Why do most Toastmasters and Professional Speakers fall flat when giving their speech?
Connection, connection, connection.
For people that are competing in Toastmasters or other competitions, if you don’t connect then you don’t win. This was made clear to me when competing in an Area speech contest many months ago. I lost because I did not connect with the audience.
So Chris, how does one connect with an audience?
I’m glad you asked.
First, what you don’t do is….Don’t start your speech, “Mr. Toastmaster, fellow Toastmasters, and guests. Thank you for having me come up here to speak tonight….zzzzz”
BORING!
Instead, jump into a story or ask a question. Anyway you do it, you need to somehow make the audience want to listen to you.
One of the formulas I use to connect with the audience is: 1. Lead them to forming a question in their minds 2. Answer the question in a humorous way and 3. Tell a personal story that really answers the question.
In a speech I am working on for the “Get Coached to Speak” workshop next week, it works like this:
1. I recite an extremely brief e-mail that gives me negatively life changing news. Then I jump forward in time and briefly recite the text of a document that contradicts the e-mail. The audience is left wondering, “WAIT A SECOND, but from what the e-mail said a moment ago, there is no way that this other thing could have happened? What is going on?”
2. Then I take a line from the second document and answer the audience’s question in a humorous manner.
NOTE: To give the audience time to digest what I just said, I now say, “Mr. Toastmaster”
3. Now I set the stage for the story that answers the questions that the audience has.
The steps I gave above is just one of many ways that you can connect with your audience. To learn how to better use this connection technique, and many more, I suggest picking up one of the speaker packs from the World Champions Resources. I have learned more about connection from applying the techniques in those CDs then I have learned in all three of my years as a Toastmaster.
How do you connect with your audience?
About the Author: My Toastmasters Blog is written Chris Elliott. Chris serves as a leader for supply chain and international non-profit organizations. He enjoys uses his knowledge and experiences during his speaking engagements, workshops, consulting projects, and one-on-one coaching sessions. The result—connecting people and empowering change. If you would like information on how you can bring Chris to speak to your club or organization, please click here.
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