The most important aspect of the Toastmaster Manuals is that the learning is presented in a logical, structured manner. It is therefore easy for anyone to learn even without a mentor. However, the Toastmaster Speech Methodology also ensures that you can learn from different sources:

1. LEARNING MANUALS.
   Basic Learning and Understanding of the objectives of the project and the methodology that needs to be applied. Do read each project detail at least twice, and remember to highlight/underline parts that are important. Also do make your own notes in the margin so that your speech learning is a lot more effective.


2. PREPARATION.
   After you have studied the manual, and the evaluation guide for that project, you could make notes on what are the possible subjects you could speak on. Ideally, focus on subjects that you know pretty well. What could be even better is to speak about subjects where you have a fair deal of competence and credibility. Then start by defining your speech objective or purpose in just one sentence. For example... “Share knowledge on the amazing benefits of daily exercise.”


3. MENTORING.
   Use the experience of experienced people who are called Mentors. These are people who have been through the grind, and will ensure that you learn from their experiences. Why invent the wheel? Lets capitalize on the learning of the group, since None of Us... is as smart as all of us. Your mentor will check how well you have studied the manual, and how will your script enable you to learn new speaking touch points. Listen to the suggestions made by your mentor. Even if you disagree with your mentor, do not challenge his/her views, but ask questions to clarify your doubts. You will get the most from your mentor if you give respect and listen and implement the suggestions. Very often mentees feel that they know more about themselves, and while that may be true in most issues, in Public Speaking, please understand that your mentor is sharing a viewpoint with you... on how you come across to your audience. This is something that someone watching you will pick up. Working on your blind spots is one of the best parts of working with a mentor. Another good benefit is that you will be protected from the mistakes that your mentor made. You will sail through with the learning you are bound to get from each and every level of learning.


4. FEEDBACK.
   Without feedback, we will only see the world through our own eyes. If we have to improve ourselves continually, we need to get feedback continually. I do not advocate incorporating every bit of feedback given to you, but I would gently suggest that you consider the feedback that is given by people who are your well wishers, and ideally those who have walked the path you hope to traverse. At the same time, do consider that every audience you speak to will comprise of people who are different from each other, and it takes all types of people to make our world. So it does make sense to take feedback from everyone. In TM, the system of giving feedback slips is one that is of immense value, as you will receive inputs that will help you understand how people are different, yet how, many of them will speak of the same attribute. Focus on the common feedback that you get, but keep the individual points that you have noted at the back of your mind.


5. REPETITION.
   One of the best ways to learn is to analyze the feedback you have received, and then incorporate what you feel is the most important point/s... and.... DO THE SPEECH AGAIN... incorporating the changes. Ideally speak at another club and see whether you will receive more feedback. Sometimes this may confuse you, but once you are able to map the basic feedback touch points, for different clubs based on the cross section of members or the culture that is an exclusive attribute of each club.


6. COMPETE.
   If you really want to know how good your speeches are... the best way is to compete. Toastmasters has a number of contests which progressively go up to even the District Level. Even if you attempt the first of these levels... the Club Contest, you will get a better understanding of where your speaking attributes are strong, and where they are weak. The learning you will get from participating in a contest will be helpful as you fine-tune your skills as a speaker.


7. VIDEO EVALUATION.
   I have found Video Evaluation to be a tremendous learning tool, and I would request every serious speaker to consider videoing your speeches. One needn’t even have an expensive video camera. Even the lowly mobile phone of today has many options for recording – sound and video... and you should use these to your advantage. The best part about this form of learning is that you can carry it around with you and view it whenever you have the time. In addition you can show this to a number of experienced speakers and take feedback on how they perceived your speech. Technology should be used to the max to get the best out of yourself.


8. A valuable tip I received from one of the World Champions of Speaking, Mark Brown, is to take an old speech and re-work it from time to time, and fine tune it as you go along. Over a series of such changes, you will have a speech that is not only well worked, it is well tweaked, and should be one of the best speeches you have delivered. Use the power of speech engineering to take your speaking up notch by notch.

Public Speaking is all about preparation, practice, mentoring, feedback, fine-tuning, competing and perfecting. If you do not indulge in all these levels, you can make do with average to slightly better than average speeches. If you whole heartedly indulge in the process I have highlighted above, you will understand the difference between being a good speaker and a great speaker.

IAN FARIA.