Jeff Ahlquist, CC, CL
gnerk-toast@usa.net
December 1, 2012
Intro (moderator)
Jeff Ahlquist is an avid photographer, comedian, engineering manager,
ballroom dancer, and of course, Toastmaster.
Two years ago, Jeff decided to join Toastmasters, but he wanted to find
that perfect club. So he visited between 20 and 30 different clubs in
the Bay Area.
Most clubs graciously invite newcomers to participate in Table Topics.
So Jeff jumped right in and found he really enjoyed impromptu
speaking. And to his surprise, he often enjoyed winning a ribbon! Jeff
also discovered that many of the skills that win Table Topics are also
winning skills in the workplace.
In today's session, you will learn the tips and tricks Jeff uses for Table
Topics, plus how you can use these skills in your everyday life.
Please help me welcome Jeff Ahlquist
Overview
 Prepare
 Personalize
 Confidently deliver your message
 Why Table Topics?
 Win Ribbons!
 Life and Work
 Elevator Speech
 Flirting…
What do you want to learn today?
 Write on board
[exercise] Sample Table Topics
 What went well?
 What did you like?
Prepare before meeting
 Practice, Practice, Practice
 Prepare a few poignant personal stories:
 Meaningful and memorable
 What is a lesson you learned?
 What did you discover?
 What do you want other people to know?
 [exercise] Discuss a few personal stories in class
 i.e. “Summer vacation Mom signed my up baseball where I
learned to try new things”
 What is your story and your message?
“OREO” method*
 Opinion
 1-2 sentences answering question or stating your opinion
 This is your big, attention-grabbing opener
 Reasons
 simply state your 1-3 reasons for having this opinion
 Explain Your Reasons
 Bulk of your talk
 Personal stories, details, data, etc.
 Opinion
 Restate your opinion
 This is your heart-felt conclusion, call-to-action, etc.
 *This is similar to “Mini-Speech method of Intro, Body, Conclusion
Be present – in the moment
 Acknowledging what’s happening for people draws their
attention to you
 What’s happening right now for YOU?
 Like Zen meditation
 What is the mood of the room?
 What are YOU feeling? (odds are other people are too!)
 "Callbacks” to other speakers
 Refer to what other people said
 [exercise] What’s going on right now for you?
 Room, time of day, silly or somber, etc.
Your values
 Your values add impact to your statements
 What is important to you?
 What message do you want others to hear?
 [example] My values:
 I want to be able to show my true self and not hide behind a
façade
 I like people who take responsibility for themselves
 [exercise] What do YOU find to be important?
Confidence
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Who here is confident all the time? Who wants more confidence?
Practice Practice Practice!
Fake it until you make it
Talk about things you know
Work Story “One confident and one insecure* engineer”
You are here at TM, 99% of the people out there are NOT, you have
more skills than you realize
 It’s all about IMPROVEMENT!
 Make your point based on one of your values – this supports your
personal confidence “This I know to be true!”
 Be 100% confident even if you don’t know! For the next 2-3 minutes
you are 100% correct!
 [exercise] How did Alaska become a state?
When table topics begins
 Be present: What’s going in in room? What did other
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speakers and contestants say?
Think of personal story or 2 that will relate to the
theme
Think of news, music, current events related to topic
Answer every question to yourself to practice
[cheat] Make eye contact and smile if you have the
perfect answer!
If you are stuck
 Pause
 It's OK to think
 This feels longer than it really is!
 Bridge and Pivot
 “That reminds me of…” “This is similar to…”
 And you also need to know…”
 Tell a story
 “When I went to Alaska I …”
 Remember: Talk about what YOU think is important
and interesting about the question
What not to do
 Don’t memorize, reuse, or script your TT
 These slides are tools and building blocks to choose from, but
each TT is unique
 Don't answer another question. You don’t have this luxury
in real life.
 Don't pick your own question. That’s too easy!
 Real Life opportunities where you need to react to the
situation at hand:
 Work – executive gets on elevator with me…
 Sitting on train – someone sits down next to me, so I…
Final Exercise - practice
 Be present – observe what’s going on for you and
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others in room
Big opener
Speak Confidently – make your point based on your
values
Personal Story and the lesson / moral you learned
Strong, clear ending with your message, moral,
opinion, call to action, etc.
 You are doing great!