Toastmasters International Speech Contest Myths

The contest season is well and truly underway here in Toastmasters and this year we once again have a talented field of speakers vying for the foremost honor in public speaking. As an active contestant over the last few years, I have not only seen many success stories but have also seen quite a few trip ups which could have been avoided if only people knew what to watch out for. So here are a list of myths compiled using all my toastmasters’ experience which should probably help a contestant avoid a potential pothole.

Have the audience in the palm of your hand <Courtesy: Alexandre Pellaes>

Myth 1– Current Trending Topics are a sure shot way to success: Let me admit picking up a hot issue definitely grabs eyeballs for starters but it’s the conviction with which you convey the argument that ultimately matters. One line of approach which attracts audience to such speeches is a personalized example. Let the audience know your perspective and then support your reasoning with stats/facts. Remember mere numbers(stats) will take the fizz out of even a hot topic.

Myth 2 – Intellectual topics score more than simpler ones: Who doesn't want to be considered an intellectual? The problem with intellectual speeches is that you only have seven minutes (No, that extra half minute doesn’t count, see below) to present your argument and then validate your reasoning. Clarity of thought plays a very important role in how well your speeches are received. So why not cut some slack and let everyone get what you are saying. Hey you might be an intellectual but your judges need not be!

Myth 3 – Seven minutes is good enough: If your rehearsal time is coming in around 7 minutes then there is definitely a chance that you might overshoot the upper limit of 7:30 minutes during your actual performance. This is because during the course of your actual performance allowances have to be made for improvisation, acclimatizing to the stage, adjusting to the mic and even general acoustics of the hall. Time is also required to wait for the applause to die down after your punch line or joke. Factoring in all of these things having half a minute as a reserve over the seven minute mark might just not be enough.

Myth 4 – Give the audience what they want: A toastmaster friend of mine once told me he always starts his speeches with a joke because that’s what they (the audience) want. Now my question is how do you reliably even know what the audience wants? Appropriateness of the speech to the audience and audience reception are indeed parameters on which a contestant is judged but achievement of purpose, logic and structure are far more important parameters on the ballot. So before you start incorporating items into your speech just because somebody might like it, ask yourself whether those items are even relevant for the topic you are taking up.

Myth 5 – I always prepare for the competition: You have seen the winning speech of a contestant who's going to compete you with the area/division level and you also have reliable information that the contestant is going to repeat his/her speech. In order to counter the impact of that speech you are now planning to tweak your own speech. Now my piece of advice for all of you out there is "Please don't do that!", you might actually have a winning formula which you are throwing away by making those changes. A speech must play to your strengths, just because something works for somebody doesn't mean it will work for you too and there's also the danger that your speech objective could be diluted if you incorporate unnecessary elements. Every speech has an audience, something which might work at the club/area level might not really work at the division/district level because the levels of perception of your audience changes dramatically as you go higher up in the competition. So you shouldn't really worry about what someone else has to say. Just focus on what you have to say, polish your content and presentation and you will certainly be a handful for anyone competing against you.

Myth 6 – Presentation always beats content: The ballot will answer the question for you. Content beats delivery hands down and yours truly himself has seen great presenters come to nought when they come up against a speech with a soulful purpose and a sound argument.

So that's it for this time my friends. All the best for your next speech contest. If things don't work out remember life always gives you another chance.

Until the Next Time!

Your Toastmaster,
J.J. Chaitanya