ACTIVE LISTENING
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01
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This project covers the difference between hearing
and listening, and steps for exploring the ways
listening helps build strong, lasting connections.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to demonstrate your
ability to listen to what others say.
Overview: At
a club meeting, fulfill the role of Topicsmaster. As
Topicsmaster, comment on each speaker’s Table
Topics® speech to demonstrate your active listening
skills. For example, you might say, “Thank you. That
was a compelling opinion on the benefits of
gardening. I understand you feel strongly that
everyone needs to spend some time doing something
they love.”
This project includes:
Serving as Topicsmaster at a club meeting
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ADVANCED MENTORING
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02
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This project is designed to support you as you
accomplish a six-month term as a mentor.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to apply mentoring
skills during a long-term mentoring commitment.
Overview:
Fulfill the role of mentor for a fellow Toastmaster
or other person for a period of six months.
Communicate regularly with your protégé, record
meeting dates and times, and give and receive
feedback both verbally and in writing. At the end of
your commitment, present a 5- to 7-minute speech to
your club about what you gained as a mentor. This
speech is about you and your experience.
This
project includes:
A 5- to
7-minute speech
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A
six-month mentoring commitment
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The
Mentor Communication Tracking Log
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The
Mentor Evaluation
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The
Protégé Success Plan
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The Monthly Goal Check resource
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BUILDING A SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE
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03
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This project addresses how best to use different
types of online communication. You will create and
maintain an online profile to promote yourself or an
organization.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to apply your
understanding of social media to enhance an
established or new social media presence.
Overview: Use
this project and your own research to build a new
social media presence or enhance an existing
presence. You may focus on a personal goal (such as
connecting with old friends or promoting a blog) or
on a professional goal (such as promoting a business
or organization). Use the tools you identify as best
for you and your purpose. After you achieve your
goal, deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech to your club
about your results, experience, and the benefits of
social media. Submit the Project Completion Form to
your vice president education to receive credit for
completing the project.
Note: With the vice president public relation’s
approval, you may choose to create a social media
presence for your Toastmasters club.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Establishing or enhancing a social media
presence
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The Project Completion Form
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COMMUNICATE CHANGE
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04
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This project focuses on
creating a communication plan by gathering evidence
to support the need for change and communicating
change with your audience.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to effectively communicate change to a group
or organization.
Overview: Develop
a plan for communicating a change to an audience
affected by the change. At a club meeting,
communicate the change in a 5- to 7-minute speech.
You may speak about a real or hypothetical change
that affects your club or another group in your
life. This speech is not a report on the content of
this project, but a speech about how you would or
will communicate a real or hypothetical change.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Developing a plan for communicating change
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CONNECT WITH STORYTELLING
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05
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This project addresses storytelling techniques and
descriptive skills to help make every speech
relatable and interesting.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice using a story
within a speech or giving a speech that is a story.
Overview: Choose
an established story, a story about your life, or a
fictional tale of your own creation. Deliver the 5-
to 7-minute speech at a club meeting.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE
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06
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This project focuses on different audience types and
how to address them effectively.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to connect with an unfamiliar audience.
Overview: Develop
a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic that is
unfamiliar to the majority of your audience. Because
you deliver this speech in your Toastmasters club,
you are familiar with the audience members’
preferences and personalities. Selecting a topic
that is new or unfamiliar to your club members will
allow you to practice adapting as you present. As
you speak, monitor the audience’s reaction to your
topic and adapt as necessary to maintain engagement.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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CREATE A PODCAST
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07
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This project addresses the skills you need to
develop a podcast, create interesting content and
organize a cohesive program. You will learn how to
record and upload it to the internet.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to introduce you to the
skills needed to organize and present a podcast.
Overview: Use
this project and your own research to create a
podcast. Record a minimum of 60 minutes of content.
You are free to divide the episodes as you choose.
Each separate episode must be at least 10 minutes,
but may be longer if it fits your topic and style.
After you record all content, play a 5- to 10-minute
segment in your club. Introduce the segment in a 2-
to 3-minute speech.
This project includes:
A 2-
to 3-minute introduction speech
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Recording 60 minutes of podcast content
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CREATING EFFECTIVE VISUAL AIDS
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08
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This project addresses effective methods for
choosing the best visual aid for your presentation
along with the creation and use of each type.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice selecting and
using a variety of visual aids during a speech.
Overview: Choose
a speech topic that lends itself well to using
visual aids. Create at least one but no more than
three visual aids to enhance your presentation.
Deliver your 5- to 7-minute presentation at a club
meeting.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Creating one to three visual aids
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CROSS-CURTURAL UNDERSTANDING
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09
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This project focuses on understanding the cultures
with which you identify and the impact of
stereotypes associated with your cultures and
others.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to identify your own
cultural identities and the stereotypes that impact
others’ perceptions of you.
Overview: Develop
a 5- to 7-minute speech about the cultures with
which you most closely identify and the personal
impact of the stereotypes commonly associated with
those cultures. You may need to spend some time
researching the stereotypes believed about your
cultures, especially if you are a member of the most
dominant cultures in your geographic area. Be aware
that all cultural identities have some sort of
affiliated stereotype, even if it is obscure or
uncommon.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech PLUS The Defining Your
Cultural Identity resour
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DELIVER SOCIAL SPEECHES
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10
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This project addresses the skills needed to compose
a speech for a social occasion including a toast,
eulogy, an acceptance speech and a speech praising
an individual or group.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice
delivering social speeches in front of your club
members.
