This document provides tips for participating in a Table Topics speech contest. It discusses why members should participate in contests, including to help the club, learn new skills quickly, speak to a new audience, and gain popularity. It outlines contest eligibility rules and provides advice for both contestants and Table Topics masters. Suggestions are given for contestants to practice topics, record themselves, find a mentor, and study feedback. Tips are also provided for masters on introducing topics and putting speakers at ease. The document emphasizes preparation, structure, and tactics for responding to impromptu questions.

1. By: Vinod Mehra
Table Topics
Speech Contest

3. Connect on LinkedIn
ae.linkedin.com/in/vinodkmehra
 www.vinodkmehra.com
 www.SalesGyan.com
 www.ToastmastersTribe.com

4. Why Participate in Contest?

5. Why Contest
Club Needs you
Fast Track - Learning
New Audience
Stretch
Be Known, Popularity
Change (C v/s P)

6. How
JJI

7. Contestant Eligibility
Club in good standing
Contestant in good
standing

8. Ineligible to Contest
 International officers, Director and
District officer candidates, IPDGs
 Educational Presenters of sessions at
the Area, Division and District
 Judges at any level of contests, still
competing

9. Points to remember
If a contestant wins more
than one Club Speech
contest he/she may
represent only one of the
Clubs at the Area level.
No contestant can
compete in more than one
Area Speech Contest even
if in different Divisions or
different Districts
Do not serveDo not serve
as a judge ifas a judge if
you are still ayou are still a
contestantcontestant
Do not serveDo not serve
as a judge ifas a judge if
you are still ayou are still a
contestantcontestant

10. Caveat - Tips
Not Audible
Not Visible
Timing devise not
visible
Dress CodeDress Code
Microphone tucked
Wire Hanging

11. Conquer Stage – Space and Microphone
Time ( Red Light ) 1 – 2:301 – 2:30
Practice Topics (AbstractAbstract )
Short stories – localize/ Personalise
RJ TipRJ Tip
Record – MP3 (Self Critic)
Find the Mentor** (Virtual/Physical)
Attend the Judges Training
Study the Ballots
Tips for TT Speaker (BeforeBefore)

15. Tips for TT Master
Put speaker at ease
Announce topic TMI suggested way
Name – Topic – Topic - Name
Craft short and easy to understand

16. Tips for TT Speaker (JITJIT)
ListenListen to the topic
PausePause (look before you leap, pause before you
speak)
  (the world looks brighter from behind a smilesmile)
 Power PosturePower Posture
Salutations ??
Don’t apologizeDon’t apologize
GuerillaGuerilla Opening/Closing
Be expressiveexpressive in words and gestures
Add humorhumor if possible
Speak within timewithin time allotted

17. Structure

18. Opening Ideas
RepeatRepeat or summarize question
and pause
Use a quote (quote (3/5 Quotes3/5 Quotes))
Start an anecdoteanecdote
QuestionQuestion
Prepare something in advanceadvance

19. Tactics: (Tactics: (Forte on 1 or 2Forte on 1 or 2 ))
Other tips for tackling topicsOther tips for tackling topics
Opinion
Past, Present, Future
5 Wives & 1 Husband
Pros & Cons
Cause & Effect
Break ideas up and deal with
components

20. TacticTactic
PREPPREP
Point: state your point of view about the
question. Do you agree or disagree?
Reason: give a reason for your view
Example: give one or two examples (no
more the three)
Point: restate your point of view

21. Answering the Questionthe Question
Start awayaway from answer, work towards it
Prevents rambling
AutomaticallyAutomatically gives you a conclusion

22. Your StoryYour Story
First ideaFirst idea is always best - don’t self
censor
There is no wrongno wrong answer
Your own experienceexperience is the best story

23. TipTip
One kind of questions you must
practice comes in this format
“What doesWhat does __________ mean to you?”mean to you?”
For example: “What does
success/leadershipsuccess/leadership mean to
you?”, “What does winning thewinning the
titletitle mean to you?”

24. Question ?Question ?
+ Tip or Suggestions ?
+ Who

26. Tip - contentTip - content
How to Prepare for Table Topics
What’s Your Take on Table Topics?
Rethinking Table Topics: An Unconventional
Approach to Impromptu Speaking
The best Table Topics technique?
What are some of the BEST Table Topics ideas you
have ever had?
Table Topics Ideas

27. Tip - ContentTip - Content
 Has anyone got a way or a system that they use whenHas anyone got a way or a system that they use when
answering table topics? e.g. do you prepare a certainanswering table topics? e.g. do you prepare a certain
topic and then adapt it to the topic on the night?topic and then adapt it to the topic on the night?
 Table Topic Contest Question
 Table Topics: What Works for You?
 Table Topics and DeflectionTable Topics and Deflection
 The artful doge? How to you do a Table Topic and avoid
the topic/question? 59
 Free 45-minute Video Workshop on How to Answer Table
Topics 5
 One word for Table Topics contest topic?
 Has anyone ever won a Table Topics contest by not
answering the question?

28. Connect on LinkedIn
ae.linkedin.com/in/vinodkmehra
 www.vinodkmehra.com
 www.SalesGyan.com
 www.ToastmastersTribe.com

29. Whether you think you can or think
you can’t – you are right.
Henry Ford