- The Ice Breaker (4 to 6 minutes)
- To begin speaking before an audience
- To help you understand what areas require particular emphasis in your speaking development.
- To introduce yourself to your fellow club members.
- Get to the Point (5 to 7 minutes)
- was "Speak with Sincerity" - before that - "Be In Earnest"
- Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes.
- Organize the speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes.
- Ensure the beginning, body and conclusion reinforce the purposes.
- Project sincerity and conviction and control any nervousnes you may feel.
- Organize Your Speech (5 to7 minutes)
- Select an appropriate outline which allows listeners to easily follow and understand your speech.
- Make your message clear, with supporting material directly contributing to that message.
- Use appropriate transitions when moving from one idea to another.
- Create a strong opening and conclusion.
- Your Body Speaks (5 to 7 minute)
- was "Show What You Mean"
- Use stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact to express your message and achieve your speech’s purpose.
- Make your body language smooth and natural.
- Vocal Variety (5 to 7 minute)
- To explore the use of voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality as assets to your speaking.
- To Achieve a pleasing natural voice quality when speaking
- How to Say It (5 to 7 minute)
- was "Work with Words"
- Select the right words and sentence structure to communicate your ideas clearly, accurately and vividly.
- Use rhetorical devices to enhance and emphasize ideas.
- Eliminate jargon and unnecessary words. Use correct grammar.
- Research Your Topic (5 to 7 minute)
- was "Apply Your Skills"
- Collect information about your topic from numerous sources.
- Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research.
- Get Comfortable with Visual Aids (5 to 7 minute)
- was "Add Impact to your Speech" - before that - "Make It Persuasive"
- Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience.
- Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence.
- Persuade with Power (5 to 7 minute)
- was "Speak With Knowledge"
- Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint or ideas or to take some action.
- Appeal to the audience’s interests
- Use logic and emotion to support your position.
- Inspire Your Audience (5 to 7 minute)
- To inspire the audience by appealing to noble motives and challenging the audience to achieve a higher level of beliefs or achievement.
- Appeal to the audience’s needs and emotions, using stories, anecdotes and quotes to add drama.
- Straight Talk (3 minutes +/- 30 sec)
- To effectively present an opinion or viewpoint in a short time.
- To stimulate giving a presentation as part of a television broadcast.
- The Talk Show (10 minutes +/- 30 sec)
- To understand the dynamics of a television interview or "talk" show.
- To prepare for the questions that may be asked of you during a television interview program.
- To present a positive image on the television camera.
- To appear as a guest on a simulated television talk show.
- When You're the Host (10 minutes +/- 30 sec)
- To conduct a successful television interview.
- To understand the dynamics of a successful television interview or "talk" show.
- To prepare questions to ask during the interview program.
- To present a positive, confident image on the television camera.
- The Press Conference (4 to 6 minutes presentation; 8 to 10 minutes question period)
- To understand the nature of a television press conference.
- To prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial or sensitive issue.
- To employ appropriate preparation methods and strategies for communicating your organization's viewpoint.
- To present and maintain a positive image on television.
- Training On Television (5 to 7 minutes; 5 to 7 minutes video tape playback )
- To learn how to develop and present an effective training program on television.
- To receive personal feedback through the videotaping of your presentation.
- Warm Up Your Audience (5 - 7 minutes)
- Prepare a speech that opens with a humorous story
- Personalize the story
- Deliver the story smoothly and effectively
- Leave Them With A Smile (5 - 7 minutes)
- Prepare a serious speech that opens and closes with a humorous story
- Prepare a closing story that reemphasizes the speech's main point
- Deliver the stories smoothly and effectively
- Make Them Laugh (5 - 7 minutes)
- Prepare a serious speech that opens and closes with humorous stories
- Include jokes in the speech body to illustrate points or maintain audience interest
- Deliver the stories and jokes smoothly and effectively
- Keep Them Laughing (5 - 7 minutes)
- Prepare a speech that opens with a self-deprecating joke
- String together two or three related jokes in the speech body
- Close the speech with a humorous story
- The Humorous Speech (5 - 7 minutes)
- Use exaggeration to tell a humorous story
- Entertain the audience
- Effectively use body language and voice to enhance the story
- Conversing with Ease (10 to 14 minutes)
- Identify techniques to use in conversing with strangers.
