how to give a good table topics speech

How to Best Perform the Role of Table Topics Master in a Toastmasters Meeting?

Hrideep barot.

• Toastmasters

Table Topics is that session of a Toastmasters meeting where we are given the opportunity to practice impromptu speaking. A Table Topics Master (TTM) is the one who hosts this session. He/she calls upon members (as well as guests) and gives them a topic to speak upon for a minimum of one minute.

The Importance of a Table Topics Master

Table Topics is, in itself, a crucial element of Toastmasters. It allows us to think on our feet and improve our improvisation skills. Honing this ability is important not only for becoming a better speaker but also to help improve our communication in general.

Someone needs to be responsible for moderating this session – for creating topics of various difficulties and ensuring the audience is comfortable and engaged enough so that they actually want to come up on stage and attempt a Table Topic.

That’s where the Table Topics Master comes in! He/she ensures that members and guests both get a fair chance to speak as well as encourage anxious audience members to give Table Topics a shot!

Before the Meeting

Prepare for about 7-15 topics which the audience can speak upon depending on the size of your club and expected audience strength. We’ll dive deeper into what topics to prepare later in this article.

Contact the Toastmaster of the Day and find out the theme of the meeting. Prepare speech topics around that theme for consistency.

Also, ask the Vice President of Education for the agenda before the meeting. This will help you know who all have already taken up a speech slot or a role. Try and not call on these members to speak for Table Topics as they already are being given an opportunity to speak on stage. The idea is to give maximum members stage time.

When you’re called upon by the Toastmaster of the Day, start by introducing yourself and talking about the importance of Table Topics. Then, call upon the Timer to provide the timing guidelines for the Table Topics session.

The timing for a Table Topics session is 1 to 2 minutes. 1 minute is the minimum time, 1:30 minutes is the target time and 2 minutes is the maximum time. Speakers are allowed to speak for a maximum of 2:30 in a Table Topic before being disqualified.

Make sure to mention that this session is open for members as well as for guests . Also, you can reiterate the Word of the Day stated by the Grammarian and encourage speakers to use them in their Table Topic speeches.

Your script could look something like this:

“Good Morning Toastmaster of the Day, fellow Toastmasters and guests! Table Topics helps members practice the art of improvisation and also helps us think on our feet! This helps us develop four vital communication skills – Listening, Thinking, Organizing and Delivering. The topics that I have prepared for you will hopefully help all of us become better at improvisation. Since we at Toastmasters try and provide a speaking opportunity to maximum audience members, this session is not restricted to members alone. Even the guests can participate!  I hope everyone gives this a shot. I may randomly call anyone to participate or you can volunteer to come up on stage yourself by raising your hand. Before we begin, I request the Timer to call out the timing guidelines for the Table Topics Round. (After the Timer is done providing the guidelines) Thank you, Timer. Okay, let’s begin! Who will be the first volunteer?”

Download the Table Topic Master Script here

When you are done with the session, call on the Timer again to give the timing report. Then, thank the audience for participating and hand the stage back to the Toastmaster of the Day.

When you are preparing topics for a Table Topics session, here are few things to keep in mind:

• Keep the topics related to the theme
• Keep the topics fairly simple to speak on. The idea is to encourage people to come on stage and practice improvisation. Giving difficult topics and having members speechless on stage won’t help that much
• One way to determine the difficulty of the topics is to ask yourself if you yourself would be able to speak on the topic for a minute. If you find it doable, include that topic
• The number of topics that you should prepare will depend on the size of your audience. For a large club (40 members+), about 12-15 topics should do. For a smaller club (below 30 members), 8-12 topics should be enough
• It’s always better to have a slightly higher number of topics than you expect so in case you can call on more speakers, you don’t run out of topics. Having extra won’t hurt
• Try and have a few topics which call for humour. This will make the entire session a lot more entertaining

As a Table Topics Master, your job is to ensure that members are feeling comfortable enough to attempt improvisation as it can be challenging. So make sure your approach is friendly and encouraging.

When you call a speaker on stage, shake his/her hand, pick up a topic, announce the name of the speaker followed by the topic while looking at the speaker. Then, turn towards the audience, say the topic followed by the name of the speaker. This is to ensure that both, the speaker and the audience have heard the topic properly.

Here’s a comprehensive video we have made on how you can introduce a speaker in any setting to amaze an audience. Highly recommend you check it out not just for the role of TTM but for moderating ANY stage event:

When you begin, always start out with an experienced member if possible so guests can get an idea of how Table Topics work. After this, try picking out people who haven’t come on stage that particular meeting. The more people go on stage, the better! Having a good mix of members and guests is vital for a successful Table Topics session.

Becoming a Better Table Topic Master and Impromptu Speaker

Being a good Table Topic Master is also about being a good Table Topic speaker yourself.

If you want to learn impromptu speaking in a more structured format, check out this course by Shola Kaye on Udemy:

Public Speaking Success: IMPROMPTU public speaking

The course is quite handy when it comes to understanding impromptu speaking at deeper level. I personally like this course for two reasons:

• The instructor makes you practice impromptu speaking within the course framework itself. So you’re practicing AND learning, not just learning
• You get familiarised with various impromptu speech topics and scenarios. This helped be more sensitized to different topics and situations I could face where I would have to rely on impromptu speaking

I really like the instructor, Shola Kaye, as well. Being an introvert herself, she’s quite a relatable instructor. 

She’s also familiar with Toastmasters’ Table Topics. So all you TM members out there, this will be a great match! The curriculum is set out for only 7 days. So the content is extremely snackable and easy to watch. Check it out!

Adding a Creative Spin to a Table Topics Sessions

Most Table Topic Masters write down their topics on chits of papers and ask the audience to pick a chit from a bowl or something. This works just fine, but if you want to be different, you can also try some creative approaches to conduct the Table Topics session.

Here are a few suggestions:

• Have audience members pick up a topic from a deck of cards where each card represents a topic
• Have a bag of random props ready. Ask members to pick up any item from that bag and speak on it for a minute or two
• This idea can also be used in the “Sell me this” scenario, where you ask members to try and sell whatever item they picked up within the stipulated time
• Carry a bunch of pictures with you. Ask members to pick up a random picture and speak on it
• Call on two or even three audience members at the same time and ask them to perform a small skit on any given topic

These are just a few suggestions from the several creative approaches you can take when conducting a Table Topics session.

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• Table topics - Toastmasters

Table topics -Toastmasters

An overview, plus 80 themed table topics questions with printables

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Table topics is Toastmaster International parlance for all things impromptu speaking. It's the umbrella term they use to refer to the portion of the meeting set aside to focus solely on developing impromptu speaking skills i.e., a table topics session, as well as the topics themselves, the speakers and their speeches.

What's on this page:

What is a good table topic, what makes table topics fun.

• What is the benefit or value of table topics?
• 80 plus table topics questions with printables
• 20 Christmas themed table topic ideas
• 20 life-lesson suggestions

20 music themed table topics ideas

20 thought-provoking table topics questions.

• Unusual objects or grab bag table topics
• Current event headlines table topics
• The origin of the term 'table topics '
• A brief description of Table Topics - the role of the Table Topics Master , what happens in a session , the ah-counter and the evaluator , feedback and evaluation , what I learned through receiving speech evaluations
• Resources for impromptu speaking - links to 100s more table topic ideas, printable outlines and structural formats for impromptu speeches, 17 fun impromptu speaking activities
• Other resource pages especially for Toastmasters

The origin of the term 'table topics'

Before it was adopted by Toastmasters, table topics was the name given to prepared conversation starters: suggestions of things you could easily talk about with family, friends and other guests, over dinner.

The reason behind using them is to bypass the possibility of potentially embarrassing, stilted question and answer exchanges, or worse still, awkward silence.

For instance:

• Do you live locally?  No. 
• Do you like your job?  No.
• Have been here before? No.

The best table topics are open-ended: encouraging free-flowing conversation on non-threatening or polarizing topics.

• What's the best thing that happened to you this week?
• What's new in your world?
• When you were growing up, what was your dream job?

Return to Top

A brief description of Table Topics at Toastmasters 

The table topics master - prior preparation.

The Table Topics session is set up in advance of the club meeting by the person who has been given the role of Table Topics Master * . Ideally, they'll have thought through the session from its set-up to its close.

They'll have checked in with the person chairing the meeting (the Toastmaster of the Day * ) to find out:

• who's got what roles e.g., General Evaluator * , Timer * , Grammarian * , Ah-Counter * ..., 
• who is scheduled to give prepared speeches, 
• the theme of the meeting, (if there is one) and,
• if there is a 'word of the day' from the person who has the Grammarian role for the meeting.

( * The people carrying out these roles all have specific tasks to do. To find out more see  Toastmasters International -Club Meeting Roles .)

With all that information in hand, they'll prepare a list of topics, and a list of members to call on to speak. (Anybody who hasn't either a prepared speech to give, or a significant role in the running of the meeting, is fair game.)

A typical table topics session

A typical session in the club I belonged to was approximately 20 minutes long: time for 6-8 speakers. It ran fairly predictably, regardless of who was fulfilling the Table Topics Master role, and it was always looked forward to. 

To open, the Table Topics Master generally gave a small introductory spiel (talk) about the value/purpose of table topics, and how the session was going to be run. While this was mostly for the benefit of newcomers, or guests, it also served to give the session structure. 

They'd explain that they were going to call on a speaker, who would come to the front of the room, and they'd shake hands.

Then the speaker would be given a topic on which they would talk for a minimum time of one minute and a maximum time of two minutes, timed by the Timer.

When they had finished, the Table Topics Master would shake their hand once more and the speaker would return to their seat, amid clapping from an appreciative audience. Then another person would be called up and the process repeated.

If there were guests at the meeting, after they had watched three or four speakers, they were given an opportunity to either briefly introduce themselves or take a topic if they wished to.

After the last speaker, the Table Topics Master, closed the session, thanked the participants, and handed the running of the meeting back to the Toastmaster of the Day.  

The Ah-counter and the Evaluator

Other than the Timer and the Table Topics Master, there are often two more people listening intently, and making notes, on what is happening throughout the session. They are the Ah-counter and the Evaluator.

The Ah-counter is listening for repeated filler sounds (ums, ahhs, ers...) words (like, so, yeah, actually, really...), or phrases (you know, I mean, by the way...) and making a tally of them.

During the evaluation part of the meeting, they will be called to report on their findings. E.g.

• Megan: 3 'ums' and 2 'yeah, I dunnos'.
• Bill: 4 'yeah, um, like, well' sequences.
• George: 5 'likes'...

The purpose is not to shame but to highlight habitual speaking patterns that detract from what is being said.

Becoming aware of what we actually say and do, rather than what we think we do, gives us an opportunity to learn to pause, or find other words. 

Feedback and evaluation 

There's a Toastmasters' joke that if someone moves and speaks during a meeting it will be someone else's job to evaluate how they've done, regardless of whether it's finding the mugs for the half-time coffee/tea break or handing out flyers for the next major Toastmaster hooley (get together). Although that's an exaggeration, receiving an evaluation and giving one is one of the most valuable aspects of belonging to a club. We learn so much from them. 

Through feedback we find out if the speech we gave appealed to our audience.

• Was the content appropriate?
• Did the structure work?
• How effective was our body language?
• How well did we use our voice?
• Did we use filler words?
• Did we finish our speech within the allocated target time?  

And most importantly, we receive specific suggestions for improvement. 

For more see Speech evaluation - giving and getting structures, informed speech feedback . There's a printable example evaluation form to download for your own use.

What I learned through speech evaluations

A thorough evaluation done by an experienced person is gold. 

For instance, thanks to receiving speech evaluations, I learned my hands behaved like a pair of frantic flapping birds when I got excited. They danced distractingly: flicking this way and that. They had to be slowed down and given specific gestures to make, ones supporting what I was talking about. 

I found out I rolled my eyes skyward while inwardly scrabbling for the next few words to say. Again, disconcerting for the audience. 

And there was, sometimes, a lamentable lack of structure.  A rave, a tenuously connected string of ideas, however inventive, is not a Table Topics speech. Right. Got it. It took practice, a lot of it, before I became a better speaker.

A good Table Topic is one inviting the speaker/respondent to use their imagination. It does not require prior knowledge of the subject to give an effective response, and neither is it a question inviting a simple 'yes' or 'no' answer.  

For example, anyone can respond to universally applicable, open-ended questions or topics like these.

• What was the best decision you ever made, and why?
• Who was your hero when you were a child, and why?
• Tell us about a time you felt truly happy.
• What is your favorite season, and why?

They will elicit entirely different speeches depending on who receives them. 

Jump to 80+ good table topics questions .

In my experience, Table Topics is fun when it's run smoothly and lightheartedly by the Table Topics Master, and the topics they've chosen are ones the speakers can relate, and respond, to relatively easily.

Topics requiring specialist or specific knowledge tend to panic inexperienced speakers when they don't have a clue about the subject they've been given. They'll flounder into umming and ahhing.

However, the same topic given to someone who knows what they're doing, will be calmly and neatly sidestepped if they have nothing to say on it. 

Nuclear fission and its role in shaping the world

For instance, being asked to talk on 'Nuclear fission and its role in shaping the modern world' would have many people gasping. (What?! Goodness gracious!)

However, someone experienced could change it to a topic they were interested in. Like this:

"Ah, yes, fellow toastmasters, 'nuclear fission and its role in shaping the modern world'. It's a worthy topic, a weighty one." (Large pause.) 

"You know, I've been rehearsing in my mind for a long time what I'd say if I ever was asked to speak on something I had absolutely zero knowledge of. And here it is, at last, - an opportunity not to be passed up, one to grasped and grateful for. Thank you, Table Topics Master!

So, here's the deal. I am going to exchange your topic for something I'm equipped to speak about. 

Ladies and gentlemen, dahlias. Yes, flowers, specifically, dahlias. You're going to get approximately one minute on how these glorious autumnal blooms, available in a riot of vibrant colors have shaped my world, for the better."   

To make the table topics session fun prepare topics you know the people you're going to give them to can handle. Be kind. Be creative and, be real.

While the ability to sidestep a topic is useful, don't make them unnecessarily tough. The goal is to have people willing and ready to speak. 

(It's also handy to have a couple of extra topics in case you suddenly find you have time for more speakers. And if you want to give people specialist topics, match the person you've chosen to speak with a question/topic tailored specifically to target their personal experience and knowledge.) 

Go to 80+ table topics questions

What is the benefit or value of Table Topics?

By taking part in Table Topics, Toastmasters' members develop the ability to organize their thoughts quickly under pressure and to respond calmly, and appropriately, to impromptu questions.

And through witnessing a Table Topics session, being in the audience: listening and watching, we learn what works and what doesn't. 

At a very practical level the principal benefit is being able to readily take opportunities to speak up either for yourself or on behalf of others who don't have the confidence, skills or experience to speak for themselves.

For instance, a competent impromptu speaker can readily give a good welcome speech, a thank you speech, a toast, or answer questions well in a meeting or at job interviews. They know to make small talk: how to chat easily and thoughtfully to people they're meeting for the first time, and their facilitation skills are good too.  These are all highly valued assets in either private or public life. 