Overview: Develop two different social speeches—each
3 to 4 minutes—and present them at two separate club
meetings. You may choose any two types of social
speeches that appeal to you or that you would like
to practice.
This project includes: Two 3- to 4-minute speeches
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The Social Speech Basics resource
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DEVELOP
A COMMUNICATION PLAN
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11
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This project focuses on how people are motivated. It
is designed to help you build your leadership skills
by effectively motivating team members.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice
the skills needed to motivate team members through
the completion of a project.
Overview: Build a team of three to four people to
help you create and complete a project to benefit
your club. Use the information in the project to
develop motivational strategies for each team
member. After the project, you may choose to ask
team members and at least one club officer to
complete a 360° evaluation to give you feedback on
your communication and leadership. Deliver a 5- to
7-minute speech at a club meeting about your
experience. Your speech is not a report on the
content of this project.
This project includes: A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Building and motivating a team to complete a
project that benefits your club
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The Team-Building Activities resource
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The 360° Evaluation resource
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DEVELOP
YOUR VISION
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12
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This project focuses on developing a vision for your
work or personal life.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to develop a
detailed vision for your personal life, professional
life, or an organization.
Overview: Develop a vision and present it at a club
meeting in a 5- to 7-minute speech. Establish a
timeline for implementing your plan using the
resources included in this project. Deliver another
5- to 7-minute speech at a later meeting to present
your plan to bring your vision to fruition. Submit
your signed Project Completion Form to the vice
president education to show you completed all
resources included in the project.
This project includes: A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Developing a vision and establishing a plan to
implement it
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The Idea Map Worksheet
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The Goal Setting Worksheet
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The Goal Task List
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The Vision Plan resource
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The Project Completion Form
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DISTINGUISHED TOASTMASTER
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13
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Contact
World Headquarters to access this project once all
other requirements have been met.
Please
contact World Headquarters at +1 720-439-5050 or
educationprogram@toastmasters.org to access the
Distinguished Toastmaster project.
In order
to qualify, you must have completed one full path
and through Level 3 of a second, different path.
This
project is designed to give you an opportunity to
develop and fulfill a multifaceted project on your
way to achieving your Distinguished Toastmaster
award.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to demonstrate your
skills as a leader and a public speaker.
Overview:
Plan and complete a project that benefits an
organization. You may choose to revisit any previous
Toastmasters Pathways project that contains
information to help you complete your project.
Develop a team and design a plan. Deliver a 5- to
7-minute speech at a club meeting to share your
plan. Organize the project and lead your team to
complete it. Ask members of your team, the
organization, and a peer to complete a 360°
evaluation of your leadership skills. Deliver an 8-
to 10-minute speech at a club meeting to review your
project, its outcomes, benefits, and the lessons you
learned.
This
project includes:
A 5- to
7-minute speech PLUS An 8- to 10-minute speech
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Selecting, leading, and completing a project
with a team
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The
Ethical Framework resource
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The
Goal Setting Worksheet
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The
Goal Task List resource
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The
Project Plan Overview resource
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The
Project Plan resource
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The
360° Evaluation resource
Additional information
can be found here.
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EFFECTIVE BODY LANGUAGE
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14
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This project focuses on how to recognize body
language used when speaking publicly and how to use
gestures to enhance speech content.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to deliver a
speech with awareness of your intentional and
unintentional body language, as well as to learn,
practice, and refine how you use nonverbal
communication when delivering a speech.
Overview: Prepare a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic
that lends itself to expression through your
movement and gestures. Video record your
presentation and get feedback from your mentor or
another reviewer before speaking to your club. If
you do not have access to a recording device,
perform your speech in front of a mirror and make
adjustments before your scheduled speech.
This project includes: A 5- to 7-minute speech
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ETHICAL
LEADERSHIP
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15
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This project addresses the importance of recognizing
the effect of decisions that impact ethics, best
practices for making ethical decisions and
developing an ethical framework.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to develop a
clear understanding of your own ethical framework
and create an opportunity for others to hear about
and discuss ethics in your organization or
community.
Overview: Define an ethical framework for yourself.
To do this, you may need to complete personal
research beyond the contents of this project. Then,
organize and moderate a 20- to 40-minute panel
discussion about ethics, followed by a
question-and-answer session. If you have never
facilitated a panel discussion, review the “Moderate
a Panel Discussion” elective project.
This project includes:
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The Ethical Framework resources
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Organizing and moderating a panel discussion as
well as a question-and-answer session
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EVALUATION AND FEEDBACK
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16
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This project addresses the skills needed to give and
receive feedback. You will learn about giving,
receiving and applying feedback.
Purpose: This project comprises three assignments -
the delivery of two speeches and an evaluation. The
purpose of this project is to present a speech on
any topic, receive feedback, and apply the feedback
to the second speech.
Overview: Choose any topic for your first 5- to
7-minute speech. After your speech, carefully review
your feedback. At a different club meeting, present
a second 5- to 7-minute speech in which you
incorporate feedback from your first speech. You may
choose to present the same speech again or a new
speech. Your second speech should reflect some or
all of the feedback from your first speech. To
complete this project, serve as an evaluator at a
club meeting and deliver constructive feedback about
another member’s presentation.