- Recognize different levels of conversation
- Initiate a conversation with a stranger.
- Use open-ended questions to solicit information for further conversation.
- The Successful Negotiator (10 to 14 minutes)
- Employ win/win negotiating strategies to achieve your goals
- Enjoy the benefits of win/win negotiating.
- Diffusing Verbal Criticism (10 to 14 minutes)
- Respond non-defensively to verbal criticism.
- Employ a five-step method to identify the problem, diffuse the attack and arrive at a solution.
- The Coach (10 to 14 minutes)
- Determine reasons for someone's substandard performance
- Coach the person to improve performance.
- Asserting Yourself Effectively (10 to 14 minutes)
- Enjoy the mental and physical benefits of being assertive.
- Employing the four-step method for addressing a problem and asking for help.
- Overcome resistance to your requests
- Read A Story (8 to 10 minutes)
- To understand the elements of interpretive reading.
- To learn how to analyze a narrative and plan for effective interpretation.
- To learn and apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading.
- Interpreting Poetry (6 to 8 minutes)
- To understand the differences between poetry and prose.
- To recognize how poets use imaginary, rhythm, meter, cadence and rhyme to convey the meanings and emotions of their poetry.
- To apply vocal techniques that will aid in the effectiveness of the reading.
- The Monodrama (5 to 7 minutes)
- To understand the concept and nature of the monodrama.
- To assume the identity of a character and to portray the physical and emotional aspects of this character to an audience.
- The Play (12 to 15 minutes)
- To adapt a play for interpretive reading.
- To portray several characters in one reading, identifying them to the audience through voice changes and movement.
- The Oratorical Speech (10 to 12 minutes)
- To understand the structure of an effective speech.
- To interpret and present a famous speech.
- The Public Relations Speech (5 to 7 minutes)
- Prepare a talk that will build goodwill for your organization by supplying useful information of interest to the audience.
- Resources for Goodwill (8 to 10 minutes)
- Research the operation and benefits of an organization or company.
- Prepare a talk designed to build goodwill toward it by presenting factual information.
- Analyze the common interests of your audience and focus your presentation on those interests.
- Effectively use at least one visual aid to enhance the audience's understanding.
- The Persuasive Approach (8 to 10 minutes)
- Direct a persuasive appeal to the audience's self-interests using a combination of fact and emotion in a speech delivered in such a manner that it appears extemporaneous.
- Persuade the audience to adopt your viewpoint by the use of standard persuasive techniques.
- Speaking Under Fire (6 to 8 minutes, 8-10 min question period)
- Prepare a talk to persuade a hostile audience at least to consider your position on a controversial issue.
- Conduct a question-and-answer period on the speech subject.
- The Media Speech (8 to 10 minutes +/- 30 seconds)
- Write a speech script on behalf of a social cause.
- Using the script, present the speech to persuade a general television audience.
- The Speech to Inform (5 to 7 minutes)
- Select new and useful information for presentation to the audience.
- Organize the information for easy understandability and retention.
- Present the information in a way that will help motivate the audience to learn.
- Resources for Informing (8 to 10 minutes)
- Analyze the knowledge level of your audience regarding your chosen subject.
- Focus your presentation at the audience's level of knowledge.
- Build a supporting case for each major point through use of explanation examples, and information gathered research.
- Effectively use at least one visual aid to enhance the audience's understanding.
- The Demonstration Talk (10 to 12 minutes)
- Prepare a demonstration speech to clearly explain a process, product, or activity.
- Conduct the demonstration as part of a speech delivered without notes.
