Do you have members who consistently deliver high quality speeches?
I got the chance to talk with Erik Budlong, a member of Somerville Toastmasters since 2018. Erik has made it an annual habit to compete in Club contests, and his First Place ribbon allowed him to advance to Area and Division levels, once as a contestant for a Humorous Speech contest and twice for International.
Erik told me, “The caliber of speeches improves with each round of competition. As individuals, the more exposure we get to great speaking, the more we learn. And when you bring it all back to your Club, you inspire others.”
Bingo.
Of course, right? Chances are good that high quality speeches motivate fellow Toastmasters to pony up, so to speak, and challenge themselves to improve in some aspect, whether in content or delivery.
By observing closely, we can learn from those who are experienced and well-practiced. They can serve as key role models for us. Perhaps meaningful gestures were eye-catching. Maybe the use of subtle humor made the speech memorable. Or was it a simple turn of phrase that had you hooked?
Watch that skillful speaker deliver that speech a second time. Did that natural-looking movement as he crossed the stage happen again? Now you know: It was deliberate.
Try it out! Visit Clubs with high quality speakers. (It’s fun!) Compete in contests. Learn from your competitors. Incorporate your learnings into your prepared speeches, and watch your fellow Toastmasters raise the quality of your Club’s speeches as a whole.
A rising tide lifts all boats. — John F. Kennedy