This project includes: A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Another 5 - 7-minute speech that incorporates
feedback from the first speech
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Serving as a speech evaluator
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FOCUS ON
THE POSITIVE
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17
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This project addresses strategies for improving your
personal interactions by understanding the impact of
your attitudes and thoughts on daily interactions.
Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice
being aware of your thoughts and feelings, as well
as the impact of your responses on others.
Overview: Keep a daily record of your moods and
attitudes for a minimum of two weeks, noting when
you feel positive or negative, your successes and
efforts, and three things for which you are
grateful. Record and evaluate any changes in your
behavior or the behavior of those around you. At a
club meeting, share some aspect of your experience.
You may choose to schedule a 2-to 3-minute report or
a 5-to 7-minute speech. After completing your
speech, submit your signed Project Completion Form
to your vice president education to indicate you
completed the journal.
This project includes: A 2- to 3-minute report or a
5- to 7-minute speech
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Recording your daily moods and attitudes for a
minimum of two weeks
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The Project Completion Form
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HIGH
PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP
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18
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The focus of this project is to design and complete
a project with well-defined goals, lead a team and
be accountable to a guidance committee.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to apply your leadership
and planning knowledge to develop a project plan,
organize a guidance committee, and implement your
plan with the help of a team.
Overview: Select
a project to complete with a team of at least three
other members. Form a guidance committee and meet at
least five times through the duration of the
project. Deliver a 5-to 7-minute speech at a club
meeting to introduce your plan and vision. After you
implement the plan, deliver a second 5- to 7-minute
speech at a club meeting to share your experience
developing and completing your plan.
This project includes:
Two 5- to 7-minute speeches
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Selecting, leading, and completing a project
with a team
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Forming and meeting with a guidance committee at
least five times
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The Guidance Committee Introduction resource
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The Meeting Agenda resource
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The Project Plan Overview resource
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The Project Plan resource
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The Vision Plan resource
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The Event Planning Worksheet
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The 360° Evaluation resource
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ICEBREAKER
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19
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This foundational project is designed to introduce
you to your club and the skills you need to begin
your Toastmasters journey.
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 any other style that appeals to
you.
This project includes:
A 4- to 6-minute speech
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IMPROVEMENT THROUGH POSITIVE COACHING
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20
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This project focuses on how your actions can
positively affect others and how to nurture
relationships and assist an individual in reaching a
goal.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to develop and apply
skills for coaching a fellow member or a person
outside of Toastmasters who can benefit from your
expertise.
Overview: Outside
of club meetings, coach an individual through a
project. Speak with your vice president education to
develop a plan for coaching a club member versus an
individual outside of Toastmasters. After your
coaching commitment, present a 5- to 7-minute speech
at a club meeting about your experience as a coach.
Your speech may be humorous, informational, or any
style that appeals to you and is appropriate for
your content.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Coaching an individual through a project
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INSPIRE
YOUR AUDIENCE
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21
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This project addresses how to present a speech in an
enthusiastic and inspiring fashion to establish a
strong rapport with your audience.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice writing and
delivering a speech that inspires others.
Overview: Select
a topic with the intent of inspiring your audience
and prepare a 5- to 7-minute speech for your club.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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INTRODUCTION TO TOASTMASTERS MENTORING
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22
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This project introduces the value of mentorship and
the Toastmasters view of mentors and protégés.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to clearly define how
Toastmasters envisions mentoring.
Overview: Write
and present a 5- to 7-minute speech about a time
when you were a protégé. Share the impact and
importance of having a mentor. This speech is not a
report on the content of this project.
Note: Every member in Toastmasters Pathways must
complete this project.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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LEAD IN
ANY SITUATION
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23
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This project focuses on leadership and recognizing
the need to adapt your style based on the situation
and the people you lead.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to apply the skills
needed to successfully lead in a volunteer or other
organization.
Overview: For
at least six months, take on a leadership role in
Toastmasters (at any level), within another
volunteer organization, or in your career. While
serving in your role, ask your peers to complete a
360° evaluation. Present an 8- to 10-minute speech
about your experience as a leader. Your speech may
be humorous, informational, or any type that appeals
to you. The speech is not a report on the content of
this project, but a reflection of your experience
and/or the impact of the 360° evaluation.
This project includes:
An 8- to 10-minute speech
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Serving in a leadership for a minimum of six
months
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A 360° evaluation
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LEADING
IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
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24
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This project focuses on the fundamentals of managing
challenges, analyzing difficult situations and
identifying best strategies for overcoming
adversity.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice strategies
for adjusting to unexpected changes to a finalized
plan.
Overview: Design
and complete a project plan for any event or set of
goals. Your plan may be real or hypothetical. Add as
many details to your plan as possible for the best
success of this project. In a 5- to 7-minute speech
at a club meeting, share your plan. Distribute
copies of the Plan Disruption Ideas resource to club
members and allow them 2 to 3 minutes to discuss
possible disruptions to your plan. Listen and
present impromptu solutions to the disruptions
introduced by club members. The total time to
complete this assignment in a club meeting is 15 to
20 minutes.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech to share your plan
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Designing a detailed project plan
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The Project Plan resource
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The Project Plan Overview resource
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The Plan Disruption Ideas resource
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An impromptu speech to present solutions to
disruptions
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LEADING
IN YOUR VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION
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25
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This project focuses on the skills required to lead
in a volunteer organization and the importance of
recognition and reward in motivating volunteers.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to apply the skills
needed to successfully lead in a volunteer
organization.
