Page 17 - Voices! - September 2015

In order to achieve the objectives for your audience,
this rationale is essential. If they don’t or can’t connect
to you and your speech, you simply cannot fulfill your
objectives for them.
Add support resources
We have all heard the expression a picture paints a thousand words. AtToastmasters we are communicating,
not just talking to our audience. Adding support resources to your speech is an essential step to bring the
written word to life. Can you paint verbal pictures, show images, use props to deliver your message to your
audience in a way that captures their full attention, captivates their imagination and even tugs on their heart
strings? Look for quotes from well-known people, search for images that capture the essence of your words,
find short videos or make one of your own. Our primary focus in Toastmasters is the spoken word, but you are
not limited to this by any means. Bringing visual aids into prepared speeches will elevate your presentations
to higher levels, something we all strive to achieve. If you use MS PowerPoint or some other slide show
tool, substitute words for images, resist the temptation to use distracting animations, focus on your speech
objectives and ask yourself, “Will this resource add or detract from my message?”
Evaluation
If there’s one thing Toastmasters know about, it’s speech evaluations. The prepared speech process doesn’t
end with the initial delivery. In fact, the initial delivery is just the end of the beginning of a speech. It is no
longer safely locked away in your notebook; it’s a fledgling speech out there in the open for the world to
hear and critique. As Darren Lacroix (2001 World Champion Public Speaker) says, “Every speech you write is
a world class speech, perhaps not at first, but it has the potential to become one with proper evaluation and
fine tuning.
If your main goal of participating in Toastmasters is to become a stronger/better public speaker, I urge you not
to race through the speech manuals but treat every speech you deliver as an opportunity to grow and learn.
Take each speech to its highest level of delivery you can achieve. No matter what your starting point, you
know you can do better. Before you move on to the next project, ask yourself, has this speech been given a fair
shot at being the best it could be? Have I delivered it at the highest level I can achieve? We have no shortage of
opportunities to speak in our clubs, yet it is rare to hear a speaker re-deliver a speech that has been evaluated
and refined.
I hope you find Ken’s SCORRE™ framework useful as you plan future speeches. This framework allows me to
bring tremendous focus to my speech writing and allows me to progress through the creative process more
effectively and efficiently. I encourage you to give it a try next time you sit down to craft a speech.
Originally from Tullamore, Ireland, Ciarán has been a member of A-dec Toastmasters for 2 years. Ciarán was the
Table Topics winner at last year’s district 7 competition and has a passion for public speaking and coaching
others to achieve their speaking goals. He can be contacted at ciaran.hynes@a-dec.com.

Volume 2 Issue 3 - SEPT 2015 17