what to write in an icebreaker speech

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Communication Skills
• Public Speaking
• Speechwriting

How to Write an Icebreaker Speech

Last Updated: February 1, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 484,304 times.

An icebreaker speech is any kind of speech that introduces yourself to an audience. You can give an icebreaker speech in a lot of different contexts: when you're accepting an award, toasting a couple at their wedding, or making a business pitch. Choosing the topic of your icebreaker, carefully drafting and editing your speech, and practicing it before you give it can help you write a successful icebreaker speech.

Icebreaker Speech Template and Example

Choosing the Topic of Your Icebreaker

• For example, if you're accepting an award, you'll want to introduce yourself to the audience. A chronological account of your life tells your audience where and when you were born, the first memory you can remember, and where you went to college.

• For example, if you're giving your speech at a business meeting, you might want to focus on your most impressive business-related accomplishments.
• If you're giving your speech in an academic setting, you might want to highlight your academic accomplishments, including degrees and certifications.

• For instance, if you are a veterinarian , you might talk about your first pet, your first job caring for animals, your decision to become a veterinarian, your current practice and your current pets.
• This is also a great approach if you're writing a wedding toast. Focus on your friendship with the couple (or just one of them) and how it has influenced your life over time.

• For example, if you're a surgeon , you might talk about your most difficult case and how it led you to pioneer a new technique. If you're a military veteran, you might talk about being in combat and how it changed you.

Drafting Your Icebreaker

• 1 Brainstorm what you want to say. Now that you have an idea of a topic, write down everything you want to include in your speech. Be sure to introduce yourself first. Organize the information chronologically as you plan to say it, then go through and cut out any unnecessary or irrelevant information.

• For example, if you're giving your speech at a business gathering, you could start with a quote from the company's founder.
• If you're giving a wedding toast, it's generally best not to joke—what you think is funny can sometimes come across as mean or embarrassing to the couple getting married.

• For example, if you're giving a speech that focuses on when you became a doctor as a key moment in your life, your first body paragraph might talk about how you liked helping people as a kid, the second paragraph might talk about your decision to go to medical school, and the last paragraph might talk about what it felt the first time someone called you “doctor.”

• For example, if your icebreaker speech has been about how you became a doctor, you could end by saying something like "Little girls who help clean up their friends' 'booboos' on the playground grow up to be doctors. Thank you so much for having me. Have a great day."
• You could also say something like "If you want to be a doctor, remember that there is nothing more important than a passion for helping people and a commitment to hard work."

Preparing for Your Icebreaker

• You don't have to memorize the speech, but it should be clear that you know what's coming next while you're speaking.

Community Q&A

• Don't forget to introduce yourself! This seems like the most obvious thing to include in your speech, but a lot of people forget when they're nervous. Your audience needs to know who you are! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://virtualspeech.com/blog/tell-story-delivering-presentation
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-publicspeaking/chapter/topical-organization/
• ↑ https://icebreakerideas.com/writing-icebreaker-speech/
• ↑ http://toastmastersd17.org/resource/icebreaker-speeches/

About This Article

To write an icebreaker speech, start by choosing a topic, which could be a chronological account of your life. Then, brainstorm all the points you want to make in your speech, keeping in mind that the speech shouldn't be longer than 4 to 6 minutes. You should begin with an introduction where you introduce yourself to the audience and include a fun quote or joke you can relate to so you grab their attention. Then, write 3-5 body paragraphs based around the theme of your speech. Finish with a 30-second conclusion where you thank the event's organizer and sum up your main theme. For tips on how to prepare to give your icebreaker speech, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Jun 10, 2017

Did this article help you?

Jeanne Squires

Oct 11, 2016

Nilantha Thannage

May 6, 2019

Therese Fresconi

Sep 26, 2017

Gordhan Mohnani

Sep 11, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

• Games, topic printables & more
• The 4 main speech types
• Example speeches
• Commemorative
• Declamation
• Demonstration
• Informative
• Introduction
• Student Council
• Speech topics
• Poems to read aloud
• How to write a speech
• Using props/visual aids
• Acute anxiety help
• Breathing exercises
• Letting go - free e-course
• Using self-hypnosis
• Delivery overview
• 4 modes of delivery
• How to make cue cards
• How to read a speech
• 9 vocal aspects
• Vocal variety
• Diction/articulation
• Pronunciation
• Speaking rate
• How to use pauses
• Eye contact
• Body language
• Voice image
• Voice health
• Public speaking activities and games
• Blogging Aloud
• About me/contact
• Speech examples
• Icebreaker speech [Toastmasters]

Icebreaker speech for Toastmasters

Help to master your icebreaker step by step (with examples) from topic choice, to preparation, to delivery

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Congratulations! You've made a decision to become a better communicator and joined Toastmasters International, the worldwide educational organization specializing in communication, public speaking and leadership skills.

And now you have an icebreaker speech to prepare! ☺

Use the page index to find what you need quickly

• What is a Toastmasters ice breaker speech? - Its time allocation and purpose
• How to find a topic and structure your speech - 5 ways to find a topic you really want to talk about, with examples
• How to brainstorm to easily generate ideas to fit your topic, with an example
• How to take the ideas from your brainstorm and transform them into the words you'll actually say. Before and after examples for each of the 4 main points forming the body of the speech, and the transitions between them.  
• How to write the conclusion of your icebreaker , with an example
• How to write the introduction, with an example
• An example icebreaker speech - full text, with audio
• What to expect of yourself when you give your ice breaker - 5 tips to help
• How your icebreaker will be evaluated - an explanation of the evaluation process
• Links to official Toastmaster icebreaker resources   

What is a Toastmasters ice breaker speech?

Essentially the icebreaker is an introductory speech of 4 - 6 minutes long. *

It's the first prepared speech you give as a member of a Toastmaster's Club, and the first project on your chosen Toastmaster Pathway. ( For more about the eleven Toastmaster Pathways. )

What's the purpose of an icebreaker speech?

The purpose of the speech is twofold.

• For the club members its purpose is to help them get to know you. They want to find out who you are as a person and what your speaking strengths and aspirations are. That will help them, help you reach them.
• For you, the speaker, the main purpose is to  begin the process of becoming a competent, confident communicator. That is, learning to be comfortable while out of your comfort zone, sharing and being your authentic, beautiful, vulnerable self in front of others. Your icebreaker marks an official starting point on your quest to become a better public speaker, regardless of the Pathway option you have selected. It's the first assignment on all eleven of them!

* When I gave my own ice breaker speech, I think I set a new club record: 9 plus minutes long! Way, way over the time limit.

I attempted to share the complete, and fascinating, story of my entire life! (I'm exaggerating, but you get the picture.)

I hadn't realized a sliver, a small slice, was all I had room for because I hadn't timed myself when I practiced my speech at home. Luckily for me, they were very kind about it.

Return to Top

What will the topic of your icebreaker be?

Below are five ways of finding a topic for your first speech. The one you choose will also help you structure your speech. 

The subject matter of your icebreaker is simple. It is about you: who you are.

You'll find it's reasonably easy to tell which way, or method, of the five will be best for you. It's the one triggering a rush of ideas and personal stories.

The topic you settle on should be one you feel comfortable talking about in front of the people at your Toastmasters club, whom as yet, you don't know very well.

1. Chronological - a timeline

A chronological topic is a timeline of carefully selected past experiences that have shaped your life from birth to the present time.

For instance, a potent childhood memory - one that you can still see, hear and feel today, followed by something from your high school days or your college years, and then maybe something about significant friendships/relationships, hobbies or interests and a workplace event.

2. How I got here

This topic is about looking back, isolating, and sharing the series of events leading to you standing in front of a Toastmaster audience giving your icebreaker speech.

For example:

• being asked to be best man at a friend's wedding, delivering the speech adequately but not as well as you would have liked 
• wanting to speak up at work but lacking the courage to do so 
• realizing that not addressing the anxiety you felt around speaking in public was holding you back from many of the things you wanted to do.

3. Themed ideas 

These are topic suggestions united by a common thread.

Pick one that resonates and see where it takes you. Ideally you want three main points - all of them linked to the theme you've chosen.

• Values - 3 important things I value most in my life
• Seasons - Winter, Spring, Summer or Autumn (Fall) - activities, food, nature...
• Love - my 3 greatest loves - food, family and music
• Family - what family life means to me - acceptance, shelter, challenge
• Celebrations - Christmas, birthdays, weddings, graduations - what they mean to me
• Travel-journeying - local, national, international - what it means to me, what I've learned, interesting people I've met
• Heroes - the different people who have inspired you - who they are, how they inspired and why
• Sport - the role of sport in my life, the different ways it has made who I am for better or for worse
• Friends - snapshots of the role of friendship in my life from the time I was a little kid to now
• Dreams - what they are, how they've changed - refining and reaching them
• Challenge - the 3 biggest challenges in my life so far
• Sayings/quotations I live by - For example, "This too will pass" - 3 examples of times when "This too will pass" was the reminder needed.

4. Topical ideas for your icebreaker speech

This is a series of snapshots (topics) illustrating different and significant aspects of your life.

For instance:

• your passion for organic gardening,
• the pleasure you get from volunteering in your local high school's holiday program, and
• how you have learned to live with a chronic health condition like myalgia encephalomyelitis (ME)

5. The event - a pivotal, life changing event

The core of this method is a major happening - one that completely disrupted and overturned life as you knew it.

Events affecting many:

• a natural disaster - an earthquake, a fire, flooding, or a cyclone that destroyed where you lived.
• a man-made disaster - a war, terrorism, a chemical or oil spill, transport failures, building collapses, arson...

Or a personal event affecting a smaller group of people, yourself and those close to you:

• the unexpected loss of your job
• the death of someone important to you
• becoming dangerously ill
• being the recipient of unexpected good fortune
• being in an accident, and the path to recovery
• meeting a mentor who opened your eyes to your own potential...

This speech has two parts: before the event, and, after it. 

What will you talk about? Brainstorming to pull together ideas 

Once you've chosen a topic, your next step is to begin generating the ideas you think you may like to cover in the main part of your speech - the body. The easiest and best way I know to do that, is to brainstorm.

How to brainstorm ideas for your icebreaker

Put your selected topic prompt in the center of a blank page or document just as I've done in my example above. Then free write.

Jot down all the ideas that come to you as quickly as you can, giving each of them their own space. Note as much as you need to trigger the thought or memory about it again, if you decide to use it.

Don't write full sentences or stop to get the spelling right.

If you need help to get going, try asking yourself 'how', 'when', 'why', 'what', 'when' and 'who' questions about your chosen topic.

For example: How did I get here? What happened? When did it happen? Why did it happen? Who was involved?

When you feel you've exhausted all the possibilities, stop. 

Reviewing and selecting your material

Review your ideas. Then select the 3 or 4 strongest, and most suitable of them, remembering that you:

• only have 4-6 minutes to speak,  
• still have to flesh these points out, 
• need to add transitions to move smoothly between them,
• and haven't added an introduction or a conclusion yet.

Some, even though you might like them, may have to go! 

What you choose will become the main points you make in the body of your speech.

An example icebreaker speech - step by step

In my step-by-step example below, I've used the prompt or topic suggestion 'how I got here'.  

How to get from brainstorming to a first draft

To illustrate the process of getting from brainstorm notes to a first draft of the body of your speech I've used the same points I put into the image of an example brainstorm above.

I've put them into the order I want to speak about them. Now they need more detail and transitions between them to enable the audience to follow you easily as you move from one point to the next.

To make the changes I made easier to see I've given you the 4 main points unworked, (as they are in the brainstorm image), and followed that with their reworked form.

Between each main point there's a transition - a sentence or two connecting them together to make it easier for listeners to follow. 

Once the first draft of body or heart of the speech is done, we'll move to adding the conclusion and the opening or introduction.

1st main point from brainstorm - unworked 

Best man at mate's wedding - tried to wing it. Jokes fell flat. Forgot several of the points I wanted to make. Rambled on a bit.

1st main point reworked

"A while ago, my best friend - the guy who has seen me through good times, bad and ho-hum in-between times since we were kids goofing around on skateboards being super cool, asked me to be his best man at his wedding.

A great honor! Yeah, I'll do that. All good, I said.

And it was, until it came to the speech.

To be honest, I procrastinated and left it too late. I did read a whole lot of other people's best man speeches and I made myself some notes about what I thought would be good to share. I even found some jokes which I thought would be great to use.  

But did I practice?

No. I kept putting it off, telling myself I wanted to be authentically spontaneous. And I was, but not in the way I wanted. I forgot most of the points I wanted to make. Worse, I rambled on, and the jokes went down like lead balloons.

You know that saying about there being no such thing as a failure? That it's an opportunity to learn? That was one of those."

Transition between the 1st and 2nd main point

"The next, and second reason I'm here is the result of a reassessment of what I've been doing and where I'm going in my working life."

2nd main point from brainstorm - unworked

Have avoided applying for jobs I was interested in because they involved having to make presentations. Realize I am limiting myself.

2nd main point reworked

"It's a long story, and luckily for you, too long for a brief icebreaker speech. The short version is being honest with myself about why I've been avoiding applying for positions that would both fit and extend my skillset. These are jobs I know I'd enjoy! And I know I'd do well. 

So why haven't I applied for any of them?  Because they involved having to make presentations, having to speak in front of others. I was limiting myself out of fear."

Transition between the 2nd and 3rd main point

"And that fear, is what brings me to my third reason."

3rd main point from brainstorm - unworked

Have felt nervous about speaking in public for as long as I can remember. Hated having to make speeches at school. Used to feel sick, stammer, and blush when I made a mistake.

3rd main point reworked

"I've felt nervous about speaking in public for as long as I can remember.

I hated having to make speeches at school. I remember dreading going back after the holidays because inevitably the teacher would set a speaking task: 'what I did on my vacation' or 'what I love most about Christmas'. Begging to be allowed to say home did not work. My tough love parents would have none of it.

So, there I'd be standing in front of my classmates doing my best to not visibly shake, speak without stammering, or blush when I made a mistake."

Transition from 3rd main point to 4th main point

"I'm sharing this rather unflattering picture of myself as a person anxious to avoid being the sole focus of everyone's attention because I know, it's well passed its use by date."

4th main point from brainstorm - unworked

Want to speak up in meetings:  at work, at my kid's school etc,  want to contribute my ideas, to speak confidently and be listened to. Also want to set an example for my kids.

4th main point reworked

"Protecting myself by NOT doing something I rationally know will benefit me, and others, is no longer an option. I want to step up and speak up: at celebrations for family and friends, in meetings: at work, at my kid's school, and other places in the community. I want to contribute my ideas, to speak confidently and be listened to." 

Adding a conclusion to your icebreaker

Now that we've finished with the first draft of the body of the speech we're going to work on the conclusion. (After that we'll add the introduction.)

To end your first speech strongly,  briefly, sum up your major points and, if you wish, pop in a call to action or use a quotation before returning to your opening idea to close.

For more on how to memorably end a speech : 3 examples of strong conclusions (with audio), plus examples of weak endings: ones commonly used because the speech has not been adequately thought through and rehearsed.

In addition to the conclusion itself you need a transition to it to prime listeners the end is coming soon.

The transition below, foreshadows the close of the speech.

Transition from 4th main point to conclusion

"Now, with your help, I want to be the change I want to see in my world, for myself, and also for my kids. I want to set them an example they'll be proud of."

The conclusion or closing statement 

"Fellow toastmasters, thank you for being here for me. Thank you for listening. I've survived! The ice is well and truly broken, and my journey has begun."

Adding a greeting and an introduction to your icebreaker

Now let's move to the beginning: the introduction.

What can you say to grab the audience's attention immediately?  Ideally when you open your mouth to speak, the first thing that comes out of it has them riveted! They are all ears, leaning forward in their chairs, eager to know more. 

Your opening is an opportunity to make a great first impression, but how do you do that?

The answer to that, is that you experiment. Perhaps you try one or two, or even three openings before settling on one of them.

Think about the purpose of this speech. Think about how you felt about getting ready for it? Put some of those thoughts down, and then play with them.

The introduction I've prepared below came from thinking through the body of the speech. It contains references to public speaking anxiety, and because this is a first speech in front of people who have clearly survived the ordeal of giving their own icebreaker speeches, I decided to use that experience. It's easy to understand and relate to!

It opens with a rhetorical question which immediately engages the audience. That's followed by an invitation/instruction to further that engagement by nodding in agreement. And finishes thanking them for their response.

For more on opening a speech effectively: How to write a speech introduction| 12 of the best ways to start .

Immediately following the introduction is the transition taking us to the first main point in the body of the speech.

(Note how the word 'survival' is returned to in the conclusion. It returns listeners to the starting place - completing the circle.)

Introduction to this sample icebreaker speech 

"Would you be surprised to know I nearly didn't make it here tonight?

I wonder how many of you experienced a moment or two of panic before giving your icebreaker speech. Just nod to let me know."

{ The speaker   pauses - and looks around at the audience nodding their heads. }

"Thank you, that's very reassuring. You've survived, so probably I shall too."

Transition to body of speech and first main point.

"I am here wobbling rather nervously in front of you for three main reasons which I'll share with you.

Here's the first."

The complete icebreaker speech example

And now here is the whole speech - introduction, body and conclusion without all the section headings, explanations and asides. I've given it a title: 'Stepping up to speak out'.

It's 617 words long and will take approximately 4 minutes to say depending how slowly or quickly you speak.  (For more on the number of words per minute in a speech .)

Listen | audio of example ice breaker speech 

If you'd like to listen to a recording of it, click: " Stepping up to speak out" . The voice you'll hear belongs to me: Susan .

Stepping up to speak out

Would you be surprised to know I nearly didn't make it here tonight?

I wonder how many of you experienced a moment or two of panic before giving your icebreaker speech. Just nod to let me know. {pause - look around}

Thank you, that's very reassuring. You've survived, so probably I shall too.

I am here wobbling rather nervously in front of you for three main reasons which I'll share. 

Here's the first.

A while ago, my best friend - the guy who has seen me through good times, bad and ho-hum in-between times since we were kids goofing around on skateboards being super cool, asked me to be his best man at his wedding. A great honor! Yeah, I'll do that. All good, I said.

To be honest, I procrastinated and left it too late. I did read a whole lot of other people's best man speeches and I made myself some notes about what I thought would be good to share. I even found some jokes which I thought would be great to use.

But did I practice? No. I kept putting it off, telling myself I wanted to be authentically spontaneous. And I was, but not in the way I wanted. I forgot most of the points I wanted to make. Worse, I rambled around in circles and the jokes went down like lead balloons.

You know that saying about there being no such thing as a failure? That it's an opportunity to learn? That was one of those.

The next, and second reason I'm here is the result of a reassessment of what I've been doing and where I'm going in my working life.

It's a long story - too long for a brief icebreaker speech. The short version is being honest with myself about why I've been avoiding applying for positions that would both fit and extend my skillset. These are jobs I know I'd enjoy! And I know I'd do well. 

So why haven't I applied for any of them?  Because they involved having to make presentations, having to speak in front of others. I was limiting myself out of fear. 

And that fear, is what brings me to my third reason.

I've felt nervous about speaking in public for as long as I can remember.

I hated having to make speeches at school. 

I remember dreading going back after the holidays because inevitably the teacher would set a speaking task: 'what I did on my vacation' or 'what I love most about Christmas'. Begging to be allowed to say home did not work. My tough love parents would have none of it.

So, there I'd be standing in front of my classmates doing my best to not visibly shake, speak without stammering, or blush when I made a mistake.

I'm sharing this rather unflattering picture of myself as a person anxious to avoid being the sole focus of everyone's attention because I know, it's well passed its use by date. 

Protecting myself by NOT doing something I rationally know will benefit me, and others is no longer an option. I want to step up and speak up: at celebrations for family and friends, in meetings: at work, at my kid's school, and other places in the community. I want to contribute my ideas, to speak confidently and be listened to.

With your help, I want to be the change I want to see in my world, for myself, and also for my kids. I want to set them an example they'll be proud of.

Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for listening. I've survived!  The ice is well and truly broken and my journey has begun. 

What to expect of yourself - 5 tips that may help

1. ask for help - talk to your mentor.

If you want help to get started, ask for it. As a new member you will have been assigned a mentor, usually one of the club's senior members.

Your mentor is someone you can talk to about any concerns you may have. Don't be shy. They've volunteered to help people like yourself. They expect and want to. Ask.

2. Be real in your expectations about yourself 

Don't expect yourself to be stunningly eloquent, effortlessly amusing and assured. While there's always an outside chance you may be, commonsense says otherwise.

This is the beginning of your Toastmaster journey, and beginners generally have things to learn. That's why you're here and preparing an icebreaker!

It's more than OK to be where you are. It's wonderful. Because you've made the commitment to become a better speaker.

3. Use a little self-deprecating humor

If you can, use a bit of humor. Don't take yourself so seriously you lose sight of the potential to poke a little gentle fun at yourself.

Self-deprecating humor used carefully lets your audience know you see and understand yourself. It creates connection. You'll be laughed 'with'. 

For example: "My goodness, what fun I've had with this icebreaker! My fridge has never been so clean. Three times in the last two weeks.

My bedroom closet has been sorted. And I've devised an amazing, color-coded filing system for all the useful brochures we collect whenever we go on vacation. They were higgledy-piggledy in a box covered with dust on the top shelf in the garage. 

I stun myself with what I'll do when there's something important, new and challenging to be done."

Please do not publicly beat yourself up

Healthy self-deprecating humor is not publicly parading what you perceive as your heinous physical, character, or mental flaws, and whipping yourself for them. That will disturb your audience.

No one likes to hear or see a person set themselves up to be laughed 'at'. It's very uncomfortable.

4. Rehearse - practice your speech

Run through your speech out loud several times and then,  once you're familiar with the flow of it, record it and/or video yourself using your phone.

When you play it back, you'll hear, and see, where you need to make adjustments, and you'll find out if you've got too much to say or too little. 

You have between 4 - 6 minutes to make your speech. That's approximately somewhere between 480 words if you are a slow speaker and 960 words, if you speak for longer and at a faster rate.

If you find your speech is over the time allowance, or under it, you'll want to sort it out well before you go to your club meeting.

If you're inclined to get anxious about presenting, rehearsal will help. Because you've 'done' your speech multiple times before delivering it for the club members, you'll feel less pressured. For your own sake, please make the time to practice. 

For more: How to practice public speaking | 9 'fabulously' (☺) effective ways

5. What to do if you 'um' and 'ah', and get flustered

Losing your place in your notes or cue cards, if you're using them, or something as simple as mispronouncing a word, might be enough to trigger a rush of panicky feelings.

In a situation where we already feel pressured, our hyper-sensitized mind can quickly turn minor blips into major stumbling blocks.  The very best thing you can do for yourself is to stop. Take several very large deep breaths , and then, keep on going.