Overview: Serve
in a leadership role in Toastmasters or another
volunteer organization for at least six months. You
may complete this project based on your employment,
but a volunteer organization is preferable. Ask
members of the organization to complete a 360°
evaluation of your leadership skills. Create a
succession plan to aid in the transition after you
leave your position of leadership. After your
six-month term, deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech at a
club meeting to reflect on your personal experience.
This project includes:
A 5-
to 7-minute speech
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Serving in a volunteer leadership role for a
minimum of six months
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Conducting a 360° evaluation of your leadership
skills
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Creating a succession plan
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The Succession Plan resource
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The 360° Evaluation resource
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LEADING
YOUR TEAM
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26
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This project is designed to help you accomplish a
task while leading a small group and give you the
opportunity to practice basic skills of leadership.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to lead a small team to
the completion of a project.
Overview: Build
a team of two to four people and lead your team to
the completion of a project of your design. After
you accomplish the project, present a 5- to 7-minute
speech about you or your experience leading your
team. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or
any other format that appeals to you. Your project
can be any of the following (coordinate with your
vice presidents marketing and public relations):
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A club-specific project, such as hosting an open
house, organizing a speech contest, or
coordinating a membership-building campaign.
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A non-Toastmasters specific project that helps
the greater good, such as organizing volunteers
for a charity, collecting food for community
members in need, etc. (Keep in mind that you’re
doing this as a private
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individual and not in the name of Toastmasters.)
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A work-related group or team project.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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Building and leading a team to the completion of
a project
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LESSONS
LEARNED
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27
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The focus of this project is to design and complete
a project with well-defined goals, lead a team and
be accountable to a guidance committee.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to apply your leadership
and planning knowledge to develop a project plan,
organize a guidance committee, and implement your
plan with the help of a team.
Overview: Select
a project to complete with a team of at least three
other members. Form a guidance committee and meet at
least five times through the duration of the
project. Deliver a 5-to 7-minute speech at a club
meeting to introduce your plan and vision. After you
implement the plan, deliver a second 5- to 7-minute
speech at a club meeting to share your experience
developing and completing your plan.
This project includes:
Two 5-
to 7-minute speeches
-
Selecting, leading, and completing a project
with a team
-
Forming and meeting with a guidance committee at
least five times
-
The Guidance Committee Introduction resource
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The Meeting Agenda resource
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The Project Plan Overview resource
-
The Project Plan resource
-
The Vision Plan resource
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The Event Planning Worksheet
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The 360° Evaluation resource
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MAKING
CONNECTIONS THROUGH NETWORKING
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28
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This project focuses on how to network effectively
and understanding the importance of being a
professional ally to people in your network.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to develop and practice a
personal strategy for building connections through
networking.
Overview: Prepare
for and attend a networking event. After the event,
present a 5- to 7-minute speech to your club. Your
speech can include a story or stories about your
experience, a description of what you learned, or a
discussion on the benefits of networking. Your
speech may be personal to you or informational about
networking. If you attend a non-Toastmasters event,
you must sign the Project Completion Form and give
it to your vice president education.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
The Prepare to Network
resource
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Attending a networking event
-
The Project Completion
Form
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MANAGE
CHANGE
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29
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This project focuses on how to plan for change,
develop a communication plan, and identify obstacles
to success.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice developing a
change management plan.
Overview: Create
a change management plan for a real or hypothetical
situation. You may create a plan that is based on a
past change or a future change that is happening in
your personal, Toastmasters, or professional life.
Share your change management plan with your club in
a 5- to 7-minute speech. Your speech may be
humorous, informational, or any other style that
appeals to you. It is not a report on what you
learned from the project, but an overview of your
plan and how it will benefit you and the group the
change affects.
This project includes:
A 5-
to 7-minute speech
-
Creating a change management plan
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The Prepare for Change Worksheet
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The Write a Communication Plan resource
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MANAGE
ON LINE MEETINGS
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30
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This project addresses how to effectively conduct
online meetings and webinars, prepare and organize
necessary visual aids, and lead with confidence.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice facilitating
an online meeting or leading a webinar.
Overview: Conduct
a 20- to 25-minute online meeting with fellow
Toastmasters or a 20- to 25-minute webinar with
visual aids for fellow Toastmasters. You determine
the topic of your meeting or webinar. Research and
use software that best fits your needs and
geographic area. Invite your evaluator to
participate in the online meeting or webinar. If you
complete your assignment with non-Toastmasters, you
must receive approval from the vice president
education and invite your evaluator to attend.
This project includes:
-
The Online Meeting Agenda resource
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The Online Meeting Basics resource
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Planning and conducting a 20- to 25-minute
online meeting or webinar
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MANAGE
PROJECTS SUCCESSFULLY
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31
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This project focuses on skills needed to effectively
manage a project, develop rapport with stakeholders
and cultivate strong relationships with a team.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice developing a
plan, building a team, and fulfilling the plan with
the help of your team.
