Filler sounds like Ah, Uhm and Err can be very irritating to listen to. Here is how you get rid of them.

If you don't look confident, why should the audience trust what you say?

To speak effectively, you must look confident.

The best way to look confident is to feel confident.

You will feel much more confident if you have a meaningful message that is well rehearsed.

However, you can look more confident when you speak, if you:

Whenever you speak in Toastmasters, you hold a speech. Speech evaluations are educational speeches, so:

• Tell the audience what you will speak about.
• Give specific and actionable feedback.
• Repeat important points in the end.

General Tips

• Take notes – so you capture all important points.
• Remind the audience that your feedback is your personal opinion.
• Point out useful tips for the whole audience – “What we all can learn from…”
• Don't retell the speech, everyone just heard it.

The Sandwich Technique

1. Start with things you liked. “I really liked how you…” or “You captured me when…” +
2. Continue with room for improvement. ↑
3. Finish with what the speaker did well and encouragement for coming speeches  +

The room for improvement is sandwiched between positive points, so you encourage the evaluated speaker from the start, and leave the speaker with a positive feeling.

In Toastmasters we focus on room for improvements. Just hearing what didn't work can be discouraging. Instead, speakers improve better if you as an evaluator point out:

1. Specific example(s) of what they did.
2. The effect on you and the audience.
   If you speak about the effects on the audience, say only what you observed, because you don't know what others thought or felt. For example: “We all laughed when…”. But say what you thought and felt.
3. Their alternatives
   “What you could do…”
   “One effective way to … is to …”
   “You could add even more of [something the speaker did well].

The Table Topics session in Toastmasters is about unprepared speaking. As the Table Topics Master you prepare Table Topics in advance, and call upon speakers to hold unprepared speeches on the topics. The speeches are usually about two minutes long.

Here are my tips when you are the Table Topic Master:

General

• Speak shortly and with enthusiasm!
• Explain why table topics are important to practice.
• Stand near the audience so speakers can see you without turning.
• Give examples, especially if the Table Topics are challenging or guests are present.

Choosing Table Topics

• Funny topics can relax speakers that hold speeches later in the meeting.
• Reuse great Table Topics themes, but change the topics.
• Search for Table Topics online if you feel uncreative. Here are my ideas for Table Topics.

Ask for Volunteers or Pick Speakers?

If you pick the speakers, instead of asking for volunteers, you can:

1. Begin and end with experienced speakers to set good examples.
2. Get persons without meeting roles to speak.
3. Involve guests, if they want, in the meeting.

However, volunteers are often full of energy, so they can bring life into the meeting.

Random Topics or Matched Topics?

• If the speakers randomly pick a table topic from a hat that adds extra excitement.

• However, if you give speakers topics you can match tougher Table Topics with more experienced speakers.

Read first, then pick a person, or vice versa?

1. If you announce the table topic first, and then call upon someone, the whole audience starts preparing, but the speaker gets more time.

2. If you call upon someone first, and then announce the Table Topic, the table topic speaker gets less time to think.

Try different versions!

Have you ever had a great idea in bed, only to wake up next day with no idea what it was? We often forget great ideas, and right ideas seldom come when we need them, so think on paper!

 “The palest ink is better than the most retentive memory.” - Chinese proverb

With a notebook in your hand, you will find good ideas, interesting stories, and funny lines everywhere. Later, when you need material for a text or speech, you can pick the best of hundreds of ideas.

Also, if you write down distracting thoughts, they won't be forgotten, and you can concentrate better.

So, always carry a notebook and take notes. Remember there is an ink in think!