Speaker Role Description

The meeting revolves around you and your fellow scheduled Speakers. You will progress through a series of speeches on basic skills, leadership and advanced communication. For most speaking assignments, you will have between four to six or between five and seven minutes to give your speech.

Prerequisites

None (for the Ice Breaker [CLP Speech No. 1]).

Before the Meeting

• Check the meeting schedule to confirm when you are scheduled to speak.
   
• Provide the Toastmaster with a draft introduction for him or her to use to introduce you. This should also include at least one sentence about your speech. Newer club members may wish to include such information as when they joined CATM, how many speeches and roles they have delivered or performed, the name of their alma mater, their academic concentrations or degrees, their professional duties, where they grew up, where they live now, etc.
   
• Read about your scheduled speech in your Toastmasters manual and gather additional input from club leaders.
   
• Prepare and rehearse your talk to ensure quality—poor preparation is a waste of everyone’s time.
   
• Contact your Speaker Evaluator to discuss the goals of your speech and to point out areas where you feel you need the most help.
   
• If you plan to use notes, be sure to use large fonts and lots of line spacing, and practice handling your papers in a way that does not draw audience attention. If you need additional guidance, ask another member for pointers.

Upon Arrival at the Meeting

• Make sure you have all the materials and equipment you will need for your talk.
   
• Sit near the podium or lectern so that you have easy access.
   
• Make sure your Speaker Evaluator has your manual before the meeting starts.

During the Meeting

• Don't start your speech off as a narrative of your preparation. This is so commonly done by beginners that it is a sure way to lose a sophisticated audience. It is also usually a sign that the speaker "crammed" and is not sufficiently prepared.
   
• Pay attention to other Speakers. Don’t study your own speech during the time before your turn.
   
• Shake the hand of the Toastmaster before taking the podium or lectern. Acknowledge the Toastmaster and the audience before you begin—it’s a good way to calm your nerves before starting.
   
• Don't thank the audience after you conclude your speech. Step back from the podium or lectern and wait for the Toastmaster to return. Shake hands and then return to your seat.
   
• Listen to the evaluation for helpful hints that can be used in future speeches.
   
• Get your signed and dated evaluation form back from your Speaker Evaluator. You'll need this in the future to get your Competent Toastmaster (CTM) certificate.