From Lyn Roseaman, DTM
For me, there are four game-changing speech projects in the Toastmasters Competent Communication (CC) manual. They are CC5 your body speaks, CC6 vocal variety, CC9 persuade with power and CC10 Inspire your audience. I see them as game changing because each one challenges us out of our comfort zone.
We may not have previously considered other skills, such as how to structure a speech, identifying the purpose, using enriching language, visual aids, researching the topic, but it is unlikely that any of us has any difficulty putting them into action. In contrast. CC5 and 6 are more difficult, even uncomfortable.
I remember my CC5 and 6. I felt awkward, a bit embarrassed. I thought people might laugh at me and think I was silly. Then my evaluators told me how my body language and vocal variety had strengthened my speech, how and why what I did was effective in reinforcing my words, creating interest and engagement. They encouraged me to go even further. You use body language and vocal variety in your everyday speech, so there’s no reason to abandon it when you’re in front of an audience. Modify it, almost certainly, but abandon it? Definitely not.
CC9 and 10 are game changers in bringing together all the learnings from the previous eight speeches, while simultaneously showing us why we really speak – to persuade and convince and/or to pass on life lessons so that others are inspired to make changes in their own life. To achieve these lofty purposes, we need all the elements of public speaking to be working effectively to connect with our audience and speak with clarity and conviction.
Picture your tenth speech. The inspirational speech. The final project in the CC manual. We all want it to be a wonderful experience, but I would suggest you can’t do it alone.
You need a mentor who really understands what is an inspirational speech. And, in my experience, without that support, the chances of nailing the project are low. I wonder how many Competent Communicators could explain the difference between a persuasive and an inspirational speech. (I know we’re on the verge of Pathways, but I’d be surprised if those two types of speech aren’t in there somewhere.)
The distinction is important. It’s also important that speakers don’t feel disappointed on what should be a milestone achievement. By the same token, they need to understand the difference between the persuasive and the inspirational and be able to deliver both effectively.
This is my plea to all Toastmasters club committees. Please look after your members and make sure they are properly supported (on all their speeches), but especially on the four game changers. Here are some approaches you might want to think about:
- When your VPE confirms a speech request, consider sending a note to the speaker and their mentor reminding them to get in touch. If the speaker doesn’t have a mentor, it’s never too late!
- Invite the speech evaluator to contact the mentor and the speaker about their goals for the speech
- A VP Mentoring is a vital step. It’s a wonderfully rewarding role as you see your fellow members blossom, partly because of your own efforts connecting mentors and mentees
- Hold periodic ‘educationals’ about your club’s mentoring programme
- Consider a standing agenda item, allocating two minutes to mentoring in which a mentor and a mentee (not necessarily a pair) each give one minute on their experience of mentoring.
And I’m sure you can think of many more which I hope you’ll share here, on The London Speaker.