Please do not apologize. You have nothing to apologize for. You are a learner, a beginner, and beginners make mistakes. That's how we progress.

The people at your Toastmaster club fully understand that giving your icebreaker speech can be daunting, because they've been where you are. They're on your side! They want to help you achieve your public speaking goals and will do everything they can to help. 

How your icebreaker speech will be evaluated

Part of the value of joining a Toastmaster's Club is getting constructive evaluations of each assignment you complete. That starts with your icebreaker.

An experienced fellow club member will be asked to watch and listen carefully as you present your first speech. Their task is to take notes which they will use as the basis of a verbal evaluation they'll deliver later in the meeting. * (You'll also receive a written one from them at the end of the meeting.) 

Put any anxiety about being evaluated aside

If you're nervous about being evaluated, particularly about getting personal feedback in public, don't be. You will definitely not be pilloried, laughed at or made to feel inadequate in any way.

Toastmasters love icebreaker speeches and the people who give them. They go out of their way to ensure their new members are nurtured and cared for. Afterall it's people like you, who keep the clubs going and successful. They need you, and they understand the delicate art of giving and receiving useful evaluations.

You, the person, giving the speech is not being evaluated. The speech you deliver is. That distinction and separation is stringently upheld.

* Part of the success of Toastmaster's is the way evaluations given. Everybody at the meeting hears them, which gives everybody an opportunity to learn from them. (And in true Toastmaster form, even the evaluations the evaluators give are evaluated! The Toastmaster ethos encourages reaching for excellence in every aspect of its operation.) 

What aspects will your evaluator be evaluating? 

If you know in advance who is going to be your evaluator, say hello, connect, before you give your speech.  Make some time to talk through the evaluation process with them.

Share what your goals are for your icebreaker, and what you'd particularly like them to watch out for. That will help reassure you that you're supported and in the right place to learn.   

The aspects you can expect your evaluator to comment on are your content and delivery.

Regarding your content:

• How well structured was it? Was there an opening, a body and a conclusion?
• Was it interesting for the audience?

About your delivery:

• How comfortable did you appear to be in front of an audience?
• Did you engage with your audience? Did you use eye content, appropriate facial expressions, gesture and body language ? 
• Did you use vocal variety effectively ?
• Did you speak clearly ?

Depending on your club, you may also get feedback (either verbal or written) from other audience members. All of it is valuable, even if you disagree with some of it!

You'll use it to help you decide what aspects to focus on in future speeches to become the better speaker you want to be. 

For more speech evaluation| giving and receiving meaningful feedback 

Links to official Toastmaster resources for icebreaker speeches 

What are Toastmaster Pathways? An introductory overview of the Pathway concept and each of the eleven paths. As an example, here's four of them: Presentation Mastery, Dynamic Leadership, Innovative Planning and Persuasive Influence. The first assignment on every path is giving an icebreaker speech. 

Overview of an icebreaker speech This link is to a video: the official Toastmaster's overview of an icebreaker speech. It very carefully segments the process into four parts - as you can see in the screen shot below.

In addition to information about each part, you'll find links to useful printable documents for example, a speech outline worksheet to help you plan your icebreaker, and a sample evaluation form.

speaking out loud 

Subscribe for  FREE weekly alerts about what's new For more see  speaking out loud  

Top 10 popular pages

• Welcome speech
• Demonstration speech topics
• Impromptu speech topic cards
• Thank you quotes
• Impromptu public speaking topics
• Farewell speeches
• Phrases for welcome speeches
• Student council speeches
• Free sample eulogies

From fear to fun in 28 ways

A complete one stop resource to scuttle fear in the best of all possible ways - with laughter.

Useful pages

• Search this site
• About me & Contact
• Free e-course
• Privacy policy

©Copyright 2006-24 www.write-out-loud.com

Designed and built by Clickstream Designs

                                      LIVE 1-HOUR CLASSES AVAILABLE 

Categories:

• Storytelling

Toastmasters Speech # 1: Ice Breaker Speech

So you just joined Toastmasters and you need to do your Ice Breaker speech. Where do you start? 

In this article, you’re going to learn powerful ways to organize, rehearse, and deliver your speech so that it resonates with your audience. 

• What is the Ice Breaker Speech? 
• Why is the Ice Breaker Speech Important? 
• List of Topics to Get Started Immediately 
• How to Structure the Ice Breaker 
• Rehearsal and Delivery Tips to Stand Out 

What is the Toastmasters Ice Breaker?

The Ice Breaker speech is the first speech you give at Toastmasters. It’s the speech that introduces you to the rest of the members in that Toastmasters network. 

It’s often nerve-racking for people because they need to speak to a group of people that they don’t know.

But by following the advice of this article, you’ll learn how to do your very best on it and stand out from the rest. 

Ice Breaker Speech

Why The Ice Breaker Speech Is Important

This is one of the most important speeches that you’ll give at Toastmasters because it sets the foundation of who you are in everyone’s mind. 

Coming in, most of the members will know very little or nothing about you. This is the first time you share with them who you are, what your interests are, what you believe, and much more that’s either verbally or non-verbally said through your energy and body language. 

That’s just the reality of the Ice Breaker speech and this is the perspective that will last in their minds for a while until it slowly changes over time as they know you more. 

Now, with all of that said, it doesn’t mean you should be trying to do a perfect job with a flawless speech. That likely won’t happen, considering you’re there to work on your speaking skills. Most of the members will have empathy and understanding of where you’re coming from when you present because they had to do an Ice Breaker speech too. 

So, yes this speech is important but it also is okay to make multiple mistakes with it because it’s your first speech to the group. Plus, if you don’t do too well on it then you can only go up from there!

Just do the best you can, prepare how you can, and use this article as your guide.

List of Topics to Get Started Immediately

Now if the topic (you!) feels too broad and overwhelming, here’s a list of topics to narrow the scope and get you started: 

• Deep dive into a passion/hobby and why it’s important to you
• A common theme throughout your life
• How you got into your career
• Why you decided to start doing public speaking
• Family background and origin
• Challenges that you’ve overcome throughout your life
• Accomplishments you’re proud of
• Favorite travel experiences
• Different odd jobs you’ve done

How To Structure Your Ice Breaker

Now you’re ready to go. You’ve decided on a topic (or even a few) and you need to structure your speech. 

At a high-level, I recommend using what we call “The Arc” structure at Magnetic Speaking to section your speech into 3 parts. Generally, the 3 parts look like this: 

• Background – Talk about the background and history of how you relate to the topic 
• The Moment – Zoom into a specific moment that changed things or was significant in some way 
• From That Moment to Today – From that moment, move towards where you are today 

By using this framework, it makes it easy for the audience to understand the different pieces and ensures that you don’t try to cover too many narratives at once. 

Example: let’s say I was talking about why I decided to start doing public speaking. Here are some notes I would make to get started: 

• Background – Was always shy, hated speaking in front of groups, avoided presentations in my career, manager told me to start working on it but wasn’t really doing much 
• The Moment – Had someone else present a project I worked on for 6 months and I felt horrible about passing up the opportunity! Realized I needed to get better. 
• From That Moment to the Present – Started a leadership training, decided to join Toastmasters, say yes to presentations and that’s why I’m here today. 

After breaking the speech up into 3 parts like that, you just have to fill in the gaps with the details you want to add. This approach should make it less daunting! 

6 Rehearsal And Delivery Tips To Stand Out

1. Rehearse section by section

With the structure and content set, you want to nail your delivery. What you might do is look at your whole script and try to memorize the whole speech. This is a recipe for overwhelm. 

Instead, practice iteratively. Take the first part (the background) and practice that until it feels comfortable. Then practice the second and third parts before putting it all together. 

The benefit of practicing this way is that by the time you are practicing the last part, you already feel comfortable with the first 2 parts! This will boost your confidence as you approach the big day. 

2. Visualize your audience when practicing

This tip is simple and effective. By visualizing your audience when practicing, you’re familiarizing yourself with the environment you’ll be speaking in. Amazing studies have shown that your body will react to visualizations that your mind creates, so you can get some of those nerves out in the comfort of your own home. 

If you’re on a video call, then imagine you’re on that video call. The benefit is still the same. 

3. Speak to one person at a time

Imagine a sea of people looking at you. That’s what most people think of when they think of public speaking. But as we say at Magnetic Speaking, there is no such thing as public speaking, it’s just multiple 1-on-1 conversations. 

When you’re delivering the speech, focus on one person at a time. Deliver a piece of your message to that person and then move to someone else. You’ll feel less nervous (like it’s a personal conversation) and each person in the audience will feel like you’re speaking to them (because you are!). 

4. Slow Down

When doing your speech, you may feel nervous and that’s totally normal. Just be aware that when people get nervous they tend to go too quick with their speech and zoom through it as fast as possible just to be done with it. 

Instead, take a few deep breaths before going up there. Deep breathing will help shift your body from a nervous state to a more relaxed state. 

5. Modulate your voice

When people have a speech written and planned, they can get into their heads because they tend to try and remember exactly what they had written out which can cause a monotone speaking style. 

Being monotone is when there’re no fluctuations in tonality, word pronunciation, energy, or other delivery skills that engage people. 

Being monotone can be seen as boring, which can lose your audience’s attention. Instead, speed up your pace or drastically slow down your pace for emphasis at certain points of your Ice Breaker. 

Something else people do when nervous is they don’t ever slow down when speaking. They just talk as fast as possible to try and keep the group’s attention. I know I’ve been guilty of this. 

However, that only creates anxiety in the audience because they feel like they’re on a merry-go-round carousel that is only going quicker. 

Instead, you need to let there be empty space, dead air, and silence at certain points in your Ice Breaker speech to let the audience gather their thoughts, catch up to what you’re saying, and process all the information. 

Pausing can also be used to build up moments. For example, if your speech was about an experience you had, you could use pausing like this:

“Then I went to the lion exhibit. They were amazing animals because I felt the power from each roar, saw the striations of their muscles, and when the big one looked me right in the eyes… [pause]… I had lost my breath for a moment as I realized how insignificant my body compares to these creatures.”

To summarize, the Ice Breakers speech at Toastmasters is the first speech you give to that group. It’s the first time the members will get to know more about you and it’s your first chance to practice your presentation skills. 

Everyone there knows that the Ice Breaker is nerve-racking and no one expects you to knock it out of the park; or else why would you be there?

When going into your ice breaker speech just remember to trust yourself, slow down, and do the best you can without beating yourself up afterward. 

To see the ice breakers speech in action click here .

How to Spread Company Culture (Like Ray Dalio)

How To Improve Communication Skills At Work

Communicate With Impact: The Secret To Effective Messaging

Top Communication Goals For 2021

• Toastmasters →

Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech: How to Ace Your First Speech

Have no fear even if giving a speech at a Toastmasters meeting feels like torture to you. Presenting an Ice Breaker speech is a great way for you to make a great first impression and show the other members your personality and humor. To help you prepare for this big event, this blog post will cover the key elements of an Ice Breaker speech, tips on how to craft an effective introduction, and some fun ways to make the audience laugh. So let’s get started, shall we?

Why You Should Give a Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech

Giving a Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech is a great way to make a memorable first impression. Not only does it allow you to showcase your communication and public speaking skills , but it also gives you the opportunity to connect with the audience in an intentional manner. A Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech enables you to share stories and personal experiences that tie in to the purpose of the event and set yourself apart from the crowd. Some may argue that volunteering to give an Ice Breaker Speech carries too much risk as one could easily make a mistake or stumble on their words. While this is certainly a valid concern, it is important to remember that it is natural to be nervous when speaking in front of a large audience. Additionally, any well-crafted speech will have been prepared beforehand and rehearsed multiple times; this greatly reduces the chance of making mistakes or blanking out during the actual presentation. Making mistakes while giving an Ice Breaker Speech can still occur and should be considered part of the learning process; after all, no one is perfect. Taking on the challenge of public speaking is also an excellent way to build confidence as well as demonstrate one’s ability to think quickly and improvise on their feet – these valuable life lessons will serve presenters for years to come. Therefore, it can be concluded that delivering an effective Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech carries many benefits and should be embraced rather than feared. In order ensure that your speech resonates with the audience, proper preparation and rehearsal are essential – let us now turn our attention to discussing precisely how best to craft your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech in the following section.

Writing Your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech

Writing a Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech can be an intimidating process, especially if it is your first one. However, the key to a successful ice breaker is to craft an engaging story that captures the audience’s attention. While some may argue it’s easy to open with a joke and quickly get down to business , others assert it’s important to let the audience in on who you are and why you have something unique or interesting to share. Which approach works best? Regardless of the approach, here are four tips for writing an effective Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech: 1. Identify your goal for the speech . Is your goal to introduce yourself or get across a particular point? Pinpointing your purpose can help bring focus and clarity as your write. 2. Find ways to make yourself relatable. People always respond positively to stories that resonate with them personally, so find connections between your story and the story of others. 3. Avoid monotony and rehearsed speeches. Don’t rely solely on bullet points when constructing your speech; this often results in extended periods of silence while speaking which can bore listeners and make you appear unprepared. 4. Speak authentically and passionately, but remember to practice too! Your Ice Breaker should sound natural, not robotic — but practicing will ensure you don’t stumble over words or forget what comes next! It’s important to remember that there is no one right way to craft a successful Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech and no two speakers will deliver them exactly the same way — this gives you freedom as a speaker to be creative and authentic in how you present yourself! After all, the audience should leave knowing who you are and feeling like they’ve just had a conversation with an interesting new person. With these tips in mind, now it’s time to consider which interesting facts from your life will make this possible — such as hobbies, family history, or past experiences — which we discuss in the next section about being selective about interesting facts for your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech.

Be Selective About Interesting Facts

As you prepare for your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech, it’s important to be selective about the interesting facts you choose to share. On one hand, emphasizing unique and interesting facts about yourself can help make a good first impression. On the other hand, some audience members may feel uncomfortable if too many personal details are shared. It’s best to strike a balance between these two approaches by sharing fun, relevant stories that help to demonstrate your personality and make a connection with your audience while not revealing too much information. When selecting interesting facts to talk about in your speech, ensure that they’re memorable and convey something meaningful. Avoid generic or uninteresting topics or oversharing – instead focus on selecting facts that show off your personality and help the audience remember you. It’s also important to keep any stories or details you include appropriate for all audiences. Finally, consider using props to enhance your stories – visual aids such as pictures or objects can draw attention to key points and help keep the audience engaged. By being selective about the interesting facts you choose to share in your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech, you’ll be able to make a great first impression and engage your audience. Up next is how to find the right story to share – let’s get started!

Ideas for an Interesting Introduction Speech

An interesting introduction speech is key to making a great first impression. It sets the tone for the remainder of the presentation, so it is important to give the speech proper thought and planning. While there are numerous approaches that can be taken when crafting an introduction speech, two of the most popular strategies revolve around either positivity or self-deprecation. Positive introductions focus on accentuating the speaker’s best qualities and highlighting his or her strengths. This approach is especially successful for very personal speaking engagements , where emphasis is placed not only on the content being delivered, but also on the individual delivering it. As an example, a positive introduction should include elements such as: introducing yourself by name, a brief summary of your background and experience in the subject matter, a reason why you are qualified to speak on this particular topic, and why you are passionate about it. Alternatively, self-deprecating intros involve poking fun at one’s own shortcomings in order to build rapport with the audience and build credibility by demonstrating self-awareness. This type of intro usually begins with an uncomfortable truth about oneself for comedic effect — like noting one’s tendencies to procrastinate, or lack of experience in certain areas — followed by an assertion that this has led them to become more well informed on their chosen topic. The type of introduction speech chosen ought to be based on one’s own comfort level and could even take into account cultural context if giving a speech overseas. Ultimately, whichever route is taken should be about generating an authentic connection with the audience – something that will spark their interest in what comes next. Having established how important it is to make a great first impression, it is equally imperative that we consider how to further impress through creative storytelling while delivering our icebreaker speeches. The following section will explore how utilizing personal stories in your speech can result in a captivating introduction that audiences cannot help but be drawn into.

Find the Right Story to Share

When you’re delivering your Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech, one of the key elements is finding the right story to share. After all, stories are the most powerful way to connect with people and make a great first impression. The challenge, though, is to choose a story that best conveys who you are and what you want to communicate about yourself and your message. There are two schools of thought when it comes to deciding on a story: being genuine or taking a more strategic approach. On the one hand, being genuine means you’ll be sharing something meaningful but also raw and vulnerable. You might choose a story from your past mistakes so you can demonstrate how you’ve grown from them. On the other hand, being strategic allows you to craft a specific narrative that other people might connect with better. You might be able to think about how your story also relates to your audience or use humor for entertainment value. It can be difficult to decide which path is best for you since both have their merits. Ultimately, it’s best to find something that strikes a balance between the two—something authentic yet still crafted in a way that makes sense and resonates with the audience. The next step in delivering an effective Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech is making sure that everyone in the room knows what message you’re trying to communicate and how they can relate. In the following section, we’ll discuss strategies for delivering your Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech so that everyone is engaged and inspired by your message.

Delivering Your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech

Delivering Your Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech is the most important and difficult step to getting your message across properly. When giving an Ice Breaker speech, there are several important points to keep in mind: be confident, maintain eye contact, and express yourself through body language . The first point to consider is confidence. Your audience will immediately be able to tell if you are nervous and not sure of yourself, so it is important that you exude poise and self-assurance while speaking. Take a few deep breaths before you begin and remember why you are here – to make a good first impression and share your goals or story with the listeners. The more confident you are as you deliver your speech, the more successful it will be. Maintaining eye contact is equally crucial for connecting with your audience. Speaker Will Schwalbe suggests making eye contact with every single person in the room, even if some are far away. By doing this, your audience will feel included and fully engaged in what you have to say. Even when looking away briefly to pause for effect or make gestures , avoid letting your eyes wander all over the room; focus them on one individual at a time instead. Finally, use your body language to express yourself clearly and effectively throughout your speech. Keep your body straight, tall and relaxed – fidgeting makes others unsure of the speaker’s level of confidence. Move confidently across the stage or podium area as needed, making appropriate hand movements to emphasize keywords throughout your speech. Utilizing movement can help convey enthusiasm for the topics being discussed – something that even experienced speakers struggle with sometimes! By following these tips while delivering your Toastmaster Ice Breaker Speech, you can be sure that you are making a positive first impression on those around you. Now that we have covered how to deliver an engaging speech, let’s move onto examining ways to overcome anxiety for an effective speech delivery:

Ways to Overcome Anxiety For Your Ice Breaker Speech

Public speaking is one of the most commonly cited fears and can be especially daunting during the first speech of a Toastmasters meeting. Taking steps to handle the anxiety of an Ice Breaker speech can make a huge difference in how effectively you start off with your new peers. It’s important to remember that everyone is anticipating this speech and eager to learn more about you; they are not there to judge or criticize what you say. Channeling your attention towards creating an environment filled with warmth may help alleviate some of the nervous feelings that go along with presenting. Before starting, take some time to consciously release any negative thoughts and inhale and exhale deeply to promote a sense of calm. Another technique for managing stage fright is to practice ahead of time – often! Visualizing yourself being successful in completing the Ice Breaker can increase your confidence level as well as provide you with an opportunity to refine your content before taking the stage. Consider also reviewing some key ideas or points throughout the day leading up to your presentation as well as imagining yourself talking in front of an audience while walking in the hallways beforehand. The importance of being prepared should not be overlooked either; having significant knowledge and notes about the topic will greatly reduce anxiety by decreasing uncertainty. Additionally, if necessary, it could be useful for those who are really nervous about public speaking to double check their materials at the venue itself via printed copies or having their smartphone handy that contains information related to their topic. Finally, there’s no shame in using props or memorable stories as tools when making a speech. Incorporating a prop into one’sIce Breaker speech gives listeners something from which to form stronger connections so they better understand your message. Adding appropriate humour and personal anecdotes whilst keeping it succinct and on point will help distract from any potential nervousness felt by both you and other attendees alike. By following these strategies, individuals can take strides towards overcoming fear whilst giving a great Ice Breaker Speech that will ensure an outstanding first impression with their future Toastmasters peers. Next, we will consider how individuals can work on further improving their impressions with pearls of advice related to delivering such public addresses like a skillful pro.

Tips For Making a Good Impression

Making a good first impression is not just crucial in personal interactions, but also during business meetings or other professional environments. To ensure that you make a lasting impression when giving a Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech, there are several important tips you should consider beforehand. The first tip is to be aware of your nonverbal communication. This can include eye contact, body language and facial expressions , among other factors. Avoid crossing your arms or slumping your shoulders, as these appear less confident and can make the audience feel uncomfortable. Instead, aim for an open posture with firm handshakes, long glances and gentle nods to emphasize the points you are making. Second, remember to dress for success. It’s important to be presentable with a neat and polished look appropriate for the occasion. Picking an outfit appropriate for the group you are addressing will demonstrate that you took the time to prepare and shows respect for the audience. Additionally, make sure to practice proper etiquette when greeting members of the audience before beginning your speech; doing so will help convey a polite and respectful presence. Third, use humor in moderation to engage your listeners. While injecting some humor into a speech can bring levity and break down barriers between the speaker and audience, it is necessary to make sure it never comes off too off-topic or insensitive. Delivering jokes with caution allows one to maintain control over their message while engaging the audience in laughter – which positively affects how listeners perceive the speaker later on throughout their speech. Finally, it is important to remain composed and confident throughout the entire duration of the speech. Avoid repeated filler words such as “um” or “uh” in order to maintain clarity while speaking; take pauses instead if needed between sections of your speech. A good measure of confidence is having well-rehearsed material and practicing ahead of time in order to smooth out any kinks you may have overlooked during preparation – ultimately leading to more fluidity during delivery of content. With these tips in mind, you should now be more equipped than ever to effectively deliver an impactful Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech aimed at making a strong personal connection with the those around you while creating a memorable introduction that sets precedence for further engagement within this organization or event!

Conclusion and Overall Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech Advice

A Toastmasters icebreaker speech is an important tool for introducing yourself to a group of people. It can make the difference between an average introduction, and having an impact in the room. To make a great first impression, it is essential to remember a few key points about creating and delivering your icebreaker speech. First, it’s important to research effective topics so that you present something original and memorable. Choose one topic that will give you plenty of material to talk about, but also help you keep your story concise and relevant. The message of your speech should be clear from the beginning and remain consistent throughout. Finally, avoid sounding mechanical– practice beforehand so that you can feel confident in presenting lively anecdotes with confidence and enthusiasm. Overall, taking the time to create a special toastmasters icebreaker speech can be a rewarding challenge. It is an excellent opportunity to showcase your skills as a public speaker. With these tips in mind, you can make sure that everyone in the audience will take away something meaningful from your presentation– ultimately making it well worth the effort.

Common Questions and Their Answers

What strategies should i use to make my speech engaging.

