Table Topics Ideas: Link #1 | Link #2
Suggestions
for the Table Topics Master
This
role will give you the opportunity to practice performing as a facilitator. You will also gain valuable practice in the
art of lectern etiquette.
The
Table Topics portion of a Toastmasters meeting is certainly, shall we say, a
unique opportunity! It provides members
the forum to practice speaking off-the-cuff for 1-2 minutes about a subject
that they have no prior warning about. Although sometimes intimidating, Table Topics
offers an extremely important component of growth for us as presenters. After
all, we are frequently called to present our views extemporaneously while in
business or social situations. Table Topics allows us to master this skill to
use it when it really counts.
Here are some proven tips for making your Table
Topics sessions memorable, fun, and supportive.
Before the Meeting:
·
Create 6 or more questions that are short and
answerable. Table Topics is designed to allow members to formulate a speech
on-the-spot. This is not a “stump the
speaker” exercise - don’t make them so challenging that the person cannot
produce comments.
·
If your meeting has a theme of the day, construct your
topics to stay within that theme.
·
Decide how to present your questions. Be creative. If the Table Topics Master at the previous
meeting read topics individually, have members "pick a number" or
draw their topic from a hat or a bag. If
members stood at their seats last week to deliver their topics, ask that each
member come to the front of the room this week. If the members volunteered last week, you
choose who will speak (of course, give them a chance to decline).
At the
Meeting:
·
When the Toastmaster calls on you, approach the lectern
and shake the Toastmaster’s hand. You
are now in control of the meeting.
·
Explain the purpose of Table Topics and the rules in
your own words.
o
The purpose is to practice speaking on our feet, with a
goal to be clear and concise.
o
The speaker has 30 seconds to formulate his/her
thoughts, and 1-2 minutes to give the presentation. The green light will come on at one minute (when
the speaker has reached the minimum speaking time), the orange light will come
on at 1.5 minutes – giving the speaker 30 seconds to wrap up his/her
presentation before the red light will come on at the 2 minute mark.
o
The speaker is encouraged to answer the question, but
since the real purpose is to become comfortable speaking to an audience, the
speaker can steer the presentation to a topic about which he/she is more
comfortable.
·
Remember that you are
facilitating an important part of the meeting where the objective is for others
to benefit. This is not the time for you
to give lengthy introductions or make a speech yourself.
·
If your Table Topic requires a
person to approach the lectern, stay at the lectern until the person arrives,
shake their hand and be seated nearby. When
the person concludes, lead the applause while approaching the lectern to shake
their hand and release them to their seat.
·
Conclude Table Topics and return
the lectern to the Toastmaster 15 minutes before the end of the meeting.