Overview: Form
a team of three to four people and choose a project.
Create a plan for your project and present the plan
to your club in a 2- to 3-minute speech. Work with
your team to complete your project. Present a 5- to
7-minute speech about your experience. This speech
may be humorous, informational, or any type of
speech that appeals to you. It should not be a
report about the content of this project, but a
reflection of your experience applying what you
learned.
Note: When considering projects to complete, refer
to future projects on your path. You may be able to
use the assignment in this project to help you
prepare for the completion of an upcoming project.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech about your experience
-
Building a team
-
Creating a project plan
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The Project Plan resource
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A 2- to 3-minute speech about your plan
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Completing the plan with your team
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MANAGE
SUCCESSFUL EVENTS
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32
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This project is designed to give you tools to
coordinate an event. It includes steps for managing
the unexpected, leading a team and creating positive
outcomes.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice planning,
organizing, leading, and implementing an event
Overview: Plan,
coordinate, and complete an event of your choosing.
Tools for planning all aspects of an event are
included in this project. After you complete the
event, present a 5- to 7-minute speech in your club.
Share the impact of the planning process, your team,
and the organization for which the event was held.
Your speech may be humorous, informational, or any
style that appeals to you. It is not a report on the
content of this project.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Planning, organizing, and implementing an event
of your choosing
-
The Event Planning Worksheet
-
The Write a Communication Plan resource
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MANAGE A
DIFFICULT AUDIENCE
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33
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This project covers common behaviors of difficult
audience members and how to address each behavior in
a calm, effective and professional way.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to address audience challenges when you
present outside of your Toastmasters club.
Overview: Prepare
a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic of your choosing.
You may write a new speech or use a speech you
presented previously. You will be evaluated on the
way you manage audience disruptions, not the content
of your speech. Before your club meeting, send the
Role Play Assignments resource to the Toastmaster
and vice president education. As you present your
speech, respond to different types of difficult
audience members that disrupt you. The process of
speaking and responding to audience members will
take 12 to 15 minutes.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
A role play assignment for club members
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MANAGING
TIME
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34
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This project is designed to help you manage your
time, discover time management techniques, and
employ them in your speeches and daily life.
Purpose: Develop
a 5- to 7-minute speech on any topic. As you develop
your speech, record the time required for each task
in order to help you determine how you can improve
your time management strategies. Present your speech
at a club meeting. Finally, submit the Project
Completion Form to your vice president education.
Note: Every member in Toastmasters Pathways must
complete this project.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
The Time and Task Log
-
The Project Completion Form
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MENTORING
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35
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This
project focuses on facilitating a short-term
mentoring assignment to help you build your skills
as a mentor.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to apply your
mentoring skills to a short-term mentoring
assignment.
Overview:
Work with a protégé to complete a project. Your vice
president education will help match you with a
fellow Toastmaster who is interested in working with
a mentor for a single project. Assist the protégé in
setting goals and developing a plan for completing
his or her project. Use the forms included in this
project to set goals, plan, and give and receive
feedback. After your mentorship, deliver a 5- to
7-minute speech at a club meeting about your first
experience as a Toastmasters mentor and what you
learned from it.
This project includes:
A 5-
to 7-minute speech
-
Working with a protégé to complete a project
-
The
Protégé Success Plan resource
-
The
Mentoring Communication Tracking Log
-
The
Protégé Self-Assessment
-
The
Mentor Evaluation resource
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MODERATE
A PANEL
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36
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This project addresses the skills needed to
successfully moderate a panel discussion and how to
be an effective participant on a panel.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to apply your skills as a
public speaker and leader to facilitate a panel
discussion.
Overview: Plan
and moderate a 20- to 40-minute panel discussion.
The panel discussion can be on any topic and may
take place at a club meeting or outside of
Toastmasters with the approval of your vice
president education. Toastmasters who participate as
panelists do not receive credit in Toastmasters
Pathways. When you have the opportunity, volunteer
to act as a panelist for another member completing
this project.
This project includes:
-
Planning and moderating a 20- to 40-minute panel
discussion
-
The Panelist Basics resource
-
The Project Completion Form
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MOTIVATE OTHERS
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37
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This project focuses on how people are motivated. It
is designed to help you build your leadership skills
by effectively motivating team members.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to motivate team members through the
completion of a project.
Overview: Build
a team of three to four people to help you create
and complete a project to benefit your club. Use the
information in the project to develop motivational
strategies for each team member. After the project,
you may choose to ask team members and at least one
club officer to complete a 360° evaluation to give
you feedback on your communication and leadership.
Deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting
about your experience. Your speech is not a report
on the content of this project.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Building and motivating a team to complete a
project that benefits your club
-
The Team-Building Activities resource
-
The 360° Evaluation resource
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NEGOTIATE THE BEST OUTCOME
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38
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This project focuses on identifying negotiation
styles, engaging in mutually beneficial discussions,
and finding and building common ground.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to learn about different
types of negotiation and the strategies that can be
used when negotiating.
