What’s the big idea?
The idea for your next manual speech, that is.
Are you spending more time thinking about what to talk about than you spend preparing
your speech, and does the Toastmasters emphasis on "better thinking" seem to be
primarily an exercise in meditating on speech topics?
Finding ideas and material for speeches appears to be a major problem for many
Toastmasters, but it need not be. Knowing where to find topic sources does not require
special ability or long hours of thought.
Speech topics are all around us; they can be found among our personal experiences, from
our observation of people and events, from the reading and listening we do, and from the
exchange of ideas with our associates. These all may spark our imagination and provide us
with a subject for our future Toastmasters club pre-sentations.
Every idea is a seedling for a strong speech. The Toastmaster who possesses a natural
inquisitiveness, and who is alert to the many speech subjects that are of-fered to us each
day, has much less difficulty finding something to talk about. How often have you noticed
the cluster of initials and numbers that are listed on the cab of interstate commercial
vans or buses? Did you wonder what the initials stand for and why they are used? An
inquiry to a trucking firm not only would supply the answer, but it probably would provide
you with material for a speech about the trucking industry, about government regulation of
interstate transportation, or the impact of the industry’s accomplishments on your
community. Be curious!
Interesting Ideas
"Why" is a small but potent word that can uncover interesting ideas about the
commonplace, but unexplored occurrences around us. Look to the commonplace for the
unusual; to the everyday events which are taken for granted. You may find many worthwhile
speech subjects in disguise.
A youngster once asked why the front wheels of his father’s automobile
straightened themselves after this father had driven around a corner. Have you too
wondered why? The answer would provide an illuminating speech for a Toastmasters meeting,
and it would be an interesting addition to fellow members’ knowledge. See how simple
it is to discover speech subjects?
Consider the speech topics that are avail-able around vour home or office—the
cover on the lampshade, old china dishes, furniture, food, and clothing. There is a story
connected with each one. Look at your garden, think of your life in your family, your
community, your state and your nation, and )·our heritage as a citizen. Any one of these
topics, plus a little imagination, should ring a bell. We are surrounded by potential
speech material. Be imaginative!
Take stock of our own interests and special knowledge. Do you know something that would
benefit others? What do vou wish you had known as a young married person; can you provide
this information for others in your next speech?
Think of Others
Think of other people’s needs and how your experience might be an aid to them. How
about pointers on buying a home— wouldn’t young couples find this a
sub-ject of
prime interest? How about your ex-periences or advice on the best buy in in-surance, on
investments, on do-it-yourself projects, or on an): number of "how to" topics?
One of the keys to finding speech ideas is to select a personal experience, analyze its
significance, both personal and in general, and then build a message around it that you
believe will be of value to your listeners. Much of the strength of such a speech lies in
your honest interpretation of first-hand experience. By its nature this speech will be
unique and usually interesting to the audience.
Ideas and materials come from a wide variety of contacts you make; from discussions in
your place of work, from political campaigns, trade publications, opinions and attitudes
of businessmen, book reviews, local historical events, the news media, and advertising.
Listen for Ideas
You will find too that the habit of crit-ically listening to other talks, particularly
those delivered at Toastmasters meetings, is another excellent way to assimilate
information and ideas that may help you prepare speeches of your own. Toastmasters
training in evaluation makes it quite easy to analyze a speech for ideas as well for the
technique of speaking.
Many Toastmasters find that one of the easiest ways to get an idea for a speech is
simply to recall a recent conversation they have had on a subject that interests them.
Probably within the past week or two you have had an interesting discussion with a friend
or business associate on a topic on which you have definite opinions. The ideas that you
expressed in your discussion with him are good speech material. You can add to your speech
material simply by discussing the topic further with others. You can engineer an entire
speech in this fashion, and it will afford you an opportunity to say what you wish
you’d said in the first place.
Many Possibilities
If you have selected a subject whichat first glance doesn’t seem to fit the
purpose of the assignment, meet the challenge by reviewing the possibilities of using
vocal variety, gestures, or visual aids to emphasize your message.
Continual guidance in formulating ideas and materials for your speeches is available
from articles published in The Toastmaster magazine, TIPS, and in materials listed in the
Supply Catalog provided to vour club for use. Which articles are of special interest to
you, and what have you to offer to expand the same theme? Which paragraph can you build
into an entire speech? How can the ideas that are presented be put to use in your club?
Why should your club undertake the program that is suggested in the article? You see,
speech ideas and materials are all around us. We merely have to think, be inquisitive, and
be imaginative.
What will be your next big idea?
- Reprinted from The Toastmaster magazine
