Communication and Leadership Manual: Goals for your  Speeches

Also known as CTM Manual or the Basic Manual is where all Toastmasters begin their journey in improving their speaking, listening and thinking skills. Note: Toastmasters International continually updates the CTM manual.  Any member completing any version of the basic manual, no matter when it was published, is eligible for the CTM award.  Also, whether the project title has changed or not, the project objectives may have changed -- please check your manual for your current objectives.

* The goals listed below are for the previous version of the manual, issued to new members until 2003.

1. Ice Breaker (4-6 minutes)

• Begin speaking before an audience.
• Learn what areas require particular emphasis in your speaking development.
• Introduce yourself to your fellow club members.

2. Speak With Sincerity (5-7 minutes)

• Convince the audience of your earnestness, sincerity, and conviction on a subject that you thoroughly understand.
• Confront and control any nervousness you have.

3. Organize Your Speech (5-7 minutes)

• Organize your thoughts into a logical sequence that leads the audience to a clearly defined goal.
• Build a speech outline that includes an opening, body, and conclusion.

4. Show What You Mean (5-7 minutes)

• Learn the value of gestures and body movement as part of your speech.
• Explore the different ways of using body language.
• Develop a sense of timing and natural, smooth, body movement.

5. Vocal Variety (5-7 minutes)

• Explore the use of voice volume, pitch, rate, and quality as assets to your speaking.
• Achieve a pleasing, natural voice quality when speaking.

6. Work With Words (5-7 minutes)

• Select precisely the right words required to communicate your ideas clearly and vividly.
• Avoid lengthy words and sentences and jargon.

7. Apply Your Skills (5-7 minutes)

• Bring together and apply the communication skills you learned in the preceding projects.
• Organize your speech in a logical manner, following one of these outlines:
• AIDA: 1. Win their Attention, 2. Arouse their Interest, 3. Create a Desire, 4. Stimulate Action or Agreement.
• HWFS: 1. Ho-hum, 2. Why bring that up?, 3. For instance ..., 4. So what?
• Problem, cause, solution
• Research the facts needed to support your speech.
• Evaluate your own progress (in your manual, not in your speech).

8. Add Impact to Your Speech (5-7 minutes)

• Learn the value of props in speaking.
• Learn how to use props effectively in your presentations.

9. Persuade With Power (5-7 minutes)

• Persuade the audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint.
• Achieve this persuasive effect by:
• Appealing to the audience's self-interest
• Building a logical foundation for agreement
• Arousing emotional commitment to your cause

10. Inspire Your Audience (8-10 minutes)

• Understand the mood and feelings of your audience on a particular occasion.
• Put those feelings into words and inspire the audience, using all the techniques you have learned so far.