Speaking Elevated

Author: Samuel Santana

  • Write Your Speech Introduction Last for Creativity

    Write Your Speech Introduction Last for Creativity

    This might sound insane to you but its better to write your introduction at the end of writing your speech. Writing your introduction first makes you take longer in writing your speech.

    If you followed my guide for writing an outline, then you’ll already know the direction your speech’s story will flow towards. As you adapt the outline into written paragraphs, more parts of your speech is uncovered. As you write these paragraphs you’ll write new arguments that weren’t in your outline. Each newly added idea or removed will change your speech’s story bit by bit.

    By the time you finish writing your body, you’ll realize you’ll need to change your introduction. As you write more you’ll realize it always happens. Leave writing your introduction till the end of the process. It’ll make you a faster and more creative writer.

  • The Best Way to Start Writing a Speech

    The Best Way to Start Writing a Speech

    Feeling stuck when you write papers. I know how it feels. When I was in school I disliked writing speeches. It felt like I stared at my paper for an eternity to write something down on my paper. IAs deadlines drew closer, I had no choice but to write sentences down. As years passed I found the best way to start wasn’t to write paragraphs down. It was to make a bulleted list of ideas and to make an outline.

    Why Outline?

    Making an outline lays out all your points on your topic. By writing your points out for a speech that is 10 minutes or under, you’ll find you often have more than enough points for your timespan. Instead of struggling to find content to fill in the time, you’ll be removing points so you don’t go overtime. That’s the problem you want.

    Brainstorming points

    For your outline the first thing you need to do is list out all your points for your topic. Don’t worry about introduction and conclusion, that’s always the step. In my speech for cooking Burgers, I created the following list:

    • Meat Selection
    • Meat Preparation
    • Cooking Times
    • Best Cheese
    • Bun Selection
    • Smashburgers vs traditional
    • Burger Toppings
    • Gas vs Charcoal
    • Burger Sides

    That is a lot of points! 9 to be exact. Each point can take 1-3 minutes easily depending how much depth I write to each point.

    Find your story

    Now that we have so many points its time to weave a story from them. Some stories I can write are:

    • Focusing on Smashburgers vs Tradtional Burgers
    • How to cook a burger
    • Why Smashburgers are better
    • How to cook an amazing smashburger
    • How to cook the perfect burger
    • Better Ingredients, Better Burgers
    • Different topping combinations create new burger experiences
    • The best cheeses for burgers

    Now that’s a lot of directions I can take my speeches. Some are slight alterations of each other. Some stories only focus on one point. By choosing your story you will need to remove and add more points.

    For this speech a PowerPoint presentation will be needed, I will aim for a 6-8 minute presentation, and I will choose the story: How to cook an Amazing Smashburger.

    Write an outline for the story

    Now that we know what direction we want our story to be we can modify the outline for our new direction.

    • Why Smashburgers are better
    • Ingredient choices
    • Cheese Selection
    • Meat Selection
    • Cooking the burger

    That looks good but seeing how we have 6-8 minutes for this presentation, lets move cheese, under ingredient selection . We can also start adding subpoints to each point.

    • Why Smashburgers are better
      • Easier
      • Better taste with Maillard Effect
    • Meat Selection
      • 80/20 Meat
      • .25 – .3 oz optimal patty size
    • Additional Ingredients
      • Brioche Bun
      • American Cheese
      • Your choice of additional toppings
    • Cooking the burger
      • Smash and Seasion
      • flip after 90 seconds, add cheese
      • wait 30 seconds and remove

    And just like that we have a body outline for our speech. At this point the superpower of an outline is shown. You can easily rearrange, add or remove points. It may possibly need some subpoints shortened or removed, but I think the outline looks doable for a 6-8 minute speech.

    Your next steps

    Now that we have our outline for the body, the paragraphs will be practically writing themselves. You’ll know what to talk about and what direction you’re heading. When the body is done it’ll be easy to write a introductory and conclusion as well.

    Outline you’re content first and stalling will be a thing of the past. Watch as your ideas pour onto your paper.

  • A beginner’s framework for evaluation

    A beginner’s framework for evaluation

    If you’re not used to giving feedback, it can be quite difficult to know how to give it. You want others to get better but how can we give constructive negative feedback with out making them feel bad? The answer is easier than it seems. Give both positive and negative feedback with the CRC framework.

    Commend, Recommend, and Commend. By opening and closing on positive comments you are able to leave people in a positive mindset. You acknowledge their efforts and skills. To make it more effective, you need to give it with the right energy, like a motivational coach or teacher.

    In the recommendation phase, you pick out a weakness you want to see the person improve upon. Whenever I make recommendations, I like to share if I have or others have struggled with that weakness. If the recommendation is something I struggle with too, I’ll share that detail. I want the person I’m evaluating to know that their struggle is a common. I want the person to not only know but feel that I have faith they can get better. I can sell this because I’m convinced if anyone works on their weaknesses and strengths I know they’ll get better.