- A Fact-Finding Report (10 to 12 minutes)
- Prepare a report on a situation, event, or problem of interest to the audience.
- Deliver sufficient factual information in your report so the audience can base valid conclusions or a sound decision on it.
- The Abstract Concept (10 to 12 minutes)
- Research and organize the thought of experts on an abstract concept, theory, historical force, or social/political issue.
- Present the ideas in a clear and interesting manner.
- Mastering the Toast (2 to 3 minutes)
- Recognize the characteristics of a toast.
- Present a toast honoring an occasion or person.
- Speaking in Praise (5 to 7 minutes)
- Prepare a speech praising or honoring someone, either living or dead.
- Address five areas concerning the individual and his/her accomplishments.
- Include anecdotes illustrating points within the speech.
- The Roast (3 to 5 minutes)
- Poke fun at a particular individual in a good-natured way.
- Adapt and personalize humorous material from other sources.
- Deliver jokes and humorous stories effectively.
- Presenting an Award (3 to 4 minutes)
- Present an award with dignity and grace.
- Acknowledge the contributions of the recipient.
- Accepting an Award (5 to 7 minutes)
- Accept an award with dignity, grace and sincerity.
- Acknowledge the presenting organization.
- Speak Off The Cuff (5 to 7 minutes)
- Develop an awareness of situations in which you might be called upon to deliver an impromptu speech.
- Understand how to prepare for impromptu speaking.
- Develop skill as a speaker in the impromptu situation by using one or more patterns to approach a topic under discussion; for example, comparing a past, present, and future situation, or before and after.
- Uplift the Spirit (8 to 10 minutes)
- Identify and understand the basic differences between inspirational speeches and other kinds of speeches.
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and develop emotional rapport.
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively expresses inspirational content by moving the audience to adopt your views.
- Sell a Product (10 to 12 minutes)
- Understand the relationship of sales technique to persuasion.
- Skillfully use the four steps in a sales presentation: Attention, interest, desire, action.
- Identify and promote a unique selling proposition in a sales presentation.
- Read Out Loud (12 to 15 minutes)
- Arrive at an understanding of the elements that comprise oral interpretation and how it differs from preparing and giving a speech.
- Learn the preparation or planning techniques of effective interpretation.
- Learn the principles of presentation and develop skill in interpretive reading with regard to voice and body as instruments of communication.
- Introduce the Speaker (duration of a club meeting)
- Focus on the special occasion talk from the standpoint of the introducer (function, chairman, toastmaster, master of ceremonies).
- Become knowledgeable and skilled in the functions associated with the master of ceremonies.
- Handle the introduction of other speakers at a club meeting.
- The Briefing (8 to 10 minutes; plus 5 minutes question period)
- Apply the key steps in the preparation of a briefing and the organization of material.
- Give a briefing according to a specific objective so the audience will have an understanding of the information.
- Effectively handle a question-and-answer session following the briefing.
- The Technical Speech (8 to 10 minutes)
- Convert a technical paper or technical material and information into a technical speech.
- Organize a technical speech according to the inverted-pyramid approach.
- Write a technical speech and present it
- Manage And Motivate (10 to 12 minutes)
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational magnagement
- Apply a four step motivational method with the objectives to persuade and inspire
- The Status Report (10 to 12 minutes)
- Organize and prepare a status report involving the overall condition of a plan or program
- Construct the report according to a four step pattern
- Give an effective presentation of the report
- Confrontation: The Adversary Relationship (5 minutes speech ; plus 10 minutes question period)
- Understand the definition and nature of the adversary relationship
- Prepare for an adversary confrontation on a controversial issue
- The Folk Tale (7 to 9 minutes)
- To tell a folk tale that is entertaining and enjoyable for a specific age group
- To use vivid imagery and voice to enhance the tale.
- Let's Get Personal (6 to 8 minutes)
- To learn the elements of a good story.
- To create and tell an original story based on a personal experience
- The Moral of the Story (4 to 6 minutes)
- To understand that a story can be entertaining yet display moral values.