In order to make your Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech engaging, there are several strategies you can use. Firstly, focus on the audience by making eye contact with each member and speak in a conversational style . This will create a comfortable atmosphere for those listening. Secondly, ensure your speech has an upbeat tone and be sure to smile! People are more likely to be engaged if you appear positive and enthusiastic. Thirdly, use storytelling to add interest and color to your speech. Depending on the subject of your ice breaker, weaving in relevant anecdotes or humorous personal stories can help liven up the presentation and keep listeners engaged. Lastly, ask leading questions throughout your speech that prompt the audience to think more deeply about the topic. A few skilled questions can go a long way in increasing engagement levels!

What type of content should I include in a toastmaster icebreaker speech?

When creating a toastmaster icebreaker speech, it is important to focus on providing personal stories, interesting anecdotes, and your own unique perspective. It is important to use a combination of humor, wit, and content that is specifically tailored to the audience. Additionally, it is important to focus on content that captures the attention of the audience and conveys your personality in a positive way. Some recommended topics for an icebreaker speech include introducing yourself and background information about where you are from, describing your current interests or hobbies, talking about recent experiences or travels you have taken, and discussing personal goals you have set for yourself in the near future. While keeping these topics in mind, make sure to add creative touches to make your toastmaster icebreaker speech engaging and memorable.

How do I structure a toastmaster icebreaker speech?

A successful toastmaster icebreaker speech should have three distinct parts: an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. In the introduction you should provide an overview of yourself and your topic. This is a great time to share some fun facts and humor that will capture the audience’s interest. Also, use this section to give the audience an idea of what they can expect from your presentation. The body of the speech should outline the main points that you want to communicate in more detail. Here you will talk about why you chose your topic, what research you did, and any personal lessons or experiences related to it. Finally, in the conclusion you should wrap up all of your points. Offer up some takeaways for the audience to consider, as well as reiterating your main message. It’s also important here to thank your listeners for their attention and restate any key points that may have been missed during the presentation. When structuring a toastmaster icebreaker speech , it’s important to keep things engaging and fresh so that the audience stays interested throughout. The key is to be confident in your delivery while also being funny and informative in equal measure.

What tips can I use to overcome any nerves I might have while delivering the speech?

In order to overcome any nerves while delivering a Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech, there are several tips that you can use. First, it is important to remember that everyone else in the room is probably just as nervous as you are. This can help ease your fears, knowing that you aren’t alone in any potential anxiousness. Second, take a few deep breaths before you begin speaking. Breathing deeply helps to slow down your heart rate and steady your body as well as clear your mind. Third, try practicing your speech with someone else beforehand. Having someone listen allows you to get more comfortable with talking out loud and become more confident in what you say. If possible find someone who can provide constructive feedback; this will help you adjust the content of your speech and give you an extra sense of security when doing the real thing. Lastly, realize that this is supposed to be fun! Realize that the minute nervousness or fear dissipates once you begin speaking; the more confident and assertive you act on the stage, the better off you will be!

What topics are best suited for Toastmasters ice breaker speeches?

When it comes to topics for Toastmasters ice breaker speeches, the most important factor is to choose something engaging and relatable. That way you can increase your chances of making a great first impression. Here are some examples of topics that work well: • Share an interesting or funny story from your life • Discuss a recent accomplishment • Introduce yourself and why you joined Toastmasters • Describe an interesting hobby or talent you have • Talk about a lesson you learned recently • Share how you overcame an obstacle in your life • Explain how you plan to contribute to the club No matter what topic you choose, make sure it paints a positive picture of who you are and keeps the audience engaged . Keeping these points in mind will help ensure that your Toastmasters ice breaker speech is a success!

Delivering a Fiery Icebreaker at Toastmasters: Holistic Guide & Sample Speeches

Juhi dhruva.

• Toastmasters

What is an Icebreaker Speech at Toastmasters?

An Icebreaker is essentially the first project in any path of Toastmasters , the one that kick-starts your journey with the organisation. It is a short speech, about four to six minutes in length, the primary objective of which is to introduce yourself to the club.

The Icebreaker, or Project 1 (P1), is one of the last common links between the former curriculum of Toastmasters that which included CC and CL etc. and the new Pathways . If you’re wondering what’s the difference between an Icebreaker Speech before & after Pathways , there is none.

The Icebreaker speech in both the manuals is the same with the same objectives. It is beyond this project that the curriculums diverge in different directions. So irrespective of whether you are on the old curriculum or the new one, if you are giving an Icebreaker, this article is aimed at helping you sail past swiftly and smoothly. 

All projects at Toastmasters are defined with a given set of objectives and for the Icebreaker the objectives are simple. They are –

• To begin speaking in front of an audience
• To discover the speaking skills that you already have and the ones that need attention.

This article aims to introduce you to the basics of speechwriting and editing that will help you draft your Icebreaker, a healthy prep routine and other important things to keep in mind as you begin your public speaking journey.

I have broken down the article into 3 major steps:

Drafting Your Icebreaker Speech

• Prepping to Deliver the Icebreaker

Delivering the Icebreaker

Towards the end of the article, we have also included a short list of Sample Icebreaker Speeches which you can download for your reference. You can click here if you want to go to that section directly.

What Type of Icebreaker Speech do You Want to Write?

On the surface, this seems easy. All you have to do is introduce yourself to the club but it’s only when you begin mulling over it will you realize that it is going to be a tough job to clock in at least 500 words. I have often seen two kinds of Icebreaker Speeches.

• The first type of Icebreaker is the one where the speaker in literally a span of four to six minutes strives to sketch his/her entire life for the audience. Right from where they are from to their school to the college, work and in some cases about their families and children as well.
• The second type of Icebreaker that I have usually seen is the one which appeals to me the most. The one where the speaker comes forth and presents an interesting episode of their life and how it changed them over time.

Both the types have their pros and cons. The first type can often get a little boring since it focuses more on the factual information like where the speaker grew up, where they got their education and how they landed up their job, in some cases also about their spouses and children and eventually how they ended up at Toastmasters and what do they look to take from here.

If this is the type of Icebreaker that you had envisioned let me tell you that you this too can be made interesting. A simple way to do this is to bind the speech around the basic science of speechwriting – The Undisputed Power of Three Narratives .

An easy thing would be to pick up an incident from childhood, then one from teenage/early adulthood and one from college or workspace. Ensure that your anecdotes are short and crisp so that you don’t exceed the time limit and that they all introduce different facets of yourself to the audience.

For eg. I once heard an Icebreaker where a college student spoke about how he used to love playing cricket as a schoolboy, moved to the guitar in high school and is eventually now passionate about working in the finance sector.

Three narratives that introduced us to three different part of his life but he bound them at the end by saying how passions change with time and age and with more exposure to reality.

The second type of Icebreaker, if that’s what’s on your mind is actually an interesting one. Here I have seen people bring forth the most interesting anecdotes and explain them in detail and via that introducing themselves.

I once heard a speaker build his Icebreaker on his tough battle against smoking and how leaving it changed him. I wrote mine around my experience of changing cities for college and how this experience changed me.

This type of Icebreaker usually leaves you with a greater room for creativity to thrive and the wackier the experience the more attention the audience will give. It also doesn’t get monotonous like the previous one where there may be a greater possibility of a continuous non dramatic flow of information from the speaker to the audience.

Remember an Icebreaker might also be your first attempt at speechwriting so be kind to yourself.

Researching for the Icebreaker

This might sound funny, why would you need to research for a speech where you have to introduce yourself but believe me you need to.

Researching doesn’t always mean going online. Researching also means that you reach out to your mentor and other club members who have just done their speeches. Walk up to them and ask for tips. If they’re okay sharing their speeches and video recordings of it, learn from them as well.

Remember the 1-100-1 formula …

A school senior who has been a two time Ted Speaker once introduced me to what I now call the 1-100-1 formula. The 1-100-1 formula expands to illustrate that for every 1 minute that you spend onstage you speak not more than 100 words and for every 100 words you speak there has to be 1 hour of research, writing, editing and rewriting that should go in. The second part of the formula, the research and editing bit you may want to save for later projects but the first part surely implies here.

The Basic Outline of an Icebreaker Speech

Buoyant beginning.

A fellow toastmaster once heard a draft of my speech that began with a quote and told me that it was the most cliché of all beginnings and that it might put off the attention of the audience. This is not true. Having a non-quote beginning is great but you can make your way around a quote one also. Let me take you through both.

1. The Quirky Way to Begin

You can begin a speech with a question, or an absurd fact or a statistic or a randomly thrown statement. These all work as engaging beginnings. You can work your way around these then.

For ex. I began my speech with a question, “Who wouldn’t want to leave home”. I once heard a speaker begin his with “Did you know that crabs can crawl backwards as well?” etc. These often work in terms of the fact that they engage the audience instantaneously for the first few seconds and then a strong narrative from thereon can take off.

2. The Traditional Quote Beginning

If you’re looking to begin a speech with quotes you can use a trick that I once heard someone at my club pull. Instead of using just one quote he used three similar ones and managed to evoke curiosity. You can also to use three quotes that are completely unrelated to each other and still manage to evoke curiosity.

The power of three can be used in any way and not just in narratives. Remember, Toastmasters as a platform will never curb your creativity unless you resort to talking about religion, sex and politics something that is not permitted at any Toastmasters club worldwide.

Related Article: 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

This is where the major chunk of your speech lies. Your stories take a full-fledged shape here and hence this requires the most amount of attention. This shouldn’t scare you. Just draft it as naturally as you can and run it by your mentor or another Toastmaster friend and take their opinion.

Ensure that the start of your story is at the end of the introduction and then unraveling in the body.  The sample speeches attached will give you a better idea of how to go about this. Make sure the transitions are fluid and seem seamless.

There is no shortcut here but the repeated practice of writing and rewriting and editing. You can always seek help from your mentor or also any other Non-Toastmaster friend who you think is good with writing.

Conclusive Conclusion

Personally, in my experience, the speeches that have stayed with me long after the speaker gets off stage have been the ones that have had the speakers conclude in a positive, cheery, happy and uplifting note.

Always remember, most studies state the attention span of the audience is the greatest in the first seven seconds and then the last seven. Like you strive to capture the audience’s attention in the first seven, try to leave them mesmerized in the last seven.

An Icebreaker, especially since it’s one of the most personal speeches that you will ever give, leaves ample room for the audience to be left feeling warm and fuzzy. Check the sample speeches attached. They will give you a better idea of it.

Tantalising Title

The title is the first thing the audience will hear so make sure it catches their attention and makes them want to hear more. It should be aimed at whetting their appetite and leave them asking for more.  The wackier the title the better it is.

For example, I based my speech on my experience of changing cities for college but I titled it Oreo Cheesecake. Remember to tie it in the speech somewhere, either in the start of the end of make a reference to it. I once did the speech on the Global Hunger Crisis and titled it Fortune Cookie . I didn’t mention it anywhere till the end where I said that not all of us are born with fortune cookies and thus we must try and do our bit and not waste food.

You can download my Icebreaker speech here.

A Quick Word on Humour

Humour is one of the easiest ways to connect with the audience and that is all you would want to do with the icebreaker. I would suggest try inculcating a little humour.

No, don’t get me wrong. The entire speech doesn’t have to have humour but a little somewhere will lighten the mood and make the audience root for you. It is difficult to add humour but not altogether impossible. I have attached some tips that helped me.’

Let it flow naturally

A fellow club member who has been a corporate comedian for almost seven ears once told me this. He said that forcing humour into a speech is the worst thing a speaker can bring onto himself.

Humour should stem from real-life experiences that have led to laughter and the more relatable they seem the more likely the chance of the audience laughing.

Since the Icebreaker is all about your story, there can be no better chance to use this tip. Eg. I used an instance if sibling squabble in my speech that managed to evoke laughter.

Verbal Stylistics

If it is difficult to come up with humour it is tougher to ensure that it doesn’t get lost in ineffective delivery. Ensure you use the tools of vocal variety and taking pauses at the right moments for the humour to sink in.

This will come with practice so make sure you rehearse it with different people before you deliver.

Prepping to Deliver Your Icebreaker Speech

Rewriting and Editing the Icebreaker

Once you’re done writing you may feel that quite a bit of your job is done but it has just about started. Most of the work is going to rewriting and editing.

A cousin who is also a creative writing tutor with school children once taught me a very simple thing. She said that the first draft isn’t even the most inaccurate depiction of what’s on your mind. It is merely you putting thoughts to words. The more I toastmaster, the stronger my belief in her words get.

What is the ideal speechwriting prep routine?

There never was and can never be an ideal speechwriting prep routine. Everyone has a different way of working and the only way to understand what works for you is by letting yourself write, fall and falter and then revise your methods. For now, I can tell you what works for me.

I usually build an ideation map that has the main points of what and how I want my speech to look like. I then do a first draft. This is someplace where I let my thoughts flow to words naturally without worrying about the word limit or the grammatical part.

Once I am through with this, I usually let the write up ferment for some time. Depending on when the speech is scheduled to be delivered and my college routine, this period is usually anything between a few hours to a few days.

Why is redrafting necessary?

Once you get back to the draft with fresh eyes you’d want to make multiple changes and that’s where the magic begins. You will feel the writing blossoming into a clearer and more accurate version of what you had in mind. The more drafts you give the better it is. For an Icebreaker, since it’s your first speech a couple drafts are okay.

The catch here is to not to keep mindlessly drafting and redrafting but also to run them by other people for their opinions. All good speeches are a culmination of writing that is a reflection not only of the views of the speaker but also that of reviews from mentors.

Here, the important point is to ensure that no mentor’s say is ultimate. Take their opinions but if you feel that you don’t wish to incorporate it in your write up, let it be.

Editing the Icebreaker

The most important part is editing. If you’re someone like me who loves writing this is usually an area of problem. Editing, one must understand is not only about cutting down on words and the length of the speeches.

It also refers to the reframing of sentences in a way that they are really impactful and also reconstruction of sentences to enable ease in the implementation of verbal stylistics.

Step 1 to Editing

If your write up is exceeding the word limit, the first step is to bring it under the word limit. You can do this by simply chopping off unnecessary words. Eg. “For the past one year” can just be “For the past year” etc.

Step 2 to Editing

Once you’re done with this and the write up is still not in the given word bracket, go back and begin cutting short sentences. A ten-word sentence can easily be cut down to a seven or maybe even a five.

Eg. “When I took the leadership test on the Toastmasters Portal, it ranked me an equal on both, the Affiliative and Altruistic styles” can be chopped off to “The Toastmasters leadership test determined both Affiliative and Altruistic styles of leadership for me”. A twenty-one-word sentence chopped off straight to a fourteen word one.

This is obviously something that will come with practice but a trick you must aim to master. If you’re unable to do it by yourself reach out to a writer friend or an editor one, your mentor or the person touted to be having the best language and writing skills at the club.

The fermentation philosophy also works here and always keep coming back to the write up for editing every few hours with a set of fresh eyes. Once you’re done rewriting, editing and rewriting confirm with your mentor and lock your script.

Take the Aid of Your Toastmaster Mentor

One of the best parts about being with Toastmasters is the Mentor Policy at Toastmasters. All members whether new or old, experienced Toastmasters or inexperienced ones are allocated mentors by the VP Ed of the club.

Your mentor is your go-to person for everything at Toastmasters and someone who will actually end up being your first and closest confidante over time.

The prep method changes from speaker to speaker and mentor to mentor and club to club. Usually, what I have experienced at my club especially with my mentors is a three step process that we follow to prep for the speech:

• The first step is working on the write-up. I tend to take at least a couple of drafts of a speech. The first one is usually completely my ideation and execution which I then share with my mentors and the following drafts are a compilation of their views on how to make it better and my understanding of it.
• Once the script is locked, we move on to the second stage that is audio and video recording of the speech . Here, I first usually send an audio recording of my speech to my mentors for them to understand and help me better the vocal variety, tonality and range which is then succeeded by a video recording to better the hand gestures and expressions and stage movements.
• Once this is through, we proceed to the final step of prepping which is practicing in front of the mirror and with your peers.

My mentors have often been very particular about two things. One that I practice at least nine to ten times before I get onstage and second that these practices are a culmination of me speaking in front of a mirror and in front of my peers.

At first glance, this may seem a little intensive and unneeded but believe me, it will only help. It will make you more confident and easy onstage.

Practicing with Your Peers

When you practice with your peers and see their reactions it will make you understand how to make your delivery more effective. All speakers tend to unconsciously bend towards a few delivery stylistics naturally.

For eg, some tend to be better at intonation and modulation probably by virtue of being voiceover artists or actors at maybe some point of time in school or college. Speakers who’ve had a stint as dancers tend to use non-verbal stylistics like those of expressions and smile and hand gestures more effectively.

This can sometimes distract the audience if any are used in excess. To avoid these mishaps on the last day, when you practice with your peers ask them to keep an eye out for this and help you modulate it to proportion.

Is practising at the venue is necessary?

Another thing that really worked in favour for me was practicing my Icebreaker with two other Toastmasters at the venue a fortnight before the meeting I was to speak in. This helped in two ways.

One, obviously because I was practicing with fellow Toastmasters I could get comprehensive feedback but most importantly, speaking at the venue fostered me with greater confidence since I could get a feel of what the Big Day would be like.

I know this may not always be possible, but a simple alternative to this can be reaching the venue a little early and using the time before the meeting to practice with another member and take their feedback. The idea is to get comfortable with the venue.

Related Article : Surprisingly Simple but Effective Processes to Practicing for a Speech

It is finally the Big Day. You’ve prepped enough and now you should just relax and let things unfold their way. It is very important to prep right, but on the final day it’s even more vital to ensure that you don’t doubt your prep.

To ease your nerves, mentioned below is a simple checklist that will help you in ensuring that you’re calm and composed when you take the stage.

Dress Right

Ensure that you are dressed comfortably but not too informal. A semi-formal outfit would surely work. The last thing you want is your outfit to distract you and the audience while speaking.

Ladies, that frilly dress maybe really pretty and can pass for as semi-formal too but if your venue is going to have too many fans it might lead to some wardrobe malfunction scares that you don’t want while speaking. Ensure that you keep these things in mind while dressing.

Dress in a pale pinks and blues and greens since science says they are calming and will do you good if you’re too nervous. If your nervousness is pulling you down, don on a yellow since it is an instant mood up lifter and will make you feel cheery. Again these are just suggestions and not mandatory at all.

This is of primary importance. It is going to be a long day and a tiring one too. Ensure that you have enough fuel to keep yourself going. Don’t have a heavy breakfast if you’re someone who gets nauseous out of nervousness. Have some fruits and light snacks and some juice perhaps.

Try and not consume caffeine since it will only worsen your anxiety (in my experience). If you feel like you need a boost, try green tea. It has the right amount of caffeine to wake you up but not enough you fuel your anxiety.

Reach the venue before time

Usually a normal Toastmasters meeting would require all role players on the agenda reach at least thirty minutes before the start of the meeting to ensure that the meeting begins on time.

Since it’s your first time onstage I would suggest that you reach the venue a little earlier and take in the atmosphere, and calm your nerves. Check the acoustics situation. A lot of venues have paltry acoustics due to the way they are constructed and hence practicing even a little of your speech will give you an idea of how to throw your voice.

This is important because it makes sure that a situation like this doesn’t reduce the impact of your speech.  

I once did a speech in a room with paltry acoustics that had all fans running and to top it there was a heavy downpour outside which led to the rains also hampering the speech impact.

The only feedback that I got on that speech was to speak louder since people beyond the third row couldn’t hear me. Had I come in early and practiced this with someone not only would it have helped me with my confidence but also with my understanding of the bad acoustics of the room. 

Therefore, it is better to figure these things out beforehand since if you realize it during the speech it would distract both the audience and you. If you are going to use a microphone and a podium the need for practicing is even greater since here too there are chances of malfunction.

Getting Onstage

The moment you had been dreading or awaiting is finally here. The TMoD has called you onstage and shook your hand and left. The audience is waiting patiently to hear you and all you can hear is your heartbeat racing.

I am listing below a few things for you to keep in mind before you begin and also while you’re speaking that I really wished someone had told me before I got speaking.

Breathe before you begin

Before you begin, take a moment to soak in the atmosphere and the energy of the room. Take in a few deep breaths tell yourself you got this, look into the eyes of the audience, smile and then begin.

Try to keep a positive body language

This means no folding of arms around the chest, no slumping of the back and drooping shoulders. Make sure your legs don’t jiggle. Strive to make controlled movements towards the audience with open arms and don’t forget to SMILE. Remember, Phyllis Diller’s words, “ A smile is a curve that can set anything straight” . This will warm up the audience and also ease your nervousness as well.

Related Article: Body Language Guide to Public Speaking (The Do’s and Don’ts)

Keep a check on pace and tone

Nervousness usually translates in an unprecedented increase in pace and also a certain loudness both of which it is easy to fall prey to. Ensure that you are a little aware of these things while speaking. This will make sure that the overall impact of your speech is better and not marred by the nervousness.

Try and maintain eye contact

Another major hindrance that I have noticed most speakers face is that of maintaining eye contact. Most of us, out of our nervousness choose to evade eye contact and either look at the walls or blank spaces or anywhere but into the eyes of the audience.

If it’s your first time doing a speech this is completely understandable. I would suggest that to counter this you find your people in the audience. You can get your friends and family and scatter them in the audience and keep making eye contact with them letting everyone feel that you’re talking to them.

If you can for some reason not do this, try finding your people at the club. The ones you’re the most comfortable around and the ones whom you laugh and engage the most with. Then practice the same hack of making eye contact with them.

Related Article : Why Eye Contact & Facial Expressions Will Make or Break Your Speech

Be Yourself

Remember, the main objective of the Icebreaker is to show your mentor and evaluator what delivery stylistics come naturally to you. This speech is to give them an idea of your strengths and weaknesses and how they can work on both. Therefore, be as natural as you can onstage and just be you.

It is normal to be in awe of a fellow speaker and want to emulate them but if that style of delivery is not natural to you then don’t.

There is always time later to learn from them and emulate their style or even better add it as an accessory to your own. Understand, this is your story and should only be said in your way for the impact to deepen.

Things to Know as You Receive Your First Icebreaker Evaluation

If this is your first speech at Toastmasters, it’s probably also going to be the first time you receive an evaluation. Here are some things to keep in mind as you receive your Icebreaker speech evaluation.

Understand that the Evaluator’s word is not the ultimate

One of the most enriching segments of a Toastmasters Meeting is the Evaluation segment where each speaker is allocated a dedicated Evaluator who evaluates the speech for him/her.

Remember that an evaluator is no God and feel free to only take whatever portions from the evaluation that you deem enriching enough for yourself. If you feel that there’s nothing, feel free to leave it out.

Ask for Feedback from Fellow Members

A lot of times the evaluators assigned are new members learning the ropes of the craft themselves and thus you might feel that you weren’t satisfied with the evaluation that came your way.

In such a scenario feel free to walk up to the senior members and ask for feedback. In fact one should do this regardless of whether they are satisfied with the speech evaluation or not.