If you want to extend your career possibilities, participating in Table Topics is a great way to acquire sought after leadership skills. You'll learn to become a better speaker, a better listener, and a better communicator in a safe supportive environment.  And it's a lot of fun!

Table topics questions: 80 plus suggestions

Themed ideas for table topic speeches.

Before deciding on a set of topics, check with the Toast Master of the Day, on the theme of the meeting. Can you extend that into your questions?

Is there a 'word of the day' to highlight too?  Can you work it into your introduction? Can the speakers use it in their speeches? Make that a challenge and ask the Grammarian to keep a tally. 

There's a printable to download for each of the four sets of table topics. (Please note they will open on a new page.)  

20 Christmas themed table topics + printable

For instance, if the theme is Christmas, here's a collection of 20 topic ideas to fit, with a printable. 

• What secret Santa gift would you give someone close to you, and why?
• What does Christmas mean to you?
• How do we de-commercialize Christmas?
• What is your favorite Christmas song?
• What do you think about re-gifting gifts you don't want?
• If you could kiss anyone under the mistletoe, who would you choose?
• What is the very best gift someone could give you for Christmas?
• If you could give someone you love whatever you wanted, what would that gift be?
• Why do we lie to children about Santa Claus?
• What Christmas traditions do you observe?
• Your much-loved Aunt gives you a truly hideous Christmas sweater. What do you do?
• What do you do when your Christmas spirit is running low?
• Did you ever sneak a peek at a Christmas present before you were supposed to? 
• Tell us about your worst Christmas nightmare.
• What is your favorite childhood memory of Christmas?
• How did you learn that Father Christmas (Santa) was a fiction?
• For me, it would not be Christmas without [fill in the blank]?
• Do you shop for Christmas presents or make your own?
• Who is the most difficult person in your family to choose a present for?
• What are you grateful for this Christmas?

Get the printable: 20 Christmas themed table topics . 

Table topic ideas - 20 life-lessons

Or if the meeting theme is 'life lessons' the speech topics could be:

• The time I got caught out doing something I knew I shouldn't have been.
• What lessons I have learned the hard way.
• How I solved my procrastination problem
• Why looks can be deceiving
• How what you think about yourself shapes your life
• How to de-clutter and recycle
• Why learning you can't please everyone will save your sanity
• Having money does not solve all problems
• That budgeting works
• Why, when and how to apologize
• That power is intoxicating
• How giving more is the key to getting more
• How to work out what is essential 
• That learning to laugh at oneself keeps your ego in check
• That it's the little things in life that count
• That preparation and practice are the keys to success
• That getting older or aging is not an excuse
• Why failure can be an opportunity
• That regret is a waste of time
• That education is never complete

Now get the printable: 20 life-lesson table topics .

And here's some great ideas if the meeting theme is the importance of music:

• If you had a theme song, what would it be, and why?
• What is the earliest piece of music you can remember loving listening to? 
• How does music unite people?
• What are some of the health benefits of listening to music?
• What piece of music drives you crazy?
• Which musical instrument would you like to play, and why? 
• What is your all-time favorite song? Why? What makes it special?
• What is your favorite musical genre? Why?
• What singer or musician do you particularly admire? Why?
• Why do you think some musicians become mega stars?
• What music has special memories for you?
• What music do you listen to while you work?
• What's the first album you bought?
• How does the music played in either lifts, shops or arcades make you feel?
• What music makes you want to dance?
• What sort of music did your parents listen to?
• What's the best concert you've ever been to?
• Why is it important for children to have a musical education?
• What types of music are most popular amongst the people you know?
• What makes music universally appealing?

Download the printable: 20 music themed table topics .

• My most valued possession
• If I had all the time in the world I would...
• If I could only change one thing, I would change...
• What do you find truly beautiful?
• What have you learned about handling your own stress levels?
• Why is it important to do what you're told?
• How will you know when you've 'made it'?
• If you want to find yourself, where is the first place to look?
• If you could wish for a dream to come true, what dream would you wish for?
• What secret have you never shared with anybody until now?
• How do you know money is the root of all evil?
• Would you rather be popular or intelligent?
• What is something that used to scare you and doesn't anymore?
• What do you want to be forgiven for?
• What makes me laugh.
• Is it ever right to do the wrong thing?
• What makes you feel safe and secure?
• When is it a good idea to follow your own path?
• What important lesson does failing teach?
• What does doing the 'right thing' actually mean?

Get the 20 thought provoking questions printable.

OMG - what is it? Unusual object table topics 

If your group of potential speakers are experienced * , try taking along a non-see-through bag full of smallish mysterious objects.  

Ask each person to reach into the bag and pull out the first object they touch. This is what they'll speak about.  You'll get inventive, imaginative story telling on a grand scale - what the object is used for, who it belongs to, its curious back story, its worth on the international market (priceless), ... 

When I use this idea, I go around my home looking for items that don't readily reveal what they actually are, how they are used and, that are robust enough to be handled safely.  I put one in the bag for each person and a couple of extras to be on the safe side.

For instance: a small spiky ball made out of some sort of hard black plastic compound, a sharpened, polished wooden stick with a large glass bead glued on one end of it, an old, tarnished silver-plated rack thing with a handle, a piece of curved polished stainless steel, a soft squishy egg made out of green gel, and so on. 

*Some topic ideas are more difficult for newcomers than others. Ones asking for highly creative responses might bewilder inexperienced speakers. If in doubt, check with the person if they want to participate before asking them to speak. Once they've seen what others do with topics like these, they're more likely to give it a go themselves sometime in the future.

Current events headlines

Here's another effective easily prepared table topics idea. Take a look at the current events pages of your local papers. What you want is a collection of evocative headlines - one for each speaker and a couple of spares. 

Here's some examples from my local newspaper today:

• Police use helicopters, drones in massive raid on cannabis plots in remote bush,
• Cockroaches, pests and filthy kitchens found in nine food outlets,
• Pre-school teacher drove to work drunk but keeps teaching license,
• Can you be too young to get married?,
• Can drinking wine make me a better artist?,
• Boy gets stuck climbing into claw machine for prize at theme park...

Cut your chosen headlines out. Fold them up and put them in a container. Have each speaker select one to use as a starter for their speech. What they say needn't be true! Encourage 'alternative facts': creative, inventive storytelling.

Resources for impromptu speaking (table topics)

If you're looking for more impromptu speaking resources check these out.

• 100+ creative fun ideas for table topics : 11 themed lists - topics based on extraordinary book titles, acronyms, colors, cliches, bumper sticker wisdom and more.
• 150 impromptu speech topics : a highly popular serendipity, (a little bit of everything), selection.  
• 150 one-minute speech topic ideas : with example speeches, text and audio, plus a printable speech outline template.
• 40 picture prompts for impromptu speeches : a printable of 40 quality images, and instructions for 5 impromptu speaking/storytelling activities.
• Impromptu speech outlines : 7 structural formats for impromptu speeches, each with a printable outline and an example.  
• 196 printable impromptu speech topic cards : 98 proverbs and 98 quotations.  
• 17 fun impromptu speech activities to ease people into impromptu speaking without stress. A complete resource. Comprehensive guidelines plus printables. Suitable for middle school upwards.

Other resources especially for Toastmasters

Master your Toastmaster icebreaker : a thorough step by guide, with examples, going from selecting a topic, writing and rehearsing, through to delivery. With an example icebreaker speech.

60 body language speech topics : a selection of topics carefully chosen to encourage expressive use of the body and voice. Any of them would be suitable for any project highlighting body language and/or vocal variety.

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• Toastmasters →

50 Toastmasters Table Topics Questions For Your Next Chapter Meeting

Are you a member of a Toastmasters club and looking for some inspiration for your next chapter meeting? Look no further than these 50 Toastmasters Table Topics questions! Table Topics is an impromptu speaking exercise where members are given a topic to speak on for one to two minutes. These questions cover a wide range of topics and can be used to help members improve their speaking skills and confidence . So whether you’re a seasoned Toastmaster or just starting out, these questions are sure to spark some interesting and engaging discussions at your next meeting.

What are Toastmasters Table Topics?

Toastmasters Table Topics are impromptu speeches given during a Toastmasters meeting . The speaker is given one to two minutes to give an engaging and meaningful speech on a topic that they have had no time to prepare.

Table topics are a great way to challenge a speaker’s public speaking confidence and creativity. Speakers must think quickly, organize their thoughts into words, and share them with the audience in an intelligible and captivating manner. Learning how to perform well in the table topics portion of Toastmasters meetings is vital for improving both public speaking skills and improvisational intelligence.

For many speakers, the idea of creating a speech out of thin air can be overwhelming. Others may find it exciting and exhilarating. Debate can be found from both sides of the argument; some may feel that having no time to prepare eliminates an essential part of the preparation process , while others view this as a practice in mastering the art of improvising on stage. Whichever opinion someone holds, it is important for all Toastmasters speakers to understand what table topics are, as it will give them an edge both within club and when facing impromptu speechmaking during other external events outside of the club walls.

At its core, the purpose of the table topics segment of Toastmasters is not just to test one’s ability to think quickly on their feet, but also to build confidence in their own communication abilities under pressure. Knowing how to properly prepare for these short impromptu speeches can help build these key skills needed for successful communication in any setting.

Benefits of Table Topics Questions 

Table Topics questions are highly beneficial for improving public speaking skills. As Toastmasters participants answer each question, they practice their ability to think on their feet and express their thoughts in an organized and meaningful way. The challenge of Table Topics is that speakers don’t have much time to prepare their answer and must rely on sharpening their impromptu speaking skills to effectively address the question.

Additionally, Table Topics questions enable participants to develop greater confidence on the spot. Although a participant may feel apprehensive at first, the more frequently they engage in answering the questions, the easier it will be for them to step into the spotlight without fear.

There is, however, some debate on whether Table Topics promote enough depth of thought within the answers or if they distract from meaningful conversations. On one hand, some people argue that because speakers need to give an immediate response they often fail to provide substantive answers. On the other hand, it can be argued that because responses usually range from one minute to two minutes; there is still enough time for speakers to make strong points and delve deeper into a topic. In either case, Table Topics are beneficial in developing public speaking skills and should be experimented with in various measures in all Toastmasters clubs.

Tips for Crafting Table Topics Questions 

When crafting Table Topics questions, there are several tips to keep in mind. First and foremost, the goal of good Table Topics is to ensure that those participating will have to think quickly and thoughtfully. It is important to craft questions that range in complexity, so that all participants can successfully engage and share their own perspectives. Structure topics into various categories or themes depending on the overall context of the meeting or discussion. Some common topics include current events, hypothetical situations, family traditions and historic moments.

Creating interesting Table Topics also deals with the phrasing of questions. Keeping questions a bit open-ended without being too vague is essential. For example, instead of asking “What makes you happy?” ask something more like “What brings you joy?” This requires participants to delve more deeply into his or her thinking process in order to arrive at an answer.

Also consider if it is best to allow participants time for preparation before they have to speak. For some groups, this may not be necessary but for others this could be helpful and encourage engagement from all participants. While some structure around personal stories and anecdotes may work well for one group, analytical debate may work better for another group. There is no one-size-fits-all approach when selecting topics since each group dynamic is unique.

At the end of the day, table topics that inspire dialogue can be both challenging and enjoyable simultaneously. Ultimately, by keeping these various tips in mind while crafting new Table Topics questions, it can help lead to a successful and meaningful Toastmasters meeting experience.

Tips for Facilitating Table Topics Questions 

Facilitating table topics at a Toastmasters Club is an important part of ensuring that every club meeting runs smoothly. It requires the facilitator to provide interesting, thought-provoking questions to jump-start conversations and to manage the time appropriately so everyone gets an equal amount of speaking time. Here are some tips for facilitating Table Topics:

Create Conversation Starters: Create conversation starters that are exciting and thought-provoking. They should be easy for participants to answer, but also encourage them to think outside the box. It’s possible to stick with traditional topics such as favorite vacations or life goals, but it’s also encouraged to come up with original ideas related to current events or news stories.

Time Management: It’s important to manage time appropriately during Table Topics. To make sure no one monopolizes the conversation, set a time limit for each response. Two minutes is recommended; however, if the room is particularly talkative, you may want to shorten that interval. Ask participants to keep their responses brief and on track so everyone has an opportunity to speak.

Encourage Active Listening: Encourage active listening during Table Topics. Everyone should be given an opportunity to respond and participate in the conversation. Ask participants questions while they are answering to show they have your attention and encourage others to chime in when appropriate with supportive comments or follow up questions.

Keep it Positive: Keep the atmosphere positive and encouraging during Table Topics sessions. Even if someone struggles with articulating their thoughts or finishes before time runs out, thank them for their contribution and encourage others to continue the discussion positively. Despite varying levels of comfortability talking in front of a group, every participant should feel supported during this activity.

As you can see, effective facilitation of table topics can be both nerve-wracking and rewarding at the same time! With practice and these helpful tips, you’ll be ready to facilitate conversations in your Toastmasters Club meetings like a pro!

Now let’s move on and talk about some ideas for interesting table topics questions that will get your participants chatting.

50 Ideas & Questions for Table Topics

Table Topics are a great way to develop your public speaking skills and build confidence. But thinking of ideas for interesting Table Topics can be a challenge. Before diving into the specifics, it is important to remember that a good Table Topic should engage the audience , encourage some friendly debate, and push participants outside their comfort zone.

When considering ideas, try to think outside the box and come up with something that will be entertaining yet educational. Consider topics such as the dress code of professional offices, the use of technology in education, or the most recent policy changes in government. It might also be interesting to bring up a more controversial topic like the death penalty or gun control in order to spark some lively debate. Additionally, having a theme to tie your topics together can be beneficial. For example, deciding on an ocean-themed night could comprise of studying the effects of plastic waste on marine life or finding ways to conserve water.