- To create a new story that offers a lesson or moral.
- To tell a story using skills developed in the previous two projects.
- The Touching Story (5 to 7 minutes)
- To understand the techniques available to arouse emotion
- To become skilled in arousing emotions while telling a story.
- Bringing History to Life (7 to 9 minutes)
- To understand the purpose of stories about historical events or people.
- To use the storytelling skills developed in the preceding projects to tell a story about a historical event or person.
- The Technical Briefing (8 to 10 minutes)
- Using a systematic approach, organize technical material into a concise presentation, tailoring to the audience's needs, interests and knowledge levels.
- The Proposal (8 to 10 minutes; 3 to 5 minutes question period)
- Prepare a technical presentation advocating a product, service, idea, or course of action.
- To present your viewpoint logically and convincingly, using an inverted-pyramid approach. To effectively handle a question-and-answer period.
- The Nontechnical Audience (10 to 12 minutes)
- Understand the principles of communicating complex information to nontechnical listeners, using overhead transparencies to illustrate your message.
- Answer audience questions that arise during the presentation.
- Presenting a Technical Paper (10 to 12 minutes)
- Deliver an interesting speech based on a technical paper or article.
- Effectively use a flipchart, overhead projector or slides to illustrate your message.
- The Team Technical Presentation (20 to 30 minutes)
- Understand the nature and process of a team technical presentation.
- Conceptualize a briefing or proposal involving three or more speakers, including yourself.
- Assemble a team of club members capable of getting the job done.
- Orchestrate the planning, preparation and delivery of a team technical presentation.
- The Seminar Solution (20 to 30 minutes)
- Present an introductory short talk or brief lecture describing a theory, model or information about a topic that will be discussed by a group following the presentation.
- Organize the information so that it is easy to understand and can be remembered.
- Orient the group to think about the specific goal of the discussion
- Use a buzz session discussion technique to promote group participation in deriving information leading to a solution to the problem.
- The Round Robin (20 to 30 minutes)
- Establish the meaning of a question with a discussion group.
- Using a problem solving pattern, lead the participants in a brainstorming session.
- Screen the possible solutions and lead the group in deciding what action to take.
- Pilot a Panel (30 to 40 minutes)
- Select a problem for panel discussion. Select not less than three members in advance to speak on the panel.
- Define the common goals and the purpose of the panel.
- Acting as moderator, monitor the panel discussion to inform the audience.
- Make Believe (Role Playing) (20 to 30 minutes)
- Understand what role-playing is and how to use it effectively in group communication.
- Select a problem involving human relations in which you may use the role-playing method to illustrate and explore the problem.
- Create a plot and characters relevant to the discussion problem and select a cast from among the group members.
- The Workshop Leader (30 to 40 minutes)
- Building group unity, guide the workshop participants in an investigative discussion of the problem.
- Follow a problem solving pattern to arrive at a solution.
- Bring the group to an agreement before the discussion ends.
- The Entertaining Speech (5 to 7 minutes)
- Entertain the audience through use of humor and/or drama drawn from your personal experience.
- Organize an entertaining speech for maximum audience impact.
- Resources for Entertainment (5 to 7 minutes; old: 8 to 10 minutes)
- Draw humorous and/or dramatic material from sources other than your own personal experience.
- Adapt your material to suit your topic, your own personality and the audience.
- Use entertaining material as means of conveying a serious message.
- Make Them Laugh (5 to 7 minutes; old: 8 to 10 minutes)
- Prepare a humorous speech drawn from your own experience.
- Strengthen the speech by adapting and personalizing humorous material from outside sources.
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humor effective
- A Dramatic Talk (5 to 7 minutes; old: 10 to 12 minutes)
- Develop an entertaining dramatic talk about an experience or incident, or give a dramatic reading.
- Include vivid imagery, characters and dialogue.
- Deliver the talk in an interpretative manner.