Cherish your First Time with Toastmasters

The icebreaker is going to be one of the many of your firsts at Toastmasters and for some of you, might also be your first time speaking in front of an audience.

Cherish it, for all firsts are always special in some way or the other and they never come back. Remember to enjoy the process, the writing, the prepping and the delivery.

Video Record your Speech

If you are comfortable, ask someone to record the speech for you. It will help you later understand things in a much better way especially the criticism but will most importantly serve as a beautiful memory to look back on a few years down the line.

Sample Icebreaker Speeches

Over the years I have been fortunate to meet several amazing speakers. It gives me immense pleasure to share some of their very first speeches (the Icebreaker). Are these speeches perfect and follow every guide stated in this blog? Of course, not. And that’s not the point.

The point is to take inspiration from these speeches to help better draft your own Icebreaker. You can download them as PDF versions here:

Oreo Cheesecake

This is My Start

The Perfect Moment

As we keep getting more writers who have been through Icebreakers, we will keep adding more sample speeches for you to take inspiration from!

Final Words: Smile Through Your Mistakes

If you goofed up onstage it is fine, just smile through it and don’t be too harsh on yourself. It was your first time, you will make many such mistakes at Toastmasters and always remember that Toastmasters is a platform that aims to encourage you to make mistakes aplenty so that you learn the right way.

I still remember when I was giving my Icebreaker I sort of forgot something in the first thirty seconds itself. I masked it really well and no one in the audience could gauge it but my evaluator, not even my mentor. Somehow I just stuck to it and felt really wretched about it.

Now when I look back the only regret that I have is that I didn’t spend those minutes enjoying my time onstage but delved in the misery of a trivial mistake.

My only tip to you, it is OKAY to falter and stutter. The more graceful and human you are about this the more forgiving the audience. What is not okay is to delve in it and ruin your mood and not have fun. That is the only regret I have in my time with my club.

This is the beginning of a new journey that is going to be full of ups and downs and learnings and mistakes and just like Rumi rightly said, “Trust the magic of new beginnings”. It is going to be a roller coaster ride, one that you’re going to love, so brace yourselves and Welcome to the Toastmaster Family.

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

How to Brag Like a Pro as a Speaker

Less is More! Tips to Avoid Overwhelming Your Audience 

What does it mean to Resonate with the Audience- Agreement, Acceptance, Approval

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

The Art of the Icebreaker Speech: Tips for Toastmasters and Real Life

Rock your icebreaker, whether it’s your first or your twentieth, why care about icebreakers.

People make an opinion about you the moment you enter the room. Giving an Icebreaker is your chance to influence that opinion.

Whether you’re joining a new company as a junior business analyst, team manager, or the Chief Technology Officer, you will benefit from introducing yourself in style.

Whether you are a brand new face to the audience or notoriously known, kicking your presentation off with a personal anecdote is a safe way to bring everyone on your side.

The art of the Icebreaker is so valuable that I dare to say that its importance is currently somewhat underestimated.

Last week, I attended a Toastmasters club meeting where one of the more experienced members was doing an Icebreaker because he was starting a new path. Before starting his speech, he expressed how annoyed he was about having to do the “rookie project” again.

But make no mistake – while the Icebreaker is the project rookies start with, it is no rookie project.

Breaking the ice is a vital skill in your professional life. And the Icebreaker project is an excellent opportunity to practice it.

Here, have a taste of it in Susan Cain’s famous TED Talk:

Even if this was the first time you’ve seen her, she’s no longer a stranger to you after the two-minute story about her first summer camp experience. Of course, executing an icebreaker with such brilliance is not an easy thing to do. But you can – if you master the art of the Icebreaker.

In Toastmasters, the format is four-to-six minutes, and the objective is as simple as to “introduce yourself.” It might seem that having very loose instructions could make things easier, but it makes them harder.

First: Avoid these five big mistakes

Let me help you from the start by pointing out some frequent mistakes people make:

• Overthinking the topic

Speaking on a general topic

Trying to say too much, rehearsing with notes, starting with an apology, overthinking.

You might feel the urge to pick the most fantastic topic – or topics – to speak about. It should be something that speaks about you and you have only 6 minutes. It should be better good! If you’re like most people, anything you come up with won’t feel good enough. That will paralyze you, delay the moment you settle on a topic, and limit your time for preparation.

Instead: Quickly write down ten possible topics you could speak about. Then, pick the one you like best. Solved. Proceed to prepare the speech.

Many people feel like they should sound wise when speaking to a group. That’s why they often talk on general topics, such as “Me and animals.”

But here’s the thing: General topics are boring. Yes, even when you talk about animals.

Instead: Be specific! It’s examples and particular experiences that are interesting! Instead of Fauna of Australia, tell us about “How I saw a Platypus fight a Kangaroo.” Now we’re talking!

Have you ever thought of writing a book about your life? A typical novel can have some 60,000 words. Your Icebreaker will be It’s six minutes – about 600 words. That is 1%.

A frequent mistake is that speakers try to say “everything important” about themselves in an icebreaker. This way, they end up trying to squeeze in too much. That makes them need to rush AND only stay on the surface.

Instead: Accept that you won’t be able to say everything. Pick just a tiny slice and tell us more about it!

It’s better than no rehearsing at all! However, the risk is that it gives you false confidence about knowing your material. If you’re planning to give your Icebreaker WITHOUT notes, you’re setting yourself up for trouble. If the first time you ride without training wheels is in a race – that race won’t end up well for you!

Instead: Use different ways to rehearse without notes:

• Talk to yourself
• Have a conversation with your friend
• Talk on video

If there is one speech where authenticity counts, it is the Icebreaker!

Avoiding this is especially important if you’re giving your FIRST Icebreaker. You might tend to endear yourself to your audience by admitting that you’re not feeling good enough (yet).

It is likely that yours is not the first Icebreaker they hear. And since many people have such a tendency to endear themselves, you will be saying something your audience has heard many times before. That is boring and won’t score you any plus points.

Instead: Skip the apology!

By skipping the apology, you give more space to what is uniquely yours and, therefore interesting – the content of your speech—the interesting things about you.

Dive into your content. Like Susan Cain in her TED Talk.

And about the fact that you’re still not feeling 100% confident? Let me tell you a secret: The audience can’t be 100% sure you’re not confident about your speaking UNLESS you confess it. So if there are doubts in your head, in your head they should stay!

Second: Choose your topic

I said, “don’t overthink it,” but that does not mean there are no considerations whatsoever.

The first one is to find common ground between yourself and your audience. For example, if you speak at a conference for vegans, you sharing your love for argentine beef steaks won’t make you popular, no matter how authentic you are in your delivery.

You don’t need to limit yourself to “what your audience wants to hear.” But you need to consider their view on your topic.

There is no “perfect” topic, but I thought I might share a handful of “Icebreaker prompts” to get you started. Here they are:

• Your favorite pet
• The city you were born in
• An unorthodox belief you have
• The things you have on your desk
• What you learned from your first job
• What you remember from your first day at school
• The #1 lesson you learned from your mum or dad

Speaking to any of those has the potential of having you share something uniquely yours. See, when you’re speaking to a new audience, this is the question on everyone’s mind: “Who is that person speaking? Are they dangerous? Can they cook? Could I date them?” Okay, maybe the last two are not on EVERYONE’S mind. But sharing something uniquely yours answers many of the questions your audience has on their minds.

When you answer your audience’s questions, you build trust. When you build trust, you make it easier for yourself to deliver your message.

Third: Relax

Your icebreaker does not need to be perfect.

If you want to deliver a brilliant Icebreaker, let me offer another perspective: The worse you perform in your Icebreaker, the easier it will be for you to impress everyone with your progress in your next speech!

Perfection is a lie. Don’t stress over something that you won’t achieve anyway. Being relaxed will help you perform better.

YOU don’t need to be perfect

This also means that you don’t need to paint yourself as a perfect character when telling stories about yourself! However, you should make sure you DON’T paint yourself that way.

Especially younger speakers make the mistake of trying too hard to impress. Most often, this backfires.

This may sound surprising to you, but it’s the truth: People tend to be jealous of those who are smarter, more successful, or better looking than themselves.

I’m not saying everyone IS jealous, but it’s a natural tendency for us to compare ourselves to others, be suspicious of those we don’t know, and appear to be better off than ourselves.

Therefore: Be careful with speaking about yourself as smart, successful, or good-looking especially when you are new to a group.

For me, this is relaxing! If I tried to paint myself in the best colors, I would be nervous about someone being able to “see-through” me and call me out as an impostor. When I describe myself as I am – including my flaws – it puts me at ease. Because when someone spots those flaws later, I can tell them: “I told you!”

Some of those strangers might be your close friends three or five years later

Presenting about yourself to a group of strangers is intimidating. But think about this – you will likely connect well with this group. Maybe you will be working and growing together for the next three or five years. Some of those people are your future best friends. So even if you fail terribly in your Icebreaker – further down the line, you will have a hearty laugh about it.

Relax, smile and enjoy. After all – you’re giving your Icebreaker only once. At least, THIS Icebreaker!

If you enjoyed this blog post, you might enjoy my other posts about Toastmasters .

Get daily Toastmasters tips by following Toast of the Wild East on Facebook , Twitter or Instagram .

Share this:

Leave a comment cancel reply.

• Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
• Subscribe Subscribed
• Copy shortlink
• Report this content
• View post in Reader
• Manage subscriptions
• Collapse this bar

10 Tips For The Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech

This post may contain links from our sponsors. See our disclosure for more information.

The Toastmasters Icebreaker speech is probably one of the funnest speeches to give in Toastmasters.

You’re a new member. You’re excited to let the group get to know who you are. And if you’re like me, you’re nervous.

You might even find yourself struggling to come up with what to talk about for the ice breaker.

In this article, I’ve got you covered. I’ll share some tips to help you come across confident, relaxed and seasoned with your first speech for Toastmasters.

Table of Contents

What is Toastmasters?

Before I get into some actionable tips, first let me touch on what Toastmasters is.

Toastmasters International is a global company that has headquarters in Englewood, Colorado in the US.

Toastmasters was founded in October of 1924 by Ralph Smedley. And it is a non-profit company that specializes in helping people to become better communicators and leaders.

The company has a network of clubs worldwide and the focus is on public speaking.

What is The Icebreaker Speech?

The Toastmasters Icebreaker speech is a speech that members give as their first speech project.

This is usually a short speech with a time limit of 4-6 minutes.

The goal of this speech is to:

• Introduce yourself to the club.
• Share your background.
• Get your feet wet with speaking in front of people.
• Gain confidence to deliver more speeches in the future.
• Lay the groundwork for some areas of improvement.

The icebreaker speech is where you talk about a topic that you should know very well. You.

pic.twitter.com/GK0POhpFaE — Impact Marketer (@impact_marketer) December 10, 2019

You share some of your interests and aspirations. You can also tell people who you are and some of your past experiences of your life.

Tips For The Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech

I joined Toastmasters to become a more dynamic speaker. Plus, being in sales at the time, I had a lot of presentations to give as part of the role.

Public speaking was a big struggle for me. It was embarrassing to the point where I could notice others were getting uncomfortable watching me try to deliver a presentation from the front of the room.

I had a lot of issues with public speaking , so I turned to Toastmasters. The one thing that I didn’t realize is that in the process of developing as a speaker, I also developed as a person.

I found myself succeeding and excelling in other areas of my life as I started to get public speaking handled.

Without a doubt, Toastmasters is a no-brainer if you’re in a professional role where you need to be a dynamic speaker.

But I think universally, Toastmasters will make you a more confident person and build self-esteem.

I’ve seen some people go from being quiet, shy, wallflowers to confident presenters who can’t stop talking once they’re on stage.

If you want to make this happen, it all starts with the Ice Breaker speech.

Here are some tips to help you deliver.

1) Practice

It’s a must that you practice. Practice in front of a friend or family member. And practice your speech at least 3 times to make sure you don’t go over your time limit.

2) Write An Outline

I recommend you get some postcards and write out your outline. They recommend that you don’t memorize your ice breaker.

Also, make sure your speech has an opening, body, and conclusion.

I was against using postcards of any kind to help me with my ice breaker. Looking back I think that was a mistake.

I tried to treat the icebreaker like it was my 10th speech. As if I was a seasoned speaker.

I recommend you ease into it and if you’re going to work on anything in your first speech, a great place to start is with your body language. Or pick one thing to focus on and more importantly focus on sharing who you are with your audience.

3) Open Strong

Make sure you engage your audience with a strong opener. I like to open with a question or statement.

One question I asked for my ice breaker was, “Does anyone in here know how to eat an elephant?”

I remember hearing a few chuckles and seeing smiles on people’s faces.

Then I heard one member answer the question with the answer, “one bite at a time.”

The topic of my ice breaker was success being a gradual process. Because throughout so much of my life, a common theme is early failure followed by success at some point down the road.

4) Leverage Resources

Read books, take courses and continue to work on yourself. This will not only help you with your ice breaker. But future speeches and other areas of your life.

One great book that I read beforehand was The Exceptional Presenter by Timothy Koegel. This is a solid book and really helped to set me up for success.

Most people who join Toastmasters are those who are go-getters and believe in personal development.

Toastmasters is a great platform. But to really supercharge your public speaking, I recommend adding other resources as well.

Another great resource is the Dale Carnegie Public Speaking Mastery Course. I learned a ton about public speaking there.

5) Video Record Yourself

Shoot video of yourself delivering your ice breaker. This is a powerful way to help you to relax and get comfortable before your speech.

If you look tense or uncomfortable, there’s no better person to notice that than you.

Look for things that might be little ticks in your speech (such as ahs and ums). Try to make your speech as smooth as possible and remember this is a journey that starts with your first speech.

Even though you want to look good, you still want to get better. So try to improve after every speech.

Watching footage of yourself before delivering the speech will give you an idea of how you look before it’s showtime. You’ll also be able to assess your body language, delivery, and gestures.

6) Avoid Stilted Body Language

Some things to avoid here include:

• crossing your arms.
• leaning on the podium or clutching on to it for dear life.
• T Rex arms (open up your communication and gestures).

PRO TIP: If you want to really shine in your ice breaker, I recommend that you walk out away from the lectern (On both sides) while you speak. This will help you appear confident, while also helping you to relax.

This is more of an advanced technique, but no need to wait until you have more speeches under your belt to start this. You can practice this with your first speech.

7) Include The Entire Audience

By this I mean look at everyone. Be sure to slowly scroll the room as you talk, to make sure you give every member your eye contact.

A funny thing usually starts to happen when members of the audience feel neglected. They might start to tune you out.

Doing this will help to take the focus off of you and put it onto them. And also help you to connect with your audience as if you’re speaking directly to each and every one of them.

Speak as if you’re on stage and you want every person in the room to hear you. Project your voice by speaking from your diaphragm and not from your throat.

You want everyone from the member closest to you up in the front to the last person all the way in the back to hear you clearly.

Focus on slowing down and trying to deliver for your audience. When I get nervous or anxious, I have a tendency to speak too fast and not loud enough.

By slowing down and focusing on your audience you’ll speak with impact and impress.

This was a big one for me. As I delivered my ice breaker speech, I tensed up my face and presented a face that said I was very anxious and nervous.

At the suggestion of a fellow member, I started smiling more and that helped to relax me and change my state.

Instead of being so serious and nervous, I came across as more relaxed and pleasant. Smiling made a big difference for me.

10) Prepare Physically and Mentally

Make sure you get a good night sleep before your ice breaker. Also make sure you have a good high fiber meal before and you use the restroom to prepare your body.

Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol when delivering your ice breaker.

Butterflies and anxiety are normal. Most people fear public speaking.

Visualization

I like to visualize my speech going well beforehand. I also like to get myself into a positive state and see myself delivering a flawless speech.

Visualization is powerful. The same way you want to practice out loud, you want to visualize yourself performing perfectly.

This has worked wonders for me.

Last but not least. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself and remember that your ice breaker speech is the beginning of your journey to becoming an exceptional speaker.

Becoming a member of toastmasters puts you in rarefied air. Most people are terrified of public speaking.

Your ice breaker speech puts you on the road to success in any area that you choose. For me, it was to improve as a speaker on sales calls.

But what I found was it helped me in areas of my life that I could have never imagined. Good luck with your ice breaker and most importantly have fun.

I’ll leave you with an excellent video below on how to prepare for your ice breaker speech. Enjoy!

2 thoughts on “10 Tips For The Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech”

What areas of your life changed in ways you couldn’t have imagined because of TOASASTERS? I have just joined and I’m interested to Know! Helen

I’ve always considered myself to be a total introvert. Toastmasters helped me to speak with more confidence. Whenever I had table topics or gave speeches… as members critiqued me, I learned so much about myself. Whether it be the ahs and ums, stilted body language, not smiling enough, not using enough “open” gestures. These are areas I’ve learned to have awareness around and have grown. One thing I will say though is it’s like anything else, the more you practice the better you get. And when you stop, you might find that you’re not as sharp. But all-in-all, I’m a more effective communicator because of it.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Home » Ideas » Writing the Icebreaker Speech

Writing the Icebreaker Speech

At some time in your life, you most certainly will have occasion to present an icebreaker speech. Some of the types of short icebreaker speeches are the business speech and motivational speech. You may need to make a business pitch, present or receive an award, address stockholders, honor a retiring employee or welcome a new one, dedicate a new facility, give a demonstration, present a wedding toast, introduce a guest speaker, or welcome attendees at a conference or convention. Whatever the occasion, there are certain guidelines and hints that will make the writing and presentation of your icebreaker speech easier. This article tells you everything you need to know about presenting an effective and enjoyable icebreaker speech.

Table of Contents

What Is an Icebreaker Speech?

An icebreaker speech, as the name implies, breaks the ice. Usually, icebreaker speeches you will present an icebreaker speech in one of two situations:

• to begin a function and get the attention of the audience to prepare them for what is to follow. Examples: introduce a guest speaker or welcome attendees at a conference or convention
• to get the groups attention at some time during a function for a specific purpose. Examples: present a wedding toast, or introduce a new section of information at a meeting

An icebreaker speech is not long, usually between four and six minutes in length. Because it is so short, you need to make sure every word counts and keeps the attention of your audience. Assess the age and composition of your audience and include some of the following areas in your speech:

• education and qualifications
• family and background
• future plans, aspirations, and ambitions
• hobbies and/or favorite sports
• significant experience and events
• something unique, interesting, or surprising about you
• why you are at this gathering or with this group of people
• work experience

Writing Your Icebreaker Speech

Choosing a topic.

Depending on the situation and the composition of the audience, there are a number of different topics you can use for your icebreaker speech. Two excellent suggestions are

• Use a topic

Choose a topic related to the group or situation, one that will appeal to your audience.

• Use autobiographical content

One thing you are sure to know a great deal about is your own life. Use past experiences and talk about them in an interesting or even humorous manner. Look for a common thread to share with your audience. You can also concentrate on one key event that defines your life and explain how you changed and grew as a result.

Start with an Introduction

Begin your icebreaker speech with a half a minute introduction telling the audience your name, what you do for a living, and some other basic information. Next, entice your audience to desire to hear more by using one of the following:

• A humorous story about yourself
• A quote, preferably famous and related to the subject
• A joke as it reduces both your nervousness as a speaker and captures the audience’s attention.
• Waste time explaining what you are going to do. Just do it!
• Start with an apology indicating your inexperience, inability, etc.
• Start with a big statement. I you do, you have to maintain that momentum all the way through your speech.
• State your name at the beginning of your speech.
• Have notes!

Write the Body of Your Icebreaker Speech

If you are writing an autobiographical introductory icebreaker speech, begin by evaluating aspects of your life that define who you are – education, jobs, leadership roles, family, and/or special talents. Life-saving or changing events are interesting and keep an audience’s attention. Remember that it is easier to share information that is of interest and meaningful to you.

The body can contain any information you wish and the content will vary dependent on the reason for you are giving the icebreaker speech. Just make sure your content is applicable and of interest to your audience and the occasion.

Write the Conclusion of Your Icebreaker Speech

You need enough content to spend about a half minute on your conclusion, the same amount of time as you spent on your introduction. You want to sum up what you have said, and link your final statement to the beginning of your speech. If appropriate, introduce the upcoming speaker, event, or activity. Do not forget to thank your audience.

Preparing for to Give Your Icebreaker Speech

The more prepared you are for your icebreaker speech, the more confidence you will have, and the more likely you will be successful. Do the following in preparation:

• Write your notes. You may not use them, but you need them if you forget something. Then double-check your notes. Make sure that you did not leave out anything important, and that you did not forget to remove something.
• Practice giving your icebreaker, watching the time. If you can, have someone watch you and give you some feedback.
• If your speech is not long enough or too long, add or omit information.
• Relax! You are prepared and ready, so enjoy yourself.

Presenting Your Icebreaker Speech

Speak up loud and clear, with confidence, and do not talk too fast. If you are using notes, try not to stare at them. Instead, look at the audience members. If doing so makes you nervous, look slightly over the heads of the audience at the back wall.

If appropriate and you wish, consider one of the following:

• Provide a sample
• Move around

End the speech with an enthusiasm and do not forget to thank your audience, if doing so feels appropriate and fits the content and occasion.

Guidelines for a Sample Introduction Speech

• One way to end an effective icebreaker speech with a quote that is significant and meaningful to your life or on related to your topic.
• If you are very nervous, memorize your speech. This helps especially if you have not given a speech before and lack the confidence and experience to make this first effort easy and memorable.
• Remember that you only have a short time to present your icebreaker speech, so do not try to say too much. Pick the most interesting points of your topic.
• Write some notes about what you plan to say. You may not need to refer to them, but you will have them if you forget what you plan to say.
• Practice giving your speech aloud in front of a mirror or to someone to make sure it fits your allotted time.

Pick about three or four main points for the body of your speech. Once you have these main categories, add subheadings and supporting information.

You do not have to follow this outline exactly. Sometimes it is easier to write a longer speech initially and then cut out the parts you feel are not effective, rather than to worry about writing a speech the exact length and with all the necessary content.

• Introduction
• Optional example/information

Look at the following complete outline for an introductory icebreaker speech. The speech is shorter than usual, but for the sake of time and space, we have limited the content.

