Toastmasters Table Topics #11 | What Are Two Things You Will Say To Convince Me To Come To The 1st Toastmasters Meeting In January 2024?

I have written about the significance of public speaking in the past. I started this writing series on table topics some months back. Before diving into today's topic, here is a quick introduction to Table Topics.

What are Table Topics?

In Toastmasters, "Table Topics" is a segment where participants deliver an impromptu speech. The speech should be at least half a minute or more than two and a half minutes.

Table Topics aims to encourage speakers to seize opportunities with promptness. Speakers learn to provide coherent and concise content without prior preparation. It's a valuable exercise for developing spontaneous speaking skills. Something very useful in formal presentations and everyday conversations.

The topic for today's article is:

What Are Two Things You Will Say To Convince Me To Come To The 1st Toastmasters Meeting In January 2024?

The topic isn't easy. It's adding pressure to market Toastmasters as a commodity. The pressure won't allow me to be authentic. But the best tabletop speeches are the ones that have a personal touch to them.

Hence, I will take the middle path. I will start my speech with a positive reason. The positive reason will revolve around the fun aspect of public speaking. It will help me make an impactful start. An impactful start gives me the liberty to be realistic & authentic. An authentic reason will help form a stronger connection. Hence, I will use my fear associated with public speaking as the second reason.

I hope the middle path will help me to convince the audience to join Toastmasters.

My Ritual

I follow a ritual for every speech. The routine helps me to compose myself. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that things are in control.

A confident stride to the podium is the easiest way to kickstart the ritual. The next step would be to thank the table topic master and give a firm handshake. Repeating the question will buy me some thinking time.

I ensure that the podium is not standing in the way between me and the audience. It also gives me an excellent opportunity to take a deep breath and shrug off any anxiety.

I prefer not to look at my feet while thinking, and my hands should not be in my pocket. It demonstrates an anxious personality.

Speech Delivery

My speech goes as follows:

My first reason to join Toastmasters is to feel empowered. The skill of public speaking is empowering. There are no boundaries. You can be as creative as you want.

It's satisfying when people are lining up to hear from you. Public speaking is like acting in a movie produced and directed by you. You are the protagonist, the hero, and the villain. Work on your craft with integrity. Your satisfaction levels will have no boundaries. An honest delivery is untouchable. Even when speaking these words, I am getting goosebumps.

My second reason to join Toastmasters is to work on my fears. I remember when I choked in a public speaking competition at my university. The audience was very supportive and helped me complete my content. Ever since, the experience has haunted me. Toastmasters help me to overcome the fear.

Every speech in Toastmasters goes through an evaluation. The evaluation is exhaustive and has many learnings. These learnings help us to be mindful of common pitfalls. It allows us to create a ritual that builds momentum and confidence.

The reasons to join Toastmasters are endless. These two reasons should do enough to motivate you for the first meeting of 2024.

Thank you.

Conclusion

I am as spontaneous as possible when I write articles on table topics. It means I will elaborate on the first idea which comes into my head. There may be better answers than the first idea. Writing the first answer helps me to simulate a live environment.

I am writing these stories on table topics to create a collection for competitions. It is tough to think on the spot. A compilation like this sounds like an excellent way to practice. Hence, this is my way of visualizing robust and impactful content. Recording these speeches is a part of my routine. It gives me invaluable input to work and improve. THANKS FOR READING THIS PIECE. Positive feedback will help growth.

Thanks

Tarun

See below links to other articles from this series on table topics: