Join a Toastmasters Club to Improve Your Communication Skills
I have been a member of Daybreakers of Westlake for two years now and I am still amazed at how much it has helped my communication skills! When you join a Toastmasters Club you receive a book with directions on ten speeches. For most people, public speaking is very frightening. I was one of those people. However, when I joined Daybreakers of Westlake, I submersed myself in a supportive and positive environment that fueled my self-confidence and sharpened my communication skills. I recommend it highly to all!
Overview of the First Ten Toastmasters Speeches
Speech 1: The Ice Breaker — The first speech of the Toastmasters program is about introducing yourself to your peers, providing a benchmark for your current skill level, and standing and speaking without falling over. Speech 3: Get to the Point — Clearly state your speech goal, and make sure that every element of your speech focuses on that goal. Speech 5: Your Body Speaks — Shows how to complement words with posture, stance, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact.
Speech 6: Vocal Variety — Guides you to add life to your voice with variations in pitch, pace, power, and pauses.
Speech 7: Research Your Topic — Addresses the importance of backing up your arguments with evidence, and touches on the types of evidence to use.
Speech 8: Get Comfortable With Visual Aids — Examines the use of slides, transparencies, flip charts, whiteboards, or props.
Speech 9: Persuade With Power — Discusses audience analysis and the different forms of persuasion available to a speaker.
Speech 10: Inspire Your Audience — The last of ten speeches, this project challenges the speaker to draw all their skills together to deliver a powerful inspirational message.