• How long I have been with Village Charter School.
• Past responsibilities
• Current job
• The involvement of our family
• New computer lab
• New teaching material
• See Mr. Gold for an instrument
• Introduce Mr. Gold
• For all elementary student
• Art History and Appreciation required for all high school students .
• Introduce coaches
• Field Trips
• List on the back of the program
• Grades for participation
• How to have questions and concerns answered
• Introduction of principal

The completed speech example

Good evening! I am Mary Porter, the school secretary. I have been with Village Charter School for ten years, ever since its inception. I began as a volunteer working in the lunchroom, and then assisted teachers as an academic aid, primarily in first and second grades. This is my second year serving as the school’s secretary. I am excited the coming school year, as I am sure many of you attending this meeting are as well. We have many new programs and updates that we will introduce this evening. However, I want to begin with a warm welcome for all of you, especially those families starting with our school for the first time this year. You have made an excellent choice for a quality education; I know because my own three children attend Village Charter and my husband and I have been extremely pleased with the educational and social progress of our children. To begin with, I want to let you know about the exciting additions and changes we have made to our academic program We have a new computer lab courtesy of Mill’s Food Store. We have purchased updated texts for all our history and geography courses as well as new maps for our classrooms We are also excited about our fine arts program. We will be having band for all of our students in grades five through twelve. Our Fine Arts teacher Mr. Gold will be available after the meeting if you need to talk to him about acquiring an instrument for your child. Mr. Gold, would you please stand so everyone knows who you are? Thank you. This year, we will have art classes for all students grades K through six. Junior high and high school students will have the opportunity to take art as an elective subject. We are also requiring all high school students to take an art history and appreciation class prior to graduation. The schedule for the seniors will reflect this class, as will some of the junior’s schedules. We took into consideration what they had to take for academic credits in scheduling this class. Our extracurricular activities have also increased. In addition to basketball and baseball, we will have soccer teams for both the boys and girls – varsity and junior varsity. Remember, both our basketball and baseball teams were champions this year and we expect the same for our soccer teams. If you have not played before, do not let that stop you. Our great coaches will bring you up to speed quickly. Coach John Saunders and Coach Mary Mayfield, will you please stand? Thank you! They will be glad to meet with you after this meeting if you have questions about the sports program. We are planning field trips to Washington, D.C., Central America (the exact country to be determined later), and even Europe! We have listed clubs your student can participate in on the back of the program you received when you arrived. Please review the choices with your students and decide which they desire and have the time and ability to make a commitment to. Please note that we have clubs for all of our students grades six and up. You may have additional concerns and questions. The teacher’s will all be available this evening in their classrooms, as will Principle Smith. Remember that our goal is to meet the academic and social needs of all our students. Please help us by continuing your open and honest communication. Thank you! And now, here is Principal Smith to provide some additional information and take your questions.

Writing and giving an icebreaker speech is not difficult and is an important ability that will serve you well throughout your life. Although not difficult, following our guidelines can assure the correct content and a smooth delivery. Remember to relax and enjoy sharing information and aspects of your personality in your icebreaker speech.

Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.

Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.

Read full bio

Related posts

Leave a comment cancel reply, recent posts, 31 unique company picnic ideas (+games & activities).

August 15th, 2024

30 Fun Classroom Games (For Students & Kids)

August 1st, 2024

33 Perfect Social Skills Activities (For Kids, Teens, Adults)

July 15th, 2024

24 Inexpensive Employee Engagement Ideas

July 1st, 2024

28 Best Teacher Appreciation Week Ideas

June 15th, 2024

30 Best Coach Gift Ideas [for Any Sport]

June 1st, 2024

109 Challenging Chicago Trivia & Facts

May 15th, 2024

• Speech Writing
• Delivery Techniques
• PowerPoint & Visuals
• Speaker Habits
• Speaker Resources

Speech Critiques

• Book Reviews
• Browse Articles
• ALL Articles
• Learn About Us
• About Six Minutes
• Meet Our Authors
• Write for Us
• Advertise With Us

Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches

Not familiar with Toastmasters? Find out here .

For Toastmasters and non-Toastmasters alike, these articles show how you can graduate from speaking fear to inspiring your audience.

The format for the series will be one article for each of the ten speeches which comprise the introductory Toastmasters manual — the Competent Communicator Manual.

• The Ice Breaker
• Organize Your Speech
• Get to the Point
• How To Say It
• Your Body Speaks
• Vocal Variety
• Research Your Topic
• Get Comfortable with Visual Aids (coming next)
• Persuade with Power
• Inspire Your Audience

For Toastmasters and Non-Toastmasters Alike

If you are a Toastmaster , this is your guide through the first ten speeches. For each speech project, we’ll look at tips, techniques, and wherever possible, written and video examples of speeches which demonstrate the goals.

If you are not a Toastmaster , consider this an introductory public speaking course. Each of the 10 speeches covers one fundamental skill for public speakers. This is the solid formula on which the Toastmasters program is based. If you’ve never joined Toastmasters or taken a public speaking course, this series will be a primer for you.

Overview of the First Ten Toastmasters Speeches

As the articles are published, each of these will turn into links to those articles.

• Speech 1: The Ice Breaker — The first speech of the Toastmasters program is about introducing yourself to your peers, providing a benchmark for your current skill level, and standing and speaking without falling over.
• Speech 2: Organize Your Speech — Introduces the basic concepts of organizing a speech around a speech outline.
• Speech 3: Get to the Point — Clearly state your speech goal, and make sure that every element of your speech focuses on that goal.
• Speech 4: How to Say It — Examines word choice, sentence structure, and rhetorical devices.
• Speech 5: Your Body Speaks — Shows how to complement words with posture, stance, gestures, facial expressions, and eye contact.
• Speech 6: Vocal Variety — Guides you to add life to your voice with variations in pitch, pace, power, and pauses.
• Speech 7: Research Your Topic — Addresses the importance of backing up your arguments with evidence, and touches on the types of evidence to use.
• Speech 8: Get Comfortable With Visual Aids — Examines the use of slides, transparencies, flip charts, whiteboards, or props.
• Speech 9: Persuade With Power — Discusses audience analysis and the different forms of persuasion available to a speaker.
• Speech 10: Inspire Your Audience — The last of ten speeches, this project challenges the speaker to draw all their skills together to deliver a powerful inspirational message.

Sample Written Speeches and Speech Videos

The purpose of including these samples is not to say “Look, here’s the right way to do this project.” In fact, there is no single “right way.”

Instead, I hope these sample speeches will provide ideas and inspiration for you as you search for relevant topics from your own life experiences.

Next in the Toastmasters Speech Series

The next article in this series addresses Speech 1: The Ice Breaker .

Please share this...

This is one of a number of articles related to Toastmasters featured on Six Minutes . Subscribe to Six Minutes for free to receive future articles. Note: Six Minutes is not affiliated with or endorsed by Toastmasters International. Click here for more information about the relationship between the two.

Image credit: weirdvis

Add a Comment Cancel reply

E-Mail (hidden)

Subscribe - It's Free!

Similar Articles You May Like...

• Interview with Ryan Avery: 2012 World Champion of Public Speaking
• Toastmasters Speech 7: Research Your Topic
• Toastmasters Speech 6: Vocal Variety
• Toastmasters Testimonials: 85 Years of Better Speakers
• Toastmasters: Please Share Your Story
• Toastmasters Speech 5: Your Body Speaks

Find More Articles Tagged:

72 comments.

Excellent work !!!

Keep it up. I’ll see how I can contribute.

Cheers, TM Shashi

This is very good information. I found this since I was looking for information on Toastmasters. I’m definitely going to be joining.

I can’t wait to see the rest of the speeches get posted.

Please could you let me know when you are doing the rest of the manual? These are very helpful. Thanks Jacqui

Excellent info – now one doesnt need to read the CC Manual – everything’s here on a click… 🙂

Keep up the gud work

Thanks for the kind words, but I don’t agree with “one doesn’t need to read the CC manual”. These articles are intended to complement the CC manual, and provide additional guidance for Toastmasters members.

I found your articles and links to the examples and your analysis very helpful in my project speeches ( 1 to 4). However you have not gone beyond Project 4. Recently I gave my Project 5 speech (Your Body Speaks). The text is available at http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/04/project-5-speech-ragging-learning.html . Please feel free to refer it in your article if you think it is worthwhile.

Well, I guess they gave up on the CC series, I’ve been checking back for months and months waiting for number 5, in the meantime I have completed 3 and 4 in my own club, I guess I’ll trudge on through 5 with no extra help… I’m getting more confidence, so I guess I don’t need it.

It will be really great if this series is resumed. Meanwhile I guess for the ones who are seeking tips on Project 5 (Body Language) and Project 6 (Vocal Variety) can refer to Speech Preparation series #7 http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-preparation-7-staging-gestures-vocal-variety/ It proved to be really useful for my Project 6 speech. http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/05/project-6-speech-michaels-story.html

This is very great Blog. I find so many useful resources here. Could you please continue the toastmasters post series 🙂

Here is an an example of Project 7 speech – Research Your Topic. Recently we had general elections in India and we used Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). I did some research on the process of electronic voting and the EVMs based on which I gave this speech. Here is the link http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/06/project-7-speech-electronic-voting.html

My Project 8 Speech ( Get comfortable with visual aids) was inspired by 3 short articles in Paulo Coelho’s book “Like the Flowing River”. It was all about the wisdom we can gain from common day to day objects. I used a currency note, a pencil and some bananas as props. The speech was very well received in my club. Here is the link to the same http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/07/project-8-speech-wisdom-wisdom.html

Sponsor a Girl Child. This was my topic for Project 9 (Persuade with Power Speech). I talked about Nanhi Kali a project in India which is doing a yeoman service in securing the sponsorships for educating girls from underpriveleged sections of the society. I have been associated with this project for last 10 years and in my speech I tried to persuade the Toastmasters to sponsor at least one girl. The speech was well received. Here is the link http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/09/project-9-speech-sponsor-girl-child.html

I’m almost afraid to delve into any more of these videos as I’ve looked at quite a few already and they scare me. Because speakers don’t seem to realize that speaking is performing and so their voices are week, their energry is low, their speech sounds memorized but here goes.

Hi Barbara: Don’t forget that many of the Toastmasters members in these videos are taking their very first public speaking steps. It’s okay that they are not yet polished speechwriters or speakers. That’s why have committed themselves to improvement through Toastmasters.

I completed my Project 10 speech (Inspire Your Audience). The topic was “Three Essential Qualities of a Toastmaster”. http://toastmasterspeeches.blogspot.com/2009/12/project-10-speech-three-essential.html

It would be really good if you would update the series for speeches 7, 8, 9 and 10. Or perhaps I should start my own website and do that 😀

Its indeed an excellent article from the toast masters end.

I really love your six minutes guide to the first ten speeches! It was really helpful and I don’t think I could have pulled off my speeches successfully without your help!

Thanks again Andrew, it would be great if you could continue to inspire us novice toastmasters!

Cheers, Jamie

Great ideas. Thanks for posting them.

Hi Andrew I subscribe to Six Minutes and really enjoy your blog. I particularly like your links to the first 6 Toastmasters speeches. Do you plan to post information on speeches 7-10? I’d find it most helpful. (I am a Toastmaster). Many thanks Katie

This is such a great blog. Love the ten Toastmasters speeches.

Hi Andrew. This is a great site. Very valuable for TMs or non-TMs. Can I direct our Club Guests to your site? Even for new TMs – this will be very helpful before they receive their manuals. Again, Thanks a lot. Enjoying the Olympics?

Mon J Gamil Lakeview TM Club, Mississauga, Ontario

You are welcome to link to Six Minutes articles anytime you like!

I have recently join a toastmasters club. It is amazing, with all the talking I do with friends. When it comes to formulizing a speech it seems alittle intimidating. I am thankful for this website. I hope to improve as a public speaker. Thanks.

Andrew Dlugan, Thanks for the resources that you provide. Can you please send me information on your rates for training in “Advanced Speech Techniques” and information on how you would deliver training.

I have a CTM/CC in ToastMasters, would like to improve to be a powerful, impact speaker. I have the lexicon resources(passive) and would like that to be active and effective for strong speech delivery, stage presence to influence multiple levels of consciousness within my intended audiences.

This is awesome…I am sending this link to all the Toastmasters Officers in all the clubs I am in so they can give this extra umph to their new and seasoned members.

You always have great articles and information…thank you very much! Thank you for the interview with LaShunda Rundles.

Warm regards, Patricia Cotton

Featured on Toastmasters in Pune Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toastmasters-in-Pune/148767611833746

very well done

Hello Andrew

Awesome blog…I found it loaded with helpful tips…I enjoy reading all the topics…May I know if you have an idea for a humourous topic of discussion as I have this contest coming and I really lack inspiration and the deadline is closing in!!!

for my mentees and club members this is perfect, written with an ease that can be seen its helpful,and supportive of my efforts I appreciate you for you have been Helpful Caring thoughtful and sharing

thank you so much

ANDREW PLEASE HELP ME IAM NEW TOASTMASTER IN GRANDCENTER2000 IN ST.LOUIS MO. IAM ON NUMBER 6 IAM SO LOST PLEASE GIVER SOME POINTER SHERYLE

As a Toastmaster for many years, it heightens my energy level to read posts about my organization, and its stature in the world. The letters after my name indicate that I have completed the first ten speeches, CC, and subsequent levels of expertise within the organization. As an accomplished speaker, and toastmaster, I want to commend your efforts to broaden the horizon of the speaking field, and the breadth to which your site has made speaking look easy.

Dear Mr. Dulgan very informative and succinct. I’m thankful. Kind regards Jothi Toastmaster Div C and A Dist 20

Thanks for a wonderful site.

I just finished speech #4 as a member of TM. Slowly, I’m improving. However, I still find it difficult to memorize my speeches. Any advice, especially for my next speech?

It may seem obvious, but the best way to move toward delivering without notes is extensive rehearsal/preparation. The more time you allow yourself to rehearse the speech, the more it will “stick” in your head.

Having said that, you don’t need to make the leap all at once. If you are currently writing out speeches in full and reading them, then move toward using notes which have just the first sentence of each paragraph and a few key words as a means to jog your memory. Then, move toward writing down just a couple keywords for each paragraph of your speech. Then, move toward notes which contain just a couple keywords for each major point or story you are using. From there, its a very small step to delivering without notes at all.

Andrew, thanks alot. My next speech is #5. I feel confident about this speech because: I’m knowledgeable about gestures and cross cultural communication.

I am very appreciative of your tips on the 10 speeches.

Something to note for non-members reading this post is that you can present any “topic” you’d like in your Toastmasters speeches. The Toastmasters manuals are designed to give you objectives to work toward accomplishing with each presentation…but the topic you present is up to you.

Just wanted to say thanks – your blog has been very helpful to get me through my CC manual.

Toastmasters is a great place for beginning speakers to learn how to research, write and deliver speeches on a consistent basis. I still go back to some of my Toastmasters books when I need a refresher course.

this is a great initiative. it will go a long way in assisting people become better speakers. Thanks

I really like the lay-out of this page- user friendly and great learning aid. When are you doing Speech 8?? K

how do you become a member. am not very good at delivering speeches i stutter a lot . Please assist

I found this article very useful, thanks a ton!!Please keep up the good work.

I’m sure there are others like me who are waiting for your inputs about project 8 onwards.

Interested in getting back in to toastmasters

Excellent website, Andrew. I am very grateful for your taking the time to put all these precious resources together for us.

Having been a toastmaster in several clubs both in the UAE as well as here in New Zealand, I have learned that experience and confidence as a mature speaker is a corner stone of sharing this rich experience and knowledge with others within the club and we all listen and learn together. This is my passion.

I strongly believe your articles will help me become an effective public speaker

OUTSTANDING, FANTASTIC AND EXCITING SITE , THANKS.

Hello! Amazing blog site! Very helpful. While preparing for next project in TM, I came across your website. I have a question here, from Projects 4 onwards, can you use old speech (like the speech you created for Project 3) to delivery your 4, 5 or 6 or any other projects ahead? Appreciate your reply. Thanks

I am a Toastmasters and have recently finished my CC Manual and would like to receive information about advanced speeches. Thanks

Why are Speeches 8-10 not posted here please? Where or how can I find them? Thanks 🙂

I am a beginner, at public speaking I am recovering from an auto accident and feel like I am coming out of a fog, or a walking zombie state and now I have to get my brain to remember, present intelligently and with a purpose.

Andrew, Thanks for taking the time to share these insights, tips, and examples. I’m 5 speeches into my CC and have found your detailed info very helpful and inspiring. When I shared the site w/my wife, she said, “Of course it’s good stuff, he’s Canadian.” She’s obviously Canadian as well. Kudos on both fronts. -SE

Would love to have recommendation for project 9 as well.

How can I get 8-9-10.

I ammgoing to present 8 then 9 and fonish 10 .

Please add me to your e-mail list.

Thanks Andrew! Aprreciate your sharing thats definitely helps me to prepare my 10projects.

Good article I’d like to receive more articles

Just Started attending toastmaster meeting and I am keen to learn more. The articles are a great help to those of us starting out on the journey Thanks

Hi, I was actually waiting for the Toastmasters Speech 8 to 10 but you haven’t update your post yet.

Thank you for the other samples. It helped me!

Valuable writing – my colleague a few days ago located https://goo.gl/xCUCJE to arrange pdf – It’s phenominal straightforward to use and it’s great , I saw on the website they offer a 30 day trial now…

Thanks for your share.

I am considering joining Toastmasters.

Thank you very much for the very valuable materials on Toastmasters prepared speech program. I deeply appreciated your earnest efforts.

I was discussing debate classes with my grandson and wanted to tell him about speech also but couldn’t remember the three types of speeches we had to give. 1. Impromptu Can’t remember actual title of other two. Any help here?

this is motivating Thanks alot

You made me realize there is so much time for us to improve our public speaking skills.

Please let me know more about great toastmasters.

Interested in Six Minutes articles by email. Thank you!

Thank you for providing tips and examples for each speech. This will be super helpful

Recent Tweets

#Toastmasters Series: Guide to the First 10 #Speeches – a really useful guide from @6minutes https://t.co/m5JFU9gTzz https://t.co/jK9JrOC2Hb — @gingernibbles Jan 30th, 2016

Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches #belmonttoastmasters https://t.co/YrP8xN1izI by @6minutes — @sarahatwatts Feb 7th, 2016

Need help with CCs?Look what we found! Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches https://t.co/TBtaF4WbgH by @6minutes — @IBMSynergyTM Feb 8th, 2016

Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches https://t.co/11MVTHQ5AW — Anthony Mackie (@amackie4) Apr 10th, 2016

Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches https://t.co/v3fVrZVqWP by @6minutes — @kartofeli Dec 21st, 2016

#Toastmasters #Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches https://t.co/u2fAw2J6Ou by @6minutes — @PatriciaLlamas Mar 29th, 2017

#Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches https://t.co/iPfu0ATo3I #publicspeaking — @michelselim Apr 4th, 2017

Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches https://t.co/cZSeielJKU — @Dhwani_TM Apr 17th, 2017

Competent Communicator (CC) speech series summary – what are these speeches about? https://t.co/E25ikclGy3 — @cimatoastmaster Jul 22nd, 2017

Almost a #competentcommunicator 🙌🏼 #toastmasters 👩🏽‍💻https://t.co/SRLFie1HjC — @dalia_a_garza Aug 8th, 2017

18 Blog Links

Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches | "Public Speaking in Singapore" — Sep 3rd, 2008

Updated Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches | "Public Speaking in Singapore" — Aug 30th, 2009

Gundy Gabbers Toastmasters Blog — Nov 16th, 2009

uberVU - social comments — Jan 29th, 2010

The Top 5 Tips for More Effective Toastmasters Speech Evaluations « Capital City Toastmasters Blog — Apr 25th, 2010

Toastmasters « Clear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce — Jul 8th, 2010

To Buy or Not To Buy - Farnham Speakers — Sep 24th, 2010

first steps of a Toastmaster « Aimhigh Toastmaster Club, Austin, TX — Sep 28th, 2010

first ten speeches for a newbie Toastmaster « Aimhigh Toastmaster Club, Austin, TX — Sep 28th, 2010

The Toastmaster’s Journey — Oct 12th, 2011

Basics: some resources. | The Cartusians Toastmasters Club — Nov 14th, 2011

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Toastmaster | Risman © Member of Qatar Society Petroleum Engineers & Dukhan Toastmaster Club ®. — Dec 11th, 2011

Thomas Lynema's Weblog · So….ummm…..I’m a Toastmaster! — Feb 16th, 2012

Guide to your first 10 Toastmasters speeches » Aiyana's Pen — May 20th, 2012

Public speaking tips for your "Girls Speak Out" — Sep 12th, 2012

Speaking and Presentation Skills Blogs and Websites | Public Speaking Scotland — Sep 27th, 2012

Public Speaking Downtown Montreal Parler en public | St.Lawrence Toastmasters Montreal » Welcome to our new members Monica, Ilya and Carlo — Nov 12th, 2012

スピーチレッスン　※グループレッスン向け | 3ヶ月でTOEIC試験の点数を200点上げるフィリピン・セブ島英語留学 — Apr 11th, 2013

Featured Articles

• Majora Carter (TED, 2006) Energy, Passion, Speaking Rate
• Hans Rosling (TED, 2006) 6 Techniques to Present Data
• J.A. Gamache (Toastmasters, 2007) Gestures, Prop, Writing
• Steve Jobs (Stanford, 2005) Figures of speech, rule of three
• Al Gore (TED, 2006) Humor, audience interaction
• Dick Hardt (OSCON, 2005) Lessig Method of Presentation

Books We Recommend

Six Minutes Copyright © 2007-2022 All Rights Reserved.

Read our permissions policy , privacy policy , or disclosure policy .

Comments? Questions? Contact us .

ICE BREAKER SPEECH SAMPLE (TOASTMASTERS)

The icebreaker speech sample will help anyone worried about doing their first speech.

The first time you get a chance to do a speech in front of a crowd is a huge challenge. Especially if your audience is new to you. The amount of pressure you feel will be multiplied. Usually, when you are doing the first speech to a crowd, it is called an “Icebreaker”.

In this article, I will briefly talk about the icebreaker speech. I will share an icebreaker sample speech for you to get started.

What is an Icebreaker speech?

Icebreaker speeches are designed to help both the speaker and the audience to get to know each other. This can help you to break the ice between you and your audience.

When you join the Toastmasters Club you have to do an icebreaker speech. Usually, after you join the club, you will be assigned to a senior member (mentor) and also you have to select a pathway program.

I chose the “Presentation Mastery” pathway program. Usually, that is the recommended program if you are a new member. So in this program, they have guided steps for you to get ready for your icebreaker.

What are the objectives of an Icebreaker speech?

The main objective of doing an icebreaker speech is to introduce yourself to the other members. At the same time by completing the icebreaker speech, you will learn how to prepare and structure a public speech properly.

You have the chance to establish yourself as a member of the club. By sharing your personal stories and your goals you can form a good relationship with your club members. Remember you need your member’s help to be a great toastmaster. They are one of the important parts of your success.

Icebreaker Speech Sample

This is the first speech I delivered as a Toastmaster . I was nervous and I made a lot of mistakes. But I will share the whole speech as it is without any changes.

Fortunately, I won the best-prepared speech award for my speech. But after I got the evaluation I realized I included too much information here. Because of that, I had to speak dast to finish within the allocated time. So If you are going to read this speech make sure to structure your speech to finish within 4 to 6 minutes.

