Speech Contests
Why Participate in Speech Contests?
Participating in a speech contest isn’t just about competing; it’s about pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone and honing your public speaking abilities.
Any Club member can compete at the Club level, but to move up to the Area and District levels you must have completed 2 levels within your pathway.
When you raise your hand to enter a contest, you are putting yourself on the line, facing your fears, and expanding your character. You can choose which actions you will take and how much you are willing to invest in yourself.
March 11 '25
Club Contest
1
Enhance Your Speaking Skills
Toastmasters contests challenge you to go beyond the basics. As you compete, you are driven to write and rewrite your speech to make it better. As “game day” approaches, you practice your speech many times, working to deliver it more naturally. Each contest helps you grow as a speaker and improves your ability to handle various speaking scenarios.
2
Improve Faster
When you practice the same speech time and time again, your skill as a speaker starts to improve quickly. In regular Toastmasters club meetings, we usually deliver a speech once and move on to the next project. But look at other disciplines. Musicians play songs thousands of times; dancers rehearse and perform the same routines each day; writers rewrite and edit constantly. Being a speech contestant gives you the same opportunity to hone your skill and perfect a particular speech by giving it over and over to different audiences.
3
Receive Feedback
The contest provides you with more objective feedback because you’re being compared to others who are also pushing to improve their speaking skills.
4
Build Confidence
Delivering a speech in a contest environment can feel intimidating, but it’s also a fantastic way to develop confidence. The experience of speaking in front of a large, unfamiliar audience prepares you for future speaking engagements.
