The Basic Communication Program

As a Toastmaster, you develop your speaking ability in a self-paced environment, one skill at a time. The first 10 speeches make up the Basic Communication Program, in which all new members participate.

1.       The Ice-breaker, your first speech, gets you started by talking on a subject for which you are the expert (you!), allows you to introduce yourself, and to determine which skills you would like to develop.

2.       Organize Your Speech emphasizes organizing your thoughts into a logical sequence leading to a clearly defined goal, and building a speech with an opening, body, and close.

3.       Get to the Point objectives include establishing a specific purpose for your talk, projecting sincerity and conviction, and controlling your nervousness.

4.       How to Say It objectives include understanding the functions and uses of the spoken word and selection of the precise words to communicate your ideas clearly, concisely, and vividly.

5.       Your Body Speaks focuses on the use of gestures, body motions, and body language as an integral part of your speech.

6.       Vocal Variety explores the use of voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality as tools used by an effective speaker.

7.       Research Your Topic to use information collected from numerous sources to support your points with specific facts, examples, and illustrations, rather than with just your own opinions.

8.       Get Comfortable with Visual Aids emphasizes the use of visual aids. Learn the value of props when speaking and learn how to use them to emphasize your message, focus attention, and add visual interest.

9.       Persuade with Power gives you the opportunity to practice the skills necessary to convince an audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint by appealing to their own self-interest, building a logical foundation, and arousing emotional commitment.

10.   Inspire Your Audience is the final speech in the Basic Communication Program. The objective of this speech is to select a topic about which you feel strongly, analyze your audience's mood and feelings, and inspire them using all the skills you have developed.

The Basic Leadership Program

The development of leadership skills has always been part of the Toastmasters program. The 10-project Competent Leadership manual helps you develop leadership skills while you serve in various club leadership roles. You may work in both the communication and leadership manuals at the same time if you wish, or work them one at a time. The leadership projects include:

1.       Listening and Leadership helps you improve your listening skills, enabling you to identify and clarify issues, make decisions, resolve conflicts, and be creative.

2.       Critical Thinking allows you to analyze, interpret, and understand information to make better decisions.

3.       Giving Feedback helps you improve the performance of team members by practicing positive feedback.

4.       Time Management provides practice in time-management skills.

5.       Planning and Implementation assists you in setting goals and preparing plans and schedules to accomplish those goals.

6.       Organizing and Delegating helps you learn how to organize a team and provide the structure in which the team will operate, with an emphasis on delegating tasks.

7.       Developing Your Facilitation Skills teaches you to establish a team structure that functions effectively, facilitating the resolution of conflicts within the team.

8.       Motivating People helps you create and maintain an environment in which team members can become motivated.

9.       Mentoring helps you cultivate your team members’ potentials and talents, letting them succeed.

10.   Team Building lets you choose and train a team to achieve greater productivity.

What Comes Next?

Once you’ve finished the Basic Communication Program, you are encouraged to continue with the Advanced Communication Program, designed to prepare you for speaking situations you will encounter outside of your Club environment. Any of the following 15 manuals may be used to satisfy requirements for the Advanced Communicator Awards.

·  The Entertaining Speaker

·  Speaking to Inform

·  Public Relations

·  The Discussion Leader

·  Specialty Speeches

·  Speeches By Management

·  The Professional Speaker

·  Technical Presentations

·  Persuasive Speaking

·  Communicating on Television

·  Storytelling

·  Interpretive Reading

·  Interpersonal Communication

·  Special Occasion Speeches

·  Humorously Speaking

When you finish the Basic Leadership Program, you are encouraged to continue with the Advanced Leadership Program. Serving as a Club officer is the primary requirement for your first Advanced Leadership Award. The second Advanced Leadership Award is presented after you serve as a District officer, complete a High Performance Leadership project, and help to start a new Club or revitalize a low-member Club.

Members who finish both the Advanced Communication and the Advanced Leadership Programs will earn the highest award Toastmasters International has to offer: the Distinguished Toastmaster Award.