Enjoy my icebreaker speech sample.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to introduce yourself to the club and learn the basic structure of a public speech. 

Overview: Write and deliver a speech about any topic to introduce yourself to the club. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or in any other style that appeals to you. 

Time 4- to 6-minute

Title: Saying It’s ok

Dear Toastmaster of the day and my fellow Toastmasters let me start this icebreaker by giving you a challenge. 

I hope you have a good memory.  So, I challenge you to remember my name by the end of this speech. And I’m going to say it only twice. 

The other day when I went to the clinic to get vaccinated, I had to wait in front of the nurse at the reception for a few minutes. She was beautiful in her pink uniform. First, she looked at me, and then she looked at the application I wrote. And I knew she was struggling to say my name. 

Then she started calling my name. 

” ke……..heru…….wa……raga..” 

She looked like a foreigner who tried to read Japanese for the first time. 

So I smiled and said.”It’s ok. Don’t worry. Its Kehelwala Gamaralalage Kalinga Nirosh”

As a Sri Lankan, I have a pretty fantastic, long name. When I`m introducing myself to foreigners, especially to beautiful Japanese ladies, I repeat my name several times. I consider it a fortune.  It gives me a chance to interact with people more

I was born and raised in Sri Lanka. Although I like eating spicy foods, when I moved to Japan I fell in love with Somen. My first introduction to Japan was Kyokushin karate. As a small kid, I watched my brother practising karate.  For a while, I thought Japanese people always greet each other with “oss”. 

The first time someone punched me in the face I didn’t tell It’s ok/Daijoubu desu. I Said some nasty things. and I went home and said to my father I’m not going back. My father is a tough man. He was working as a military officer.  He holds my shoulders. And said “It’s okay to get punched in the face. Because that’s how life works. But it’s never ok to quit.” 

The next day I punched the bully without any fear. Unfortunately, my mom got mad at me for getting into a fight and my father got scolded for giving bad advice.

Anyway I started to say “It’s ok” to challenges and

At the age of thirty, I got a chance to study abroad. I chose Japan. leaving my family and home was one of the hardest decisions I made. But I said to myself “It’s ok”.

living in a foreign land without your family and friends is difficult and it’s a challenge. 

But I like challenges. I usually watch TED talks and inspirational speeches. When I watched Toastmaster Dhananjaya Hettiarachchis’s speech it motivated me to challenge myself. 

So I decided to join a Toastmasters club and sent emails to several clubs. I got two replies. One was short and the other one was long. I read the long email and decided to join that club. During the first meeting, I tried to find someone looks like me. But I was the only foreigner. At the end of the meeting, they held a chat time and asked me so many questions.

So I asked myself “Am I ready to join this club? I am the only foreigner here. I can’t speak fluently”

But I said to myself “It’s ok。”

My fellow Toastmasters, here I am, doing my first Icebreaker in front of prestigious members of this club and I feel happy. This was possible because I decided to say “It’s okay” to the challenges I faced.

This life is full of challenges. But by saying it’s ok to your worries, to your negative feelings you can turn those challenges into opportunities. No matter which age we are or which background we are from let’s make our life more colorful by saying it’s ok.

As for the challenge, I know some of you couldn’t remember my name. For that, I say It’s ok. Because we have enough time to get to know each other. And I thank you all for making me feel welcome in this club. 

Over to you Toastmaster of the Day.

Icebreaker speech is the chance to introduce yourself to your audience. It helps anyone to break the ice between them and their audience. In Toastmasters, you can follow the icebreaker assignment. It will help to structure your icebreaker speech properly.

Icebreaker is the best opportunity to make a great impression. So grab the attention of your audience, share your life story, and tell them your goals.

Here I shared my first speech. This Icebreaker speech sample will help you to get an idea. If you need any other information leave a comment below and subscribe to our newsletter.

Good luck with your icebreaker speech. You can do this. Be brave. Speak without fear .

Check out these 3 Icebreaker Speech Examples for you to get more comfortable with the idea of doing your own.

6 thoughts on “ICE BREAKER SPEECH SAMPLE (TOASTMASTERS)”

I’m looking forward to learning more….

Thanks Barbara. Good luck on your public speaking journey.

Thanks Rithu.

This help me a lot!

Thanks. Keep working towards your public speaking goal. Good luck. 

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

10 Public Speaking Ice Breakers That Actually Work

An icebreaker is an activity in public speaking that is designed to engage the audience and break the ice to get them ready to hear what you’re about to say. However, many of the icebreakers out there that the internet sites recommend are pretty average at best and in most cases downright awkward to use.

So I wanted to compile the list of 10 icebreakers that actually work.

[youtube id=”7hXF7vVEs5A” mode=”normal”]

So what are these 10 icebreakers that actually work?

Now I’m going to break these into two distinct categories:

1) icebreakers for larger groups of people

2) icebreakers for smaller groups of people.

Now I’m going to assume that you’re in a more formal public speaking setting.

When you’re in a more informal, maybe a really small training group, where it is very hands on then these icebreakers might not work as well and you might need something that is more interactive.

But I’m assuming we’re at corporate meeting or a conference,or a church event or something like that Where it’s more formal public speaking engagement. So what are some of the icebreakers that we can use?

Public speaking ice breakers for large groups

1. make a joke at your own expense.

Now, I want to say – avoid making really lame,very generalised jokes that don’t have to do with you. Definitely avoid jokes that might offend someone as well!

You don’t want to make a joke at the expense of anyone in the audience, a joke at the expense of the company, or a joke at the expense who’s introduced you, but the joke at the expense of yourself tends to work really well because you’re pointing at yourself so people can just laugh along with that.

Jokes like…

“Before coming here tonight I was discussing my talk with my wife and she said to me: ‘Don’t try to be too charming, too witty or too intellectual, just be yourself.’”

Don’t expect full blown laughter with any of these jokes, but it’s just kind of a teaser, just kind of warms it up.

If you’re at a formal dinner setting, and everyone’s getting the same meal or they have two alternating meals, you can say:

“Don’t you think it’s amazing that 200 of us all came together tonight and we all chose the same meal?”

They’re corny but sometimes they can work.

You could say: “Look, I have a bad feeling about this, I was talking to [whoever introduced you], they said they were going to tell a joke before I spoke but instead they just introduced me.”

So you’re implying you’re the joke.

These are some ideas for a couple of jokes that you can do, obviously one that you come up yourself is probably better.

Tie in the context of the company you work for or the situation you’re in. The more personal and more appropriate to the situation, the better are the jokes going to work.

2. OPEN WITH ‘RAISE-YOUR-HAND’ QUESTIONS

You want to do a couple of things before when you’re doing raise your hand questions.

Firstly, you want to be positive with your raise your hand questions . Like: “Raise your hands if you want to be happy in life!” “Raise your hand if you want to make a million dollars!”

You don’t want to create negative raise your hand questions , because then you’re going to create a negative environment. So you’re saying: “Raise your hand if you don’t have much to show for the last year!” It’s not going to make people feel very good about themselves.

And when you’re doing raise your hand questions try to ask questions that most people are going to raise their hand to.

The whole idea of the raise your hand questions is to get audience’s engagement, and to get group involvement, so the people on the outskirts who aren’t really getting into your talk feel like they should get into your talk.

So if you open with a raise your hand question to which only person in the room can raise hand to, it’s going to be pretty awkward for that person. But if you ask a question where 9 out of 10 people raise their hand, that one person that doesn’t raise their hand kind of feels awkward because they’re not doing it.

It’s like using positive peer pressure.

3. START A STORY BUT DON’T FINISH IT

So when you get there, just say: “I just want to tell you a story that I think it is very important for my speech today.” Or you go on and tell your story, but you leave the conclusion out and you say: “I’ll get back to that towards the end.”

And so what you’re doing – you’re drawing people in with stories, but you’re not finishing your story so it keeps them engaged.

4. GET AN INTRODUCTION

A lot of people wouldn’t classify this as an icebreaker, but it really is. Get someone to introduce you and talk you up a little bit and get people warmed up for you as you come on to the stage.

Then the audience is anticipating your coming and you don’t need to break the ice as much because it’s already been a little bit broken for you.

5. BREAK SOME NEWS (BIG OR SMALL)

I was recently reading Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Retire Young, Retire Rich. And he talks about an investment talk that he did, and he couldn’t think how to open his presentation.

As he was reading the morning paper, he came across a story about a couple who had retired about 10 years early. But he then used that news to tie into his story.

So when you get up on stage and you say: “I’ve read this really interesting article in the paper today,” or “Something really interesting or strange happened to me today.”

We are inclined as a culture to want to be ‘in the know’ so when something is happening in the news and people are talking about it we want to hear what it is.

So that’s a good way to get people engaged – to break some sort of news, whether it’s news that’s happened in your country or on the globe or whether it’s just something new that has happened in your life that’s a bit odd and a bit interesting.

6. ASK EVERYONE TO COMPLETE A SIMPLE TASK

Get the audience to say to the person next to them: “I’m so glad you’re here today.”

So everyone in the audience has to say that. Or tell them to give the person next to you a high five or give the person a handshake or turn around and say hello to the person behind you or in front of you.

So you get people to complete this small menial task that engages them with people around them and just kind of opens them up and gets them a little more engaged in your presentation.

7. OPEN WITH A QUOTE

Probably not the best icebreaker in the world but it can work especially if it’s a great quote and if it’s very specific to what you’re going to be talking about. Keep it specific to the context or make it a little bit funny.

So surf the internet and look for some quotes and potentially open with a quote.

PUBLIC SPEAKING ICE BREAKERS FOR SMALLER GROUPS

So public speaking icebreakers for smaller groups.

8. GET EVERYONE TO INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AS A SUPERMARKET ITEM (OR SOMETHING ELSE)

Get everyone to introduce themselves in a strange way.

You could say: “I want everyone to go around the room and I want you to introduce yourself, introduce your name, and then tell us what item in the super market you would be?” or “what item in a hardware store you would be?” or “what kind of fruit you would be?” or “what kind of dish you would be?”

Or you could even do something like: “What is your porn star name?” (which is the name of your first pet, and then your last name as your porn star name is the name of the first street you lived in). So use these sorts of funny things, funny ways for people to introduce themselves.

9. GET EACH PERSON TO INTRODUCE THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM, GIVING THEM A FICTITIOUS LIFE

This can work if the group doesn’t know each other at all, but it can also work if the group does each other and so you just say: “Look, this is Bob, and he’s actually a super hero at night, he moonlights as a super hero, and his super power is that he can spit fire,” or you make up whatever it is and people are inspired to use their creativity.

10. DO A QUIZ

This can be something like you just asking questions to the audience and they have to raise their hands if it’s yes or leave it down if it’s no.

You can have it in such a way that people stand up and if they’re wrong, then they have to sit down.

If you’re at a conference, you can do it based on previous content that they should have heard and remembered. Or you can do it based on anything.

Ice Breakers That Actually Work

So there’s some icebreakers for you – 10 icebreakers that aren’t too awkward.

They aren’t mindblowingly amazing but they do work. They are very effective and I hope that gives you a starting place to look out where you’re going to open up your speech.

12 thoughts on “10 Public Speaking Ice Breakers That Actually Work”

very exciting kind of ice breakers. I like them

I enjoyed that.

We would like to know more about ice breakers

super way to address meetings

It’s really interesting and hope to learn more in future.

this is so gonna help me with my presentation next tuesday thank you so much

Pingback: A Common Problem Among Scientists: Not Being the Best Presenters – Lesson One – The Early Career Voice

I love this! I have a graduation speech next month and will be speaking and am going with number 6! I’ve tweaked it a little bit I know its going to loosen the mood and make us connect more!

this helped me so much during my speech!!!! i recommend that you read this!!!!

I really, really liked these icebreakers. I’m gonna use them for sure in the future.

thanks so much. this is really helpful for my public speaking speech i have to prepare and give over. i feel a little more confident now.

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

@christinaallday

Business resources.

Health & Beauty

I'm Christina!

I'm a Florida-based mom of three, TV host, and entrepreneur who specializes in travel, beauty, and lifestyle. Follow along as I share my latest recipes, Amazon finds, and new favorite books. 

popular on the blog

Butter Cake from CPK Recipe (Copycat)

5 Organizing Tips I Learned From The Home Edit on Netflix

TRASH THE DRESS FAMILY PHOTO IDEAS

find me on insta

@christinaallday.

5 New Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech Ideas

One of the hardest things to do is get an audience to listen and engage with you. With the advancement of technology, so many people are connected to their phones making it difficult to concentrate on lectures or presentations. 

Imagine speaking to a class of graduating high school students, and only a handful of them are listening to you while others can’t wait to leave the hall. Most likely, the speaker will become discouraged and may lose sight of the message because she doesn’t think it’s landing. 

The good news? You can break the ice during a speech and in any networking setting to make others feel comfortable. Now, let’s talk icebreakers.

What is an icebreaker? 

An icebreaker is an activity designed to engage the people around you by breaking some barriers to make people feel at ease.

Tons of them work, but for this blog post, I’ll limit it to five and focus specifically on icebreakers for Toastmasters.

What is Toastmasters? 

Toastmasters is a nonprofit educational organization that operates clubs worldwide for the purpose of becoming a competent communicator, practicing public speaking, and sharing leadership skills.

In a Toastmasters meeting, come prepared to give and hear speeches as well as receive evaluations for your next speech from fellow Toastmasters. 

If you’re working on your first speech, covering important things with main points in a talk, learning how to maintain eye contact, or just want to tackle table topics for the first time, check out a local Toastmasters group and chat with Toastmasters club members.

For more on Toastmasters, becoming a new member, and what to expect at your first meeting, click here.

How do you start a talk? Is it always with, “Good evening.”? Click here for a sample welcome speech that has worked wonders for many at corporate events. There are many sample speeches you can find online, but this one is a popular one here on Christina All Day.

If you want to learn more about the best icebreakers in a speech along with some speaking skills, I’ve got you covered. If you haven’t spent much time in front of an audience or given a Toastmasters speech before, here’s the first step: Ideas.

1. Introduce yourself 

Most public speakers don’t consider this as an icebreaker, but they’re wrong. When you arrive in a public setting with a group of people, it’s important to introduce yourself briefly by touching on aspects of your family life, educational background, career, and general life experiences.

But don’t make it all about you! Make it relevant to the person you’re speaking with or the event you’re attending. No one wants you to read them your resume. Keep this to a one-minute introduction.

Try to speak in a relaxed tone so that your audience feels comfortable and you appear less rehearsed than you may be. Whether you believe it or not, your audience may be curious and wants to know more. Introducing yourself by your first name alone doesn’t cut it. 

If you successfully scale through this stage with some interesting fun facts about yourself, they’ll be drawn to you right away… so make sure to nail your introduction with a big smile. 

2. Make a joke

Telling a joke in public is a tricky one, especially if you’re not a comedian. Imagine that you’re nominated to lead a presentation in an office where the company board would be present. Would you narrate how your five-year-old introduced you to her boyfriend? Probably not.

If the same joke is told to first-time moms, they’ll probably laugh and relate. Do you see the difference? The topic of your icebreaker has to be relevant to your listeners and the setting you’re in. 

One common misconception public speakers have about telling jokes is that they always expect full-blown laughter. One can be amused without necessarily showing it, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not making people bowl over in laughter. You can even fit this into your introduction! 

3. Start with a story, but don’t finish it 

I once heard a speaker tell his audience about how he made over $4,000 within his first few days as a freelancer. This grabbed the audience’s attention because everyone was excited about the revelation and wanted to know more.

He knows you want to make extra cash and would listen to his tips, so he uses a simple trick. He starts telling us how he discovered freelancing and strategies to source for low-paying jobs. Then, he promised to open up and share techniques later. 

This is a strategy many entrepreneurs use to sell a product or service at the end of a speech or webinar, but you can also use this in a bite-sized way as an icebreaker. It’ll get people talking, asking you questions, and drawing people to you throughout the event.

The key here is to not appear as if you’re trying to sell something. Don’t share a business pitch! Again, keep it conversational.  

4. Open with a “raise-your-hand” question 

This icebreaker can come in the beginning or in the middle of getting a speech. First, you want to ensure the question will encourage participation and that it’s relevant. Just in case, be prepared with a follow-up if people don’t respond. 

This icebreaker aims to increase audience engagement and convince non-participants that they are missing out. It’s like leveraging the power of peer pressure but in a positive way. The best speaker will put a time limit on this. A couple of questions are great but don’t overdo it here.

5. Share some news 

Sometimes, the beginning of a presentation is usually the hardest nut to crack. While there are no hard and fast rules to how you execute the first few minutes, a piece of breaking news can help. It makes the audience or the listener feel like you’re letting them in on a secret.

Imagine perusing the internet a few minutes before your speech and seeing breaking news published five minutes ago… and it’s relevant to your expertise. Since most of your audience hasn’t seen the story, not only will they be interested to learn more, but they will view you as an authority in your space with loads of credibility. 

This icebreaker can be quite tricky and technical since we’re relying on something we can’t control – knowing all the details about news as it breaks, but it doesn’t always have to be. You can also share news of something that is odd or unique that you’ve personally experienced.  

Unfortunately, there’s no rule of thumb for icebreakers. They are not created equal. Some work in specific environments, while others turn out to be a colossal disaster.

In this next section, you’ll learn how to break the ice effectively and ensure it works for your audience. 

5 Tips to Make an Icebreaker Work

1. know your audience .

If you get an invitation to speak to a group, the first thing you need to do is research your audience . This will help you stick to general icebreakers and the kind of speech that everyone can relate to. 

2. Ensure that it is enjoyable

Why would I want to participate in an activity that would bore the life out of me? It is not an icebreaker if it makes your listeners uncomfortable. A successful icebreaker goes back to the first point. Knowing your audience (as just mentioned) helps you curate an enjoyable exercise for everyone. 

3. Involve everyone in the audience 

An icebreaker will only be successful if it is inclusive. While preparing the best ways to break the ice, consider a few possibilities. For example, if there is a physically disabled person in the crowd, stay away from any icebreakers that involve lots of movement. 

4. Identify your presentation objective

Before you grab the microphone and take the stage, ask yourself some crucial questions like, “What do I want to achieve? Am I here to motivate, inform, or entertain?” Finding an answer helps you formulate an icebreaker that works. 

5. Do not call an icebreaker by its name 

One of the biggest mistakes you’ll ever make in public speaking is calling an icebreaker its name – an icebreaker. It makes your audience feel awkward that they’ll be subjected to a task they may not even enjoy because many people will tell you they hate icebreaker games or events. 

When people don’t know it’s an icebreaker, it’s more enjoyable. Often, people participate in icebreakers excitedly without even knowing. If you tell them to expect one, they register it in their subconscious and get bored (or even annoyed) before it starts.

5 Benefits of Icebreakers 

It is common for people to get distracted, zone out, or even doze off while you’re talking to them. If they’re not engaged, it’s not entirely your fault. Maybe they’re the wrong audience or the topic isn’t of interest to them. Maybe your icebreaker fell flat and you need a new one.

Here is why icebreakers are beneficial and you should include at least one in every talk. 

1. Icebreakers help people relax and have fun

This works perfectly in serious conversations or in situations where people aren’t exactly thrilled to be listening to a speaker. A mild joke or witty story will go a long way in opening people up as you speak to them. This is especially important if you’ll need some audience participation along the line. When they cue into your flow, they’ll likely participate in any activity outlined for them. 

2. Icebreakers break down awkwardness 

For some beginner Toastmasters, they wonder how someone can grab the microphone and speak to dozens, hundreds, even thousands as though they’ve been friends forever. Icebreakers crack that awkwardness within the first few minutes. 

3. Icebreakers create a positive atmosphere 

Do you remember the previous point about getting people to raise their hands? You can only achieve that when you ask positive questions. No one wants to be associated with negativity. A positive atmosphere is created when people reduce their defense mechanisms and eradicate their barriers. 

4. Icebreakers boost the energy in the room 

After telling a story, one or two people could be prompted to ask a question. Better yet, when you give your audience a simple puzzle, they spend their time finding ways to unravel it. Instead of falling asleep or scrolling through social media, they’re energized and want to participate like everyone else – the fear of missing out (FOMO) is real!

5. Icebreakers offer additional networking opportunities 

Your audience belongs to a particular demographic, and you’re speaking to that demographic for a reason! If you can get people to interact with you and one another, million-dollar ideas can be born. New businesses have kickstarted in conferences because of introductions made during icebreakers. You’ll become the talk of your industry as stories are told for years to come about that special meeting or event. 

In a 30-second conclusion, try to encourage networking after your talk. It’s a great way to meet interesting people, hear about their past experiences, and meet some important people at a key event.

Implement these icebreaker tips shared in this article and watch your speaking career grow. If you think I missed out on a great icebreaker tip or icebreaker game, please add it in the comment box below. 

I’d also love you to find me on Instagram at @ChristinaAllDay and tell me the best speech you’ve ever heard.

Maybe it was an impromptu speech? Something with a lot of different contexts? Maybe you witnessed someone’s first attempt with a talk, saw them come up with a better idea, then they totally hit it out of the park? Share the positive feedback with me on Instagram!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Sweater Organization Ideas for Your Closet »

« 8 Ways to Organize Kindle Books In Your Library

the previous post

the next post

meet the blogger

 a millennial mom here to inspire you to live your best life without feeling any   mom guilt ..

Thanks for stopping by for my unfiltered approach to family and lifestyle where I share what helps me run my family, business, and life while being lazy AF as often as possible. (Bubble bath, anyone?)

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME

Shopping on Amazon is my jam. It’s where I get just about everything - and today, I’m sharing my greatest finds with YOU!

18 Things you Need to Order on Amazon RIGHT NOW

my etsy store

AMAZON MUST HAVES

BUSINESS MUST HAVES

I'm a millennial mom here to inspire you to live your best life without feeling any    mom guilt .

Insta-stalk me, let's pin it, health & beauty.

