Lessons I've learned from a World Champion in Public Speaking

When it comes to Toastmasters and its annual International Public Speaking Contest, there is always a high dose of excitement! In my view, becoming the Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speakingcan be compared to the Ironman challenge. Speakers from Toastmasters clubs all over the globe (we are over 300.000 active members worldwide) put themselves forward to compete, starting at their own clubs, then moving to the Area level (which comprises the winners of several clubs), then to the Division level (which comprises the winners of several areas), then to the District level (which comprises the winners of several divisions).

Then, the winners of the various Districts around the globe are eligible to compete at the semi-finals at the World Champion level (this year in Denver, Colorado). Finally, the ones who go through the semi-finals then compete at the finals.

As you can see, it is a loooong journey to get there.

Last weekend I went to Genova, in Italy, to attend the Toastmasters Conference at the District level and had the opportunity to meet and participate in the workshop of Manoj Vasudevan, the 2017 World Champion of Public Speaking. There is always so much to learn from these guys, because to get to this level they have not only to craft a speech which will get the audience on their feet, but also and very importantly, to develop a systematic approach for their practice and delivery, which must be spotless.

Here are some nuggets I've learned from him.

INSPIRING IS GREAT, HOWEVER, YOU NEED MORE TO MOVE THE AUDIENCE INTO ACTION

Manoj reinforced what I have already mentioned to you before, that to really engage any audience to follow your ideas and move them into action, you need more than inspiration; you need to be able to influence them. Most speakers out there craft their speeches focused on their own story, and what they want to share with the audience. When they use this approach, they are the center of the story, the hero of their own story.

To influence and move people into action, you need to switch the focus to the audience and make the listeners the heroes of your story.

You have to unveil facts and anecdotes that they can translate to their own lives.

Get it?

SAY, SHOW & COMMAND, SO THEY CAN THINK, FEEL & DO

Ask yourself,"what do I want my audience to think, feel and do after my presentation?", and start from there. This will allow you to define the language, expressions, stories, and emotions your audience will feel connected to. 

Once you are clear with that, you will then define how you will say, show and command the points you want to make.

The command which leads to the do/action is what lifts your presentation from inspirational to influential.

THE PAYOFF

The audience needs to know the payoff they will get once they follow your ideas, thoughts, projects, etc. 

No matter how great the outcome you got from your experience, the audience needs to be clear of what they will get from you. Do not assume that because you did well, the audience will believe they will also do well.

Don't fall into this trap! They need a clear explanation from you of the benefits they will get, if they follow your ideas, thoughts, projects, etc. And THAT is the key to the success of an influential speech.

In his winning speech (you can check it here), "We can fix it", Manoj tells his story about how he had trouble with his marriage, what he did to "fix" it, and how we all can do the same.

LET YOUR THOUGHTS TO SINK IN

Watching Manoj speech, it was amazing to see how well he controled his pauses to let his thoughts sink into the audience's mind. How well he used humor to reinforce what he had just said, how he interacted with the audience to bond even further.

All in all, when preparing your winning speech, make sure you

• share your experiences, but first be clear on what you want to achieve with your speech, what you want the audience to think, feel and do
• make the audience the heros of your story by switching the focus to them 
• let them know why they should listen and follow you. 

There are many things to learn from watching those competitions in Toastmasters. And this is why I decided to bring such an opportunity beyond Toastmasters so you too can benefit from it.

Join us on June 20th in Zurichfor our first edition of Stand Up & Speak Up Challenge, where seven speakers will be challenging each other to be selected the winning speaker. The three finalists selected will compete again in December in our Stand Up & Speak Up Challenge Grand Finale, and they will be challenged by the three finalists from Munich, where one speaker will then receive the title of "Best Speaker of 2019"!

Our aim with this challenge is to bring more visibility to the public speakers in general, so more speaking opportunities will open up for them in the path of becoming professional (and paid) speakers.

Besides being an exciting and fun event, it will also be a learning experience for the audience.

Come, support and cheer for the speakers. 

Looking forward to seeing you there.

Stand Up, Speak Up & Shine! 

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Helping women to find, own and unleash their authentic voice became Tulia Lopes mission. Her signature event, the AWE Summit, has been "giving voice to women" in Zurich, Barcelona and Porto since 2014. Her Speak Up & Lead Academy has a systematic four level development approach which allows women to develop a confident presence, craft effective presentations and become influencial leaders and world class public speakers. 

Her latest creation, the Stand Up & Speak Up Challenge is bringing on stage speakers from all over the globe to compete and raise the bar for qualified speakers. She is the author of Leading in High Heels. 

Tulia is Europe's Leading Communication, Public Speaking and Leadership Expert with over a decade of experience. She believes communication is key for success in any field.

To find more about Tulia, visit, www.tulialopes.com

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