• “What is your favorite book and how has it influenced you?”
• “If you could be any fictional character, who would you be and why?”
• “What is the best advice you have ever received and how did it impact your life?”
• “If you could live in any time period, which one would you choose and why?”
• “What is your favorite hobby and why do you enjoy it?”
• “If you could change one thing about your community, what would it be and why?”
• “What is your proudest moment and why is it significant to you?”
• “If you could have any job in the world, what would it be and why?”
• “What is the most important lesson you have learned from a mistake?”
• “If you could learn any new skill, what would it be and why?”
• “What is your favorite song and how does it make you feel?”
• “If you could be any animal, which one would you be and why?”
• “What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced and how did you overcome it?”
• “If you could have dinner with any living person, who would it be and why?”
• “What is your favorite quote from a movie and how does it inspire you?”
• “If you could have any talent, what would it be and why?”
• “What is the most important thing you have learned from a mentor or role model?”
• “If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?”
• “What is the most interesting place you have ever traveled to and why was it memorable?”
• “If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?”
• “What is the most important quality in a friend and why?”
• “If you could have any question answered, what would it be and why?”
• “What is the most inspiring speech you have ever heard and why did it resonate with you?”
• “If you could live in any fictional world, which one would you choose and why?”
• “What is the most important lesson you have learned from a failure?”
• “If you could go back in time and change one event, what would it be and why?”
• “What is your favorite quote from a book and how does it inspire you?”
• “If you could have any car, which one would you choose and why?”
• “What is the most important quality in a leader and why?”
• “If you could have any animal as a pet, which one would you choose and why?”
• “What is the most important lesson you have learned from a success?”
• “If you could have any superhero power, which one would you choose and why?”
• “What is the most interesting job you have ever had and why was it memorable?”
• “If you could have any wish granted, what would it be and why?”
• “What is your favorite place to go for a vacation and why do you love it?”
• “If you could have any food delivered to you right now, what would it be and why?”
• “What is the most important lesson you have learned from a teacher or mentor?”
• “If you could live in any city in the world, where would you choose and why?”
• “What is the most important quality in a romantic partner and why?”
• “If you could be any character in a movie, who would you be and why?”
• “If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be and why?”
• “What is your favorite quote and how does it inspire you?”
• “If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go and why?”
• “What is the most important lesson you have learned in life and how has it impacted you?”
• “If you could change one thing about your past, what would it be and why?”
• “What is your proudest accomplishment and how did you achieve it?”
• “If you could switch lives with anyone for a day, who would it be and why?”
• “What is your favorite childhood memory and why does it stand out to you?”
• “If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would you use it?”
• “What is the biggest risk you have ever taken and what did you learn from it?”

At times, you may want to keep things lighthearted with humorous subjects such as whether laughter is the best medicine or who’s funnier – cats or dogs? Digging into pop culture topics can also keep folks interested in what you’re saying. For instance, discussing whether there are better superhero movies than The Avengers. Anything goes; so just allow your mind to wander for innovative and fresh Table Topic ideas!

Making Table Topics Fun for All Participants

Table Topics can be a great way to get participants of all ages engaged and open to explore their ideas. Making it fun for all participants should be the priority when constructing Table Topics for your next speech. As much as competitive spirit is welcomed, the primary goal should be to make sure everyone enjoys the activity while developing their public speaking skills.

In order to make Table Topics entertaining, consider making some topics light-hearted but still intellectually stimulating. Humor can help ease nervousness in a group environment and it also allows people to express themselves more freely. To ensure interactions stay respectful, you might want to establish ground rules before beginning. This will also allow participants to experience a sense of comfort and security. Games are also an excellent way of making Table Topics more lively; you could have participants play games such as pictionary or charades in order to add more variety into the exercise.

Interpersonal communication is essential for any conversation, yet this becomes especially important during Table Topics because you don’t have the luxury of time to plan out your message before responding. Participants should practice building interpersonal relationships with each other and remain sensitive to the other person’s feelings when responding. Finally, making sure that everyone participates during Table Topics is key as this will help create a stronger team bond as well as provide opportunities for every individual to improve their public speaking abilities. Through these methods, Table Topics can be both educational and enjoyable!

At the conclusion of your Table Topics activities, take a few moments to wrap up by summarizing what was discussed and emphasizing how participating in such activities can positively impact one’s public speaking journey.

Key Takeaways

Table Topics can be an engaging exercise for developing public speaking skills . To make this activity successful, establish ground rules and consider light-hearted but stimulating topics. Participants should practice building interpersonal relationships through their responses and everyone should be included so that the experience is educational and enjoyable. Wrap up activities by summarizing what was discussed and emphasizing the impact it has on public speaking development.

How to Answer Table Topics 

Table Topics are a unique format, so preparation and effective answers can be challenging. However, effectively answering Table Topics questions can increase the likelihood of success in debates and other speaking events.

When preparing to answer Table Topics, there are several key points to keep in mind.

First, practice with sample and hypothetical questions. This will help increase comfort and flexibility when it comes time to answer the Table Topics question on the spot. Practicing with common TableTopics themes, such as acting out an emotion or delivering a persuasive speech, allows speakers to get accustomed to giving spontaneous responses.

Second, structure is key. Many people find it useful to break TableTopics questions into three smaller answer parts: an introduction , a body, and a conclusion. This method helps develop the speech more thoroughly by covering each point and ending with a compelling closing statement .

Third, delivery is critical. Speakers should use effective vocal techniques, as well as employ dynamic body language in order to maintain audience attention throughout the speech. Eye contact is particularly important; avoiding looking at the ground or behind the audience adds professionalism and confidence to the delivery of any response.

Finally, leave an impactful impression on the audience at the conclusion of your topic statement. Including a goodbye phrase such as “thank you for listening” or “I look forward to your questions” gives closure to both the TableTopics round and the responder’s response. Additionally, providing a summarization of key points from the speech signals thought-through organization of ideas throughout its entirety and keeps potential discussion topics open for further discussion.

Bonus: Check out this blog post for 8 structures to help you tackle table topics.

Answering Table Topics can be daunting but with proper preparation and recognition of key concepts for successful delivery, anyone is prepared to give an impressive response!

Answers to Common Questions

How do table topics help improve someone’s public speaking skills.

Table Topics are a great way to improve public speaking skills. By engaging in Table Topics, people can become more comfortable with their speaking abilities and better able to come up with ideas on the spot. Table Topics also offer an opportunity for people to practice developing their arguments and stories quickly and concisely. This helps to increase confidence when preparing and delivering speeches outside of a Toastmasters setting. Additionally, Table Topics give speakers experience in thinking outside of the box and finding creative solutions to questions. This can help them be more prepared for unexpected topics in speeches or presentations, allowing them to deliver strong presentations with dynamic messages.

What tips can I use to effectively participate in a Toastmasters Table Topics session?

When participating in a Toastmasters Table Topics session, there are a few tips to help you effectively participate. Firstly, be prepared and practice your responses to unexpected questions beforehand. This can help you increase your confidence level when it is your turn to speak. Secondly, stay focused on the question asked and take some time to think before answering so that you don’t ramble too much. Thirdly, focus on making compelling statements and use appropriate gestures or humor when appropriate to emphasize your point or make it memorable. Finally, keep it concise by staying within the time limit allotted for the topic. These steps can help you give a great speech that will impress the judges and other attendees at the session.

Making Table Topics Fun

by Monique Hodgkinson | Jun 11, 2022

Having Fun With Table Topics

by Monique Hodgkinson

How to Make Table Topics  Fun and

Still reap all the benefits.

W hen I first joined Toastmasters, I thought, “Aha, I will learn how to deliver an effective speech.” Little did I know that Toastmasters would teach me so much more—from listening carefully for filler words to delivering a joke and running club meetings. Pathways and functionary reports have helped me conquer various foibles, but Table Topics ® have proved to be one of the most valuable tools available for improving my public speaking.

Let’s dig a little deeper and examine why Table Topics are so important for public speaking skills.

Table Topics  build impromptu speaking muscles, such as:

Thinking on your feet

Since Table Topics ‘ questions are not known in advance, they encourage speakers to think on their feet, deciding what they will share as their response within seconds.

  Organizing thoughts before speaking

Sometimes a second feels like forever, especially when you are standing in the spotlight to give a Table Topics speech, but a second, or two, or three does not seem as long to an audience as it does to a speaker. Take a deep breath and organize your thoughts before you start answering your Table Topics prompt. You’ll be amazed at what a tiny fraction of time can do to help you deliver a better speech.

Improving confidence

Remember the first time you had to do a Table Topics speech? Did you have butterflies in your stomach? Did it get easier to do a Table Topics speech over time? Practice brings familiarity and helps toastmasters become more comfortable with impromptu speaking. Practice also allows toastmasters to become more confident in their abilities to speak off-the-cuff.

We are all our own harshest critics. Table Topics provides us with opportunities to practice our public speaking skills and offers a safe environment for trying out new speaking techniques. Even when we stumble, we can learn from it and silence that inner critic. The beauty of Table Topics is that there will be another opportunity coming up soon.

Keeping focused

Two minutes often feels like a very long time to speak while at other times it seems way too short. Table Topics teach us to gather our thoughts and deliver a response to the prompt within a limited amount of time. We learn to use our internal clocks (and the timer’s cues) to deliver a cohesive, structured reply.

Speakers who tend to speak for shorter amounts of time learn how to deliver their speeches using the time available to strengthen their stories. Others who tend to run long learn how to make their speeches more impactful by focusing on the point and avoiding rambling.

Toastmasters have the opportunity to cycle through the role of Table Topics Master. For some, coming up with prompts can be a struggle. Even if this doesn’t apply to you, here are tips you can use to liven up your Table Topics sessions and encourage both members and guests to participate:

Choose a theme

The theme of the meeting, holidays, special events, and regional celebrations are excellent sources of inspiration. Select your theme and come up with a list of related questions. For example, Independence Day is just around the corner. Table Topics questions for a Fourth of July themed meeting might include:

• How are you planning to celebrate the Fourth of July this year?
• Do you have any family traditions that are part of your Fourth of July celebration?
• What does Independence Day mean to you?
• If there is one food that you must have on the menu at a Fourth of July BBQ, what is it?
• What one food should never be on a Fourth of July menu?

Make it enjoyable

For some club members, responding to Table Topics  may feel stressful. Take the pressure off by adding an element of fun. Keep it light and encourage participation.

Don’t ask questions that might feel uncomfortable, too personal, or extremely difficult to answer. Table Topics  are meant to give the speaker time to practice their impromptu speaking. Questions that stump other Toastmasters do not add to the enjoyability factor.

Gamify Table Topics

Using the “Wheel of Names” can add an element of fun to your Table Topics session. Enter in a list of prompts, choose a speaker, and spin. The wheel determines which prompt the speaker gets. Select speakers by entering their names into the wheel and spin to determine who gets the next prompt. Or, randomize the game even more by running two wheels to match up speakers to topics.

Why not play a game of Jeopardy using the template created by Eric Curts? Just enter questions into the slides , and you’ll be ready to go. Divide your members into teams to add a little friendly competition.  Adding in games makes Table Topics really fun and exciting!

  Pick a card, any card…

Table Topics  card sets are available online. These entertaining, icebreaker decks include over 100 cards with random questions that are a fun way to mix it up when conducting Table Topics. There are also many online resources with lists of Table Topics  questions, like:

• How do you feel about clowns?
• Which wild animal would you like to tame and keep as a pet?
• What’s something most people don’t know about you?
• What could society do without?
• If you were a doctor, which specialty would you choose?

  Let’s get visual!

For a bit of an added challenge, try PowerPoint Karaoke. All you need is a slide deck with numbered categories and five images to go with each theme. The speaker picks a category and then has 2-3 minutes to make up a story using the slides.

Another variation is an abridged version. Assign a number to an image and have the speaker pick a number. Next, show them the image they will use as the inspiration for a 1-2 minute Table Topics speech. My home club recently used this game in a meeting that also served as an online Zoom baby shower for one of our members. It was a lot of fun!

Table Topics is an art, one that is worth mastering as a Toastmaster. It takes practice to put together a response to a prompt, whether it be a thematic question, a game that you play, or even a visual cue. As Toastmasters, we strive to improve all of our speaking skills, from rehearsed speeches to impromptu Table Topics questions.

I encourage all Toastmasters to take on the challenge of participating in Table Topics. Toastmasters clubs are a safe and friendly environment for practicing impromptu speaking, a skill that applies during meetings at work or even every day, off-the-cuff conversations. Mastering the art of public speaking while thinking on your feet will pay dividends. Even if Table Topics make you nervous, practicing will serve you well.

The next time your Table Topics master calls your name to speak or asks for a volunteer. Take that deep breath, gather your thoughts, and jump right in. In the long run, you will be glad that you did. I know that I am. Keep practicing, and you will soon be a master at Table Topics.

Written by: Monique Hodgkinson District 101, Intuitively Speaking Toastmasters, Surf City Advanced Toastmasters, and Carmel Improv Toastmasters clubs

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What Is Table Topics? (+Impromptu Speaking Tips)

January 4, 2023

What is Table Topics? Is it possible to prepare to speak off-the-cuff?

Table Topics® is a long-standing element of Toastmasters club meetings. It’s designed to help participants practice impromptu speaking.

Keep reading to learn how Table Topics® works and to get a few tips and resources for impromptu speaking.

What Is Table Topics?

Let’s say you’re in the break room at work. Phil from the accounting department engages you in conversation. After briefly discussing your recent holiday experiences, Phil asks what you think about the leadership contest in the U.S. House of Representatives. Later that day, you’re in a team meeting, and your boss unexpectedly asks you about the status of the new website you’ve been working on.

These are exactly the sort of situations that Toastmasters Table Topics® is designed to help you with. What is Table Topics? Toastmasters club meetings have used this exercise for decades. Let’s take a look at how it works and then consider a few Table Topics examples.

How Toastmasters Table Topics® Works

A Topicsmaster is designated prior to the Toastmasters club meeting. At the meeting (typically after the prepared speeches), the Topicsmaster introduces Table Topics®. This can be a topic or a question. Often, it’s related to current events or that meeting’s theme.

The Topicsmasters ask for volunteers to respond to the topic or question, or they randomly call on people. Typically, they prioritize people who don’t have other speaking roles in the meeting. They might call on a guest to speak—but only after members have modeled how it’s done. Guests are always given the option to respond or not. The Topicsmaster aims to match the difficulty level with each respondent’s experience.

Each response takes a minute or two. The Topicsmaster keeps the exercise going by managing the transitions until the completion of the exercise.

Toastmasters Table Topics Examples

To get a better understanding of how the exercise works, take a look at these Table Topics® examples and ideas.

The Topicsmaster asks people to talk about a current news story. Even if they don’t know much about it, they could play the role of reporter and discuss the questions they would ask about it to understand the story. Ultimately, the point of Table Topics® is to get experience with impromptu speaking, not to demonstrate what you know about a particular matter.

The Topicsmaster brings a bag full of items and asks people to draw something from the bag and speak about it. Examples:

• The items are office supplies, and people tell a brief story in which the item is the main character.
• The items are unfamiliar to most people, such as objects from a print shop or a chemistry lab, and people explain what they are—even if they have no idea and just make it up. (You can see how this exercise can be a lot of fun!)

Photo Stories

The Topicsmaster brings or digitally displays images, and people make up stories about them. For example, there’s a picture of a car in the middle of a forest. A storyteller tells about a self-driving vehicle that just wants to get away from it all.

Sales Pitch

The Topicsmaster asks each person to sell a certain item. For example, the first person gives a two-minute sales pitch for a beach condo in Fiji. The next person has two minutes to tell the others why they should buy a twelve-pack of Christmas stockings. This Table Topics exercise can be done as a Grab Bag or with images to make it even more interesting and fun.

Keep It Going

The Topicsmaster introduces one topic or question, and everyone speaks to that topic. For example, What’s one piece of advice that you would give to your younger self? or What’s the best thing going on at work or at home right now? It helps if the topic is one that everyone can speak to.

While Topicsmasters follow guidelines, they (and the club in general) may put creative spins on how Table Topics® is done. The main thing is to accomplish the purpose of the exercise, which is skills development. Let’s look at that next.

