Title: Toastmasters Competitive Speaking Workshop
1Toastmasters Competitive Speaking Workshop
- Dilip R. Abayasekara, DTM, AS
- International President, 2005/06
- Toastmasters International
2Why Compete?
- Share benefits youve received
- The rewards beyond the benefits!
3Competitive Speaking Enables
- Accelerating speaking mastery
- Compressing learning time frames
- Explosive growth of self-confidence
- Absorbing success principles
- Expanding influence
- Developing character
- Spiritual illumination
4A Four-Step Winning Philosophy
- 1. Dont compete, create!
- 2. Strive for higher ground with every speech.
(Let this be my finest speech). - 3. Its not about you (ego) be a channel for
greatness. - 4. Help audience become co-creators of message
5The Four Standard TI Contests
- International Speech
- Humorous Speech
- Table Topics
- Evaluation
6FUN-da-MENTALS!
- Embrace learning at club
- Mine manual speeches
- Value evaluations
- Continuously improve in PET
- Create hold a vision
- Have fun!
7The TI Purpose for Speech Contests
- Provide an opportunity for
- Speakers to improve their speaking abilities
- Recognizing the best as encouragement for all
- Learning by observing proficient speakers.
8Begin with the Basics
- Rules of the contest
- Understand the judging form
- Embrace winning philosophy
- Master fundamentals - topics/structure/delivery
9Rules of Eligibility
- International Speech Contest
- 1. Member in good standing of a club in good
standing. - 2. Completed at least 6 manual projects of CC
manual. (Exception Charter member of Club
chartered after July 1st.) - 3. Maintain eligibility at all levels of any
contest.
10International Speech Contest
- Contest process
- - Club, Area, Division, District (Speech 1)
- - Inter-District or Regional (Speech 2)
- - World Championship of Public Speaking
- (speech 3)
- - Qualifying judges
11Secrets of the Judging Form
- Attempt at objectivity
- The form
- The judges
- Objective/Subjective tension
- Whats not on the form
- The influence of audience response
12Content (50 of Points)
- Speech Development (20 points)
- Effectiveness (15 points)
- Speech Value (15 points)
13Speech Development
- Structure
- Organization
- Support Material
14The Natural Sequence of Speech Preparation
- Select Topic
- Identify General Purpose
- Write specific purpose
- Brainstorm 1st, Research 2nd.
- 5. Write Central Idea
- 6. Write Body
- 7. Write Introduction
- 8. Write Conclusion
- 9. Create Title
15Select Topic
- The topic is the starting point of your
preparation. - The topic should mesh with
- Audiences expectations and desires
- Your expertise/knowledge
- Requirements of project
16Identify General Purpose
- Gives broad objective of speech in the form of an
infinitive. - To inform
- To persuade
- To entertain
- To inspire
17Write Specific Purpose
- Precise goal expressed in one sentence, from
Audiences point of view - As a result of hearing my speech, members of my
audience will ____________________________________
__________________.
18Examples of Specific Purpose Statements
- As a result of hearing my speech, members of my
audience will - be inspired to look beyond obstacles to find
opportunities. - be persuaded to take responsibility for taking
care of their environment. - be challenged to reach higher, work harder, and
dream bigger.
19Write Central Idea
- The central theme of your message
- The essence of your presentation
- Your message in a nutshell
- Express in one sentence or phrase
20Examples of Central Ideas
- An essential element of speaking with confidence
is to focus on your audience and message not on
yourself. - Success in life is like success in the stock
market youve got to think beyond short-term
gains and play it for the long run. - The greatness of your life springs from the
greatness of your thoughts.
21Keep Focused on Central Idea
- Edward Everett to Abraham Lincoln about the
Gettysburg Address - I should be glad if I could flatter myself if I
came as near the Central Idea of the occasion in
two hours as you did in two minutes.
22The Body
- First Main Point
- Statement of fact
- Supporting material
- Second Main Point
- Statement of fact
- Supporting material
- Third Main Point
- Statement of fact
- Supporting material
23Support Material
- Stories
- Humour
- Statistics
- Facts
24Why Humor?
- Enjoyment
- Change in pace
- Memorable
- More fun for the speaker
- Lowers resistance!