COPYRIGHT CHRISTINA ALL DAY | PRIVACY POLICY | terms & Conditions | SITE CREDIT

PATHWAYS

PREPARING YOUR ICEBREAKER

See dozens of ideas below:     Like to travel? Talk about a few of your adventures.   Are you a foodie?   Tell us about your favorite meal to eat, to cook, fav restaurants, etc. Talk about how you have changed since your last (or even first) Ice Breaker.   What are you hopes and dreams for the future? Who were the important people in your life? My life as told by scars. Important numbers that define me (DOB, SSN, ra #, US Army, etc.) The person who inspired you the most and why it made you who you are. Funny things that happened to me, Serious moments in my life Talk about your schooling What do you do at work (which is the most boring for folks unless it is unique)? I was found under a cabbage leaf… Who says you have to tell the truth? How about: This is the Life I would Have Preferred." Why will tell them something about you. It's a chance to do a speech with a topic that you choose - well, the topic is something that reveals a bit of you and that is so broad that you do have a choice - there are so many aspects to highlight, perspectives to pursue and pivotal moments to inspire that you do have quite a broad choice of what to talk about. My pet peeves or my pet causes. Why you like to do what you like to do. The future me. Make something up, then admit it was a Tall Tale. What you want to learn from the path and introduction of the path you are working and how it relates to you I pretended I was a ‘Bitcoin’ and gave an icebreaker about who I was - slightly off spec but a bit different. Make it like a sequel .... talk about how or what has changed since your last ice breaker ...You can talk about what you have learnt, what new skills you have developed .... Key events and experiences in speaking (or leading) that led you to Toastmasters A motto you believe in, how and when that had effect on your life Stories from your childhood Professional career outline (as you might give in an interview) Things you are grateful for, each one saying something about you, your life or family Your experiences in Toastmasters and what you've gained What’s led you to choose the path you have and what you hope to achieve What are your goals in life and what’s your plan to get there? 5 things that make you laugh and cry. Practice improving a previously delivered story – learn to tell it better! “A day in the life of...” it can be very focused or very broad. A member did an ice breaker about how to get a book published. One was a job interview for a specific position and I answered the question "Tell me about yourself". A photo and a quick point about each year in school from K to 12. Have some fun with it. There is so much about yourself to share! My growth in a hobby (other than Toastmasters!) My favorite song from each decade and why… One of the best ice breakers I've ever seen was a new lady who brought in three items from her past and spoke about where she was in life at those times and how they related to her current journey in the world. So powerful and emotive Change the point of view--What my dog can tell you about me. If my life were a movie it would be.... If my life were a song, what instruments would play? If my life were a feast, the foods included would be: (feed your club) If I were a painting. Here's what my sister would tell you about me. The piece of clothing that could tell you the most about me. My boss would tell you this about me... Let me show you what I can do - a demo speech My dream is to: let me tell you about my future. All the names that I’ve been called throughout my life. Hats I’ve worn. Use a hat to symbolize different areas of your life – mother, nurse, military, mentor, work-related, etc. Have you moved a lot? Use the zip codes where you have lived to talk about yourself. What makes me different? Talk about areas of your life that make you different from others: you lived in a house without electricity, you graduated high-school at 15, you’ve traveled to ‘x’ number of countries, you love big-band era music, you are a trivia buff, you sipped a grade, etc. Bring in items that represent different facets of your life and talk about them. Use an acronym to describe your life. Bring in photos from various periods in your life and talk about them. Bring in a tax return and relate your life found on the return. Bring in a purse or wallet and talk about items in them and let people get to know you that way. List favorite movies/songs and reflect on your life when they came out. Bring in personal items (souvenirs, yearbook, report cards, diplomas, postcards, etc. – and tell what they mean to you. Want to add your own ideas? Send them to:     Compiled by Eileen Grodziak for District 38 with contributors from the Pathways Discussion Facebook Group: Angela Nuss, 1-3; Bill Slach, 4-12, 14; Kenneth Candell 13; Brenda Morris, 15-18; Lisa Boyd, 19; Cindy Osborn, 20; Laura Fagan, 21; Richard Tandon, 22; Julie Kenny, 23-31; Julie Kertesz, 32; Cleo Lanai, 33-34; Kris Pool, 35-36; Jeff Brown, 37-38; Joy Acey, 40-50. Frank Storey, D18, 51-60. Icebreaker Form Icebreaker Evaluation Form Three Examples of Ice-Breaker Speeches “tell me about yourself”. How do you respond to this most simple of questions? This is the question that starts many friendships, job interviews, professional relationships and team experiences. However, in many cases… the way that we answer ruins the possibility of creating something great.  How do you answer this question? Andrew Dlugan provides an excellent overview of the Ice Breaker speech at his blog Six Minutes.  I recommend that you start by reading that post. Always be Prepared Poem: I Counted My Years The Quickest (Research based) Path to Happiness… to Give or to Receive? Learn to Disappoint others… so you Don’t disappoint yourself This is a good speech to practice  – Introduce yourself : you are an absolute authority on this topic, no research will be needed. – Conquer fear : get started on preparing a speech that you will give hundreds of times over the course of a life; when you meet someone new, when you move to a new team at work, when you start a new training course. Here are a 3 simple examples of how to introduce yourself: ———————————————— Structure: “How did I get here?” Patrick from US Toastmasters Would you like to meet Patrick?  How did his story engage you?  Are you interested in finding out more?  How could you use Patrick’s structure to explain who you are? ———————————————— Structure 4 phases of my life: Esha from Indian Toastmasters Would you like to meet Esha?  How did her story engage you?  Are you interested in finding out more?  How could you use Esha’s structure to explain who you are? Structure: My life as Fiction Charles from USA Toastmasters Would you like to meet Charles?  How did his story engage you?  Are you interested in finding out more?  How could you use Tom’s structure to explain who you are?  (PS Charles has given over 4,000 speeches and is a professional speaker) Are there any other good examples?  Please let me know. ——– Another way to improve your confidence is regular practice.  I have been developing an online module of my Persuasive Communications seminar.  It is available here: Improve My Speaking . Feel free to share this resource with friends (and people who need it). P.S. If you liked this post you might also like The greatest coaching question of all time  and The top 5 Commencement Speeches . Social Media Privacy overview, discover more from moving people to action. Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive. Type your email… Continue reading Home Blog Presentation Ideas How to Write a Presentation Script How to Write a Presentation Script Delivering a successful presentation is a combination of a confident speech and professional-quality graphics. The first element is sometimes neglected, as presenters rely mostly on the slides and add an improvisation element to the speech. Truth is, if you aim to hone your presentation skills, you need to work on the speech. And for that to be a powerful asset, the answer is to learn how to write an effective presentation script. This article will detail how to create a presentation script, which elements it should contain, how to relate the script to the presenter’s notes, and much more. Table of Contents What is a Presentation Script How do you start a presentation script, how do you write a presentation script, how to connect a presentation script with presenter notes, recommended ppt templates to write a presentation script, final words. A presentation script is a written guide that outlines what a speaker will say during a presentation. It includes the key points, transitions, and supporting details needed to communicate the message clearly and effectively. The script helps the speaker stay on track, ensuring the presentation is organized, concise, and delivered within the allotted time. It often integrates cues for visual aids and other presentation elements. Defining the Purpose and Objective Every effective presentation script starts with clearly understanding its purpose and objectives. Defining these elements early ensures your script remains focused, relevant, and aligned with your desired outcomes.  Your core message is the central idea you want your audience to take away from your presentation. It should be clear, concise, and memorable. To define your core message, ask yourself: What is the one thing I want my audience to remember? Why is this message important? How does this message benefit my audience? Once you have a clear core message, everything in your script for a speech should support and reinforce it. This focus will help you avoid straying into irrelevant topics and ensure your presentation remains cohesive. Next, the presenter should establish clear objectives for the talk. Objectives must be specific, measurable outcomes you want to achieve with your presentation. They give you a clear direction and help you measure the success of your presentation. Objectives can be: Informational: Educate the audience on a particular topic. Persuasive: Convince the audience to adopt a viewpoint or take a specific action. Motivational: Inspire the audience to feel or act in a certain way. Instructional: Teach the audience how to do something. For example, suppose your core message is about the importance of cybersecurity. In that case, your objectives might include informing the audience about common threats, persuading them to adopt better security practices, and instructing them on implementing them. Check our article on SMART goal setting for a practical approach to defining measurable goals. Aligning the Script with Desired Outcomes Once you’ve defined your core message and objectives, your script should be structured to achieve these outcomes. This involves: Prioritizing content: Focus on the information and arguments directly contributing to your objectives. Building logical flow: Ensure that each section of your presentation leads naturally to the next, creating a narrative that reinforces your core message. Incorporating calls to action: If your objective is to persuade or motivate, include clear, actionable steps your audience can take after the presentation. By defining the purpose and objectives of your presentation script, you set the stage for a focused, effective, and impactful delivery. In this section, we’ll explore section by section how to write a presentation script. The following image is a guideline of presentation script examples on how to create icebreakers for each section Crafting a Compelling Introduction The introduction is your opportunity to capture the audience’s attention and set the tone for the rest of the presentation. It should be engaging and clearly overview what the audience can expect. If you are wondering how to start a presentation , key elements of a strong introduction include: Opening hook: Start with a statement, question, or anecdote that grabs the audience’s attention. This could be a surprising statistic, a relevant quote, or a provocative question. Purpose statement: Clearly state the purpose of your presentation and what you hope to achieve. This helps the audience understand why they should care about your words. Agenda overview: Briefly outline the main points you will cover. This will give the audience a roadmap of what to expect and help them follow along. Let’s say your presentation is about digital marketing trends. In that case, you might start with a surprising statistic about the growth of AI technology usage, followed by a statement about the importance of staying ahead of digital trends, and then outline the specific trends you will discuss in an upcoming slide. Organizing the Body of the Script The body of your script is where you present your main content. It should be organized logically, with each section building on the previous one to reinforce your core message.  Break down your content into clear, manageable sections. Each section should cover a specific point or idea. Smooth transitions between sections help maintain the flow of your presentation and keep the audience engaged . Phrases like “building on that idea,” “another important factor,” or “let’s now shift our focus to” can help guide the audience through your presentation. Use data, examples, case studies , and visuals to support your points. This will strengthen your argument and make your presentation more engaging.  For instance, in a presentation about social media’s impact on consumer behavior, you might organize the body into sections on social media usage trends, the psychology of social media influence, and case studies of successful social media campaigns. Engaging the Audience with Stories and Examples One of the most effective ways to make your presentation engaging and relatable is by incorporating stories and examples. These elements help illustrate your points, making them more memorable and impactful.  Consider the following strategies: Use personal anecdotes: Sharing personal experiences related to your topic can help establish a connection with the audience and make your presentation more relatable. Include case studies: Real-world examples or case studies can help illustrate how the concepts you’re discussing apply in practice. This is especially effective when presenting to a business or professional audience. Tell a story: Structure part of your presentation as a narrative, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Stories are inherently engaging and can make complex information more digestible. You can learn more about this technique with our article on storytelling for presentations . Developing a Memorable Conclusion The conclusion is your final opportunity to reinforce your core message and leave a lasting impression on your audience.  A strong conclusion should: Summarize key points: Recap the main points of your presentation to reinforce them in the audience’s mind. Reiterate the core message: Restate your core message in a way that resonates with the audience and underscores its importance. End with impact: Conclude with a powerful statement, call to action, or thought-provoking question that leaves the audience with something to think about or do. If your presentation was about the importance of innovation in business, you might conclude by summarizing its key benefits, restating that innovation is crucial for long-term success, and ending with a call to action for the audience to start thinking about how they can innovate in their roles. Get more insights on how to end a presentation with our article. Although the presentation script is a fantastic resource for preparing your presentation and also for rehearsal, presenters cannot bring lengthy text pages with them and start reading if they feel lost. This is where presenter notes come in handy, and in this section, we’ll learn how to turn the presentation script into presenter notes.  The first step in this process is to go through the detailed script a couple of times, highlighting the main ideas, data, and messages to convey to the audience. You can follow the process as with meeting notes and apply the strategies explained in that article. Now, we need to condense the information into simpler sentences, direct phrases, or keywords that trigger memory recall. These phrases will be added to the slides in the format of speaker notes linked to each slide. It’s crucial to mark the transitions from one topic to another in the presentation so we can articulate the speech or remember to emphasize a point.  Remember, if we suddenly need to include last-minute details, we can use visual cues or a printed version of our slides with extra handwritten notes. Before we conclude this article, we want to recommend some PowerPoint templates that can help the presentation script creation process, especially for team collaboration, where the presentation goes through multiple iterations. Remember these designs also serve as Google Slides templates . 1. 6 Step Creative Timeline Diagram for Presentation Scripts Say you need to create a sample script for a presentation or work with your team for a department presentation: this is where this best PPT template is beneficial. We can summarize processes or points that we intend the presentation to cover into six actionable steps that can be discussed within the team. The icons included help us to connect concepts with the steps we’re describing. Use This Template 2. Product Timeline Script of Speech PPT Template In sales and product presentations, we need to contextualize the dates on which we expect things to happen. By using this timeline PPT template as a visual aid, presenters can carry a printed version or digital version on another device to remind themselves of the milestones that a product or service is due in the near future. 3. The Presentation Experience Script PowerPoint Template Although this template is tailored to sales presentations, this slide deck is ideal for writing a recap of the presentation script. You can add facts, questions, numeric data, and more. 4. Steps & Stairs Diagram Presentation Script Google Slides Template This diagram template for PowerPoint and Google Slides is a highly visual 3D aid intended for defining the steps to write the script or to present processes. Use this staircase design template to summarize key information about your presentation speech. Creating a detailed, professional presentation script doesn’t have to be a daunting process. As long as we understand the basis of how to structure what we intend to say, questions and answers about which content to include shall arise.  Follow the steps shown in this article and you will master the process to create your own presentation scripts in no time. Like this article? Please share Presentation Skills, Speech Filed under Presentation Ideas Related Articles Filed under Google Slides Tutorials • July 25th, 2024 How to Hide a Slide in Google Slides Hiding a slide in Google Slides is a task that takes less than a minute. Learn how to quickly implement this tool for your presentations in this article. Filed under Education • July 10th, 2024 How to Memorize a Presentation: Guide + Templates Become a proficient presenter by mastering the art of how to memorize a presentation. Nine different techniques + PPT templates here. Filed under PowerPoint Tutorials • June 28th, 2024 How To Add Drop Shadows in PowerPoint Presentations Improve your presentation’s design by mastering drop shadows in PowerPoint. In this article, we introduce you to the step-by-step process with cliparts for impressive shadow effects. Leave a Reply Best Icebreakers for Back to School Top icebreaker activities for the new school year. Back-to-school time is here and it’s essential for educators to start building a comfortable and secure atmosphere in their classrooms from day one. One way to ease into the new year is with icebreakers – shared exercises and activities that help students shed their first-day anxieties and get to know their new classmates. Teachers can also learn about their new students through icebreaker activities, which carry none of the usual stress of assignments and exams. Unlike many other classroom activities, icebreakers aren’t graded and have no “right” answers. Participation is the only required element! The following icebreakers are designed to engage kids’ interest and make them feel at home with their new classmates. Expect laughter (but not mayhem). Edutopia: 10 Community-Building Ideas These low-tech activities aren’t flashy and don’t require artificial intelligence. Yet each one offers a way for students to connect with and learn about each other at the beginning of the school year. Divided into elementary, middle, and high school, activities are accompanied by helpful images and videos from real-life classrooms. Try the classroom shout-out, Friendly Friday, or Rose and Thorn for quick yet meaningful student interactions. Carnegie Learning: 20 Activities for the First Day of School The first day of school is usually taken up with administrative tasks, seating assignments, and learning your student’s names. Why not make it more memorable for yourself and your students? In this article, Carnegie Learning spotlights math, ELA, and language activities for elementary through high school grades. Each activity is clearly explained and features several variations on the theme. 12 AI-Enhanced Icebreakers To Motivate Learners Educator, author, and Tech & Learning advisor Carl Hooker shares (with humor and expertise) his top AI-enhanced icebreakers for the classroom. Explore icebreakers such as Favorite Images, Futuristic Headlines, and Five-Word Challenge to spark your students’ interest and creativity. Make Beliefs C omix Starter s This fully free site aims to inspire kids to exercise their creative spirit through comic strip creation. Make Beliefs Comix is chock full of great activities, but Comic Strip Starters is especially appropriate for a back-to-school icebreaker. Kids simply choose the cartoon that appeals to them, then write a story to fit the single-panel cartoon. This activity can be expanded into a longer lesson, or kept as a simple, low-stress icebreaker. Tech & Learning Newsletter Tools and ideas to transform education. Sign up below. Elementary Student Back-to-School Icebreakers This interesting collection of outside-the-box yet accessible icebreakers for elementary school includes a book read-aloud, time capsule, fun with emojis, and (my favorite), a math activity that challenges kids to create equations to describe their age, name, and other characteristics. Activities are suitable for both in-person and remote learning. Magnetic Poetry Kids Simple, free, and easy-to-use digital “magnetic” poetry game lets users quickly create original poems and download them as .png images. Kid-safe word pool. No refrigerator needed! Storyboard That Icebreaker Questions Six engaging digital icebreakers that will prompt kids’ thinking and imagination. Includes KWL (know/want to know/learned) charts, conversation cubes, riddles, and more. 7 Digital Icebreakers using Google Ideal for both remote and in-person teaching, these digital icebreakers make use of free Google tools—Docs, Sheets, and Slides—to help kids get to know one another and find common ground with their classmates. Read Write Think “My Summer Vacation” is a popular writing assignment in the new school year. Consider this interactive timeline as a fun twist on the old standby. Kids simply click to add events such as sports, summer camp, family vacations, or summer jobs, then add a written description and images. The final product can be downloaded, printed, or exported as a PDF file. Free, no account needed. Fun Icebreaker Ideas & Activities Searchable by group size and category, this free site offers more than 100 icebreakers, team-building exercises, group games, family-friendly activities, worksheets, and more. Among the dozens of great classroom icebreakers are “Personal Trivia Baseball,” “Time Hop,” and “Memorable Catchy Names.” 21 Free Fun IceBreakers Explore these classic and modern free digital icebreakers and select the perfect ones for your in-person or online class. Magnetic Poetry Having a limited set of words is a great entry into self expression. Choose from Kids, Nature, Geek, Happiness, or the Original digital magnetic word collections and have your students get creative. Be prepared for the unexpected! No account required. BoomWriter Teachers place students into groups and have each one write a page of a story, then share with the class using BoomWriter’s innovative writing and voting process. Free trials available. Share my Lesson Icebreaker Activities Dozens of high quality icebreaker lessons and activities created by your fellow teachers. Searchable by grade, subject, standards, and attributes, these activities include games, quizzes, speaking topics, and more. 20 Sites & Apps Every Teacher Should Try for Back to School Free Sites for Back to School Best Free Fact-Checking Sites for Students and Teachers Diana has been Tech & Learning's web editor and contributor since 2010, dedicated to ferreting out the best free tech tools for teachers. Educator Edtech Review: nXu 5 Ways To Avoid AI 'Snake Oil,' According To ISTE Experts PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Wonder Workshop's Make Wonder Platform Offers Educators A Best-In-Class Solution For Teaching Coding and Robotics to K-8 Students Most Popular 2 How A Cellphone Ban Might Impact Equity, Digital Citizenship, and Local Control in Schools 3 Standards-Based Learning and Grading: Your 2024 Game Plan 4 How Family Choice Day Became a Flexible Way for Families to Engage in Student Learning 5 5 Ways To Avoid AI 'Snake Oil,' According To ISTE Experts 'Do something': Michelle Obama throws her support behind Kamala Harris at 2024 DNC: Watch Former first lady of the United States Michelle Obama praised Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris in the penultimate speech of the second night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Tuesday. Obama spoke to the change in tenor in the presidential race after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, calling it the, "contagious power of hope." Obama took both direct and indirect swipes at Republican nominee former President Donald Trump throughout the speech, pointing to Trump's birtherism and failures during the COVID 19 pandemic. "If we bankrupt a business or choke in a crisis we don't get a second chance," Obama said. The speech took a considerably more direct tone for the first lady, who once famously uttered the phrase, " when they go low, we go high ." "Who is going to tell him the job he is currently seeking might be one of those 'Black jobs,'" Obama said. The former first lady argued that Harris is one of the most qualified people to seek the office and connected the experience of Harris' mother to her own, who died in May . Obama sought to energize fence straddling Democrats to turn out in November in the speech, turning the phrase, "do something" into a call and response chant. Watch Michelle Obama's full speech Michelle Obama at the DNC Who she is : Former first lady of the United States What role she plays : Convention speaker Key quote : "She is the most dignified (candidate). That is a tribute to her mother, my mother and your mother too." Democratic convention live updates: Barack Obama, Michelle Obama set to take the stage When and where is the 2024 DNC? The Democratic National Convention will take place from August 19-22 in Chicago, Illinois. The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, will be the  main venue  for the DNC. Chicago has hosted the Democratic Convention 11 times, most recently in 1996 when the United Center saw President Bill Clinton was nominated for a second time. How to watch and stream the 2024 DNC USA TODAY will provide livestream coverage on YouTube  each night of the DNC, Monday through Thursday. The convention will  air live on its website , from the United Center in Chicago between 6:15 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern (5:15 p.m. to 10 p.m Central) on Monday, and 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Eastern (6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Central) the other days. What are the themes for each night of the DNC? The DNC announced nightly themes for the convention. The title of the convention is "For the People, For Our Future." Here are the themes for each night: Monday:  "For the People" Tuesday:  "A Bold Vision for America's Future" Wednesday:  "A Fight for our Freedoms" Thursday:  "For our Future" 2024 Elections A Full Transcript of Michelle Obama’s Speech at the 2024 Democratic National Convention F ormer First Lady Michelle Obama took to the Democratic National Convention stage in Chicago on Tuesday night, calling on supporters to “do something” to ensure Kamala Harris wins the November election against Donald Trump. Read More: ‘Hope Is Making a Comeback’: The Key Moments From Michelle Obama’s 2024 DNC Speech The following transcript was prepared and provided to TIME by Rev , using AI-powered software, and it was reviewed and edited for accuracy by TIME staff. Thank you guys. OK. We got a big night ahead. Thank you all so much. Thank you. Hello, Chicago! Something, something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it? Yeah. You know, we’re feeling it here in this arena, but it’s spreading all across this country we love. A familiar feeling that’s been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the contagious power of hope, the anticipation, the energy, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day. The chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division, and hate that have consumed us and continue pursuing the unfinished promise of this great nation. The dream that our parents and grandparents fought and died and sacrificed for. America, hope is making a comeback. But, to be honest, I am realizing that until recently, I have mourned the dimming of that hope. And maybe you’ve experienced the same feelings—it’s that deep pit in my stomach, a palpable sense of dread about the future. And for me, that mourning has also been mixed with my own personal grief. The last time I was here in my hometown was to memorialize my mother, the woman who showed me the meaning of hard work and humility and decency. The woman who set my moral compass high and showed me the power of my own voice. Folks, I still feel her loss so profoundly. I wasn’t even sure if I’d be steady enough to stand before you tonight, but my heart compelled me to be here because of the sense of duty that I feel to honor her memory and to remind us all not to squander the sacrifices our elders made to give us a better future. You see, my mom in her steady quiet way, lived out that striving sense of hope every single day of her life. She believed that all children, all people have value. That anyone can succeed if given the opportunity. She and my father didn’t aspire to be wealthy—in fact, they were suspicious of folks who took more than they needed. They understood that it wasn’t enough for their kids to thrive if everyone else around us was drowning. So my mother volunteered at the local school. She always looked out for the other kids on the block. She was glad to do the thankless, unglamorous work that, for generations, has strengthened the fabric of this nation. The belief that if you do unto others, if you love thy neighbor, if you work and scrape and sacrifice, it will pay off—if not for you, then maybe for your children or your grandchildren. You see, those values have been passed on through family farms and factory towns, through tree-lined streets and crowded tenements, through prayer groups and national guard units and social studies classrooms. Those were the values my mother poured into me until her very last breath. Kamala Harris and I built our lives on those same foundational values. Even though our mothers grew up an ocean apart, they shared the same belief in the promise of this country. That’s why her mother moved here from India at 19. It’s why she taught Kamala about justice, about the obligation to lift others up, about our responsibility to give more than we take. She’d often tell her daughter: “Don’t sit around and complain about things. Do something.”  