Toastmasters Table Topics Skills

When your boss asks you for an update on your project, the purpose is to find out what’s going on with your project. When Phil asks for your opinion on the leadership contest, the purpose is to find out your opinion on the leadership contest.

However, when the Topicsmaster asks you about the war in Ukraine, the purpose is not to learn about the war in Ukraine and your views about it. The point of the Toastmasters Table Topics® exercise is skills development . It’s designed to help members think on their feet and respond quickly yet effectively .

While this is a chance for respondents to develop their impromptu speaking skills, it’s also an opportunity for the Topicsmaster to practice preparation and facilitation skills. And, just like every other element of Toastmasters club meetings, Table Topics® allows everyone to build confidence in public speaking and leadership . Every opportunity to speak and lead is valuable practice and experience.

Practice Table Topics Skills With Yoodli AI

Toastmasters International partners with Yoodli to help members improve their Table Topics® skills. Toastmasters members can find a Table Topics® button front and center on their version of the Yoodli AI public speaking tool.

You can see in the screenshot below that Varun has one minute to give an impromptu talk about his book recommendations. Yoodli records his speech and then provides instant feedback on his filler words, eye contact, weak words, etc. Practicing without a human audience gives you confidence to speak in front of people!

Toastmasters members can access the Toastmasters version of Yoodli through their member portal (see the screenshot below).

By the way, if you’re not a Toastmasters member, you can access similar impromptu speech games for free with the Yoodli app . They will have you learning and laughing!

Impromptu Speaking Tips & Resources

Mark Twain said, “It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” Although the attribution is in question, Sir Winston Churchill is credited with saying, “I’m just preparing my impromptu remarks.” While we might chuckle at these clever quips, there’s something serious to be found in the idea.

Toastmasters Table Topics® involves impromptu speaking, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t prepare for it. This article by Distinguished Toastmaster Peggy Beach recommends that you prepare for Table Topics® by reading a lot and staying up-to-date with what’s in the news. This advice works for all impromptu speaking, whether you’re in a Toastmasters club meeting or not.

Beach’s article mentions that the bar is lower for impromptu speaking . In the break room, Phil doesn’t expect you to answer his question about the House leadership contest as though you were Greta Van Susteren or Chris Matthews. Keep that in mind, and treat impromptu speaking like a comfortable conversation whether it technically is or isn’t.

Additional Resources

• Check out our article “ How to Make an Impromptu Speech: 5 Strategies for Success .” These strategies come from Lisa Kleiman, public speaking coach and the founder of Speaktopia .
• Read “ 10 Tips for Terrific Table Topics ” by Distinguished Toastmaster Christopher Cox. These strategies for sharp responses (such as “know when to stop” and “draw on your own experiences”) are helpful for any impromptu speaking.
• Play Spin a Yarn for free. This super fun Yoodli game lets you practice maintaining your train of thought with plot twists along the way.

Wrapping Up

Impromptu speaking is a valuable skill to have, regardless of who you are and what you do. You’re always being called on to speak, whether it’s in the hallway at work, at a dinner with friends, or in a work meeting or interview.

Toastmasters Table Topics® and Yoodli are here to help you develop your confidence and ability with impromptu speaking. Take advantage of these valuable opportunities, and always be prepared to speak off the cuff!

Start practicing with Yoodli.

Getting better at speaking is getting easier. Record or upload a speech and let our AI Speech Coach analyze your speaking and give you feedback.

The Aristotle’s Cafe Definitive Guide to Toastmasters Table Topics (2023)

How can I be a Toastmasters Table Topics Master?

Successful Toastmasters Table Topic Masters do three things:

• They research their audience.
• They prepare.
• They gather the BEST questions to lead to the BEST impromptu speeches .

From a Toastmasters Table Topic Session to an Evening with Friends, this Guide has Everything You Need

Toastmasters table topics guide - quick navigation.

Want to skip the article? That’s okay, go straight to the  Toastmasters Table Topics ULTIMATE CHEAT SHEET (FREE DOWNLOAD)

A Little Background to Table Topic Questions

• Benefits of Impromptu Speaking

Fun Table Topics to Get The Whole Crowd Smiling

Skyrocket reflection with these interesting table topics, tested toastmasters table topics for the seasons, easy table topics that are proven to encourage.

• My all time Favorite Table Topic Idea Twists
• The Toastmasters Table Topics ULTIMATE CHEAT SHEET (Free Download)

Toastmasters  is a global organization that has helped millions of people learn public speaking and leadership skills.

Toastmasters table topic questions have a long history and are one of the key components of the club programs in the Toastmasters organization.

What better way to have speakers internalize the structure of a speech and deliver a powerful message ?

It also helps if you want to learn how to think on your feet!

If you’d like to practice your table topic skills, or if you have the responsibility of serving as the Toastmasters Table Topics Master this completely FREE list of table topic questions will be just what you were looking for.

Make sure to share this guide with your fellow Toastmasters, friends, or colleagues when they are looking for a set of great impromptu questions. Whether that be for Table Topic Questions, or an evening of fun with friends.

Remember the format…

During Toastmasters table topic questions (There is normally a specific section in the meeting for this) participants pick a random question and have only 2 minutes to give their speech.

This helps them improve their impromptu speaking skills and develop their speaking and critical thinking skills.

So try to make sure if you come up with any of your own they are not easy to answer with just a “yes” or a “no.”

Questions from the list below will help you come up with your very own perfect table topic question in the future if you just put your mind to it!

As you can imagine…

Table topic questions can also be used at dinner parties, fun gatherings, and at other events to liven up the atmosphere and break the ice with a few quick words from the guests that came.

Now for the sample questions for table topics – here’s what we’ll cover: fun table topics, interesting table topics, tested Toastmasters table topics for the seasons, easy table topics, and my all time favorite Toastmasters table topic idea twists.

*FREE Download*

Bonus: Check out the Table Topics Ultimate Cheat Sheet  that will give you a good template to run your session successfully. We’ve created it for you here at Aristotle’s Cafe as we continue to strive to help the world have more discussions that matter and guide people through the process so they can develop confidence in impromptu speaking.

The Benefits of Impromptu Speaking

Just the thought of speaking in front of a group with no preparation might seem horrifying, but becoming skilled at it can have amazing benefits.

This takes practice, a systematic approach, and self-confidence.

Once you have impromptu speaking mastered, doors will open for you.

You will have the ability to nail last-minute presentations, shine during important meetings, and think on your feet while speaking each and every day.

So although this guide is focused on leading Toastmasters Table Topic Sessions, keep in mind that there is a major benefit for those that participate.

Description: Fun Table Topics that Get the Whole Crowd Smiling

Here are a few fun table topic ideas:

• How do you feel about putting mayonnaise on french fries?
• What’s the strangest thing a friend has ever done at your house?
• Should you eat pizza with your hands or with a fork and knife?
• What is now considered classy, but used to be very trashy?
• If animals could talk, which would be the most charming?
• What is something that is popular now, but in 10 years we might be ashamed of?
• If you time traveled naked 200 years in the past, how would you prove that you were from the future?
• What are a few fun ways to answer the boring question of “what do you do for work?”
• What was your favorite thing to do as a child that you would love to still be able to do as an adult?
• What is a dance move that everyone looks stupid doing?
• What is the most surprising thing you have seen in someone else’s home?
• What’s worst smell you have ever experienced?

Description: Skyrocket Reflection with these Interesting Table Topics

Many times the answers you will get are filled with sincerity and honesty, you’ll uncover some great moments with these interesting table topics.

*For help with one on one interactions, check out this expert resource for topics to talk about *

Here are some interesting table topic example questions:

• Who inspires you?
• If you could switch lives with anyone currently living for an entire day who would it be?
• Whitewater rafting, hiking, or skiing?
• How did you meet your best friend?
• What motivates you?
• What is something you’ve always wanted to try but have been too afraid to?
• What is your hidden talent?
• What is something you’ve tried but would never do again?
• If you only had 1 week left on Earth, what would you do?
• If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Description: Tested Toasmasters Table Topics for the Seasons

As a world traveler, I know a thing or two about rain, sunshine, and snow. That’s why I’ve decided to include Toastmasters table topics for every season, people are always passionate to talk about different times of the year.

Even more interesting, you might be surprised if someone never experienced snow in the wintertime which will lead to an even more captivating speech.

Here are a few great table topic ideas for Summer:

• If you could describe summer in 3 words, what would they be?
• What is your favorite summer memory?
• What is your most memorable summer vacation?
• What is your favorite way to cool off in the summertime?
• What is your favorite family activity for summertime?
• If you were invited to a cookout, what would you bring and why?
• Which do you prefer, summer or winter?

Toastmasters table topics for Fall:

Now that we’ve warmed up, let’s move onto Fall.

• What is your favorite Fall festival?
• Have you ever made apple cider or any other special drink from scratch?
• If you could, would you like go experience Oktoberfest in Munich?
• What is the scariest movie you’ve ever seen?
• Have you ever been camping?
• What is your favorite way to spend a lazy day?
• If you could have it be warm year round, would you?

Toastmasters table topics for Winter:

It might seem normal for some, but for others, winter is something they’ve never experienced. Snow, ice, and everything related to this time of year is something many will never see.

Here are some table topic question ideas for winter, don’t forget to add “and why” as needed:

• What is your favorite winter sport?
• If you had the chance to go to the north pole would you take it?
• Skiing, snowboarding, or sledding?
• Would you ever go ice-fishing?
• Did you ever have the chance to make a snowman? If so, what was your best one? If not, what would you start with?
• There are 50 Eskimo words for snow, what is something that you think we need more words for?
• What do you think about Santa Claus?
• What is your favorite food to eat on a snowy date?

Toastmasters table topics for Spring:

Spring is all about growth, life, and energy – very closely related to Toastmasters table topics. Rounding out the four seasons, here some table topic ideas for spring:

• What food would be at your ideal picnic?
• Jogging, cycling, or swimming?
• Have you ever been horseback riding?
• You’re on your way to an important meeting and you get caught in the rain without an umbrella, what do you do?
• If you could build a garden with only 3 plants, which ones would you grow?
• Do you believe in spring cleaning?

Description: Easy Table Topics that are Proven to Encourage

To help people easily organize their speech it’s good to give them 2-3 points to cover in the question.

Here are some fail-safe and easy table topic example questions:

• What are your 3 favorite personality traits?
• If you could only take 2 items with you to a deserted island, what would they be?
• Do you prefer dogs or cats and why?
• Who are 2 people in your life that inspire you and why?
• What are 3 things you look for in a good friend?
• If you had a genie that could grant 3 wishes, what would they be (you can’t wish for more wishes)?
• What are the first 3 things you do when you wake up in the morning?
• What 3 tips would you give someone looking to make a career change?

My All-Time Favorite Table Topic Idea Twists

Now that we’ve had fun, interesting, seasonal, and easy table topic questions – it’s time to come to my all-time favorite toastmaster table topic idea twists.

The truth is, the reason why I like them so much is because they aren’t just standard questions. You take the core goal of impromptu speaking, but give the speakers a surprising twist.

Can you Sell?

It works like this – you as the Table Topic Master present the idea that you are in charge of picking the next sales director for your Multinational company. You should come with a bag full of unique items (they can be simple pens, notebooks, toys – or more unusual items). When the table topic speakers come to present they get to reach into the bag and grab one item.

Their job is to sell the item they have to the audience for as much money as possible. They get to keep the money that they sell the item for, and the highest priced selling presenter “wins” the table topic session and will go down in history as the best seller in the group.

Storytelling

One person starts a story. The second speaker has to continue the story and so on until all the speakers are done.

Quotations and Cookies

Quotations are a great way to hand to speakers for impromptu table topics – step it up a notch and use fortune cookies and give them a snack afterward.

The way that it works is that if someone receives the quotations:

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” – Aristotle

They would construct their impromptu speech around the meaning of that quotation

Everyone in the audience picks a number, the 1st person has to tell an  unbelievable story  that happened to them.

For example:

“I once caught the biggest fish ever on record, we were sailing off Fiji when my hook was taken by…”

End the 2-3 minute speech by asking the next person to “Top That!”

“How Can I Use This For my Next Toastmasters Table Topic Session?”

I created a free cheat sheet and easy to clip question page so you can easily use the information from this post at your next table topic session.

The cheat sheet contains all of the best questions segmented per category ….

…. and awesome table topic ideas with a twist.

Did I miss something?

If you want to add some of your favorite Toastmasters Table Topic Ideas let me know in the comments below and let’s build an even better resource for anyone looking to improve their skills.

Additional Toastmasters Table Topics Resources

• Be Better at Spontaneous Speaking
• 3 Strategies for Superb Spontaneous Speaking
• Four Improv Techniques that Can Help You Communicate Better
• The Five Basic Improv Techniques
• How to Be a Better Improviser

22 Comments

I like all questions

Thanks Esther, I’m happy that you found it helpful!

Great resources. As a seasoned Toastmaster, I know the value of giving people a prompt to get them started and keep them talking. Impromptu speaking is terrifying for so many people but when they actually practice, it gets so much easier. As an aside, I once gave a 7 minute speech on how to properly dunk Oreo cookies.

Thanks Pamela – you’re absolutely right, practice makes all things easier. Happy to hear you found it a useful guide, feel free to share it. And now I’m going to be wondering about your secret Oreo dunking techniques.

Thank you a lot for this enlightenment and the guide. It will make my effort so much successful to take the Role of Table Topic Master Thank you again Sula

I’m so happy you enjoyed it Sula, and keep up the good work with your journey in Toastmasters Table Topics, it’s really a great way to improve your skills.

Awesome! all ideas, and the bridging info that comes with it. I really appreciated. Thank you, Sofia

Thank you Sofia! Always happy to help.

Love the ideas! You are so generous to share them with us. I will use the “Can you sell” idea over my table topics session this evening! Credit to you!

Thank you so much Nancy, I’m so happy you enjoyed the resource and am excited to find out how your session goes!

I am the Table Topic Toastmaster for the first time in our coming session. This guide has made my life a lot easier. Thank you so much

Thank you Norbert! Toastmasters Table Topics are such an important part of improving your skills as a speaker and I’m so happy that you found the guide helpful. Please let me know how it goes!

Amazing topics, each has its own flavours, thank you so very much for sharing this!!!! God bless 😊🌸.

Thank you Mohseena, so happy that you enjoyed the Toastmasters Table Topics.

Used some of these today as my role of Table Topics Master and my chapter was impressed. Thanks so much for compiling such an amazing list of questions.

Thank you so much, I’m so glad you found the Toastmasters Table Topics guide useful!

I’m new to Toastmasters and will be doing table topics this week. Since Memorial Day is around the corner I thought questions around it may be good. Would this be an incorrect subject matter as there are some questions that have wrong anawers…ie. why do we celebrate Memorial Day?

Hi Debbie, great question and apologies for the delay. In fact you are correct, it’s better to give someone the chance to adapt and tell a story and this is difficult if they have to be a subject matter expert. So I might change the question to be something like “How do you celebrate Memorial Day?” I hope this helps!