25Working Humor into Your Speeches
- Fill in blank
- You dont have to use humor unless you want to
_____!
26Where Do You Find Material for Humor?
- Try the mirror!
- Life
- Family
- Work
- Anywhere people gather
- Publications
- Internet
- Other speakers
27Weaving in Stories Humor
- Power of stories
- One common problem Whats the point?!!
- PSP Formula
- Point
- Story
- Point
28PSP in Action
29Fit the Humor into the Point
- Potato Farmer hard times rob banks caught
prison wife sends note replies dont dig the
field hid money wife sends note bunch of
deputy sheriffs dug up field plant the
potatoes! - Q (1) What kind of point/s can this story
illustrate? - (2) How would you weave it into your speech?
30Fit the Humor (Cont.)
- 2. Mountain climber loses grip falls grabs
small plant on mountainside hanging on God,
please help me! silence then, Let Go my
son. -- Is that really you God? Let go, my
son! Is there anyone else out there? - Point/s?
- How to weave into speech?
31ART of Opening
- Capture Attention
- Create Relevance
- Lead into Topic
- ----------------------------
- Preview Content
32The Speech Opening
- Why is opening important ?
- Unless a speaker can interest his audience at
once, his effort will be a failure. - - Clarence Darrow
- General Guidelines
- 5-10 of speech length
- Prepare after preparing body of speech
- Know it cold to deliver with max. eye contact
33The Key to a Great Opening
- Get audiences
- Mental i_________
- Imaginative p___________
34Ideas for Openings
- Intriguing question
- Challenging statement
- Problem Description Opener
- Short illustration or story
- A visual aid
35Intriguing Questions
- Principles
- Mental i____________
- Imaginative p____________
- Lead into topic
36Intriguing Question Examples
- Are you secretly afraid of ?
- What do you think is the most effective way to ?
- How many times have you said to yourself ?
- When was the last time you ?
- What would you say if I promised that ?
- Has this ever happened to you ?
- If you knew you could never fail, what would you
...? - Do you remember the first time you ever ?
37The Challenging Statement
- Principles
- Surprise
- Create curiosity
- Sense of challenge
- Mental I__________
38Challenge Examples
- Good morning! In the next few minutes I will
show you why nervousness can be a speakers best
friend. - If you are not happy in life, you have sowed the
seeds of that unhappiness.
39Problem Description Opener
- One of the most powerful attention-grabbing
openers - Principle Solidarity Solution
- 1. Describe attendees important problems/needs.
- 2. Tell attendees that youll show them how to
solve those problems.
40Example
- All of us in this room want the same thing to
be able to speak so well that listeners hang on
to our every word and we achieve our speaking
goals. But have you ever wondered why you cant
seem to really connect with listeners? Are you
tired of sounding like a robot when you really
want to engage your audience? Does it seem like
someone else always has more fun and gets the
standing ovations? The good news is there is a
way to achieve your goals! In the next hour you
will discover powerful principles that will help
you reach your hearts desire in public speaking!
41Four Other Opening Techniques
- Short story (Dilip A. 1992)
- Action (Craig Valentine 1999)
- Visuals (Morgan McArthur 1993)
- Unwrapping (Morgan McArthur 1993)
42The Conclusion
- Great is the art of the beginning, but greater
- is the art of ending
- - Longfellow
- How would you rate your speech endings on a
scale of 1-10? - Strengths?
- Challenges?
43Two Major Functions of Conclusions
- Let the listeners sense you are ending the speech
- Reinforce the listeners understanding of, or
commitment to the central idea
44Signaling the End
- Loop back to the beginning
- Begin to summarize (informing)
- Begin a call to action (persuading")
- Restate central idea
- Manner of delivery and changes in vocality
- Tone, pacing, intonation, rhythm
- Crescendo
- Dissolve
45Crescendo Ending
- Closing of Ive Been to the Mountain top
speech - by Martin Luther King
46Dissolve Ending
- In my dreams I hear again the crash of guns, the
rattle of musketry, the strange, mournful mutter
of the battlefield. But in the evening of my
memory always I come back to West Point. Always
there echoes and re-echoes Duty, Honor, Country. -
- Today marks my final roll call with you. But I
want you to know that when I cross the river, my
last conscious thoughts will be of the Corps, and
the Corps, and the Corps. - I bid you farewell.
