Table Topics Master 

The table topics master leads the impromptu question and answer segment. 

 

Table Topics are impromptu speeches. The purpose of the Table Topics section is to help members think on their feet and speak on a given subject for between one and two minutes. It also offers all meeting attendees a speaking opportunity. Members called to participate are required to participate, but guests are not.

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Before the Meeting

Review the easy-Speak agenda for the meeting theme. Draw up a list of topics related to the meeting’s theme. Ideas can be found in The Toastmaster magazine, national papers, or websites. Do not repeat the previous meeting’s table topics ideas or items. Select topics that will inspire the speakers and encourage them to give their opinions. Phrase them in such a way that the speaker clearly will know what you want them to talk about. Keep your comments short. Your job is to give others a chance to speak, not to give a series of mini-talks yourself.

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Review the easy-Speak agenda to help you select participants. Give priority to members that do not have a role followed by members that have smaller roles: timekeeper, ballot counter, ah-grammarian, and humorist. After two or three members have participated, plan to invite a guest to participate. Avoid calling members delivering prepared speeches, the toastmaster of the day, or general evaluator.

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During the Meeting

When introduced, briefly state the purpose of the Topics session.

Set the stage for your topics program. Keep your remarks brief but enthusiastic. State the topic then call on a member. This method holds everyone’s attention as they all think of a response should they be called on to speak. It also adds to the value of the impromptu element by giving everyone an opportunity to improve his or her better listening and thinking skills.

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Call on speakers at random. Avoid going around the room in the order in which people are sitting. Give each participant a different topic. Don’t ask two people the same thing unless you ask each specifically to give the pro or con response.

Watch the time you have available. Check the printed agenda for the total time allotted to table topics and adjust the number of topics to end your segment on time. Even if your portion started late, try to end on time to avoid the total meeting running over time.