These are amazing, i will add them to my Picture Card approach to Table Topics; this i believe will have more volunteers when the session is fun and somewhat unique. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you, so glad you found value in the guide. Make sure to grab the free download as well!

I liked the questions and ideas. I never received the E-mail.

Hi Marjorie, I believe that you might have misspelled your email when you put it into the fill form. Can you resubmit your correct email? If you did put in your correct email please check your spam folder and make sure you mark that email as “not spam” and you should be able to receive the guide. Thank you!

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District 57 Toastmasters

Where Leaders Are Made

The right way to prepare for Table Topics

• Communication

By Dennis Dawson

Table Topics are an important part of the Toastmasters learning program. The ability to think on my feet, come up with a cogent response, and smoothly respond helps me on a daily basis. In business meetings, I’m seldom taken off guard when my boss asks for an ad hoc report on project progress. A job interview is pretty much a series of 10-15 table topics. Table Topics have helped me immensely on a personal and professional level.

Given their value and importance, you might wonder, then, why aren’t there more lessons about how to deliver a table topic in the Pathways program? The answer is simple. There are no specific lessons about how to give a table topic because every lesson in Pathways helps me to deliver an effective table topic.

Conventional wisdom might make you think that to give effective table topics you would simply practice giving table topics. But that’s not how it works.

Think of it like jazz music. You don’t just pick up a trumpet and start noodling around. One way or another, you have to learn the fundamentals of music theory, chord progressions, and how to play the instrument. Once you have the basics down, you’re ready to improvise.

On the television competition show Chopped, 4 chefs open picnic baskets and prepare a restaurant quality dish with surprise ingredients. They use their extensive knowledge of recipes and cooking techniques to improvise a tasty dish. To successfully improvise, it’s important to have a firm grasp on the fundamentals.

When scheduling meetings, I will occasionally sacrifice Table Topics to allow for longer lesson speeches or an extra speaker. This isn’t because Table Topics don’t matter. I do it because giving or observing a speech with an interesting introduction, smooth transitions, and a strong conclusion builds the skills we can use to quickly formulate a table topic and deliver it with engaging vocal variety and clear body language.

Now, for Table Topics contests, I’ve heard some competitors say that the trick is to memorize 6-10 2-minute stories with themes like, Respect, Integrity, Service, Excellence, Humility, Perseverance, or Sacrifice. One of these stories is bound to fit the typical Table Topics question you hear at a contest. That’s probably good advice.

Personally, I don’t do that. I prefer to honestly react to the question that’s asked. I feel that’s what Table Topics are at their core. This could be why I’ve never won the district Table Topics contest. I’m more interested in developing the genuine skill of impromptu speaking than I am in winning a ribbon.

Another skill I’ve developed in Toastmasters is extemporaneous speaking. An extemporaneous speech is an unprepared 5-7 minute speech on a topic with which you’re already familiar. Extemporaneous speaking is the bailiwick of district officers. As an officer, I’m continually asked to “say a few words” at a club meeting or Toastmasters event. I can easily conjure up a speech tailored to the moment, cobbled together from speeches I’ve given in the past.

Toastmasters gives me the opportunity to improve my impromptu speaking by giving prepared speeches using the Pathways curriculum. I have the opportunity to improve my extemporaneous speaking, by serving as a district officer. I encourage everyone to take advantage of all aspects of the Toastmasters experience to get the most from the club. As the saying goes, if you get out of Toastmasters all you can get out of Toastmasters, you will never get out of Toastmasters.

Jack Nguyen How to Say Funny Stuff

This session is designed to introduce people to the basics of humor and joke writing, why we should care about humor, and how we can apply it to public speaking. In this session we will dissect the basic structure of a joke and learn a basic template for crafting as well as delivering jokes. Finally, we will touch on many of the challenges involved with humor and the secret to developing unshakeable confidence. Along the way you will hear many hilarious and embarrassing stories that will no doubt make you feel better about your own life. 

Jack Nguyen has been an avid Toastmaster since 2013. He has competed in speech competitions, participated in open mics, and has given close to 100 speeches across 5 districts. He has never cancelled on a speech. He believes that the best people to learn from are the ones that have to struggle the most to succeed. Having gone from being an unfunny dude who took six months to work up the nerve to give his icebreaker to being a district humorous speech champion he believes he’s one of those people. 

Suzanne O’Brien Career Confidence: 4 Keys to Professional Growth

If you’re looking to take your career to the next level and you think you may need to look beyond your current company to advance or change careers, come learn the 4 fundamentals of strategic career management so you can improve your ability to get the job you deserve. As a bonus, attendees will receive a take-home resource to help them utilize and implement the principles learned in the session. By the end of this session, you will know how to:

• Evaluate your current approach to career management, and identify gaps
• Improve how you approach your job search to maximize access to the right opportunities

Suzanne is a Career Advancement Coach and the Founder and CEO of LevelUp Careers, which she established to provide greater awareness, understanding and tools for aspiring executives to achieve their goals. Previously, as an Executive Recruiter for the Toft Group and Renaissance Leadership, Suzanne led VP and C-Level searches with some of Silicon Valley’s most exciting tech companies backed by Sequoia, Bessemer, and Lightspeed Partners, Khosla Ventures and NEA.

Prior to executive recruiting, Suzanne managed the strategic services program for the New Zealand Government in North America. In this role, Suzanne worked closely with CEO’s on global expansion strategies and recruited C-Level executives to the Board.

In her spare time, Suzanne has served on the board of MBA Women International and has also served on the Graduate Management African Pipeline Advisory Group, along with representatives from top business schools including Kellogg, Booth, Maryland, Wharton and Stanford.

Gary Gardner How to overcome “Speech Flu” and write Excellent speeches effortlessly

Have you ever been stuck writing a speech? In this session, Gary will share with you how to overcome “speech flu” and create great speeches effortlessly. Using a creative tool that you will use frequently any time you need to write a speech or get clarity surrounding a personal or business issue you need to solve. He will demonstrate how to write a great speech faster than can be imagined, while learning about the greatest problem-solving tool ever invented.

Gary’s primary focus for many years has been helping clients in transition. Whether it is retirement, sale of a business, the death of a loved one or any other life change, Gary has been a thinking partner with his clients in transition into their new post-transition lives. He is a Certified Financial Planner and Certified Financial Transitionist.

Upon graduating from the University of California Santa Barbara, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Upon returning to the U.S., he entered the financial services industry and helped pioneer the fledgling financial planning movement. He served as a board member of Hospice of the East Bay Foundation from 2005-2014 and an Area Governor of Toastmaster International in 2015. He will complete his DTM in 2018.

Orlando Redden The 6 Human Needs and How to Own Your Perception of the World

This session covers the 6 Human needs from Robbins Madanes Coaching program. We will build a game plan on how to use them to better the way we feel about our lives or give us direction on how to. We will learn what Labeling and Reframing is and how to use it to change the way the world impacts us. Through the process you will be able to either self-reflect or work in a group.

Orlando is a passionate speaker and strong advocate for self- improvement and communication. Within the course of his studies, he has become a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) Practitioner and has also completed a coaching certificate from Robbins-Madanes Training. He is an avid student in the areas of human behavior, particularly body language, interpersonal communication, improvisation, public speaking, leadership, and martial arts.

Throughout Orlando’s life, he has experienced and collected a variety of life lessons that have helped him to become more confident with himself and to practice this in his daily interactions with others. These life lessons have helped Orlando maintain a sense of being centered and grounded, especially in difficult situations where it may be needed the most.

Katrina Sawa Love Yourself to Success & Excellence

Regardless of what type of financial situation you’re in, many people struggle because of lack of love in their life. Join Katrina in this presentation where she will share insights from her book, “ Love Yourself Successful ”, and you will learn why it’s important to devote a certain amount of time to developing and nurturing the four types of love that will undoubtedly affect your success and excellence in whatever you set out to achieve.

Katrina Sawa is known as The JumpStart Your Biz Coach because she literally kicks her clients and their businesses into high gear. Katrina is the author of “Love Yourself Successful and the creator of the JumpStart Your Marketing System”. She enjoys inspiring entrepreneurs, speakers and professionals to move faster and more affordably towards their ultimate revenue and professional goals using online and offline relationship marketing strategies, leveraged business models and ongoing accountability.

Katrina is an energetic, tell-it-like- it-is speaker and award-winning coach who has been featured on the Oprah and Friends XMRadioNetwork, ABC and TheCW. She’s a featured contributor to the Women Speakers Association and the Public Speakers Association of which she was awarded the National Collaborator of the Year Award in 2016. With 30 years’ experience in sales, business and marketing Katrina speaks to groups of all sizes and works with dozens of different kinds of industries and businesses.

Meredith Crawford How to Use Brand Storytelling for Marketing Excellence

Learn the 3 keys for using brand storytelling to develop emotional connections with your customers. Gain a deeper understanding of why brand storytelling is an effective marketing tool, how to develop your business’s story, and how to share it with prospects and customers. Receive a workbook to help you formulate your business’s story at home.

Meredith Crawford is the founder of Solerno Media, a marketing agency that empowers non-profits, small businesses and entrepreneurs doing business with heart to tell and share their stories. She is also an advisory board member to Hack the Hood, an Oakland-based non-profit that introduces low-income youth of color to careers in tech.

Prior to founding Solerno Media, Meredith was the CEO of MindShare Design, and oversaw Savicom and Vidi Emi email platforms. In 2017, she negotiated the acquisition of WorkStraight, a work order software solution. While she was there, Meredith added 18% to the multi-million dollar company’s revenue stream. Two clients, a Fortune 500 company and a business training company had banner revenue years. Both clients attribute their success to working with MindShare Design.

Randy Wight Find out How Two Words Can Reveal Your Excellence  

Randy will help you understand the power of acceptance, listening and eye contact. You can throw away the script of life and start living. You will see how you gain greater control by letting go. You will learn how to find excellence by epically failing! Learn how to use new tools to fashion a new outlook and a new you! Stop saying NO and find out the power of YES!

After this session, you will leave with a better understanding of how to communicate more effectively, collaborate more deeply and Co-create more effectively. With just two words, he will show you how to change your point of view and capture excellence.

Randy is a Toastmaster since 2006, Randy splits his time as an author, inventor and award-winning speaker. He says his claim to fame was serving as a President’s Distinguished Area Governor. A business development leader for over 30 years in the Specialty and Natural Food Industry. Randy established the gold standard for sales performance. In addition to recruiting and training teams that attained all time sales records, his direction resulted in over 150 million dollars of new launch revenue.

Randy began his speaking career in Stand-up Comedy with North Bay Stand-up Comics where he garnered a regional finalist spot in Showtime’s “Funniest Person in America Contest”, Randy’s list of accomplishments includes Corporate Trainer, Co-Founder of Transformational Goals Seminar Series, Randy is founding member and General Manager Act II Improv Troupe, Coach of Business Professionals and aspiring comics.

Don Franceschi How to “CLICK”—not “CLASH”—with Others

Have you ever noticed there are some people that you instantly “click” with—and some you instantly “clash” with? Why is that? Often the reason is a difference in behavioral styles. In this workshop you will learn the components that make up the four basic behavioral styles, identify your behavioral style and the style of others, and learn how to “click” and not “clash” with those other styles—and have some fun along the way!

Don Franceschi, ACB, joined Toastmasters five years ago. He is currently a member of three Toastmasters Clubs, including an advanced club. He has been a Toastmasters keynote speaker, trainer, and a District Humorous Speech Contest Finalist. Don recently retired after 29 years with the State of California and has spent some of those retirement hours as a Santa Rosa Junior College Community Education instructor, and a TEDx Sonoma County Organizing Committee member. He is the proud author of the Amazon Best Seller, “ From Awful to Awesome: 9 Essential Tools for Effective Presentations”.

Don’s motto— “Let’s save the world—one presentation at a time!”

Dr. Michelle Peticolas Allow Change to Unblock Your Brilliance

  While change and challenge can be difficult and even stressful, they also can provide an opportunity for growth and empowerment. The same emotions and mindset that feed our resistance to change can also block our brilliance. In this workshop, Dr. Peticolas will explain how our innate brilliance may be tamped down in childhood by trauma, neglect and/or misguided parenting. Discover how the habits and beliefs we develop to keep us safe when we are young can limit both our brilliance and our ability to adapt to change. She will share 3 strategies we can adopt to reduce fear and shift our mindset to more easily embrace change and achieve excellence.

Dr. Michelle Peticolas empowers women leaders and change-makers to face their fears in order to reclaim their authentic power. She is a national speaker and leads workshops for organizations and groups including: The Commonwealth Club of San Francisco, UCSF Medical Center, JFK University, and UC Berkeley. Her award-winning documentary series Secrets of Life and Death is screened in universities throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. She has appeared on Voice America’s Empowering Women, KDIA’s Aging By the Bay, BBM Global Network’s Courage to Overcome, Money 1055’s Rush Hour For Success, and KPFA’s Women’s Magazine. With a Ph.D. in Sociology and over 18 years experience, Michelle coaches people through major life challenges. An expert on loss, emotional wounds and unresolved grief, she is a featured author in the soon-to- be-released anthology: Breaking Barrier.

Robert Strong How to Tell Stories Like a Wizard

In this fun and interactive magic show and workshop, magician Robert Strong shows and explains both moments when your brain struggles with the wrong assumptions and when a new reality is revealed to create magic. Robert Strong is a Comedy Magician who has been amazing audiences since he was 12 years old. Since then, he has performed on national television, in all 50 states, in over 40 countries, and twice at the White House. He was a 10-year artist in residence at The Smithsonian and regularly leads workshops at Singularity University, Stanford University, and at Google.

Robert has been crisscrossing the world since 1985 entertaining audiences large and small, young and old, formal and casual, and everything in between! Recently voted “San Francisco’s Funniest Prop Comedian“; “The Bay Area’s Best Performer”; and “San Francisco’s Best Comedian”.

Kiran Patel From Conflict to Connection: Communicating Collaboratively

Do you sometimes find yourself in challenging interactions? At a loss for finding win-win solutions, you may either forego your needs or impose your needs over others. In this workshop, you will learn and practice a framework to create a connection in which your conflicts dissolve and get resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. Bring your personal challenges and leave feeling relieved and hopeful.

Kiran Patel, M.A., C.Y.T., is the 2017 winner of the District 57’s Table Topics contest. She is an award-winning speaker, empowering coach, interpersonal communication trainer and engaging performer. Her authentic and playful presence has touched thousands internationally (live, radio and TV) for 40 years. Her writing on nonviolence and yoga has been published in “India West”. She draws on her vast training in Western and Eastern traditions—MA in Social Psychology, advanced yoga teacher certification, mediation certification, year-long Nonviolent Communication leadership training and prejudice reduction train-the-trainer.

Bett Bollhoefer Dream Big, Be Bold and Write Your Own Book

It’s time to Write your own book! Authors get paid up to twice as much as a speaker without a book. Having a published book makes you an authority. Having a book allows you to have back of the room sales on top of your speaking fee, or if you are speaking for free, allows you to make money. This workshop will allow you to leave with a plan to write, self publish and market your dream book.

