10 Tips to the Top!

by Mary Carol Holbert, ACS, Public Relations Officer

Mary Carol Holbert

Are you now, or have you ever been, a Speech Contestant?

If so, congratulate yourself for entering a Speech Contest Win or lose, by choosing to compete, you put yourself in a position to grow, which is why we all joined Toastmasters in the first place.

Anytime we participate in a Toastmasters Speech Contest (as a speaker, a functionary, or a member of the audience), we put ourselves in a position to learn something new. Contestants have a unique opportunity to develop their speaking skills, simply by the act of competing. As Lance Miller, 2005 World Champion of Public Speaking recently told Toastmasters from District 84. “I learned far more from the speech contests I lost than from those I won.”

While the World Champion made an excellent point, who wouldn't love to win? How do you prepare for a Speech Contest, to ensure you have the best possible chance of victory?

10 Tips to the Top:

1. Be clear about your subject matter . Make sure you can summarize the point of your speech in 10 words or less. If you are not clear about what you want to say, your audience has little chance of receiving, understanding, or remembering your intended message. Be sure you know what you want your audience to take away from your speech. How do you want them to think, feel, or act differently as a result of your message to them?
2. Speak from the heart. If you talk about something that you care about, that touches your heart, you are more likely to touch others. Be authentic. Dare to let people see who you are, and what matters to you.
3. Incorporate stories into your speech, to illustrate the points you wish to make. As humans, we respond to stories, and tend to remember them far longer than we remember facts or data. Use your own stories, to separate yourself from everyone else. Anyone can use a story from the internet, or from books like the “Chicken Soup” series. Don't be like everyone else; be unique. Tell your own stories, and stand out from the crowd.
4. Dress the part. Look as good as you can. Appearances influence opinions, for better or worse. Be sure you look your best when you compete. Clothes, hair, personal grooming… they all matter. Avoid giving any judge a reason to deduct points for something you can control.
5. Be vigilant about the 5-7 minute time allotment. When you rehearse, be sure to allow time for audience response. Test your speech in front of people, and note where they respond. Be sure you build sufficient time into your speech footprint in those places. The last thing you want is to deliver a speech the audience and judges love, only to be disqualified for time.
6. If at all possible, video your speech, so you can see your performance. Watching yourself speak is one of the best ways to pinpoint areas where you can improve. Video is a proven technique to fast-tracking your speaking skills development.
7. Arrive at the speaking venue early. If possible, rehearse your speech on the stage where you will perform it for the contest. Get familiar with your surroundings, so the environment will not intimidate or throw you. Test the microphone thoroughly , preferably wearing the clothes you will be wearing for the speech contest, or something similar. (Think about how the microphone will be attached to your clothing. If you have special movements or gestures in your speech, be sure to test them with the microphone in place.)
8. Use the stage wisely. Move with purpose on the stage. Make important points from positions of strength. Proper use of your stage can enhance your speech, while random movement may be distracting or detrimental.
9. Practice! Practice! Practice! Nothing takes the place of rehearsal. Don't let someone else beat you because you weren't as well prepared as you could have been.
10. Do Your Best. When asked for advice to give Speech Contestants during our March 17th District Executive Committee meeting, Dennis Wooldrige repeated advice he had once been given.  

 “Do your best,” he said. What simple, yet sound advice! If you do your best , then there can be no reason to regret anything concerning your performance. In the end, if you ‘do your best', you will have grown from your experience. That growth is the reason behind Toastmasters Speech Contests; indeed, growth is the central goal of all Toastmasters' programs.

If you ‘do your best', congratulate yourself again, because you will have earned it.

Win or lose, well done!