So, with that voice in her head, Kamala went out and she worked hard in school, graduating from an HBCU, earning her law degree at a state school. And then she went on to work for the people fighting to hold law breakers accountable, strengthening the rule of law, fighting to get folks better wages, cheaper prescription drugs, a good education, decent healthcare, childcare, elder care. From a middle class household, Kamala worked her way up to become Vice President of the United States of America.  My girl, Kamala Harris, is more than ready for this moment. She is one of the most qualified people ever to seek the office of the presidency. And she is one of the most dignified—a tribute to her mother, to my mother, and to your mother too. The embodiment of the stories we tell ourselves about this country. Her story is your story. It’s my story. It’s the story of the vast majority of Americans trying to build a better life.  Look, Kamala knows, like we do, that regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love, how you worship, or what’s in your bank account, we all deserve the opportunity to build a decent life. All of our contributions deserve to be accepted and valued. Because no one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American. No one. Kamala has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open to others. She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward. We will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth. If we bankrupt the business or choke in a crisis, we don’t get a second, third, or fourth chance. If things don’t go our way, we don’t have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead. No. We don’t get to change the rules, so we always win. If we see a mountain in front of us, we don’t expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top. No. We put our heads down. We get to work. In America, we do something.  ( Crowd chants: “Do something!” ) And throughout her entire life, that’s what we’ve seen from Kamala Harris, the steel of her spine, the steadiness of her upbringing, the honesty of her example, and yes, the joy of her laughter and her light.  It couldn’t be more obvious: Of the two major candidates in this race, only Kamala Harris truly understands the unseen labor and unwavering commitment that has always made America great.  Now, unfortunately, we know what comes next. We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth. My husband and I, sadly, know a little something about this. For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hardworking, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black. Wait, I want to know: Who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those “Black jobs”? Look, it’s his same old con: doubling down on ugly, misogynistic, racist lies as a substitute for real ideas and solutions that will actually make people’s lives better. Look, because cutting our healthcare, taking away our freedom to control our bodies, the freedom to become a mother through IVF like I did—those things are not going to improve the health outcomes of our wives, mothers, and daughters. Shutting down the Department of Education, banning our books—none of that will prepare our kids for the future. Demonizing our children for being who they are and loving who they love—look, that doesn’t make anybody’s life better. Instead, it only makes us small. And let me tell you this: Going small is never the answer. Going small is the opposite of what we teach our kids. Going small is petty, it’s unhealthy, and quite frankly, it’s unpresidential.  So, why would any of us accept this from anyone seeking our highest office? Why would we normalize that type of backward leadership? Doing so only demeans and cheapens our politics. It only serves to further discourage good, big-hearted people from wanting to get involved at all. America, our parents taught us better than that, and we deserve so much better than that. That’s why we must do everything in our power to elect two of those good, big-hearted people. There is no other choice than Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. No other choice. But, as we embrace this renewed sense of hope, let us not forget the despair we have felt. Let us not forget what we are up against. Yes, Kamala and Tim are doing great now. We’re loving it. They’re packing arenas across the country. Folks are energized. We are feeling good. But, remember there are still so many people who are desperate for a different outcome, who are ready to question and criticize every move Kamala makes, who are eager to spread those lies, who don’t want to vote for a woman, who will continue to prioritize building their wealth over ensuring that everyone has enough.  So no matter how good we feel tonight or tomorrow or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle. So folks, we cannot be our own worst enemies. No. See, because the minute something goes wrong, the minute a lie takes hold, folks, we cannot start wringing our hands. We cannot get a Goldilocks complex about whether everything is just right. And we cannot indulge our anxieties about whether this country will elect someone like Kamala instead of doing everything we can to get someone like Kamala elected.  Kamala and Tim, they have lived amazing lives and I am confident that they will lead with compassion, inclusion, and grace. But they are still only human. They are not perfect. And like all of us, they will make mistakes. But luckily y’all, this is not just on them. No, uh-uh. This is up to us, all of us, to be the solution that we seek. It’s up to all of us to be the antidote to the darkness and division. Look, I don’t care how you identify politically—whether you’re a Democrat, Republican, Independent, or none of the above. This is our time to stand up for what we know in our hearts is right. To stand up, not just for our basic freedoms but for decency and humanity; for basic respect, dignity, and empathy; for the values at the very foundation of this democracy.  It’s up to us to remember what Kamala’s mother told her: “Don’t just sit around and complain. Do something.” So if they lie about her—and they will—we’ve got to do something. If we see a bad poll—and we will—we’ve got to put down that phone and do something. If we start feeling tired, if we start feeling that dread creeping back in, we gotta pick ourselves up, throw water on our face, and what?  We only have two and a half months, y’all, to get this done. Only 11 weeks to make sure every single person we know is registered and has a voting plan. So we cannot afford for anyone, anyone, anyone, America, to sit on their hands and wait to be called. Don’t complain if no one from the campaign has specifically reached out to you to ask you for your support. There is simply no time for that kind of foolishness. You know what you need to do. So, consider this to be your official ask: Michelle Obama is asking you—no, I’m telling y’all—to do something.  Because, y’all, this election is gonna be close. In some states, just a handful—listen to me—a handful of votes in every precinct could decide the winner. So we need to vote in numbers that erase any doubt. We need to overwhelm any effort to suppress us. Our fate is in our hands. In 77 days, we have the power to turn our country away from the fear, division, and smallness of the past. We have the power to marry our hope with our action. We have the power to pay forward the love, sweat, and sacrifice of our mothers and fathers and all those who came before us.  We did it before, y’all, and we sure can do it again. Let us work like our lives depend on it, and let us keep moving our country forward and go higher—yes, always higher—than we’ve ever gone before, as we elect the next President and Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.  Thank you all. God bless.  Now, before I go, I have one more job tonight. Yeah, one more job. You all, thank you for all the love, but it is now my honor to introduce somebody who knows a whole lot about hope, someone who has spent his life strengthening our democracy—and let me tell you, as someone who lives with him, he wakes up every day, every day, and thinks about what’s best for this country. Please welcome America’s 44th President and the love of my life, Barack Obama. Read More: ‘Yes, She Can’: A Breakdown of Barack Obama’s 2024 DNC Speech in Support of Kamala Harris More Must-Reads from TIME Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar Heman Bekele Is TIME’s 2024 Kid of the Year The Reintroduction of Kamala Harris What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits A Battle Over Fertility Law in China The 1 Heart-Health Habit You Should Start When You’re Young Cuddling Might Help You Get Better Sleep The 50 Best Romance Novels to Read Right Now Contact us at [email protected] Americans love free speech, survey finds − until they realize everyone else has it, too Senior Advisor to the Chancellor, Head of Vanderbilt's Project on Unity and American Democracy, and Co-Director of Vanderbilt Poll, Vanderbilt University Research Professor of Political Science and Executive Director of The Future of Free Speech, Vanderbilt University Disclosure statement The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Vanderbilt University provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation US. View all partners Americans’ views on free speech change directions every so often. One of those times was during the protests at U.S. universities about the Israel-Hamas war. As scholars of free speech and public opinion , we set out to find out what happened and why. The Supreme Court itself, as recently as 1989, has declared that the “bedrock principle” of the First Amendment is that “ the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.” For years, conservative politicians and commentators have warned that college campuses are not strong enough protectors of free speech. But as demonstrations erupted, these same people complained that the protests were filled with antisemitic hate speech . Leading conservatives declared the demonstrations should be banned and halted, by force if necessary. Liberals executed a similar reversal. Many of them have supported increased regulation of hate speech against minority groups. But during the campus protests, liberals cautioned that crackdowns by university administrators, state officials and the police violated protestors’ free speech rights. As researchers at Vanderbilt University’s Project on Unity and American Democracy and The Future of Free Speech , respectively, we sought to determine where Americans stand. We drew inspiration from a poll done in November 1939 in which 3,500 Americans answered questions about free speech. In June 2024, we asked 1,000 Americans the identical questions. When an abstract concept gets more concrete We found that the vast majority of Americans – both then and now – agree that democracy requires freedom of speech. That’s in the abstract. When the questions get more concrete, though, their support wanes. Only about half of the respondents in both the 1939 and 2024 polls agreed that anybody in America should be allowed to speak on any subject at any time. The rest believed some speech – or certain subjects or speakers – should be prohibited. This pattern is not unique to Americans. A 2021 survey in 33 countries by The Future of Free Speech , a nonpartisan think tank based at Vanderbilt, similarly found high levels of support for free speech in the abstract across all countries but lower support across the board for specific speech that was offensive to minority groups or religious beliefs. We dug deeper in surveys in March and June 2024, asking which subjects or speakers should be banned. We thought the public’s appetite for free speech might have weakened amid the campus turmoil. We found the opposite. When asked whether seven people with widely varied viewpoints should be allowed to speak, the share of people who said “Yes” rose for each one between March and June. Some of the differences were within the surveys’ margins of error, but it’s nevertheless noteworthy that all of them shifted in the same direction. While showing a slightly increased appetite for free speech, these polls still fit with the overall contradiction: Large majorities of Americans passionately uphold free speech as a cornerstone of democracy. But fewer of them are supportive of free speech when faced with specific controversial speakers or topics. The First Amendment is not an a la carte menu Our surveys found that the public has a nuanced view of free speech. For instance, in our June 2024 survey we added some additional categories of potential speakers to the list we had asked about in March. More respondents were comfortable with a pro-Palestinian speaker than a leader of Hamas and with a scientist who believes that IQ varies by race rather than an outright white supremacist. This pattern suggests that the public distinguishes between extreme and more moderate positions and is less tolerant of the rights of those with more extreme views. This shift runs against the purpose of the First Amendment, which was intended to protect unpopular speech . The amendment very specifically was not intended to apply only to certain speakers or viewpoints. Ours is not the only survey to find that many people don’t fully appreciate the logic and principles behind free speech. In 2020, a Knight Foundation poll found that members of both political parties oppose speech that goes against their values or beliefs . Later polls, including those conducted by other organizations, found more specifics: For instance, Democrats were more likely to support censorship of racist hate speech or vaccine misinformation. And Republicans opposed drag shows and kneeling during the playing of the national anthem . A February 2022 national poll commissioned by The New York Times and Siena College found that 30% of Americans believed that “ sometimes you have to shut down speech that is anti-democratic, bigoted, or simply untrue.” A return to fundamentals With the 2024 election looming and polarization increasing among Americans, some people may want only those who agree with them to be allowed to speak. But a true commitment to the fundamental principles of free speech requires people to allow space for controversial and even offensive viewpoints to be aired. History reveals that censorship of hateful ideas is often a cure that is worse than the disease , deepening social divides. James Madison, a key drafter of both the U.S. Constitution and the First Amendment, wrote in 1800: “ Some degree of abuse is inseparable from the proper use of every thing … it is better to leave a few of its noxious branches, to their luxuriant growth, than by pruning them away, to injure the vigor of those yielding the proper fruits.” As the founders knew, a respect for diverse viewpoints and the ability to express those views – good, bad and harmful alike – in the public sphere are essential to a healthy democracy. Freedom of speech Antisemitism Hate speech First Amendment US Constitution US Founding Fathers Free expression The politics of freedom of speech freedom of speech on campus James Madison Vaccine misinformation Pro-Palestine protest Controversial ideas anti-Israeli sentiment Israel-Hamas war Campus debate Pro-Palestinian protest Pro-Palestinian protesters Head of Evidence to Action Supply Chain - Assistant/Associate Professor (Tenure-Track) Education Research Fellow OzGrav Postdoctoral Research Fellow Casual Facilitator: GERRIC Student Programs - Arts, Design and Architecture Advertisement Full Transcript of Michelle Obama’s Speech at the Democratic Convention The former first lady spoke for just over 20 minutes and told the convention that “hope is making a comeback.” Share full article By The New York Times Aug. 21, 2024 OK. We got a big night ahead. Thank you all so much. Thank you so much. OK. There you go. Hello, Chicago! Yeah. All right. Something wonderfully magical is in the air, isn’t it? You know, we’re feeling it here in this arena, but it’s spreading across this country we love. A familiar feeling that has been buried too deep for far too long. You know what I’m talking about. It’s the contagious power of hope. The anticipation, the energy, the exhilaration of once again being on the cusp of a brighter day. The chance to vanquish the demons of fear, division and hate that have consumed us and continue pursuing the unfinished promise of this great nation, the dream that our parents and grandparents fought and died and sacrificed for. America, hope is making a comeback. Yeah. But, to be honest, I am realizing that, until recently, I have mourned the dimming of that hope. And maybe you’ve experienced the same feelings, that deep pit in my stomach, a palpable sense of dread about the future. And for me, that mourning has also been mixed with my own personal grief. The last time I was here in my hometown was to memorialize my mother — the woman who showed me the meaning of hard work and humility and decency, the woman who set my moral compass high and showed me the power of my own voice. Folks, I still feel her loss so profoundly. I wasn’t even sure if I’d be steady enough to stand before you tonight, but my heart compelled me to be here because of the sense of duty that I feel to honor her memory. And to remind us all not to squander the sacrifices our elders made to give us a better future. You see, my mom, in her steady, quiet way, lived out that striving sense of hope every single day of her life. She believed that all children, all — all people have value. That anyone can succeed if given the opportunity. She and my father did not aspire to be wealthy. In fact, they were suspicious of folks who took more than they needed. They understood that it wasn’t enough for their kids to thrive if everyone else around us was drowning. We are having trouble retrieving the article content. Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber?  Log in . Want all of The Times?  Subscribe . 189 IMAGES How to Write an Icebreaker Speech: 12 Steps (with Pictures) How to Write an Icebreaker Speech: 12 Steps (with Pictures) How to Write an Icebreaker Speech: 12 Steps (with Pictures) Icebreaker Speech at Toastmasters (Deliver A Fiery P1 Speech) l Complete Guide with Samples The Icebreaker Speech (20 pts) How to Write an Icebreaker Speech: 12 Steps (with Pictures) COMMENTS How to Write an Icebreaker Speech: 12 Steps (with Pictures) Brainstorm what you want to say. Now that you have an idea of a topic, write down everything you want to include in your speech. Be sure to introduce yourself first. Organize the information chronologically as you plan to say it, then go through and cut out any unnecessary or irrelevant information. 2. Icebreaker speech Toastmasters Sayings/quotations I live by - For example, "This too will pass" - 3 examples of times when "This too will pass" was the reminder needed. 4. Topical ideas for your icebreaker speech. This is a series of snapshots (topics) illustrating different and significant aspects of your life. PDF 8012 Ice Breaker Speech Outline Worksheet Write a brief statement to transition smoothly from your introduction to what you'll discuss next. Page 2 of 4 ... Transition. This is a sentence or two that connects main point 1 with main point 2. B. Main point 2 Transition. Page 3 of 4. SPEECH OUTLINE WORKSHEET - Ice Breaker. C. Main point 3 Transition. Signal that the conclusion of the ... Toastmasters Speech # 1: Ice Breaker Speech The Ice Breaker speech is the first speech you give at Toastmasters. It's the speech that introduces you to the rest of the members in that Toastmasters network. It's often nerve-racking for people because they need to speak to a group of people that they don't know. But by following the advice of this article, you'll learn how to do ... Toastmasters Speech 1: Ice Breaker Toastmasters Speech 1: The Ice Breaker. by Andrew Dlugan. Published: Apr 24th, 2008. Ice breaker (or Icebreaker) is a term which describes an activity which reduces tension and anxiety in a group. Thus, it is fitting that the first Toastmaster speech project is titled The Ice Breaker. This article of the Toastmasters Speech Series examines the ... How To Present Icebreaker Speeches Guide The Icebreaker is your first speech in your Pathways path. Here are some suggestions to help you prepare and deliver it. General points. You only have 6 minutes - pick an interesting feature of your life, not your whole life story. Write some notes about what you will say. You can read from notes in your early speeches. Toastmasters Ice Breaker Speech: How to Ace Your First Speech Regardless of the approach, here are four tips for writing an effective Toastmasters Ice Breaker speech: 1. Identify your goal for the speech. Is your goal to introduce yourself or get across a particular point? Pinpointing your purpose can help bring focus and clarity as your write. 2. How to Write an Icebreaker Speech Icebreaker Speech Tip 1: Writing an impressive introduction. In the play, Julius Caesar, Mark Antony has the responsibility to set the tables for dissent to avenge the death of his king Julius ... Delivering a Fiery Icebreaker at Toastmasters: Holistic Guide & Sample An Icebreaker is essentially the first project in any path of Toastmasters, the one that kick-starts your journey with the organisation. It is a short speech, about four to six minutes in length, the primary objective of which is to introduce yourself to the club. The Icebreaker, or Project 1 (P1), is one of the last common links between the ... Ice Breaker Part 2: Your Ice Breaker Speech. You and Your Goals. Prepare and Present. Part 3: After Your Speech. Understanding the Toastmasters Evaluation. Review and Apply. Complete Your Assignment. Evaluation and Resources. Part 4: Complete Your Project. How to give the Perfect Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech The predominant focus of the Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech is to give the audience an idea of who you are as a person. The audience should leave learning something new about you. The best way to ... The Art of the Icebreaker Speech: Tips for Toastmasters and Real Life Before starting his speech, he expressed how annoyed he was about having to do the "rookie project" again. But make no mistake - while the Icebreaker is the project rookies start with, it is no rookie project. Breaking the ice is a vital skill in your professional life. And the Icebreaker project is an excellent opportunity to practice it. 10 Tips For The Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech 10) Prepare Physically and Mentally. Make sure you get a good night sleep before your ice breaker. Also make sure you have a good high fiber meal before and you use the restroom to prepare your body. Try to avoid caffeine and alcohol when delivering your ice breaker. Butterflies and anxiety are normal. Icebreaker Speech Examples: Break the Ice & Captivate Audience Contents hide. 1 Icebreaker Speech Example 1 - The Unexpected Hobby. 1.1 Things to focus, on when you do your version of this speech example 1. 2 Icebreaker Speech Example 2 - The Childhood Dream. 2.1 Things to focus, on when you do your version of this speech example 2. 3 Icebreaker Speech Example 3 - The Unexpected Inspiration. Writing the Icebreaker Speech An icebreaker speech is not long, usually between four and six minutes in length. Because it is so short, you need to make sure every word counts and keeps the attention of your audience. Assess the age and composition of your audience and include some of the following areas in your speech: education and qualifications. family and background. How To Give An Amazing Icebreaker Speech for Toastmasters An Icebreaker speech is the first speech you give as a newly minted Toastmaster International speaker. For many, it is also the scariest speech you will give... Toastmasters Speech Series: Your Guide to the First 10 Speeches Speech 1: The Ice Breaker — The first speech of the Toastmasters program is about introducing yourself to your peers, providing a benchmark for your current skill level, and standing and speaking without falling over. ... If you are currently writing out speeches in full and reading them, then move toward using notes which have just the first ... ICE BREAKER SPEECH SAMPLE (TOASTMASTERS) Enjoy my icebreaker speech sample. Purpose: The purpose of this project is to introduce yourself to the club and learn the basic structure of a public speech. Overview: Write and deliver a speech about any topic to introduce yourself to the club. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or in any other style that appeals to you. Time 4- to 6 ... 10 Public Speaking Ice Breakers That Actually Work 1) icebreakers for larger groups of people. 2) icebreakers for smaller groups of people. Now I'm going to assume that you're in a more formal public speaking setting. When you're in a more informal, maybe a really small training group, where it is very hands on then these icebreakers might not work as well and you might need something ... 5 New Toastmasters Icebreaker Speech Ideas • Christina All Day 4. Open with a "raise-your-hand" question. This icebreaker can come in the beginning or in the middle of getting a speech. First, you want to ensure the question will encourage participation and that it's relevant. Just in case, be prepared with a follow-up if people don't respond. PATHWAYS Using the snowflake method is a great way to get key ideas don on paper and organize them quickly. Draw a circle in the center of the paper, then put the main objective of your speech, and later the title. Then branch off, as shown, with 4-5 key main points. Now go back and put in a few sub-points to support each main point. Three Examples of Ice-Breaker Speeches This is a good speech to practice. - Introduce yourself: you are an absolute authority on this topic, no research will be needed. - Conquer fear: get started on preparing a speech that you will give hundreds of times over the course of a life; when you meet someone new, when you move to a new team at work, when you start a new training ... How to Write a Presentation Script The first element is sometimes neglected, as presenters rely mostly on the slides and add an improvisation element to the speech. Truth is, if you aim to hone your presentation skills, you need to work on the speech. And for that to be a powerful asset, the answer is to learn how to write an effective presentation script. Best Icebreakers for Back to School Make Beliefs Comix is chock full of great activities, but Comic Strip Starters is especially appropriate for a back-to-school icebreaker. Kids simply choose the cartoon that appeals to them, then write a story to fit the single-panel cartoon. This activity can be expanded into a longer lesson, or kept as a simple, low-stress icebreaker. Michelle Obama DNC speech implores Democrats to 'do something': Watch The speech took a considerably more direct tone for the first lady, who once famously uttered the phrase, "when they go low, we go high." "Who is going to tell him the job he is currently seeking ... The most unusual thing about Kamala Harris' convention speech? She hasn While an early career convention speech itself can't fully convey a candidate's background and motivations, it helps raise interest and sets a tone for how a political official is viewed. Read: Michelle Obama's Full Speech at the 2024 DNC Former First Lady Michelle Obama took to the Democratic National Convention stage in Chicago on Tuesday night, calling on supporters to "do something" to ensure Kamala Harris wins the November ... Hear the moment RFK Jr. suspends his presidential campaign Robert F. Kennedy Jr. formally announced that he is suspending his independent presidential campaign during a speech in Arizona. Americans love free speech, survey finds − until they realize everyone Americans agree that democracy requires freedom of speech. But a large minority also thinks it's acceptable to bar certain subjects or speakers from public debate. ... Write an article and join ... Read the Full Transcript of Michelle Obama's DNC Speech The former first lady spoke for just over 20 minutes and told the convention that "hope is making a comeback." By The New York Times OK. We got a big night ahead. Thank you all so much. Thank ... assignment essay homework paper phd report resume review thesis