Overview: Develop
a 5- to 7-minute speech about a past or upcoming
negotiation in your life. The negotiation must be
one that you have participated in or will
participate in. You may choose to reflect on the
strategies you used or those that you believe would
be the most beneficial in the future. Your speech
can be persuasive, humorous, informational, or
crafted in any style that appeals to you and
supports your speech content.
This project includes:
A 5-
to 7-minute speech
-
Analyzing a past or future negotiation in your
life
-
The Negotiation Goal Setting resource
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PERSUASIVE SPEAKING
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39
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This project focuses on helping you to develop and
support a viewpoint, and identify the most
appropriate type of persuasive speech for your
topic.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to understand the types
of persuasive speeches and deliver a persuasive
speech at a club meeting.
Overview: Choose
any topic that lends itself to speaking persuasively
and prepare a speech. Present your 5- to 7-minute
speech at a club meeting. If your vice president
education approves a non-club event or group, your
evaluator must be present for your speech.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
·
The Persuasive Speech Outline Worksheet
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PLANNING
AND IMPLEMENTING
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40
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This project is designed to help you develop
realistic plans to meet your objectives and to
successfully monitor a project to completion.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice developing a
plan and bringing that plan to fruition.
Overview: Select
any small-scale project, such as a family party, a
short trip, a themed Toastmasters meeting, or any
other event or project that requires planning.
Develop and implement the plan, with or without help
from others. At a club meeting, deliver a 2- to
3-minute report or a 5- to 7-minute speech about
your experience. Submit the Project Completion Form
to your vice president education to confirm you
completed all planning resources.
This project includes:
A 2-
to 3-minute report or 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Developing and
implementing a plan for a small-scale project
-
The Project Plan resource
-
The Event Planning Worksheet
-
The Project Completion
Form
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PREPARE
FOR AN INTERVIEW
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41
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This project addresses the skills you need to
identify and speak about personal strengths and
present yourself well in an interview of any type.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to present yourself well in an interview.
Overview: Determine
which type of interview you would like to practice,
such as a job or expert interview. Prepare by
reviewing
your skills and abilities. Complete the resources in
the project and give them to your interviewer before
your presentation. You determine which member of
your club interviews you, but your interviewer must
be someone other than your evaluator. In a 5- to
7-minute role-play presentation at a club meeting,
practice answering interview questions to promote
your skills, abilities, and experience.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute role-play interview at a club
meeting
-
The Identifying Your
Skills Worksheet
-
The Interviewer
Instructions resource
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PREPARE
TO MENTOR
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42
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This
project focuses on helping you clarify your personal
goals and interests as they relate to mentoring
others.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to spend time
learning about your goals, your interest in being a
mentor, and your readiness to begin working with a
protégé.
Overview:
Complete the self-evaluation resources included in
this project. When you are ready, have a discussion
with your vice president education about being a
Toastmasters mentor. Submit the Project Completion
Form to your vice president education to verify that
you completed all forms included in this project.
This project includes:
-
The
Mentor Self-Assessment resource
-
Meeting with the vice president education to
discuss your readiness to mentor
-
There is no speech associated with this project.
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PREPARE
TO SPEAK PROFESSIONALLY
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43
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This project is designed to help you define the
attributes of professional speakers and apply that
understanding to your own skills as a speaker.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice developing
and presenting a longer speech
Overview: Write
and present an 18- to 22-minute keynote-style
speech. Exemplify the point of view or message you
would convey as a professional-level speaker. You
may choose to use visual aids if they fit your
speech and your style. Your speech may be humorous,
informational, or any style that appeals to you and
supports your speech content. If you receive advance
approval from the vice president education, you may
present your speech to a non- Toastmasters group.
This project includes:
An 18- to 22-minute keynote-style speech
-
The Speech Outline Worksheet
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PRESENT
A PROPOSAL
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44
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This project introduces how to select key
information to present in a proposal to build a case
with supporting evidence and realistic solutions.
Purpose: This
project introduces how to select key information to
present in a proposal to build a case with
supporting evidence and realistic solutions.
Overview: Develop
a proposal to improve any area of your life. It may
involve your personal or professional life, or your
Toastmasters club. If your proposal involves your
club, speak with the appropriate officer. For
example, if you have a proposal to increase club
membership, discuss it with the vice president
membership. In a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club
meeting, present your entire proposal or aspects of
it.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Developing a proposal
-
The Write a Proposal Resource
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PUBLIC
RELATIONS STRATEGIES
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45
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This project focuses on how to promote awareness of
an organization, formulate a public relations
strategy and use various public relations tactics.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to effectively use public relations
strategies for any group or situation.
Overview: Create
a public relations plan for a real or hypothetical
group or situation. If it involves your club, it
must be hypothetical unless you communicate with the
vice president public relations and club president.
Share your plan in a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club
meeting. This speech is not a report on the content
of this project, but an example of how you will or
might apply what you learned.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Creating a public relations strategy
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QUESTION
AND ANSWER SESSION
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46
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This project addresses how to prepare to answer
questions and provide information clearly, concisely
and with confidence.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to learn about and
practice facilitating a question-and-answer session.
Overview: Select
a topic of which you are particularly knowledgeable.
Prepare and deliver a speech on this topic, followed
by a question-and-answer session. Together, the
speech and question-and-answer session must be 15 to
20 minutes. Use your time effectively to ensure both
segments are completed.
