What I learned from my first flop (speech) at Toastmasters :
I then, approached a speech as... literally driving on ice :
> learning the text by heart word for word
> intense repetitions to ensure a flawless delivery
> a tension built exercice
> a solitary performance
> an "almost religious" duty to perfection
The result was as said : " Driving on ice " (without the Scotch) 🙂
- progressing slowly
- forgetting to relate to the audience
- lots of energy burnt
- approaching the end of the speech like an exercise in childbirth
-- Even if acclaimed, the whole thing was arduous and terribly exhausting.
Months after, in a quite different experience...
📌 What I learned from my first successful speech at Toastmasters : 🎯
> First, relating to the audience is essential
> Knowing the speech well doesn't mean memorizing every single sentence,
but the link from one section to the next, only
> Keeping an eye on the audience and jumping at the occasion to re-connect
> Memorizing the main flow and key expressions to let room for natural
expression, pauses and slight improvisation, without stress !
> Managing a strong ending,
a keystone for overall success 🎉 💯
📌 In conclusion :
✅ - Keep the structure of the speech simple and natural
✅ - Find some keywords & fun expressions
✅ - and.. don't forget the audience
--> If you are still unsure how to apply the same mechanics for a business speech ... DM me.