- Speaking After Dinner (8 to 10 minutes; old: 13 to 15 minutes)
- Prepare an entertaining after-dinner talk on a specific theme.
- Deliver the talk extemporaneously, using the skills developed in the preceding entertainment projects.
- The Winning Attitude (8 - 10 minutes)
- Understand the importance of a selling attitude that puts customer's interests ahead of your own
- Learn to translate product features into "people" benefits
- Utilize the five-step structural sequence for building a sales presentations
- Prepare and deliver a sales presentation that focuses on meeting audience needs
- Closing The Sale (10 - 12 minutes)
- Understand the importance of closing in successful selling
- Master several closing techniques applicable to various products and sales situations
- Prepare and deliver a sales presentation incorporating one or more closing techniques
- Effectively handle audience questions and / or objections
- Training The Sales Force (Speech 6 - 8 minutes Roll Play 8 - 10 minutes Final Discussion 2 - 5 minutes
- Understand the role of a sales trainer in helping salespeople to function successfully
- Select a specific aspect of selling and prepare an educational and / or motivational presentation
- Present an interesting, interactive sales training speech and conduct a role play to enable the audience to practice asles techniques
- The Sales Meeting (15 - 20 minutes)
- Learn to coordinate an effective sales meeting
- The Team Sales Presentation (15 to 20 minutes plus 5 - 7 minutes per person for manual credit)
- Understand the nature and process of a team sales presentation
- Develop a concept and plan for a sales presentation involving three or more speakers
- Assemble a teem who can work together effectively
- Coordinate the planning, and delivery of a teem sales presentation
- The Keynote Address (15 to 20 minutes)
- Identify the basic differences between keynote speeches and other kinds of speeches.
- Learn how to evaluate audience feeling and establish emotional rapport.
- Learn and use the professional techniques necessary for a successful keynote presentation.
- Develop a speech style and delivery that effectively inspires and moves the audience to adopt your views as a collective reaffirmation of its own.
- Speaking to Entertain (15 to 20 minutes)
- Entertain the audience through the use of humour drawn from personal experience and from other material that your have personalized.
- Deliver the speech in a way that makes the humour effective.
- Establish personal rapport with your audience for maximum impact.
- The Sales Training Speech (15 to 20 minutes)
- Tell a sales audience how to sell a product by using a planned presentation.
- Inform a sales training audience about the human experience of the buyer-seller relationship.
- Use entertaining stories and dynamic examples of sales situations.
- Inspire salespeople to want to succeed in selling.
- The Professional Seminar (20 to 40 minutes)
- Plan and present a seminar with specific learning objectives.
- Relate to the audience by using a seminar presentation style.
- Use seminar presentation techniques to promote group participation, learning and personal growth.
- The Motivational Speech (15 to 20 minutes)
- Understand the concept and nature of motivational speaking.
- Apply a four-step motivational method with the purpose of persuading and inspiring.
- Deliver a motivational speech to persuade an audience to emotionally commit to an action.
- The Effective Salesperson (8 to 12 minutes = 3-4 min speech, short scenario intro, 3-5min role play)
- Learn a technique for selling an inexpensive product in a retail store.
- Recognize a buyer's thought processes in making a purchase.
- Elicit information from a prospective buyer through questions.
- Match the buyer's situation with the most appropriate product.
- Conquering the "Cold Call" (10 to 14 minutes = 3-4 min speech, short scenario intro, 5-7 min role play, 2-3 min discussion)
- Learn a technique for "cold call" selling of expensive product or services.
- Recognize the risks buyers assume in purchasing.
- Use questions to help the buyer discover problems with his or her current situation.
- Successfully handle buyer's objections and concerns.
- The Winning Proposal (5 to 7 minutes)
- Prepare a proposal advocating an idea or course of action.
- Organize the proposal using the six-step method provided.
- Addressing the Opposition (7 to 9 minutes speech; 2-3 minutes Q&A)
- Prepare a talk on a controversial subject that persuades an audience to accept or at least consider your viewpoint.