  • How I gained my confidence and you can too

    How I gained my confidence and you can too

    Before I first joined Toastmasters I never thought I’d be a public speaker. I had a knack for putting presentations and assembling content in college, but I’d always be nervous when I presented. I needed to gain confidence.

    So I tried watching communication videos, and reading tips online. It was ineffective. I needed a safe place to practice. I could try at home, but it wasn’t the same. That’s when I stumbled across Toastmasters. “Learn how to become a confident speaker” the advertising said.

    I made it a visit to the club and knew it was exactly what I needed. I knew I wasn’t ready for a speech or to lead the meeting as Toastmaster. I knew I had to start small. Of course I can give a joke and a motivational quote. So I did it. Of course I can be a Ah-Counter, and a grammarian. I did those roles too. Each time I experienced a role, I believed I could do the next role. This continued until I completed all roles in a Toastmasters meeting.

    No matter which role I did there were always mishaps. Missing the count of the word of the day. Using the wrong title to call someone. Forgetting parts of my speech as a speaker. Making those mistakes was embarrassing and painful, That pain emphasized the problems I had to work through. And I kept coming back to practice.

    With practice I make less mistakes. My speeches and presentation is better than its ever been. I’ve been in Toastmasters for two years now, and I thought by now I wouldn’t be nervous when I speak. I still am nervous but the difference is I have confidence in myself.

    I’ve been in rough spots and learned to push through it. Forget a part of my speech? Keep on talking as if it you aren’t missing anything. Forget the word of the day. I’ll admit its my fault. Someone reminds me I skipped a role responsibility. I thank them and perform it. From experience I know that when I make a mistake, I can depend on myself to pull myself through.

    If you want to transform your speaking skills, get that experience. Push yourself. Keep on speaking.

  • Be a showman for your roles

    Be a showman for your roles

    Whenever we’ve done a role dozens of time, our enthusiasm drops. Maybe our enthusiasm came from the stress of a new role. Maybe it was new and exciting. Now when we perform the role, our energy is more dull. It becomes noticeable in our performance. Our lack of energy becomes contagious to the rest of the meeting.

    Penn and Teller are two magicians who have perform both new and old tricks for decades. Even when performing a trick they’ve performed for decades, they’ll still pull you to the edge of your seat.

    Part of their mastery of the trick is their communication. Penn’s choice of words, and energy. Teller may not speak but he is able to communicate with his body. They’ve learned how to display the energy they need through practice.

    Whenever you communicate in a meeting, with friends or with family what’s the energy you give out. Where you have lost that enthusiasm find it again. Practice over and over again to get it to appear. The energy you have will flow through your body, voice, eyes and reach your words. Be the showman who pulls in their audience.

  • Choosing your Pathway Cheat Sheet

    Choosing your Pathway Cheat Sheet

    Having paralysis analysis on choosing a pathway? You’ve arrived to the right page!

    All six pathways share the same projects aside from their three unique projects. If you want to choose a pathway, then choose the pathway based on the unique three projects it has. See below for the unique projects each pathway has.

    Pathways Projects

    Dynamic Leadership

    • Negotiate the Best Outcome
    • Manage Change
    • Lead in any Situation

    Engaging Humor

    • Engage your Audience with Humor
    • The Power of Humor in a Impromtu Speech
    • Deliver Your Message with Humor

    Motivational Strategies

    • Understanding Emotional Intelligence
    • Motivate Others
    • Team Building

    Persuasive Influence

    • Understanding Conflict Resolution
    • Leading in Difficult Situations
    • High Performance Leadership

    Presentation Mastery

    • Persuasive Speaking
    • Managing a Difficult Audience
    • Prepare to Speak Professionally

    Visionary Communication

    • Develop a Communication Plan
    • Communicate Change
    • Develop Your Vision
  • Pathways Level 1: Your Introduction To Toastmasters Speeches

    Pathways Level 1: Your Introduction To Toastmasters Speeches

    If you’re ready to give a speech you’re ready for Pathways Level 1. Level 1 of Pathways is all about the fundamentals of giving a speech and getting better in Toastmasters. Here are the projects designed to introduce you to speeches:

    • Ice Breaker
    • Writing a Speech with Purpose
    • Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language
    • Evaluation and Feedback

    The Ice Breaker

    An Ice Breaker is the perfect speech for a new member. Why struggle figuring out what to talk about, when you can just talk about yourself. Giving an icebreaker speech will transition you into the club, while other members get an idea of who you are

    The fundamentals

    Now that you got your feet wet, you can start learning about fundamentals.

    With Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language you’ll become aware about how these make an impact to making a great speech. By becoming aware you get to learn to practice and incorporate these skills in your speeches and presentations.

    With Evaluation and Feedback, you’ll learn how Toastmasters help each other improve. Its already a given that feedback will assist you in approving your skills. But can you deal with harsh feedback when its meant to help you.

    In Toastmasters you don’t only receive feedback but learn to give it to. You learn how to become the person that applauds accomplishment and encourages growth. Just like Master Miyagi in the Karate Kid. Except preferably clearer.

