How to win a Toastmaster competition Video speaker skills

6 Jul 2026 · 1 min

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1:26

In this instructional segment, the speaker explains that success in competitive speaking—whether in Toastmasters, PechaKucha, TEDx, or similar formats—depends on first understanding and strictly following the specific rules of the chosen format. They stress that each speaking venue has its own expectations, and attempting to apply a mismatched style will hinder performance. The speaker then offers a set of practical recommendations for aspiring professional speakers: seize every speaking opportunity, learn from a wide range of presenters, practice extensively, accumulate as much stage time as possible, and identify the speaking contexts where one's personal strengths shine. By aligning one’s style with the rules and the appropriate venue, speakers can more easily achieve success on any stage or screen.

Chapters

How do you win a Toastmaster impromptu talk? Well, you do it by following the rules that Toastmasters have. How do you do a really successful Pecha Kucha? You do it by following the rules that Pecha Kucha have. There are lots of different formats and TEDx-style talks that we can do, and they all have their own rules. If you're trying to succeed in the speaking world, work out what it is you're trying to do and what the rules are for that space because they're different. And taking a Toastmasters talk and trying to present it on a stage that is expecting something very different, it's just not going to work. My advice for aspiring professional speakers is take every opportunity, learn from everyone, hear what everyone has to say, Practice as much as you can, get as much stage time as you can, and then work out where you are best and work on that and make that work. But if you want to succeed on any stage, on any screen, make sure you know what the rules of engagement are for that particular event, and that will make it so much easier than trying to force one style of speaking into a place that it doesn't really work.