Toastmaster Tips

• Toastmaster Club Roles - PDF Document (thanks to Michelle W.)
• Take the Terror Out of Talking
• Making Introductions
• 10 Tips for Successful Speaking
• Club Ideas
• Distinguished Club Program

Making Introductions

Throughout your career as a Toastmaster, you will be faced with the responsibility of introducing people. While the job requires practice, once mastered, it is an extremely versatile skill and is useful in many applications throughout your professional and personal lives.

The purpose of Introductions:

1. To prepare the audience to hear the speaker. In doing so, you are gaining the audience's attention and motivating the audience to listen to the speaker.
2. To prepare the speaker to face the audience. In doing so, you are encouraging the speaker and helping to ease the comfort of speaking in front of a crowd.

To prepare the audience to hear the speaker

Let the audience know who is about to speak to them, and why they should listen. Ensure your introduction is upbeat and focused upon the speaker's credentials. Highlight the value of the presentation and answer the question in the audience's mind -- "What is in it for me?"

To prepare the speaker to face the audience

A terrific presentation will help to energize the speaker. A poor introduction will not only send the audience into questioning why they are still sitting there, but also result in the speaker questioning why she is there. A dynamic and interesting introduction leads into a dynamic and interesting presentation: a winning combination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long should an introduction be?

A: That depends!

The general rule of thumb is that the duration of the intro should be in proportion to the duration of the speaker's presentation.

3 Examples in a Toastmasters meeting:

• A 2 minute presentation (i.e. TipsMaster, Humourist, etc.) - about 20-30 seconds
• A 5-7 minute speech - about 45 seconds
• A longer manual speech - 45 seconds to 1 ½ minutes

 

Q: How does one prepare an introduction?

A: Prepare, Practice and Be Enthusiastic!

• Prepare -- Fuse the presentation topic, the audience and the speaker.
• Practice -- Be comfortable with the material.
• Be enthusiastic -- Be happy to be there. The good feelings are contagious and will help the audience and speaker feel good too!

Q: What do you say AFTER the speaker has spoken?

A. It depends!

In a regular TM meeting, your role is simply to bridge to the next part of the meeting. An evaluator is assigned. Your remarks will be centered on thanking the speaker and a quick comment about some part of the content that caught your attention.

Caution: avoid the temptation to editorialize or to add "your 2 cents worth" on the topic. You can do that when it is your turn to do a speech!

At a special TM event or at any other event, you may also be the person designated to "thank the speaker". In this case, your remarks will be similar but will typically be longer. You may also be presenting the speaker with a gift.

 

Four phrases to avoid:

"Next is a person who needs no introduction"

Everyone deserves a proper introduction.

"Without further ado"

Do not use filler words or phrases. In toastmasters we are encouraged not to use "Uhms" and "Ahs". Apply a similar practice to introductions.

"I'd like to introduce"

Similar to the question, "Is it alright if I ask you a question?"...Unnecessary and redundant. Just do your job.

"For those of you who don't know me, my name is..."

Instead of using "My name is..." try "I am...". It projects a greater sense of confidence and self-assurance to the audience. Giving purpose as to why they are listening to you.

Fourteen Introduction Tips

1. Know the speaker's name and pronunciation.
2. Know the speaker's title or position.
3. Be brief. Aim for between one and three minutes. Five minutes is too long.
4. Do not read the introduction. It is o.k. to bring notes to the lectern but keep them inconspicuous.
5. Smile and be enthusiastic in tone, gesture and choice of words.
6. Know enough about the subject to sound knowledgeable.
7. Announce the speech title as given to you by the speaker. If you have any questions about it, ask the speaker before the introduction. If the speaker is not using a title, make sure that your description matches the speaker's.
8. Introductions are no place to use slides, overheads or presentation software.
9. Anecdotes are good but should pertain to the subject and be in harmony with the mood of the presentation. Avoid using canned jokes.
10. If the credentials of the speaker are so outstanding that they must be shared with the audience or if there are publications the audience will want to know about, insert them in the program or prepare a separate commemorative handout.
11. Introduction of a panel of speakers is the same except the introducer needs to describe the structure and format of the panel (speaking order, length of time) and the various points of view and perspectives of the panelists. The introduction of the individual panelists can be done two ways: All at once or individually as the panel program progresses. Most audiences prefer a handout with the panelists' credentials so they can refer to it as the panel progresses.
12. Never use the old cliche that the speaker needs no introduction. If the introduction ties the speaker to the audience and the topic then each introduction is unique, plus there is always something new about every speaker.
13. You are the catalyst, not the performer. Do not try to upstage the speaker with your knowledge of the subject. Do not dwell on your relationship with the speaker, even though he or she is your boss, relative or significant other.
14. Identify yourself by name and title, unless this has already been earlier. Remember the speaker also needs to know who you are.

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