- - General Douglas McArthur,
- Farewell address to Cadets at West Point
47Closing
- Purpose? Inform, Educate, Persuade, Inspire,
Entertain, Challenge - Integrate entire presentation toward desired end
result
48Choosing a Winning Title
- Some approaches
- Keep it short
- Fit the central idea
- Fit the specific purpose
- Make it intriguing
- Promise a Benefit
- Use key words from body of speech
49Organizational Secrets of the Lion King
- All that we need to know, we will find within
ourselves or modeled in nature. - The King of Beasts models the organization for a
speech!
50Organizational Secrets (Cont.)
- Head Introduction
- Spine/Backbone Central Idea (one)
- Body Body of Talk
- Main Bones Main Points
- Cartilage Tendons Connectives
- Feet Supporting Data
- Flesh, Skin, Mane Emotional Connection
- Tail - Conclusion
51Effectiveness
- Achievement of Purpose
- Interest
- Reception
52Effective Communication
- My listeners must understand what Im saying and
feel what Im feeling. - Understand Clarity (left brain)
- Feel Emotion arousing word pictures (right
brain) - Master the above two and you will achieve your
purpose!
53Audience Receptiveness
- Ten Things People Want
- 1. Understand be understood
- 2. Significant topic
- 3. Relevant message
- 4. Inspiration
54People Want
- 5. Entertainment
- 8. Connectedness Community
- 7. Respect Caring
- 8. Security Freedom
- 9. Authenticity
- 10. Engagement
55Audience Engaging Techniques
- Create relevance
- Ask questions
- Ask for response
- Create climate for response
- Call for action
- Stories
- Humor
56Speak to the Whole Person
- Ear
- Imagination
- Heart
- Mind
- Funny Bone
- Tear ducts
- Muscles
57Speech Value
- Ideas Original Thought
- New Eyes, personal stories, insights,
- Logic
- Clarity, transitions, organization, development
58Speech Value as Audience Sees it
- Relevance WIIFM
- Originality Interest
- Significance Meaningful
- Engagement Involvement
59What Judging Form Doesnt State
- Originality (New Twist)
- New eyes New way of understanding old truth
- New way of presenting old truth
- Relevance
- WIIFM
- My story must have a You message!
60Delivery (30 of points)
- Physical (10 points)
- Voice (10 points)
- Manner (10 points)
61Circle of Excellence
62Physical
63Appearance
- Easiest points to win!
- Be aware of judges expectations
- -level to level
- Men little things shoes socks jacket/buttons
- Women pitfalls of too many choices
- jewelry heels colours appropriateness
- Rule of Thumb If in doubt, dont.
64High Impact Delivery
- Mehrabian
- Verbal
- Vocal
- Visual
- The most important thing in communication is to
hear what isnt being said. - -- Peter F. Drucker
65Congruency
- My life is an indivisible whole and all my
attitudes run into one another and they all have
their rise in their insatiable love for mankind. - -Mahatma Gandhi
66Body Language The Six Most Expressive Tools
- EYE CONTACT
- - One person _at_ a time
- (2) POSTURE
- Erect but not stiff
- (Beauty Queen wall exercise)
- (3) FACE
- - No Poker, please!
- - Feel the words
- - In sync w/ message
- (4) HANDS
- - As paint brush to
- artist
- - Enhance message,
- dont compete!
- - Let hang by side
- (Continued)
67Body Language (Cont.)
- (5) Movement
- - Dimension of energy
- - Purposeful
- - Graceful
- - Complete
-
- (6) Appearance
- - Appropriate
- - Helping or Hurting?
- - Outer expression of
- inner image
68Space ManagementThe Forgotten Dimension
- Space Management How well do you use the
speaking area? - Advanced preparation
- Realities of WCPS (script, videotaping)
- Identify trouble spots
- Use the whole space
- Use space markers
69Connecting with the Audience
- Want more for them than you want for yourself.