- Construct the speech to appeal to the audience's logic and emotions.
- The Persuasive Leader (6 to 8 minutes)
- Communicate your vision and mission to an audience.
- Convince your audience to work toward achieving your vision and mission.
- Listening and Leadership
Listening is an important leadership skill. Good listening helps you to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflict and be creative. Listening skills also play a major role in team-building. You can learn to be a leader by following a few simple suggestions.
- Determine your current listening skills
- Identify the seven steps to better listening
- Practice listening skills in various club meeting roles
- Critical Thinking
A leader gathers information, then analyzes, interprets and understands it before acting. Critical thinkers question what they read and hear, then determine the quality of a piece of information and use logical reasoning to reach conclusions. Critical thinkers make better decisions. You can learn to think more critically by following a few suggestions.
- Determine your current thinking skills
- Practice critical thinking skills in various club meeting roles
- Giving Feedback
Team members need to know that they are doing well, what they are not doing well and how they can improve. Giving performance feedback is a necessary leadership function. When done properly, feedback can relieve stress, improve interpersonal relationships and promote trust and respect for leaders and team members.
- Determine your current skills in giving feedback
- Identify the steps in giving feedback effectively
- Practice giving feedback as you serve in various club meeting roles
- Time Management
Time management helps leaders make the most of the time available to them. You can budget your time and accomplish projects and tasks efficiently by identifying long-term and short-term goals, make a daily to-do list, prioritize the list, make a schedule, delegate when possible, leave time for unexpected tasks, and manage interruptions.
- Determine your current time management skills
- Identify the steps to effectively manage time
- Practice time management skills in various club roles
- Planning and Implementation
A plan provides direction for the leader and the team. The planning process involves setting goals and objectives and preparing plans and schedules to accomplish them. The process forces leaders to look beyond their everyday activities and think about what they want to happen in the future. Involving team members in the process will encourage their committment.
- Determine your current planning and implementation skills
- Identify steps in planning and implementation process
- Practice planning and implementation skills in various club roles
- Organizing and Delegating
Leaders must ensure the team is organized and capable of accomplishing goals and objectives, and they must provide the structure in which the team will operate. Delegation also plays a major role. A leaders should accomplish functions that only he or she has the knowledge and authority to do and delegate all other tasks to team members.
- Determine your current skills in organizing and delegating
- Identify steps in the organizing and delegating process
- Practice skills in organizing and delegating during various club roles
- Developing Your Facilitation Skills
A facilitator establishes the structure of the team needs to function effectively, ensures the structure is working and removes obstacles that may be impeding progress. A facilitator also resolves conflicts which are inevitable any time two or more people are required to work together. Good facilitation skills can help the group reach a resolution.
- Determine your current facilitation abilities
- Identify facilitation strategies
- Practice facilitation skills in various meeting roles
- Motivating People
A motivated team can overcome obstacles of all types to achieve its goals. A leader creates and maintains an environment where team members are likely to become motivated. Leaders find out what motivates team members, then develops reward systems that match what team members value. They also look for ways to reward team members for doing the right things.
- Determine your current motivational skills
- Identify conditions that motivate people
- Practice motivational skills while serving in club roles
- Mentoring
A mentor recognizes an individual who has less experience and cultivates that person's potential and talents and helps him or her succeed. Leaders are also mentors. You can be a mentor by offering someone opportunities for skill development, helping the person recognize areas needing work, providing helpful advice, being a role model, and encouraging the person to think for himself or herself.
- Determine your current mentoring skills
- Identify the steps in being a good mentor
- Practice mentoring skills in various club roles
- Team Building
Teams offer great benefits. Team members have a variety of knowledge and skills, which results in more creativity and greater productivity. When a good team is in place, a leader has more time to devote to leadership issues. Team members must be carefully chosen and trained and encouraged to openly discuss issues with you and among themselves.
- Determine your current motivational skills
- Identify steps in building a team
- Practice team-building skills while serving in various club roles