Bett Bollhoefer is a Distinguished Toastmaster and winner of the Division Governor of the Year award. She spoke at 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 Carnegie Mellon SEI SATURN Conference on Architect as Leader. Bett speaks and writes on software design and is the author of several books including How to Write, Self-Publish and Market Your Book. Bett cohosted the popular Software Architecture Concepts podcast for two years and is the co-host of the GE Digital podcast IOT Goes Industrial. And for fun, Bett is a professional Improv actor, enjoys swing dancing, hiking, painting and playing the cello.

James Jeffley Your Story Matters, Tell It

Everyone has a “story.”  Your story may be of fame and fortune, or fear and famine.  Regardless of your situation, your story is valuable, and by telling it, you can inspire and empower others. In this fun, interactive session, you will:

• Practice and experience storytelling
• Learn to identify your story
• Understand the key parts of a compelling story
• Develop an outline for telling your story, and more!

James Jeffley is an award-winning speaker and trainer, professional coach, author, musician, minister and father.  He is the author of “Follow the Signs: Lessons Learned Traveling Life’s Highway,”  a three-time District 57 International Speech Champion and a two-time finalist in the Toastmasters World Championship of Public speaking.  He will spend the 2017 holidays on a speaking tour in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates with other notable Toastmasters.

Dave Blum The Memory Palace

Have you ever found yourself up there at the lectern, your speech well-practiced, only to realize with horror that your mind has come to a complete blank? If your answer is yes, you’re not alone. At one time or another, we’ve all blanked out on a key element of one of our speeches. It’s no reflection on you or your memory. Most of us rely on “rote memorization” to practice our speeches–an out-dated method that doesn’t work very well with the way our brains are actually wired.

In this highly-interactive session, you will learn how to turn your speeches into a series of highly-memorizable images that work in sync with your brain’s wiring, making the whole process much easier, more effective and more fun.

During this session, you’ll learn how to:

• Create unforgettable mental images for each element of your speech
• Link these images into a vivid and memorable story
• Place your images in a “memory palace”, a technique favored as far back as the Ancient Greeks and Romans.

If you want to never forget another Toastmasters speech, this is the session for you!

Dave  is  the President of Santa Rosa Toastmasters Club 182. He is a Toastmaster who has jumped into the new Pathways program.  He has completed Level 3 of the Pathway, Presentation Mastery.  He was about to begin Level 4 when a fire roared into Santa Rosa a few weeks ago.

Founder and President of Dr. Clue Treasure Hunts, the world’s largest team-building treasure hunt company, Dave Blum earned a B.A. in English from Pomona College in Claremont, California, a professional coaching certification from IPEC, and is continuing member of the North American Simulation & Gaming Association .  

After a three-year stint teaching English in Japan for the Mombusho English Fellows program, Dave worked in tourism and the non-profit sector before discovering his destiny as a treasure hunt master, team-building trainer, writer, speaker and entrepreneur.

Adrian Chofor G.R.O.W Into Your Dreams

We all have dreams that we actively wish and hope for, but how do we stop dreaming, hoping, and wishing and start LIVING our dreams? Learn how to achieve goals, produce results and make BIG things happen in your life using the G.R.O.W. Model.

Adrian Jefferson Chofor is a performance and empowerment coach. She is passionate about empowering women by helping them clarify their vision, reach their goals and live the life they really want. She is an avid traveler, runner, and mother of two active and adorable children. Adrian is the club president of Oakland Uptown and is well on her way to reaching her goal of raising its status to President’s Distinguished. She is a recipient of the Outstanding Achievement Toastmaster award and Triple Crown Award for receiving three educational awards within a year. She has also served as a host and evaluator on District 57’s Toastmaster Time TV. She has been a Toastmaster since June 2016.

Kevin Markl Knowing Your Audience Isn’t Optional

Before writing or speaking in any setting, you must connect your content and message to the needs and expectations of your audience. In this session, Kevin Markl will present an interactive framework to understand who your audience is and what they care about the most. Learn how to discover and apply these insights to alleviate any anxiety or stage fright, maximize audience engagement and deliver an impactful presentation.

Bio Kevin Markl, ACG, ALB, is a product marketing manager at CallidusCloud, where he has worked since 2011. Kevin conducts qualitative research on competitors and buyers. He turns these insights into personas and crafts product messaging and positioning that resonate in the same way Toastmasters develop speeches that resonate with their audience.

Kevin is passionate about helping others reach their goals – whether it’s teaching someone how to ski or coaching others to excel in their sales and marketing role. He embodies this passion for communication, leadership and helping others through his journey in Toastmasters. He joined 7 years ago and has immersed himself across the organization, serving in roles from Club Secretary to Division Director. Kevin currently serves as Public Relations Manager for District 57 Toastmasters and supports member and leadership development at contests, speechcrafts, open houses and officer training.

John Murphy Technology: Your Partner to A Successful Club

Almost every one of us uses one of the myriad of different softwares available to us for the purpose of enhancing our personal and professional lives. This session will use Google as the example software for taking a closer look at how our clubs (or life) can run more efficiently using a cloud-based platform. This session will dive into how to leverage Google’s suite of free technology to build, connect, and promote your club using the latest technologies. You’ll hear how other clubs are using Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Photos, YouTube, Slides, and more to provide an immersive and shared learning experience. You likely already use some of these, now learn how to be a power user for your club by working smarter, not harder.

After graduating from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, John Murphy became the lead presenter for equity and debt seminars on behalf of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, then a portfolio engineering trainer for a private, wealth management firm overseeing $70 billion+ in assets. John joined TM early in his career and then like so many others his life became too busy to accommodate being a member. He went on to found, grow, and recently sell his technology start-up of 5 years, where he led his staff using only Google-based applications and extensions. He rejoined and jumped into Pathways with enthusiasm. He has now completed his first Pathway, Presentation Mastery and has completed 3 levels in his second pathway; Visionary Communication. For everything from investor presentations to employee training to logistical engineering, for him it’s all about letting the technology serve its communication purpose.

Jim Kohli, DTM International Director, Region 2 Toastmasters International

Jim Kohli, DTM, of San Ramon, California, is a principal architect at GE Healthcare, where he has worked since 1982. Kohli develops and encourages the adoption of technology strategies, advises senior executives on personnel and technology matters, manages his division’s intellectual property portfolio, and mentors and coaches less experienced leaders.

Kohli holds a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He is also trained as a medical first responder as well as a fire responder. He has received multiple awards from GE for patent authoring and co-authoring, product development and accomplishments relating to excellence in team morale.

He says, “My Toastmasters experience has expanded my professional horizons and is directly linked to a promotion that moved me from Wisconsin to California for a job that required greater communications skills in addition to technology skills.” 

As a member of the Toastmasters International Board of Directors, Kohli is a “working ambassador” for the organization. He works with the Board to develop, support and modify the policies and procedures that guide Toastmasters International in fulfilling its mission.

95 Creative Toastmasters Table Topics Questions

As a Topicsmaster, it is essential to have creative and engaging table topics questions that will spark interesting responses. Use these 95 topics to make your next topics session an exciting one!

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
• What’s the best way to describe an awkward silence?
• What would you do if you won the lottery?
• Describe your dream vacation.
• Do you think music is getting worse?
• How many uses can you think of for a rock?
• Sell me this pen!
• If you were to write a book, what would be its title and why?
• Do you think instagram/facebook/tiktok is good for society?
• What gets you most excited about life?
• If you owned a time machine, what year would you travel to?
• When was the last time you tried to learn something new?
• How do you think artificial intelligence will affect our lives in the next 10 years?
• What would you do if the world was going to end in 24 hours?
• Do you think we’re alone in the universe?
• If you were given the opportunity to launch into space, would you take it?
• What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
• Do you think mantras and positive quotes are useful?
• Do you think driverless cars will be a good thing?
• What would you do if you were stranded on a deserted island?
• If you could choose to live in any time period, which would it be?
• What would you do if you found a briefcase full of cash?
• What is one thing that makes you unique from everyone else?
• If you could meet any person in history, who would it be?
• How would you survive an alien invasion?
• Do you think coding should be taught in school?
• What is the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
• Who has had the biggest positive influence on your life?
• If money were no object, what would be your dream job? 
• If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• If you could master any skill overnight, what would it be?
• What is your spirit animal and why?
• What would you do if aliens landed on Earth?
• If you could speak any language fluently, which would it be?
• What is the book you have most frequently talked about or gifted in your life?
• What would you do if you woke up one day with superpowers?
• If you could play any musical instrument, what would it be?
• How would you survive a zombie apocalypse?
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
• Describe the pros and cons of owning a pet rock
• Do you think there would be any benefits to living in a tiny house?
• What’s the most exciting place you have traveled to?
• Describe the pros and cons of working from home
• How important is the role of art in society?
• What role does music play in your life?
• What would you change about our school system?
• What’s your opinion of Tiktok and Instagram?
• Who has been the best mentor in your life to date and have you let them know about how they have positively affected your life?
• If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?
• Do you prefer to read fiction or non-fiction books?
• Do you hold any unpopular beliefs?
• What’s your definition of happiness?
• If you had to be a teacher, what would you teach?
• What is your most cherished childhood memory?
• How do you define success in life?
• Name something that has changed drastically since your parents’ generation
• If given the chance, what kind of changes would you make in this world today
• Who do you admire most and why?
• What was the last book you read and what did you think of it?
• What is something you wish you knew when you were younger?
• What do you think are the most important qualities for success?
• How has technology changed our lives over the last decade?
• Do you believe that everyone has a soul mate? 
• What is the most meaningful gift that someone has ever given to you and why was it so special? 
• What’s the best way to spend a rainy day?
• What would be the title of your autobiography? 
• What was your favorite childhood toy? 
• What do you think will be the greatest challenge facing future generations? 
• What are three things that make you happy no matter what?
• If money were not an issue, what job would you choose and why?
• If animals could talk, which animal would be the funniest?
• Describe a moment that changed your life forever. 
• Are there any superstitions that you believe in?
• If technology suddenly disappeared from our lives, how would our world change for better or worse? 
• If could relive one moment from the past, which one would it be?
• Do think people can truly change or are we stuck with who we are?
• If you could be any animal, which would you choose?
• What are the three most important things in life?
• Do you believe in fate or destiny? 
• Would you rather have a job that pays well but makes you unhappy or a job that makes you happy but pays poorly?  
• When was the last time something really surprised you and why did it surprise you so much? 
• What does true friendship mean to you? 
• Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?
• What advice would you give your 20-year-old self?
• What are some of your favorite hobbies or activities and why do you enjoy them so much? 
• If money were no object, what would you do with your life?
• Would you rather live in a big city or a small town? 
• If you could master any skill instantly, what would it be and why?
• What was your favorite subject in school and why?
• If you could pick one person to be a mentor to you, who would it be and why? 
• What has been your proudest moment so far in life?
• If you had three wishes, what would they be and why? 
• What does courage mean to you? 
• How can we create more meaningful connections with people around us?
• How important is creativity in your personal and professional life?

Table topics are an important part of any meeting as they provide the opportunity for members to practice their impromptu speaking skills in a safe environment. Not only do these questions help build confidence among members, but they also make meetings more enjoyable and lively! With the right type of question, you can prompt meaningful responses that will keep everyone engaged until the end.

Related Posts:

Saro's Corner

• Clubs & Contests
• Manual Speeches
• Communication Tips

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

7 ways to prepare for table topics contests.

Thanks a lot sir.

Maidenhead Speakers Club

Part of Toastmasters International – Founded 1983

How to evaluate table topics

The role of Table Topics Evaluator (TTE) is a relatively new one for Maidenhead. Some people may be wondering how to do it. My first club, like many others, has this as a role at every meeting so I’ve had lots of practice. Here are my tips on being the TTE.

Scope of the role:

Give useful feedback to each of the table topics speakers.

A struggling one will waffle on and waste it. You will have about 5 minutes to evaluate 6 or 7 speakers. This is why this role is so good to do – it teaches you to get to the point and be disciplined in your content .

What’s the key? Structure

Every speaker gets a Commend / Recommend / Commend (CRC) . And nothing more.

For each speaker state one thing you

• one thing you thought could be improved (R);
• then one other thing you liked (C).

Then move on to the next speaker.

e.g. Bob’s question was about his favourite holiday.

I like the way Bob came striding to the front, he really looked confident and that big smile put us all at ease. I’d recommend that Bob keep his hands out his pocket, it looks a bit too casual and fidgety, so try to gesture or keep the hands in a comfortable neutral position. What I really loved was the story Bob told about the waiter in Ibiza. It was really funny and the vivid language out us there with him. Next up was Charlene…”

Keep it short and to the point.

How long? 45 seconds per speaker. 15 seconds commend, 15 seconds recommend, 15 seconds commend. It’s longer than it sounds, but it will make you get to the point.

Some things you could look out for in your evaluation:

• Did they answer the question? (That’s important)
• Did they waffle a lot at the start?
• Did they have any distracting nervous habits?
• Did they spend all of their thinking time looking at the floor or the ceiling?
• Did they tell a good story?
• Did they use an effective structure?

Whatever you talk about, remember to be encouraging. Lots of people are very nervous about table topics so try to finish on a positive.

Things not to do:

• Don’t evaluate the topics master. The GE will take care of that and it wastes time.
• Don’t spend a lot of time talking about the first speaker. Do theirs quickly and move on. Many TTE spend loads of time talking about the first two speakers then realise they only have a minute left to do the other 5.

Now, sign up! Remember – stay focused, get to the point, don’t waffle, use CRC and enjoy yourself!

Chris Boden

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85 Creative Toastmasters Table Topics Questions

• Armani Talks
• March 27, 2022
• public-speaking

Toastmasters Table Topics is the impromptu speaking section of the club.

This is when the Table Topics Master chooses a guest to give an impromptu talk.

The guest is also capable of volunteering rather than being chosen.

Are you the Table Topics Master for your upcoming meeting?

Struggling with questions to ask?

If so, then gain inspiration from the questions in this article.

The questions range from serious to lighthearted.

See which questions resonate with you & apply them to your Toastmasters meeting!