- Wayne Dyer
- Them Audience
70Creating Vivid Images/Feelings
- Figures of Speech
- Creating Rhythm
- Antithesis
- Using stories and humor to make a point
71Types of Figures of Speech
- Simile
- Metaphor
- Analogy
- Personification
- (Hyperbole, Irony, metonymy, apostrophe,
synecdoche)
721. Simile
- Expresses a resemblance between things of
different kinds, usually formed with like or
as. - E.g., When I first saw her, my heart fluttered
like a butterflys wings.
73One Figure of Speech is Worth a 1000 Words!
- He liked to observe emotions they were like red
lanterns strung along the dark unknown of
anothers personality, making vulnerable points. -
- - Ayn Rand
74Try Your Hand at Similes
- Winning a speech contest is like
_____________________________. - __________________ is like childbirth.
- For just as the _______ is the ________
- of the ________ _________, so is the home, the
cradle of the citizen of the world.
752. Metaphor
- A first concept is described as being or
precisely equal to second concept which it is
not. - Example He is the sun, she is the moon he
shines for her and her days are spent orbiting
around his needs.
763. Analogy
- Extended metaphor
- An inference that if things agree in some
respect, they probably agree in others. - E.g., Lincolns opening line of the Gettysburg
Address.
77Analogy Example
- The winds of ethnic mistrust and suspicion blew
through Colombo winds that threatened to drive
the sands of suffocation and death against the
windows and walls of our communities. If we
dont change, we will lose the way of brotherhood
and suppress the drawing power of the spirit of
love and service.
784. Personification
- Inanimate objects are spoken of as if they were
persons, as if they had life. - E.g., As the coffin was lowered to the grave on
that overcast day, the tears of heaven fell down
and mingled with my own, as all creation groaned
at the loss of one so loved.
79Creating Rhythm
- Rhythm, properly created, creates a powerful
drawing power to the message. - Rhyme
- Repetition
- Alliteration
80Rhyme
- Ending sounds of words or phrases or sentences
are similar. - Example songs, rhyming poems
- Caution use sparingly otherwise entertainment
aspect might surpass value of message!
81Rhyme - Examples
- Fondly do we hope,
- Fervently do we pray,
- That this mighty scourge of war
- Will speedily pass away.
- - Abraham Lincoln, Second Inaugural
82Repetition
- Key words or a phrase, or a short sentence are
repeated , at intervals. - Can create an almost hypnotic connection.
- See MLK, Jr. One hundred years later
- Lance Miller (Cha-ching, 2005)
83Alliteration
- The initial sounds of a word, beginning either
with a consonant or a vowel, are repeated in
close succession. - Examples
- to care, to create, to connect. (Dilip, 1992)
- She was beautiful, brave, and brash.
- Veni, vidi, vici. (Julius Caesar)
84Try Your Hand at Creating Rhythm
- How could you have used rhyme, repetition, and
alliteration to create rhythm in certain passages
of a speech youve given?
85Antithesis
- Using words that are direct opposites to each
other. - This brings about a creative tension in the
sentence and sharply outlines the point you want
to make.
86Antithesis (Examples)
- ask not what your _______ can do for you, but
what __ can do for your country. - Winning a speech contest is not so much a matter
of competition as it is a matter of creation.
Dont compete, create. Improve inside, in order
to shine outside. Focus on giving a gift to
your audience, not claiming a prize from the
judges.
87Voice
- Judging Form States
- Flexibility
- Volume
- Judges are Looking for
- Vocal quality
- Vocal variety
- Vocal projection
- Articulation/enunciation
88Your Voice!
- Breath from diaphragm
- Avoid glottal catch
- Speak at natural pitch
- Float your voice on a bed of air (2-finger
exercise) - Join a choir/ Sing in shower/ Read aloud
- Dont abuse your voice
89Vocal Variety
- Great tools for self-improvement
- Tape player or digital voice recorder
- Poems, childrens stories, speeches, etc.
- Play back, evaluate, re-do, play back, etc.
90What Not to Swallow Before Contest
- Anything that will leave a coat of granules on
vocal folds/cords - E.g., crumbly cookies, some cereals, chips, etc.
