Public Speaking Tip: Your Fount of Inspiration



We are often asked where we get the inspiration for our speeches.

When attending a typical Toastmasters meeting, one will find the many varied topics on assignment speeches.  Some speakers even took an unusual spin on an everyday mundane subject and make them interesting for their listeners.

So how do they find something to talk about week after week?  Here are our favorite methods.

1) Start a Journal

Start of journal of speech topics, that is.  We’re not talking about starting a “Dear Diary, today is just another ordinary boring day…” type of journal.  The truths is, ideas can spring on us any time of the day and the only way to ensure you don’t forget about them later (which always happens), is to record them, either in a notebook or your phone.

2) Research

Go online or the old school way – read.  Read as much as you can each day.  Read everything – the newspaper, books, blog posts online, social media posts – there are plenty of reading materials all around you.  You’re bound to come across something that will strike you as interesting.

3) Talking

Talk to people or even yourself.  Just listening to the sound of your voice and expanding on a topic usually will allow your thoughts to meander to other topics.  Before you know it, you’ve got another idea that you could use for a speech someday.

4) Ask People

It’s not uncommon and probably the easiest way.  Ask your club members what they want you to talk about in your next speech and they will be more than happy to throw ideas at you.

And there you have it.  Our favorite ways to get speech ideas.  Before you know it, you would have built a collection of ideas that you can pluck from for your next assignment.


If you would like the opportunity to hone your public speaking skills as well as learn leadership skills, join us for our bi-monthly meetings on every 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month.  Our meetings start at 8pm.  For further information please contact us at gurneyhydrotoastmastersclub@gmail.com or refer to our Next Meeting page for information on our next meeting.

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