The first manual in the educational program is appropriately entitled 'Basic Communication and Leadership' program, in that it serves as the basis for all subsequent more advanced speech projects.

The manual contains 10 speech projects, each having a specific objective in teaching you valuable speaking techniques. The assignments should be taken in sequence since each project builds on the skills you will have learned in the preceding assignment.

There is no particular time table by which you should complete all projects. Most members use a 2-year time frame as a realistic goal. However, you should progress at a pace that you feel comfortable with and one that allows you to attend to all the other time demands in your business and/ or personal life.

At the end of the program you will receive the 'CTM' award, designating you as a 'Competent Toastmaster'.

Basic Communication and Leadership Manual
(225)
1
 The Ice Breaker 4-6 min
2
 Organize Your Speech 5-7 min
3
 Get to the Point 5-7 min
4
 How to Say It 5-7 min
5
 Your Body Speaks 5-7 min
6
 Vocal Variety 5-7 min
7
 Research Your Topic 5-7 min
8
 Get Comfortable with Visual Aids 5-7 min
9
 Persuade With Power 5-7 min
10
 Inspire Your Audience 8-10 min

Refer to the section below for a brief overview of each speaking assignment, its objective and the time allotment:

 

Q: What Can I Do to Overcome Nervousness?
A: Talk about something you are very familiar with.

  

The Ice Breaker

 Objectives
- To begin speaking before an audience
- To discover speaking skills you already have and skills that need some attention
Project 1 4-6 min

Summary
For your first speech project you will introduce yourself to your fellow club members and give them some information about your background, interests and ambitions. Practice giving your speech to friends or family members, and strive to make eye contact with your audience. You may use notes during your speech if you wish.

For details, refer to Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.


Q: How Can I Ensure that my Audience Will Follow What I Have to Say?
A: Organize your speech in an easy-to-follow logical manner

 

Organize Your Speech

 Objectives
- 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
Project 2 5-7 min

Summary
Good speech organization is essential if your audience is to follow and understand you presentation. You must take the time to put your ideas together in an orderly manner. You can organize your speech in several different ways. Choose the outline that best suits your topic. The opening should catch the audience's attention, the body must support the idea you want to convey, and the conclusion should reinforce your ideas and be memorable. Transition between thoughts should be smooth.

For details, refer to Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.

Q: Is The Message I Am Trying to Convey Clear?
A: If you want your audience to take specific action, make sure this point is not overshadowed by too much verbiage or too many facts 		 

Get To The Point

 Objectives
- Select a speech topic and determine its general and specific purposes.
- Organize the speech in a manner that best achieves those purposes
- Ensure that the beginning, body and conclusion reinforce the purpose.
- Project sincerity and conviction and control any nervousness that you may feel.
- Strive not to use notes
Project 3 5-7 min

Summary
Every speech must have a general and a specific purpose. The general purpose is to inform, to persuade, to entertain or to inspire. A specific purpose is what you want your audience to do after listening to your speech. Once you have established your general and specific purpose, you'll find it easy to organize your speech. You will also have more confidence which makes you more convincing, enthusiastic and sincere. The better organized the speech is, the more likely it is to achieve you purpose.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.


Q: Am I Guilty of Rambling On or Using Unnecessary Verbiage or Cliches?
A: Your message will be better received and retained when you use descriptive words and refrain from 'fillers' that add nothing.

  

How To Say It

 Objectives
- 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
Project 4 5-7 min

Summary
Words are powerful. They convey your message and influence the audience and its perception of you. Word choice and arrangement need just as much attention as speech organization and purpose. Select clear, accurate, descriptive and short words that best communicate your ideas and arrange them effectively and correctly. Every word should add value, meaning and punch to the speech.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.

Q: Am I In Tune With the Message I am Portraying?
A: It is well known that only 10% of communication is verbal. Gestures, facial expressions and eye contact have a greater impact. 		 

Your Body Speaks

 Objectives
- 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
Project 5 5-7 min

Summary
Body language is an important part of speaking because it enhances your message and gives you more credibility. It also helps release any nervousness you may feel. Stance, movement, gestures, facial expressions and eye contact help communicate your message and achieve your speech's purpose.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.


Q: How Can I Keep My Audience's Attention?
A: In addition to all the previously mentioned techniques, practice using emphasis,change in volume, speed, pitch, in fact anything to avoid monotone.

 

Vocal Variety

 Objectives
- Use voice volume, pitch, rate and quality to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message.
- Use pauses to to enhance your message
- Use vocal variety smoothly and naturally
Project 6 5-7 min

Summary
Your voice has a major effect on your audience. A lively, exiting voice attracts and keeps listeners' attention. A speaking voice should be pleasant, natural, forceful, expressive and easily heard. Use volume, pitch, rate and quality as well as appropriate pauses to reflect and add meaning and interest to your message. Your voice should reflect the thoughts you are presenting.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.

Q: How Can I Be More Convincing?
A: Using supportive facts, testimonials, examples, etc. particularly if derived from credible authorities carry a lot of weight. 		 

Research Your Topic

 Objectives
- Collect information about your topic from numerous sources
- Carefully support your points and opinions with specific facts, examples and illustrations gathered through research.
Project 7 5-7 min

Summary
Your speech will be more effective if you can support your main points with statistics, testimony, stories, anecdotes, examples, visual aids and researched facts. You can find this material on the internet, at a library and in other places. Use information collected from numerous sources and carefully support points with specific facts, examples and illustrations, rather than with just your own opinions.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.

Q: What Can I Use to Give More Impact to My Talk?
A: Any aid that enhances your message or demonstrates what you are conveying is appropriate		  

Get Comfortable with
Visual Aids

 Objectives
- Select visual aids that are appropriate for your message and the audience
- Use visual aids correctly with ease and confidence.
Project 8 5-7 min

Summary
Visual aids help an audience understand and remember what they heard. They are a valuable tool for speakers. The most popular visual aids are computer-based visuals, overhead transparencies, flip charts, whiteboards and props. The type of visual aid you choose depends on several factors including the information you wish to display and the size of the audience. Visuals must be appropriate for your message and audience, and be displayed correctly with ease and confidence.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.

Q: How Can I Effectively Convince My Audience?
A: Appeal to the audience's interests and/ or emotions		  

Persuade With Power

 Objectives
- Persuade listeners to adopt your viewpoint, ideas, or take some action
- Appeal to the audience's interests.
- Use logic and emotion to support your position.
- Avoid using notes
Project 9 5-7 min

Summary
The ability to persuade people - getting them to understand, accept, and act upon your ideas - is a valuable skill. Your listeners will more likely be persuaded if they perceive you as credible, if you use logic and emotion in your appeal, if you carefully structure your speech and if you appeal to their interests. Avoid using notes because they may cause listeners to doubt your sincerity, knowledge and conviction.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.


Q: How Can I Make My Speech Inspiring?
A: Appeal to the audience's needs and emotion and use drama in portraying stories or quotations

  

Inspire Your Audience

 Objectives
- 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
-Avoid using notes
Project 10 8-10 min

Summary

An inspirational speech motivates the audience to improve personally, emotionally,professionally, or spiritually and relies heavily on on emotional appeal. It brings the audience together in a mood of fellowship and shared desire, builds the audience's enthusiasm and then proposes a change or plan and appeals to the audience to adopt this change or plan.

For details, refer Toastmasters Basic Communication and Leadership manual.
 
Last Updated: February 24, 2005
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