Accountability: I aint afraid of no Toast

Hello!

Last night I performed my first speech at Toastmasters on the Competent Communicator path. I had my cue cards ready, my angle, hook and narrative all aligned to deliver a good speech.

In the structure of the meeting I was chosen to deliver my speech first. I stood at the front of the room, looked at my cue cards and my mind went completely blank.

I delivered a speech where I left the main hooks and referrals at the door but had one main throughline which I could return to during my speech. I was nervous, really worried and incredibly relieved when it was over.

The speech was supposed to last between 4-6 minutes, my timing was 5.29 which I'm told is ideal.

The feedback delivered by my fellow toastmasters was positive, the critique was I need to speak louder and clearly (something I know I need to work on), I need to have better focus in my speech, another area of which I'm aware I need to improve and also my confidence in looking directly at the audience. I was called out for looking at the floor and then at the ceiling, so I need to find a happy medium.

At the end of Toastmasters meetings if there are more than 2 core speeches there will be an overall best speech announced. I did not win this time, I was defeated by a moving delivery of a powerful civil rights poem, but I feel worthy.

That's not to say I didn't get a ribbon...

Another speech given and another ribbon received!

I've nominated myself to deliver my second speech at the next meeting!

Thanks for reading!

AT