This project includes:
A 5-to 7-minute speech
-
A question-and-answer session after the speech
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REACHING
CONSENSUS
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47
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This project focuses on reaching consensus and the
importance of including all group members in the
decision-making process.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to work with a group to
practice reaching consensus on any topic.
Overview: Apply
the techniques described in the project to practice
leading a group of people toward consensus at a club
meeting in 20 minutes. Choose a topic that will
offer you and your group a challenge, but avoid
topics that you know are unlikely to reach consensus
in the timeframe. (Note: It is ok if you cannot
reach consensus in 20 minutes.) Then, give a 2- to
3-minute closing statement on the experience or the
decision.
You may also choose to lead a non-Toastmasters group
toward consensus. Apply the techniques described in
the project. Choose a topic that will offer you and
your group a challenge. At a club meeting, deliver a
5- to 7-minute speech about the experience. Your
speech can be persuasive, humorous, informational,
or crafted in any style that appeals to you and
supports your speech content. Submit your signed
Project Completion Form to the vice president
education.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Leading a non-Toastmasters group toward
consensus
-
The Project Completion Form
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REFLECT
ON YOUR PATH
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48
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This project is designed to give you an opportunity
to share your experience at the end of your path.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to reflect on your growth
during the completion of an entire path.
Overview: At
a club meeting, present a 10- to 12-minute speech to
share your experience completing your path. Use this
as an opportunity to reflect on how far you have
come, summarize the skills you have learned and
developed, and to celebrate your achievements. Your
speech can be humorous, informational, or any style
that that appeals to you and supports your speech
content.
This project includes:
A 10-
to 12-minute speech
-
The Your Toastmasters Journey resource
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RESEARCHING AND PRESENTING
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49
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This project addresses topic selection strategies,
suggestions for research and methods for producing a
well-organized speech.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to learn or review basic
research methods and present a well-organized,
well-researched speech on any topic.
Overview: Select
a topic that you are not already familiar with or
that you wish to learn more about. Be sure your
topic is narrow enough to be an effective 5- to
7-minute speech. Research the topic and begin
organizing the information, as described in this
project. Practice your speech and continue to refine
its organization. Present your speech at a club
meeting.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
·
Researching a topic
·
The Research Worksheet
·
The Speech Outline Worksheet
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SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION
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50
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The focus of this project is the benefit of
collaboration, building an environment of trust, and
encouraging creative debate within a group.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to introduce or review
strategies for working in a collaborative group.
Overview: Work
with a small team and collaborate to make decisions.
Your goal is to apply the collaboration strategies
you learned to a small-scale project, such as
planning a club meeting. Deliver a 5- to 7-minute
speech at a club meeting about your experience with
the collaboration process. Your speech is not a
report on the content of this project. This speech
is about you, your learning, and your perceptions of
the experience.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Working with a small team to make a
collaborative decision for a small-scale event
-
The Team-Building Activities resource
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TEAM BUILDING
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51
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This project addresses the benefits of team
building. It is designed to help you build a sense
of collaboration and trust within a team completing
a project.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice the skills
needed to build a cohesive team and host an event
Overview: Build
and work with a small team to design and host a
team-building event, either in your Toastmasters
club or another environment. Any non-Toastmasters
event must be approved by your club’s vice president
education and attended by a member of your club
leadership team. Before the event, deliver a 2- to
3-minute report at a club meeting to share your
plans. After the event, deliver a 5- to 7-minute
speech to your club. The content of the speech is up
to you, but needs to be about your event, the impact
of leading on you and your team, or the impact of
building a team on you as a leader.
Note: When considering projects to complete, refer
to future projects on your path. You may be able to
use the assignment in this project to help you
prepare for the completion of an upcoming project.
This project includes:
A 2- to 3-minute report PLUS A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
Working with a small team to design and host a
team-building event
-
The Team-Building Activities resource
-
The Team-Building Event Evaluation resource
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PERSUASIVE SPEAKING
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52
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This project focuses on helping you to develop and
support a viewpoint, and identify the most
appropriate type of persuasive speech for your
topic.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to understand the types
of persuasive speeches and deliver a persuasive
speech at a club meeting.
Overview: Choose
any topic that lends itself to speaking persuasively
and prepare a speech. Present your 5- to 7-minute
speech at a club meeting. If your vice president
education approves a non-club event or group, your
evaluator must be present for your speech.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
The Persuasive Speech Outline Worksheet
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UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
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53
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This project addresses elements of emotional
intelligence. It is designed to help you understand
your own emotions and the emotions of others.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to cultivate an
understanding of how your emotions impact your
relationships. It is also designed to help you
identify how others’ emotions impact your emotional
state.
Overview: For
a minimum of two weeks, keep a journal about your
emotions and how they impact you and others. Discuss
the impact of tracking your emotions in a 5- to
7-minute speech at a club meeting. (Note: You are
not required to share the intimacies of your
experience.) Finally, submit the signed Project
Completion Form to your vice president education to
indicate you completed your journal.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
A journal you maintain for a minimum of two
weeks
-
The Project Completion Form
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UNDERSTANDING VOCAL VARIETY
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54
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This project addresses the importance of vocal
variety when giving a speech and provides activities
to develop and nurture its use.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice using vocal
variety to enhance a speech.
