaker Series)

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Attention Getting Openings

  • Ask a provocative question, "How many of you own a foreign car, camera or watch?"
  • Use a quote that relates to your subject.
    "The best way to help the poor is not to be one of them."
    "The duration of marriage is inversely proportional to the cost of the wedding."
  • State a startling fact or statistic.
  • Appeal to human interest.
  • Tell a story or personal experience that relates to your subject. A side benefit of telling a story is overcoming nervousness in the first two minutes.
  • Refer to a recent well known event or local newsworthy story - and bring your local paper with you.
  • Pay a sincere compliment to the audience's organisation, their profession, etc.

from Presentations Plus by David A Peoples.                                                                              

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Steps for preparing a speech

  1. Select or tailor a topic based on your purpose, your audience, and the details of your speaking situation.
  2. Limit the topic to one central theme.
  3. Collect data about the subject.
  4. Select a method of organisation.
  5. Outline the main points; use three main points to support your central theme.
  6. Gather supporting information, such as stories to support your main theme.
  7. Check for accuracy.
  8. Design a catchy, energetic introduction.
  9. Write a strong conclusion.
  10. Put together your final draft.
  11. Practice.
  12. Practice.
  13. Practice.
  14. Practice.
  15. Practice.

from Power Presentations by Majorie Brody and Shawn Kent.                                                     
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DO'S and DON'TS For Conclusion

Don'ts

1. Don't apologise.

2. Don't stretch it out.

3. Don't merely stop.

4. Don't introduce new points.

5. Don't pack up early.

6. Don't continue to speak as you leave the lectern.

 Do's

1. Do work on your conclusion carefully.

2. Do end with strength.

3. Do get to the point and summarise.

4. Do bring your speech to a smooth ending.

5.    Do signal your audience that you are concluding.

                                                                                                                         
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What Makes a Good Speaker?

  1. Ideas

    2. A good speech contains sound and stimulating ideas. These don't have to be original but they should be expressed in a fresh and stimulating manner.

  2. Purpose

    3. Whatever the purpose of the speech - be it to entertain, arouse, convince, inform or instruct - it will be clearly recognised in advance and it will match the expectation of the audience.

  3. Material

    4. Fact, opinion and evidence will be chosen and logically marshalled to meet the purpose of the speech.

  4. Consideration

    5. The speaker will know his/her audience and speak to their needs. He/she will observe the courtesies of speaking to time, of keeping the audience interested and of being clear and pleasant to listen to.

  5. Delivery

    6. The voice will be well used and varied. Rate and pitch will be modified appropriately to particular passages of the speech. Pause and emphasis will be thoughtfully incorporated and feeling will be reflected naturally.

  6. Control

    7. The speaker will be in command of him/herself, the direction of the speech and the audience. He/she will appear calm and confident and be able to think ahead while he/she is speaking.

  7. Language

    8. Words will be used exactly and will serve to provide colour, imagery and feeling to the speech. The speech will be spontaneous, fluent and interesting.

  8. Personality

The speech will reflect the speaker as a person, his/her feeling for people and his/her topic. It will be natural, sincere and convincing.

from Handbook for Public Speakers by James D Milburn.                                                                 
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A Toastmaster Promise - Keeping the Commitment!

This module is one of the Successful Club Series. Its purpose is to encourage members to stop and think why they joined the club in the first place and what they hoped to achieve.

In order to achieve goals, it is important to commit to meeting those goals and this is where the Toastmaster's Promise is valuable.

There are three parts to the promise: participation; interacting with others and meeting atmosphere. Take a moment to read through the promise and evaluate your present commitment.

As a Toastmaster, I promise:

  • To attend Club meetings regularly.
  • To prepare all of my speeches to the best of my ability, basing them on projects in the Communication and Leadership manual or the Advanced Communication and Leadership Program manuals.
  • To willingly prepare for and fulfil assignments.
  • To provide fellow members with helpful, constructive evaluations.
  • To help the Club maintain the positive environment necessary for all members to learn and grow.
  • To willingly serve my Club as an officer when called upon to do so.
  • To treat my fellow Club members and our guests with respect and courtesy.
  • To bring guests to Club meetings so they can see the benefits that Toastmasters membership offers.
  • To adhere to guidelines and rules for all Toastmasters Educational and Recognition Programs.
  • To maintain honest and highly ethical standards during the conduct of all Toastmasters' Meetings.

According to the module "Clubs are only as strong as their individual members. If you are ready to make a commitment to the standards that make up 'A Toastmaster Promise', your Club's success and your own success can be guaranteed."
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Last updated 08 Jul 2002