Toastmasters Table Topics Questions:

• If you were president for a day, what would be your first action to the country?
• What’s your favorite song and why?
• What’s 1 idea that you have changed your mind on throughout the years?
• There are people who say the Holocaust never happened, what do you say to those people?
• Do you think people can change, why or why not?
• What is one loss you took in your life that eventually turned out to be a win?
• Do you think shyness can be cured?
• Make a case for cats being better than dogs to a dog person.
• Why do you think people struggle with creating Toastmasters Table Topics questions?
• How come people grow apart?
• What would you change about the modern school system?
• Do you think impromptu speaking should be taught in school?
• What role do you think sports plays in culture?
• How much do you think fashion influences psychology?
• What’s your take on the ‘never judge a book by its cover’ saying?
• Why do you think someone struggles with low self-esteem?
• Despite vast technological, economical and innovative progress, why do you think depression is on the rise for the masses?
• How important is weight lifting to living a happy life?
• Can people who disagree on politics be married?
• What’s one hobby you have that allows you to relax?
• What’s one thing you wished you learned sooner?
• Do you think it’s important to learn to public speak at a young age?
• Can enemies ever become friends?
• Define ‘trust’ in your own words.
• Is technology an overall net positive or net negative for society?
• What would be your advice to someone who is having career issues due to a mean boss?
• Give a pep talk to a shy kid who is resisting going to an important networking event.
• What is your opinion of the Tik Tok app?
• What type of music do you like the most and why?
• Do you think charities do more harm than good?
• What’s the most important step to calm down a person who is angry?
• Which subject do you wish you were taught in school?
• Should meditation be a mandatory practice for entrepreneurs?
• What’s your favorite movie and why?
• How important is traveling to speeding up maturation in a person?
• Do you think shaming serves a role in culture?
• Do you think it would be a good thing or a bad thing if people could remember their dreams?
• What’s your take on ‘speak up for those who don’t have a voice’?
• Do you think intelligence is fixed or can anyone become smarter with desire?
• What’s the biggest difference between victor and victim mentality?
• How many friends do you think is optimal for a person to have? Explain your rationale.
• Do you believe in luck?
• If you could live anywhere besides where you live now, where would it be?
• Should adults read fiction, why or why not?
• What’s your take on the self-improvement industry?
• Why do you think people have fears?
• What do you think is more important for success, IQ scores, curiosity, or are they unable to be compared?
• Define what you think the ‘highlight reel culture’ means.
• What book have you reread? If there isn’t any, which book would you reread?
• Would you ever go sky diving, why or why not?
• Do you think coding should be taught at an early age?
• Do you think the Toastmasters Table Topics section is a good or destructive feature of the Toastmasters club?
• Is social media overall good or bad for society?
• Which person inspires you and why?
• How would you define intent?
• What came first, the chicken or the egg?
• Can creativity be taught, why or why not?
• Do you think flying cars will ever be a thing?
• Can science and religion coexist?
• How would you advise someone to attend their first Toastmasters meeting?
• What’s more important, speaking or listening?
• If you could have 1 superpower, what would it be?
• Do you think ebooks will ever replace physical books?
• Why do you think lottery winners often go broke?
• Should everyone write at least 1 book in their life?
• What’s the greatest gift a parent can give to their child?
• Do you think PowerPoints are good for a speech or does it distract from the message?
• Can friends be friends if they vehemently disagree on politics?
• Should public speakers practice writing?
• What’s your #1 advice for someone who has no clue what they want to do for a living in the future?
• How important is imagination for the learning process?
• Propose a few ways for kids to improve their social skills.
• What are some ways adults can become funnier?
• Do you believe in participation trophies?
• Which subject should every adult know?
• What are a few ways to build grit & consistency?
• Why do some people complain more than others despite facing less pain?
• Do you think most companies should allow their employees to work from home?
• What advice do you have for someone at rock bottom?
• Is too much empathy a bad thing?
• Are people capable of getting brainwashed? Why do you think that is?
• Give some tips on how to network more effectively.
• Is positive thinking a good or bad thing?
• Explain the dark sides of a field that you enjoy.
• What’s one thing you would change about the Toastmasters Pathways Program?

Book to Dominate Toastmasters Table Topics Questions

For assistance with a speech coming up, be sure to check out the Speaking Wizard !

This is a practical book that teaches you how to:

• Manage speech anxiety.
• Practice your speech.
• Deliver your speech.
• And leverage impromptu speaking to dominate any Toastmasters Table Topics Questions.

– ArmaniTalks 

Join the armanitalks newsletter, level up mentality : a guide to re-engineer your mindset for confidence.

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How to Run Table Topics

Table Topics: when anyone can have the chance to speak impromptu for 1-2 minutes. It’s fun, it prepares you for job interviews, it helps you learn to give speeches with less preparation and less reliance on scripts, and did I mention it’s fun?

( Why are they called “Table Topics” anyway? What kind of name is that?)

Table Topics can be the most creative, fun part of the meeting. You generally have a great deal of flexibility to give off-the-wall topics.

(Vice Presidents of Education, please schedule Table Topics after prepared speeches !)

What do I do now? If you are topicsmaster for an upcoming meeting, the first thing you should do is to learn what the meeting theme is. Hopefully your Toastmaster of the Day has come up with a fun meeting theme far enough in advance for people with meeting roles—like you—to incorporate it into what you do. If your meeting does have a theme, you should try to make the topics relevant to the theme… but that doesn’t mean you can’t interpret it creatively!

How many table topics should I prepare? Too many! You never know when some people won’t show up and the Toastmaster of the Day asks you to run more topics than you planned. It’s best to ask someone in your club; some commonly only run three table topics in a meeting, others usually have time for six, others are determined to make everyone do a topic. I find eight to be a good rule of thumb for most clubs, but you can also choose to prepare as many as you are sure of using and then have a backup method (like table topics cards) if you need more. In general, you want plenty of extras, just in case.

(Sergeant at Arms, please make sure your club has table topics on hand in their supplies, in case you need a last-minute replacement for your topicsmaster. You can order TableTalk cards or the Chat Pack from the Toastmasters International store, or feel free to use anything else that can give an extensive selection of topics quickly.)

What sort of Table Topics can I do? Try to have all your topics relate to the meeting theme, or at least be on a consistent theme of your own choosing. There are many many approaches, ranging from simple questions to completely off the wall approaches. Read more Table Topics ideas .

A note of caution: newer speakers may be confused by some of the more creative approaches to Table Topics. Also—particularly for novice speakers—try to keep your question/topic short. It’s hard enough for the speaker to try to think of what to say, while also keeping a long, rambling question in their head.

We’re starting the Table Topics segment. What do I do? before you start giving out topics, it’s a good idea to explain how this works. You want to get people excited about the fun of table topics. You want to make sure they understand that the goal is to speak for 1-2 minutes, and they are not eligible for Best Table Topics speaker if they speak for less than 1 minute or longer than 2 minutes and 30 seconds. You will call on them. They will come up and shake your hand. You will give them the topic. They will deliver a response to the audience, preferably on topic, but they can say anything as long as they speak for the appointed time. After they finish, they should wait for you to come up and shake their hand before they return to their seat. This is mainly important when you have people in the meeting who have never participated in Table Topics before. If everyone is experienced, you might abbreviate or skip the introduction, but it can be very useful to get guests interested and feeling less unsure about what would be expected of them.

Wait, those times don’t sound right… I’ve ran into some clubs that are a little confused about this. Toastmasters International Table Topics have a time range of 1-2 minutes each. Green light at 1 minute. Yellow light at 1 minute, 30 seconds. Red light at 2 minutes. If your club wants to practice 2-3 or 5-7 minute impromptu speeches, that’s great, but those aren’t Table Topics.

The disqualification times may be confusing. In every other form of speech, you get 30 seconds of leeway before and after the minimum and maximum speaking times, respectively. So in a 2-3 minute evaluation, you must speak somewhere between 1 minute, 30 seconds and 3 minutes, 30 seconds to qualify. Table Topics are the exception. Since they are so short, there is no grace time before the minimum time. You must make it to at least the green light to qualify, but you do still have 30 seconds after the red light comes on before you would be disqualified, and thus ineligible for the voting for Best Table Topics Speaker.

Do I call on people or ask for volunteers? The method recommended by Toastmasters International is to call on people. This avoids awkward silences where nobody volunteers, makes sure nobody can avoid it meeting after meeting after meeting, and keeps everyone on the edge of their seats, listening and thinking but still unprepared. You can certainly call for volunteers if you would rather, however.

Do I give the topic before or after I call on someone? TI recommends giving the topic first. Then everyone is in suspense. They’re thinking of how they would answer it if they are called on, so the entire room is practicing. If you are using volunteers instead of calling on people, then there are pros and cons: you might get an enthusiatic volunteer for a specific topic, but it’s truer to impromptu speaking if they don’t know what they’re in for.

Can guests answer a topic? Sure! This is a wonderful way to get guests engaged in the club and give them a taste of the Toastmasters experience. However, they may be uncomfortable, and you don’t want to pressure them too much. It’s best if you can talk to them before the meeting, explaining what Table Topics are, how they work and seeing if the person is willing to be called on. Do make sure to catch their name. If you weren’t able to do that, you can still call on them, but I suggest a specific order of events:

• Make sure you’ve explained to the room how to answer Table Topics and what the timing signals mean.
• Don’t give the first topics to guests. Let them see other people do it first.
• Give the topic
• Ask the guest, don’t just call on her directly. “Mary, we’d love to have you come up here and answer this topic, but you don’t have to. Would you like to try?”
• If the guest declines, reassure them that it is fine and they could try another day, when they feel more ready. Then repeat the topic and call on someone else
• If the guest accepts, give them a brief reminder that the goal is to just keep talking, preferably until they see the green light, and to shake your hand before they sit down again. Repeat the topic and let them answer.

Who can I call on to answer a Table Topic? Technically, anyone in the room, regardless of membership status or roles they have, but there are some caveats. I recommend you start with at least one experienced person (someone who has been a Table Topics speaker at least a few times), then work on guests and people who no meeting role, then people with simple meeting roles, only involving people with significant speaking time in the meeting if there is sufficient time.

Is it true I can’t call on the TMOTD/GE/etc? Not exactly. Some people almost make it sound like a hard and fast rule that you shouldn’t call on people with “major meeting roles.” This isn’t a rule, you aren’t strictly prohibited from it… but in the interests of fairness, you should try to call on people for Table Topics who will have little chance to speak in the meeting otherwise. If someone gave a 5-7 minute speech, why call on them to give a Table Topic when the ah counter is sitting and waiting with little opportunity to talk the entire meeting? If there is sufficient time, then certainly call on everyone.

Can I give the same question to multiple people? Generally, no. The whole point of impromptu speaking is that people don’t know what they will be asked until it is time for them to speak. If multiple people are given the same question, that gives the later respondents an unfair advantage.

However, there are occasional unique approaches to Table Topics that may be an exception. For example, you might give the same topic to two people, but one is supposed to give a “pro” response and the other “con.” And of course, in contests each contestant is given the same topic, but there the other contestants are outside the room, so they don’t know what the topic is until it is their turn to perform.

Where am I? while Table Topics respondents are speaking, you, the topicsmaster, should be seated. You’ll be frequently standing up and siting down, so try to sit near the front of the room, or at least situate a chair near the front that you can use during Table Topics, returning to your regular seat once they are done. But please don’t sit behind them, or stand where they think they should be delivering their response directly to you or only to you (I have seen this happen several times). It’s quite disconcerting to everyone involved, especially the speaker.

When do I stop the Table Topics segment? Beforehand you should have asked the TMOTD what time they want you to conclude by. Keep an eye on the time and be respectful of it. It may take a minute or two longer to wrap up than you expected. If you are unsure of when you should finish, you can always ask the TMOTD “do we have time for one more?” but it is preferable to sort this out beforehand. Don’t go by how many topics you should give; go by what time you should finish.

The last Table Topics respondent spoke. Now what? Call on the timer for a timer’s report. Then call for a vote. This is your job, not that of the TMOTD (although they should do these things if you forget). If your timer is awesome, they won’t just say who qualified, but what they talked about. If they didn’t, you should. “Everyone, please vote. You can vote for Sally, who talked about riding pigs, or you can vote for Donald, who talked about snake egg omelets, or you can vote for Tabitha, who talked about her fear of toothpicks.”

Do the Table Topics speakers get evaluated? That depends on the club. If they are evaluated, most likely someone else will be doing the evaluation, but there are a few clubs where the topicsmaster evaluates the speaker. I recommend that clubs evaluate Table Topics speakers.

Do I get evaluated? Maybe. Toastmasters International ballots do have a section for people to write comments to the topicsmaster: most clubs do not collect these, but some do. The general evaluator may or may not give you some feedback in their evaluation of the meeting. Your mentor may give you feedback. But you should positively, absolutely bring your Competent Leadership manual and get credit for that project if you haven’t yet!

Help! I’m addicted to Table Topics! That’s great! See if you can get your club to run a special Table Topics meeting. Don’t just have a blank agenda and do Table Topics for the entire meeting time–have knowledgeable Toastmasters teach the club how to improve their impromptu speaking skills, do plenty of Table Topics, and evaluate the Table Topics speakers.

i just want to read more of your explanation about table topics..thank you and God bless

can you suggest more topics about table topic

Here are some ideas for Table Topics: http://tmvision.org/clubs/meeting-roles/table-topics-ideas/

I found the contents very useful toa toastmaster who would wish to present table Topics in an effective manner.

I just wanted to find out HOW to do them. It wasn’t clear. Do you have the people pick out a topic or do you hand it to them? I am not sure I understand.

Generally you would tell them the topic verbally. “If you were an animal, what animal would you be?” In fact, the recommended approach is to give the question to the entire room. Let them stew and have everyone think on how they would answer the question. Then call out an individual and have them come up and answer. This is the most common style of Table Topics. The beautiful thing about Table Topics, however, is that you can get creative and do just about anything. Perhaps you ask for volunteers, and have them come up and get a random object from a bag (without looking) and then their topic is to discuss that object. Or I’ve used Dixit cards, would have the table topics speakers draw three, pick one and then speak on how that oddball piece of art best represented them. Just have fun with it. 🙂

Thank you for clarifying that with table topics, you must make it to the green light to qualify. The clubs I’ve been involved in allow the grace period on the front side and the back side…I’d like to educate them on this change. Can you point me to where the official TI documentation is for this?

You’ll want to look in the contest rulebook. Oddly, the CC manual says something different! I quickly wrote up a post with more of the details:

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How to Make a “Good” Presentation “Great”

• Guy Kawasaki

Remember: Less is more.

A strong presentation is so much more than information pasted onto a series of slides with fancy backgrounds. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others. Here are some unique elements that make a presentation stand out.

• Fonts: Sans Serif fonts such as Helvetica or Arial are preferred for their clean lines, which make them easy to digest at various sizes and distances. Limit the number of font styles to two: one for headings and another for body text, to avoid visual confusion or distractions.
• Colors: Colors can evoke emotions and highlight critical points, but their overuse can lead to a cluttered and confusing presentation. A limited palette of two to three main colors, complemented by a simple background, can help you draw attention to key elements without overwhelming the audience.
• Pictures: Pictures can communicate complex ideas quickly and memorably but choosing the right images is key. Images or pictures should be big (perhaps 20-25% of the page), bold, and have a clear purpose that complements the slide’s text.
• Layout: Don’t overcrowd your slides with too much information. When in doubt, adhere to the principle of simplicity, and aim for a clean and uncluttered layout with plenty of white space around text and images. Think phrases and bullets, not sentences.

As an intern or early career professional, chances are that you’ll be tasked with making or giving a presentation in the near future. Whether you’re pitching an idea, reporting market research, or sharing something else, a great presentation can give you a competitive advantage, and be a powerful tool when aiming to persuade, educate, or inspire others.