    Repeat again for every Pathway

    If you ever repeat a pathway, you’ll always return to level 1. Why? Because Level 1 serves not only to teach but remind you of the fundamentals. No matter what you’re level is you will need to rely on them.

    To engage in people with well organized purposeful content. To bring your audience into your presentation your audience with your voice and body. To not only know how to learn, but to teach others as well.

    This is what it means to be a Toastmaster.

  • How Toastmasters improves your business life

    How Toastmasters improves your business life

    Communication is one the most important skills you. Advantages are given to the person who can communicate better. Hard work is important too, but it won’t matter if you convince others how valuable you or your work is.

    Appearance over performance

    Alan is an outstanding programmer who’s been with the company for 8 years, He not only finishes his tasks, but finishes it with easy to use menu interfaces. Alan presents his works through an email with a list of features.

    Marcus is an average programmer who can make incredible presentations with or without a slide show. He is able to elevate the appearance of his work’s impact by how he presents it. Marcus not only sends emails, but has a way with words to show how impactful his features are. Marcus will take it a step further and arrange meetings to present his software so more people in the company will be convinced by his impact in the company.

    Between Marcus and Alan, the one who will more likely get the higher position in the company is Marcus. Even if Alan is better than Marcus, managers will see the opposite due to his communication skills.

    The one with both work and communication experience will be better suited for managerial and executive positions.

    Toastmasters is your playground

    At Toastmasters you have an opportunity to practice and improve. You direct and lead when you’re in charge of leading the pledge. You can report gracefully when you’re a timer or grammarian. Learn to give others feedback that will motivate them as evaluator. Bring everyone together as Toastmaster.

    Know that whichever role you have whether in Toastmasters or business, you can be more impactful by how you communicate.

  • You have more potential than you know

    You have more potential than you know

    There was a sweet warm hearted woman who quit my Toastmaster’s club. She loved the members there, and the members loved her back. Perhaps we failed her because she felt we didn’t do enough to help her.

    Jane was a very talented speaker. Whenever she talked she had a bit of warmness. Depending on the table topic, she can draw you in with her choice of words and the emotion she put into it. Even though she was talented, she didn’t know it.

    Jane always was nervous about speaking. Rarely I could pick up a bit on a slightly nervous tone, but she would finish off strongly. She came to Toastmaster’s about facing her fear of public speaking. She was very active, and came frequently. I didn’t know she felt like she wasn’t growing until she quit.

    Jane had signed up for a big role. Jane had been around long enough that I was sure she would handle it fine. She received our club’s guide to the role the day before of the meeting. Jane notified us she wouldn’t make it to the meeting and didn’t show up again.

    The board contacted her if she was alright. This was when she explained that she felt as if we weren’t able to provide her the support she needed. We given her all the material she needed to perform the role. Yet what she was missing was confidence.

    Jane had a potential she wasn’t aware of. If she had performed, she would’ve been able to gauge her level. She has embarrassed herself before in front of the other members, but in Toastmasters we want our members to grow.

    I’ve seen many people like Jane come in. They can speak better than they realize, but they need to develop confidence. After this experience, I hope I can inspire confidence in others so they can see the potential they have. This blog is dedicated helping support those like Jane or I who needed help, when we didn’t know who to ask. If you lack confidence, I hope you can learn about it, and find people in your club to lean on.

  • Facing your fear of public speaking

    Facing your fear of public speaking

    The heart pounds fast. The body become stiff. You are in the front of the room, giving your first speech. Its a struggle standing there, saying your lines. Its overwhelming because you may look like a fool. At this moment you are faced with your fear of public speaking.

    Many new Toastmasters go through this experience. Its such a challenge that they join to overcome their fear of public speaking. Its common, but why do so many people have this fear?

    Why do we fear public speaking?

    People don’t want to be judged negatively. When a person comes up and speak for the first time, he’s worried he’ll be seen as inadequate. He’s worried he may not have the skills to to look confident through the speech.

    People know they shouldn’t care what others think, yet they still get nervous. They are afraid of being judged by themselves. They don’t want to speak. They don’t want to be in front of everyone, only to underperform. Its hard to accept being an incompetent speaker. To be such a beginner. But in order to get better we need to accept our current level to get better.

    Overcoming this fear

    There is no easy way to overcome fear. If you try to understand it alone, it doesn’t cure your fear. You need to condition yourself with the the mindset that you’ll be okay no matter what the outcome is. That you can improve. The best way to overcome the fear of public speaking is by doing it.

    Knowing this will not make it easier. But as you give more speeches you will slowly accept any judgement you receive. You will learn to become a better speaker. You will see your improvement. When you realize your learning potential, your public speaking level will matter less.

    Conclusion

    You forget a part of your speech? You skip and maybe bring it back later. You start to forget a line? You bring a notecard next time. As obstacles arrive, you learn to solve them. This is what experience provides you. An opportunity to look back and see your improvement. An opportunity to look back and see that you were always ok.