Successful Speechcraft Tips. - "What the manual does not tell you"

The speechcraft manual suggests you hold your speechcraft during regular meetings.  The following recomendations are based on a speechcraft course held as a dedicated event of its own.  Here are some ways to plan for success for this type of speechcraft course:

• Plan early - set your target of how many sessions your speechcraft will be, how long each session and draft a rough outline of what possibly you can deliver during these sessions, meeting the minumum outlined by TMI but planning to far exceed this.  Find your venue early.  Establish why you are running this course - what is your main outcome you wish to achieve?

• Realistic timing  - factor generous timing in the initial outline, don't forget breaks and discussions, introductions can take up lots of time too.   Base the timing on the maximum participants your course will hold.

• Number of participants  -  Ideally speechcraft is suited to 8-10 participants but accept a few more.  It is almost certain for what ever reason you will have participants drop out or not be able to continue.   Create a waiting list, keep contact details of enquiries for future courses or offer to them to be a guest at a regular meeting.

• Get the word out early to get helpers -   publicise this at your club, area, division and district.  Ask for help.  Publicise the dates the sessions are on, publicise the skills you want and get people to committ to dates.  Promote how these sessions will be credit towards awards.  You can't do it all on your own you will need lots of help.

• Use resources from other clubs.  Great opportunity for stronger more experienced clubs to help out a struggling club who may not have the experience to run a course.  Everyone wins in the end.

• Pick your presenters carefully - Pick the right presenter with the best skills for the educationals and roles. Cast a wide net!  Use emerging TM's and guide them to extending their skills (don't just drop them in).  It is as much a learning opportunity for the presenters as the participants, having this in mind brings enthusiasm and the best out of all. Never announce during the course the experince level of the toastmaster, it is irrelevant and counter productive for the confidence of  emerging toastmasters.

• Venue - ensure it is easy accessed and suitable, parking, seating, tables, heating/cooling, whiteboards/av,  noise levels, kitchen, toilets and price are all things to consider.

• Promote the course - try press releases contact your district speechcraft co-ordinator to get contact details of recent speechcraft enquiries.  Contact former guests of clubs in the area.  Letter box drops.  Raise awarness of not only your speechcraft, but the local clubs and TM in general.   Those who cannot make it to this course may be interested in visiting your or another local club.

• Membership - Use it as membership building tool.  Target people who are close to the area, who you think would consider joining.  Factor a free joining free and 6 months membership into the price.  But don't make it automatic, invite them to join at the end of the course.

• Payment - work out an easy payment proceedure where the participant is only considered securing a place on the course if paid in full before the course.  Consider direct credit options.

• Plan detailed agenda - Plan the whole course but be prepared to be flexible as this will change from week to week.  Stick with the main objective of the session but be flexible with timings as you will find some participants wont show up on certain nights.  Email your helpers with this plan and re email them at least a week before the session.  Be sure to tell them what they are exactly doing, the timing the deliverables and educational outcomes expected.  Send them all relevent copies of manual extracts.

• Email your paid up participants prior to the course with a welcome, what is expected to happen at the course, lots of support and reassurance and what you want them to have prepared for the first night.  Then send them a copy of the agenda closer to the session.  After each session send a praising email and confirmation of what is expected for the following meeting, then send the agenda for the following meeting.

• Rotate your presenters, toastmasters, evaluators and educational presenters.  There is nothing more boring than listening to the same person for 6 weeks.

• Factor in maximum participation and speaking opportunities for the participants, be creative.  Remember its all about the participants not the presenters.

• Use the final night as a showcase. Ask participants to bring a friend to support them in their final speech.  This will also spread the word about your club and TM.

• Don't forget a feedback mechanism like verbal and a form.  Use tangable measurements on the form.

• Follow up with participants after the course has finished.  They may want to join a club or be interested in future events.

"Enjoy each moment and go with the flow you are doing something special that will ignite something great for many people.  Speechcraft is such a priviledge and a pleasure." ........Elaine Doyle