Table Topics

Table Topics: The Art of Prevarication, Subterfuge, and Misinformation

Gwynn Owens, ATM

Table Topics is the Toastmasters method of training us to be better off-the-cuff speakers.

Often we find ourselves in situations where we are called to comment on various subjects. How many times have we stood there without a clue?

Extemporaneous speaking is a skill all of us should hone to fine cutting edge. The Table Topics portion of the TM meeting enables us to do just that!

Many of us are nervous some even downright terrified to do Table Topics even as we progress through the ranks. Some have even confided they are purposefully “accidentally” late to avoid being called upon. Have you noticed how many people suddenly drop something as the Table Topics Master casts a jovially evil smile about the room?

We are going to explore the real world of Table Topics.

A good Table Topic is fairly general to allow the participant wiggle room. A good Table Topic can be humorous, serious, on current events, or pure fantasy.

What is your job as a respondent? Think of Table Topics as a mini speech. It has an opening (maybe a repeat of the question) a body (some suggest 3 points), and a closing.

You do not have to start speaking the second the question is out. Take a moment or two to adjust your thoughts, to organize your response.

When ready, then address the Table Topics Master, fellow Toastmasters and welcome guests if any are present.

Now to address the question or topic:

Remember you are under no obligation to be serious. You are under no obligation to tell the truth. In fact you are under no obligation to even answer that particular question. Should you receive a topic that you absolutely have no response to or that you do not wish to answer then perhaps say, thank you for that interesting question. However I would really like to talk about:

If someone preceding you had a topic you wanted to address, then do so. Remember this is your training to speak off the cuff, to put together a 1-2 minute mini-speech, to train you for real life situations. It is also an opportunity to stretch your creativity, to learn to use situations to your benefit.

One master of the art of Table Topics loves to be called upon last. She takes points from the preceding speakers and weaves them into her own unique story. And she often wins because she captivates everyone with her wit and her quick thinking.

So Table Topics is not a fearsome ordeal. Look upon it as an opportunity to strengthen skills you already possess.

Remember no one has ever been struck by lightning or taken out and executed for not being perfect at Table Topics.

Be outrageous! Exercise your skills of fantasy and fiction! Lie! Fib! Prevaricate!

Be a Spin Doctor! You just may get a job in government!

Just go for it!

Taking the Terror Out of Table Topics

By Terry Daily, DTM

Table Topics Participants – Secrets to Success

"Oh, no the Table Topics Master is looking my way! Now if I can just keep my head down and avoid eye contact! Oh no…my name was called, now what I do?"

For many Toastmasters, Table Topics is a terrifying experience, for others, Table Topics is an enjoyable opportunity to develop impromptu speaking skills. What are the secrets of successful participants?

Allow Time to Prepare – When you rise from your chair, smile, look confident and proceed to the front of the room. Shake hands with the Table Topics Master and take control of the lectern. What have you done? You look confident in front of the group, you have time to think, and you take control of the meeting. Do you need a little bit more time? Try repeating the question or start by saying "I’m glad you asked me that."
Consider Table Topics as a Short Speech – Use the fundamentals of good speech. A strong opening and closing, along with a message in the body of the topics speech, will have you winning Table Topics contest on a regular basis – or at least reduce your terror!
Share a story – Stories capture and entertain your audience, especially those from personal experiences. The founder of Toastmasters, Dr. Ralph Smedley, wrote, "The fact which you know by personal experience beats a dozens which you may have borrowed from others." Your Table Topics terror will dissolve by adding personal anecdotes to your topics speech.
Have Fun - Enjoy the experience. Look positive when the Table Topics Master asks you the questions. We are in Toastmasters to develop communication skills and participation is an excellent way to improve impromptu speaking skills. Seize the opportunity and have fun.

By following these four tips and participating at every opportunity, you are well on your way to taking the terror out of Table Topics.

Table Topics Master – The Five W’s of Success

Who – Participants should be those members who do not have a duty on the agenda. Review the agenda and then direct your questions to those members who have not had the opportunity to speak.

What – Table Topics subjects can range from serious to sublime. Try matching your questions to the members’ experience, offering newer members more flexible subjects.

Where – Ask participants to come to the front of the room. It provides members with time to think about their subject and offers them a chance to practice at the lectern.

When – Table Topics can appear on the agenda before or after speeches. Some clubs like Table Topics before speeches to warm up the audience. Other clubs like Table Topics after speeches, deciding on the number of topic questions to be asked based on meeting time remaining.

Why – Explain the purpose of Table Topics at the start of your session. A brief description of why we put ourselves through this type of "terror" is especially important for guests and new members!

Table Topics

From Toastmasters around the world

Continuous Story - Begin a story and ask participants to continue it. The last time used by each speaker is the first one used by the next speaker.

Fortune Cookies - Offer each participant a fortune cookie. They open the cookie, read the fortune, and explain what it means. Take the real fortune out of the cookie and replace it with your own unique fortune!

Hats - Collect a variety of hats and place them on a table. Each participant chooses a hat and role plays a character who would wear that hat. Examples are baseball cap, football helmet, construction hat, derby, etc.

Music Time Machine - Take old records or tapes to the meeting and play a portion of the song. Ask each participant what memories the song brings back. Another twist to the music time machine is showing an album cover to each participant and asking for their memories.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words - Ask participants to tell a story after looking at a picture from a newspaper, magazine or post card.

Different Sayings - Provide each participant with a saying and ask them to explain where it originated and what the phrase means. Examples are "A stitch in time saves nine".

Daily News - Provide headlines from the daily newspapers and ask the participants what the story means.

Role Play - Provide each of the participants with a character and ask them to act it out or tell about the character without mentioning who the character is. Such as, Mother Goose, Lady Godiva, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Santa Claus, etc. Ask the audience to guess who the character was.

Reading Practice - Use your Toastmaster magazine! Section off and assign numbers to the article of your choice. Have each participant pick a number then read a portion of the article aloud. Francine Nardolillo, DTM

Predict the Future - Select questions a psychic might answer. Ask participants to respond relating answers to members. Record predictions and just for fun, review at a meeting in 6-12 months. Francine Nardolillo, DTM

Book Reviews - Browse through the shelves at the library and pick stimulating, obscure titles. Participants present an "interesting" book review. Francine Nardolillo, DTM

The Year 2525 - Put everyday stuff into a bag and let each speaker select an item to discuss. However, the year is 2525 and the speaker is an archeologist. They will explain their opinion as to what the item was back in the 20th century and how it was used. Dave Schneider

Introductions - Spend a minute or so reviewing basic introductions. Then bring up each speaker and have them pull an object out of a bag, and have them introduce what they have extracted. (Vegetables work well..."It's Mr. Carrot!!! Please introduce Mr. Carrot as our next speaker." Not only do people get practice with introductions, but they get to take home a part of a salad.) Dave Schneider

There is so many ideas coming from other Toastmasters, I thought I would just link to their pages.