• Guy Kawasaki is the chief evangelist at Canva and was the former chief evangelist at Apple. Guy is the author of 16 books including Think Remarkable : 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference.

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Read Donald Trump's full RNC speech transcript

In a more than hour-long speech, Donald Trump officially accepted his presidential nomination on Thursday, the last night of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He was introduced by Dana White , UFC CEO, and he covered several big topics including a play-by-play of his assassination attempt Saturday . He honored Corey Comperatore , the attendee who died in the rally shooting, touted his economic record, and criticized the Biden administration's immigration policy.

"I'm not supposed to be here tonight. Not supposed to be here," Trump said.

The crowd chanted back, "Yes, you are."Read the entire speech here .

Scrible PDF Viewer

"Thank you, but I'm not. And I'll tell you I stand before you in this arena only by the grace of Almighty God." Trump replied.

The former president spoke to a crowd of around 50,000 delegates, attendees and media members with a bandage covering his right ear wounded Saturday. He spoke for about 90 minutes, marking the longest convention acceptance speech in the modern era and beating his previous 2016 speech run time record. He will be on the road this weekend to attend a rally in Michigan with his newly nominated running mate J.D. Vance .

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The Experiences of U.S. Adults Who Don’t Have Children

3. relationships and caregiving among adults without children, table of contents.

• Reasons for not having children
• The impact of not having children
• How the survey findings do – or don’t – differ by gender
• Views on wanting children
• Reasons adults ages 50 and older didn’t have children
• Reasons adults under 50 are unlikely to have children
• General impact of not having children
• Personal impact of not having children
• Experiences in the workplace
• Worries about the future
• Pros and cons of not having children, according to younger adults who say they’re unlikely to have kids
• The impact of not having children on relationships
• Pressure to have children
• Relationships with nieces and nephews
• Providing care for aging parents
• How often younger adults talk about having children
• Friends and children
• The impact of not having children on dating
• Educational attainment
• Marital status and living arrangements
• Employment, wages and wealth
• Acknowledgments
• The American Trends Panel survey methodology
• Secondary data methodology

A majority of U.S. adults ages 50 and older who don’t have children say not having kids hasn’t had much of an impact on their personal relationships. And for the most part, they report that they rarely, if ever, felt pressure to have children when they were younger. Similarly, majorities of adults under 50 who say they are unlikely to have children say they rarely, if ever, talk about having kids with family or friends.

Among adults ages 50 and older, large shares say not having children has had neither a positive nor a negative impact on their relationships with their spouse or partner (64%), their friends who have children (73%), their parents (75%), and their siblings (77%). 2

About a quarter of married or partnered adults without children (24%) say not having kids has had a positive impact on their relationship with their spouse or partner. This is larger than the shares who see a positive impact on the other relationships we asked about.

Those ages 50 and older who never wanted to have children are especially likely to say not having kids has had a positive impact on their relationship with their spouse or partner. Some 36% say this, compared with 17% of those who say they wanted to have children at some point, and 23% of those who say they weren’t sure if they wanted children.

Majorities of adults ages 50 and older who don’t have children also report that they rarely or never felt pressure to have kids from a spouse or partner, friends, family, or society. 3

Still, about a third say they felt pressure to have children at least sometimes from:

• Society in general (34%)
• Family members (32%)

Smaller shares say they felt pressured at least sometimes by:

• Friends (20%)
• A spouse or partner (15%)

Among adults ages 50 and older who don’t have children, women are especially likely to say they felt pressure from society to have children. About four-in-ten (42%) say they felt this pressure at least sometimes, compared with 27% of men.

Similarly, women are more likely than men to say they faced pressure from family or friends. There are no gender differences when it comes to pressure from a spouse or partner (among those who have ever had a spouse or partner).

Adults ages 50 and older who don’t have children often have close relationships with family members in younger generations.

Among those 50 and older who don’t have children but do have nieces or nephews, 69% say they feel close with at least one niece or nephew. Only 11% of adults in this age group who don’t have children indicate that they don’t have any nieces or nephews.

Women are more likely than men to say they are close with at least one niece or nephew (74% vs. 64%). Still, large shares of both groups say this.

Among adults 50 and older who don’t have children and say they wanted to at some point, 74% report they’re close with at least one niece or nephew. This is larger than the shares of those who weren’t sure if they wanted to have kids (67%) and those who never wanted to have kids (63%).

We also asked adults ages 50 and older who don’t have children about providing care for their own parents. Specifically, we asked those with one or more siblings and at least one living parent who would provide more care if their parent needed it.

• 34% say they would provide more of the care.
• 42% say they would share caregiving responsibilities about equally with siblings.
• 19% say a sibling would provide more of the care.

Women are more likely than men to say they would provide more care than their siblings (40% vs. 30%).

When we asked those who said they would provide more care than their siblings about why that might be, not having children didn’t stand out as a top reason.

Adults without children are more likely to say living closer to their parents is a major reason they would provide more of the care than to say it’s because they don’t have kids.

There are no other statistically significant differences in the reasons adults who don’t have children say they would take on more of the care. They are equally likely to point to things like having more time or flexibility or being able to do a better job than their siblings as they are to say it’s because they don’t have kids.

We asked adults under 50 who don’t have children and say they’re unlikely to have them about how often the subject of having kids comes up in conversations with family and friends.

A majority say whether they’ll have children rarely or never comes up in conversation with their spouse or partner (among those who are married or in a committed relationship), their friends, or their parents (among those with a living parent).

Still, about a third of these adults say the topic comes up at least sometimes with their spouse or partner (34%) and their friends (32%). 4 About three-in-ten (28%) say it comes up at least sometimes with their parents.

Differences by gender

Among adults under 50 who don’t have children and say they’re unlikely to ever have them, women are more likely than men to say whether they’ll have children comes up at least sometimes in conversations with their friends (41% vs. 26%). There are no significant gender differences in shares saying it comes up in conversations with their spouse or partner or with their parents.

Differences by age

Among those who are married or partnered, adults under 40 are twice as likely as those ages 4o to 49 to say whether they’ll have children comes up at least sometimes with their spouse or partner (40% vs. 20%).

Similarly, 37% of those under 40 say the topic comes up at least sometimes with their friends, compared with 20% of those 40 to 49.

About four-in-ten adults under 50 who don’t have children and say they are unlikely to have them (38%) say only a few or none of their close friends have children or are planning to have them one day.

Similar shares say all or most (31%) or some of their friends (30%) have children or are planning to have them.

Those under 40 are more likely than those ages 40 to 49 to say only a few or none of their friends have children or are planning to (44% vs. 23%).

We asked adults under 50 who don’t have children and are not in a committed relationship about their dating life, if they indicated they are looking to date. 

About eight-in-ten of these adults (78%) say the fact that they’re unlikely to have children has had neither a positive nor a negative impact on their dating life.

There is no statistical difference between the shares saying it’s had a positive (8%) or a negative impact (14%) on their dating life.

• The item about a spouse or partner was only asked of those who are married or in a committed relationship (whether they are living with their partner or not). The items about parents and siblings were only asked of respondents who indicated they have at least one living parent or sibling, respectively. ↩
• Share who felt pressure from a spouse or partner are based on those who didn’t indicate they’ve never had a spouse or partner. ↩
• The shares who say this topic comes up at least sometimes may not add to the shares who say “extremely/very often” and “sometimes” as shown in the chart due to rounding. ↩

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Cultural Issues and the 2024 Election

Americans overwhelmingly say access to ivf is a good thing, few east asian adults believe women have an obligation to society to have children, among parents with young adult children, some dads feel less connected to their kids than moms do, how teens and parents approach screen time, most popular, report materials.

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

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8 takeaways from Trump's RNC speech — the first since his attempted assassination

• Trump officially accepted the GOP's presidential nomination for the 3rd time on Thursday.
• His first speech since the assassination attempt, it was the longest acceptance speech in history.
• He discussed the incident, and even displayed the chart that he says saved his life.

On Thursday night, former President Donald Trump officially accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination for the third time.

The speech, delivered at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lasted roughly one hour, 32 minutes, apparently the longest in American history.

It was the former president's first public address since a gunman attempted to assassinate him at a Pennsylvania rally last Saturday. Following the incident, Trump said that he had re-written his speech and intended to focus on unity.

It was also Trump's first speech since he named Sen. JD Vance of Ohio as his running mate. And it came as the candidacy of his chief opponent, President Joe Biden, appeared to be on its last legs.

The speech was long, at times rambling, and touched on much of the same themes of his previous campaign speeches.

Here are the 8 top takeaways from Trump's Thursday night address.

1. Trump described the assassination attempt in painful detail

Still sporting the large ear bandage that he's been wearing throughout the convention, Trump began his speech by addressing Saturday's assassination attempt.

"I will tell you exactly what happened," Trump said. "And you'll never hear it from me a second time, because it's actually too painful to tell."

The audience fell dead silent as he described the attempt on his life in detail, describing the "loud whizzing sound" of the bullet grazing his ear.

"[I] felt something hit me really, really hard on my right ear, I said to myself ... it can only be a bullet, and moved my right hand to my ear, brought it down. My hand was covered with blood." — Donald Trump describes the moment he was shot pic.twitter.com/Ay2cue5EFd — The Recount (@therecount) July 19, 2024

"My hand was covered with blood," Trump said, describing what happened after he brought his hand to his ear. "Just absolutely blood all over the place."

He went further into detail, saying the crowd was unmoving because they saw the blood and believed he might be dead.

"There's an interesting statistic: The ears are the bloodiest part. If something happens with the ears, they bleed more than any other part of the body, for whatever reason," Trump said. "So we learned something."

2. He recognized Corey Comperatore, the man killed at the rally

On stage with Trump the whole time was the fire gear belonging to Corey Comperatore , the former firefighter chief who was killed by the assassin's bullet at the Pennsylvania rally.

"But Cory — unfortunately we have to use the past tense — he was incredible," Trump said. The former president added that he had called Comperatore's wife Helen earlier on Thursday.

Related stories

At one point, Trump walked away from the microphone and kissed Comperatore's fire gear, which included a propped-up firefighter jacker and a helmet.

3. He also used the assassination attempt to his advantage

At the end of the day, Trump is still Trump.

As he wound down his discussion of the Pennsylvania rally, Trump turned toward the myriad legal cases he's faced in the last several years.

"We must not criminalize dissent or demonize political disagreement, which is what's been happening in our country lately at a level that nobody has ever seen before," Trump said. "In that spirit, the Democrat Party should immediately stop weaponizing the justice system and labeling their political opponent as an enemy of democracy."

He went on to tout Judge Aileen Cannon's dismissal of the classified documents case against him, which is likely to be appealed.

"If Democrats want to unify our country, they should drop these partisan witch hunts, which I have been going through for approximately eight years," Trump said.

4. Trump said that JD Vance, his new VP pick, is 'going to be doing this for a long time'

Earlier this week, Trump selected Vance — one of the former president's staunchest loyalists in the Senate — to be his running mate.

In his first public comments after that selection, Trump said he was "thrilled to have a new friend and partner fighting by my side."

He also mentioned Vance's wife, Usha, and focused heavily on the fact that they attended Yale Law School.

"It was an honor to select him. Great, great student at Yale. His wife was a great student at Yale. They met at Yale. These are two smart people," Trump said. "So JD, you're going to be doing this for a long time. Enjoy the ride."

Vance, who turns 40 next month, is one of the youngest vice presidential nominees in American history. If Trump is elected, he'll be just a heartbeat away from the presidency, and he's well-positioned to be the GOP's standard bearer in 2028.

5. Despite his 'unity' promises, the speech wasn't that unifying

Trump promised a unity-focused speech.

Though his tone was notably more subdued than prior public appears, he made plenty of incendiary comments about his political rivals, declaring at one point that Democrats are "destroying our country." And he continued to lie about the results of the 2020 election.

"We don't have fierce people," Trump said when discussing foreign wars. "We have people that are a lot less than fierce, except when it comes to cheating on elections and a couple of other things. Then they're fierce."

He also went directly after Biden.

"If you took the 10 worst presidents in the history of the United States — think of it, the 10 worst, added them up — they will not have done the damage that Biden has done," Trump said. "Only gonna use the term once. Biden, I'm not going to use the name anymore. Just one time."

6. Trump called for the firing of UAW President Shawn Fain, underscoring the GOP's struggle to win over organized labor

Trump's speech contained numerous appeals toward union members, arguing that "unions are suffering" as the result of illegal immigration.

At one point, he took a direct swipe at Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers, who has been harshly critical of Trump and endorsed Biden for president in January.

As he called for the elimination of Biden's electrical vehicle requirements , arguing that the policy was driving manufacturing overseas, he said that the union "ought to be ashamed for allowing this to happen, and the leader of the United Auto Workers should be fired immediately."

Electric vehicle policies have been at the heart of the GOP's attempts to win over auto workers, including when the UAW went on strike last fall. While Fain and the UAW have raised concerns about electric vehicles, they have not wholly rejected Biden's policies on the issues.

"The whole problem that we have is a guy like Shawn Fain blasting Donald Trump," Vance, now Trump's VP pick, told Business Insider in September. "At the very least, just shut your mouth, and take the support from wherever you can get it."

As Trump's speech continued, the UAW fired back, calling him a "scab and a billionaire."

. @realDonaldTrump is a scab and a billionaire and that's who he represents. We know which side we're on. Not his. — UAW (@UAW) July 19, 2024

7. Trump showed the chart he displayed on the day he was shot — arguing it may have saved his life

A major reason why Trump survived the assassination attempt last Saturday is because his head was turned to the side: He was pointed toward a chart produced by the Border Patrol that depicting illegal immigration in recent years.

Displaying it again roughly an hour into his speech, Trump described it as "the chart that saved my life."

"Last time I put up that chart, I never really got to look at it," Trump said. "But without that chart, I would not be here today."

Donald Trump shows the border chart that he says saved his life from the bullet that hit him in the ear. The chart makes it clear that this crisis is Biden's Border Invasion. pic.twitter.com/dmt4oIXKlB — Media Research Center (@theMRC) July 19, 2024

8. It was the longest presidential nomination acceptance speech in recorded history

At 92 minutes, Trump's speech on Thursday night appeared to be the longest ever delivered by a major party's presidential nominee.

According to The American Presidency Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Trump exceeded a record he set himself in 2016, when he delivered a nomination speech lasting nearly one hour and 15 minutes.

Trump's 2020 speech was similarly lengthy, lasting roughly one hour and 10 minutes.

By contrast, Biden's 2020 acceptance speech lasted less than 25 minutes.

Watch: Top takeaways from the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 primary

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Table Topics® Speaker

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Table Topics ®   is a long-standing Toastmasters tradition intended to help members develop their ability to organize their thoughts quickly and respond to an impromptu question or topic.

• Table Topics typically begins after the prepared speech presentations.
• The Toastmaster will introduce the Topicsmaster, who will give a brief description of Table Topics and then call on respondents at random.
• Your response should express your thoughts clearly and succinctly, lasting one to two minutes.

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