Some people find speaking off the cuff easy. Others dread it.
Our table topics portion of our weekly meeting gives us the opportunity to learn to think on our feet. After ten years of being in Toastmasters, I’ll still benefit from the practice!
With table topics we are expected to speak at least for 60, long seconds and no more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds. (1-2 minutes with a 30 second grace period on the end.) Our club also requires participants to use the word of the day, provided by the grammarian, to be used in order to qualify to be voted on for best table topic that day.
As a participant, here are a few tips that can help us think on our feet better:
PRELOAD – before you arrive at a meeting find out what the theme is and give it some thought. What thoughts or experiences do you have that relate to the theme? Also, has anything exciting or significant happened in the last day or week? Come prepared to spin the question onto that subject.
PLUNGE – we are always tempted to immediately get up answer the question. Instead, stay in your seat for five seconds and take a deep breath. Then repeat the question out loud. This allows us to start formulating an answer, buying us more time to think. Also consider rephrasing the question in your own words or analyzing the question out loud, giving yourself even more time to think before plunging into an answer.
POINTS – consider using these structural options in formulating a response: ‘there are several things I’d like to say about that’; first of all, secondly, and lastly; contrast (this answer vs that answer); plus/minus; spin the question onto something of importance to you; tell a story; etc. Remember, we don’t have to have the entire answer thought out before we start with ‘firstly’.
PUNCH – consider ending with something powerful like a summary, quote, humor, challenge, and more dynamics using voice and body.
As the Table Topics Master:
1. Choose questions that relate directly with the theme of the meeting.
2. Come with at least five questions prepared.
3. Use your time to ask questions and not grand stand (talk about your own ideas).
4. Always defer and look to the Toastmaster regarding whether you should continue to ask questions or not. Speeches can take up more or less time than allowed for and the Toastmaster may need to cut Table topics short or elongate them. Normally they run from 7:40 to 7:55. Avoid going past 7:55 to allow for the evaluation stage of the meeting.
5. Remind participants to use the word of the day.
6. Explain table topics if any guests are present for the first time.
7. Do not ever call on guests (non-Toastmasters) to participate in table topics. This is a privilege of membership and can be very intimidating to guests.
8. Be creative. Sometimes I’ve had people draw an object out of a bag and talk about it.
We have a new member orientation coming up on October 15th. If you haven’t attended an orientation, it is a chance to have a quick 15-20mn overview of the Toastmaster experience in Park City. We meet right after the club meeting. We offer one of these every month, in case you miss this one.