- Caffeinated drinks
- A heavy meal
91Before contest speech
- Warm up vocal cords
- Hydrate vocal cords
- Dont shout
- Dont whisper
- Dont tire voice
92Manner
- Directness
- Assurance
- Enthusiasm
93Presence/Command
- Mental Ownership
- Deeply Rooted Confidence
- Unswerving Focus
- Knowing
- Sense of High Calling
94Enthusiasm/Passion/Authenticity
- Enthusiasm - connective energy
- - expression of passion
- Passion - window to authenticity
- Authenticity - no façade real self
-
95Language (20 of Points)
- Appropriateness (10 points)
- Correctness (10 points)
96Appropriate Language
- Fit for occasion and audience
- Nothing in bad taste
- Language, stories, and humour to which audience
can relate - No cultural mismatches
97Correctness of Language
- Grammar
- Pronunciation
- Word Selection
98Pronunciation
- Clarity is more important than accent
- Diphthongs
- Word Stress
- Special letter sounds
- Intonation
99Diphthongs
- The coming together of two vowel sounds in a
single word. - E.g., Rope ohooo ou Not Rop
100Diphthongs (Cont.)
- Try these
- Motor
- Baby
- Cow
- Potato
- Pew
- Without diphthongs, American ear may hear
- Motar
- Bebe
- Cou
- Poteto
- Piw (or pev)
101Word Stress
- Stressing certain syllables of words
- Stressing certain words of sentences
- Biology Zoology
- Desert Dessert
- Evaluate Evaluation
102Sounds
- Three Troublesome Consonant Sounds
- V, W, R
103Intonation
- Rise and fall in pitch
- Standard patterns
- Question
- Boredom
- Surprise
- Delight
- Sadness, etc.
- Non-standard patterns will obscure meaning.
104Resources for Pronunciation
- www.drdilip.com (free articles)
- www.pronunciationworkshop.com
- www.pronunciationresources.com
- www.accentworks.com
- www.soundsofenglish.org
- www.americanaccent.com
- A Pronouncing Dictionary of American English by
P. Roach et al. - English Pronouncing Dictionary by D. Jones
105Table Topics Contest
106The Frozen Mind An Inaccessible Treasure Chest!
107The Most Powerful Opener of the Minds Treasure
Chest
108Truths
- Your communication begins before you
- _______________ your _____________.
- How I view ___________ and _______
- ____________ will _______________
- affect my ____________________.
109Multi-sensory Imagery
- The most powerful force you possess is
- your ____________________!
- If you _____________ an ____________ intensely
enough and long enough, it will become real in
your life. - ________________ is the gateway to your
subconscious mind.
110A Six-Step Method for Impromptu Speaking
- Listen
- Focus on the question
- Take your timedont rush
- If possible, choose a central idea
- If not, begin to speak free associate
- then pick central idea
- 5. Develop body of speech
- 6. Conclude strongly
111Strategy for Table Topics Contest
- Mental Conditioning
- Command/Presence
- Loosey Goosey
- Connection with audience
- Irrelevance of speaking order
- Complete speech Opening, Body, Close
- Use of time
112Evaluation Contest
- Excelling at
- Listening, Thinking, Speaking
113Evaluation Winners
- Sit in strategic position
- Listen carefully
- Follow a system for note taking
- Have a caring attitude
- Harp on the positive
- Show how to improve
- Suggest, dont command
- Give encouraging summation
114A Template for Oral Evals.
- See Dilips system (handout).
115Mock Evaluation Contest
116Discussion
117Keys to Winning Speech Contests
118Its All About the Listeners
- Audience Analysis
- Local to Global
- Club to WCPS
- Consult
- Research (Dana Lamon 1992)
- Content that is
- Relevant
- Significant
- Engaging
119Translating Audience Analysis
- Topics relevance
- Topics significance
- Stories
- Examples
- Cultural connotations
- Gestures
- Word choice
- Choice of clothing
120Continuous Improvement
- Communication works for those who work at it.
- -- John Powell
- Sources for Improvement
- TM Club/manual speeches
- Conferences/Seminars
- Speaking outside club
- Books/CDs/DVDs/Tapes
- Coaching
- Observing/studying speech contests
121People Who Win Usually
122The Source of True Fun!
- Loving what you do
- Continuously improving
- Caring for the audience
- Giving value
- Gratitude for the privilege of the platform
123Two Departing Gifts
- You become what you think about
- - Earl Nightingale
- 2. What you think about expands.
- - Wayne Dyer
-