Overview: Learn
or review the importance of vocal variety. Use the
exercises in this project to improve your vocal
variety skills. Then, present a 5- to 7-minute
speech on any topic at a club meeting. The primary
focus of the evaluation is your vocal variety.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR COMMUNICATION STYLE
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55
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This project focuses on recognizing your preferred
communication style and understanding how your style
impacts your interactions with others.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to learn about different
communication styles and identify your primary
style.
Overview: Complete the Discover Your Communication
Style questionnaire to help you identify your style.
Deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club meeting
about your communication style and its impact on
your professional and/or personal relationships. If
you are uncomfortable discussing your communication
style, you may speak about the communication styles
you have encountered and how they impact you. Your
speech should not be a report of the content of this
project.
This project includes:
A 5-
to 7-minute speech
-
The Discover Your Communication Style
questionnaire
|
|
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UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE
|
56
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This project is designed to introduce the different
styles of leadership and help you identify your
preferred style.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to identify your primary
leadership style or styles.
Overview: Complete
the Discover Your Leadership Style questionnaire.
Consider how your leadership style impacts the
people around you and how you can adjust it to more
effectively lead people with styles different from
your own. Deliver a 5- to 7-minute speech at a club
meeting to share some aspect of your leadership
style or leadership styles in general. You may
choose to discuss your style preferences when
working with others, your style and how you can
adapt it to situations, or leadership styles in
general and how they impact a group.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
-
The Discover Your Leadership Style questionnaire
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USING DESCRIPTIVE LANGUAGE
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57
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This project addresses the difference between
literal and figurative language along with how to
determine when to use each to create vivid
descriptions.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to practice writing a
speech with an emphasis on adding language to
increase interest and impact.
Overview: You
may speak on any topic. Develop a 5- to 7-minute
speech describing the topic in detail and present it
at your club meeting.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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USING PRESENTATION SOFTWARE
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58
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This project addresses the use of presentation
software—from identifying topics that benefit from
the use of technology to effective slide design and
presentation.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to introduce or review
basic presentation software strategies for creating
and using slides to support or enhance a speech.
Overview: Select
a speech topic that lends well to a visual
presentation using technology. Use the content of
this project and your own research to help you
develop your slides. Give a 5- to 7-minute speech
using the slides you developed. Your speech can be
humorous, demonstrative, or informational, and it
may include stories or anecdotes.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech PLUS Developing presentation
slides
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WRITE A COMPELLING BLOG
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59
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This project addresses the basics of developing a
compelling blog and successfully engaging a
readership.
Purpose: The
purpose of this project is to review or introduce
the skills needed to write and maintain a blog.
Overview: Post
a minimum of eight blog posts in one month. Your
blog may be new or one you have already established.
You must receive approval from the vice president
education to blog on behalf of your club. Deliver a
2- to 3-minute speech at a club meeting about the
impact of your blogging experience. You may choose
to have your blog evaluated by members of the club.
Submit your signed Project Completion Form to the
vice president education to receive credit for this
project.
This project includes:
A 2-
to 3-minute speech
-
Maintaining a blog and posting at least eight
times in one month
-
The Blog Evaluation Form
-
The Project Completion Form
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KNOW YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR
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60
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This project focuses on understanding what makes you
laugh and how to share that with an audience.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to begin developing a
collection of humorous stories and to present a
speech that includes humor.
Overview:
Give a 5- to 7-minute speech on a topic of your
choosing. Your speech should include at least one
anecdote or story intended to entertain or bring
humor into your presentation.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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|
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ENGAGE YOUR AUDIENCE WITH HUMOR
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61
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This project focuses on using humor to enhance the
message you deliver in your speech.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is for you to determine
your style of humor and apply it to a speech that
centers around a central message.
Overview:
Give a 5- to 7-minute speech on your point of view
and what makes things funny to you. Your speech
should include at least one anecdote or story
intended to entertain or bring humor into your
presentation.
This project includes:
A 5- to 7-minute speech
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|
|
The Power of Humor In an
Impromptu Speech
|
62
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This project focuses on developing strategies for
adding humor to any speech, especially impromptu
speeches.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is for you to develop
your method for giving impromptu speeches and
practice adapting rehearsed stories during a
presentation.
Overview:
You will deliver two 2- to 3-minute speeches. When
you are ready to begin the first of your speeches,
the Toastmaster of the Day will select a topic from
the Impromptu Speech Topics resource. Your speech
must last 2 to 3 minutes and include at least one
anecdote that is related to the topic. When the
first speech is complete, give a second 2- to
3-minute speech on a new topic. Both topics should
be selected at random and without your prior
knowledge.
This project includes:
Two 2- to 3-minute impromptu speeches
-
The Impromptu Speech Topics resource
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Deliver Your Message with
Humor
|
63
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This project focuses on creating a keynote-length
speech that effectively delivers a message and humor
to an audience.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to practice
developing and presenting a longer humorous speech.
Overview:
Write and present an 18- to 22-minute keynote-style
humorous speech. You may choose to use visual aids
if they fit your speech and your style. If you
receive advanced approval from the vice president
education, you may present your speech to a
non-Toastmasters audience.
This project includes:
An 18- to 22-minute keynote-style humorous speech
-
The Speech Outline Worksheet
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