The Competent Communication manual (until 2006 known as the Communication and Leadership Program manual; also called the "basic manual") helps you to develop the basic skills that you need to prepare and present an effective speech.

The manual is organized into ten separate projects, each with its own individual focus or objective. An extremely effective tool in developing your speaking skills, the manual never tells you exactly what to do or what to speak about, but rather it provides a set of guidelines for you to think about as you prepare your speech.

As an essential part of the Toastmasters program, another Toastmaster will orally evaluate each speech that you give, in adition to your written evaluations, providing positive feedback and suggestions for improvement, as necessary.

After completing the basic manual, you earn Competent Communicator (CC) recognition (prior to July 2006 = CTM, for Competent Toastmaster) and are able to focus your efforts on the projects in the advanced speech manuals of the Toastmasters program. A club can apply online for educational awards, or just check the latest requirements for an award, at http://www.toastmasters.org/, in the "Club Business" section.

The chart below lists the ten projects in the Competent Communication Program manual. Click on each tile link to get more details about each speech.

Ice Breaker
This is your opportunity to give your first prepared talk and "break the ice." The best way to begin your speaking experience is to talk about the subject closest to you -- yourself. You will introduce yourself to your fellow Club members and give them some information about your background, interests and ambitions. As you prepare and deliver your talk, you will become aware of speaking skills you already have and areas that require some work. Your fellow members will help you understand these needs, as they see them.

Your objectives for this speech are: To begin speaking before an audience.
To help you understand what areas require particular emphasis in your speaking development.
To introduce yourself to your fellow Club members

Organize Your Speech
You have now delivered at least two prepared talks as a Toastmaster. You've also begun to develop your impromptu speaking skills in table topics and other parts of the program. Having experienced speaking before an audience, you're ready to concentrate on structuring an effective speech by organizing your ideas and following an outline from beginning to end.

Your objectives for this speech are: To organize your thoughts into a logical sequence that leads the audience to a clearly defined goal.
To build a speech outline that includes an opening, body and conclusion.

Get to the Point
In your first speech, you concentrated on actually standing before an audience and making it through a talk. Now, having "broken the ice," you're ready to discuss a subject of general interest about which you have strong convictions. Your purpose is to convey this sincerity and conviction to your audience, to make them understand, and possibly to join you in enthusiastic support of your viewpoint. As you prepare and deliver this talk, make an effort to confront and overcome any nervousness you may feel.

Your objectives for this speech are: To convince the audience of your earnestness, sincerity and conviction on a subject you thoroughly understand.
To confront and control any nervousness you may have.

How to Say It
When you don't understand a section of a book or magazine article you are reading, you can read it again until the meaning is clear to you. When you are speaking, your listeners do not have this luxury. They hear your words only once. If you want them to understand your message when they hear it, you must use words that your audience will understand and will accurately convey your message, and you must construct your sentences so they are simple and clear. This project will help you understand the basic uses of words in speaking and help you choose and arrange them to express exactly what you mean.

Your objectives for this speech are: To select precisely the right words required to communicate your ideas clearly and vividly.
To avoid lengthy words and sentences and jargon.

Your Body Speaks
Most likely when you talk to your friends or co-workers, you move your hands and arms, walk around, make eye contact, or change the expressions on your face. These movements are called body language. Body language is as important in public speaking as it is in everyday conversation. By learning how to use body language in your speeches to illustrate and emphasize the points you are making, you will dramatically increase your speeches' effectiveness. Body language has another purpose, too. Gestures, movement and facial expressions help to release any nervous energy you may have as you stand before an audience.

Your objectives for this speech are: To learn the value of gestures and body movements as part of a speech.
To explore the different ways of using body language.
To develop a sense of timing and natural, smooth body movement.

Vocal Variety
What kind of voice do you have? Is it resonant, musical and easy to listen to? Or is it harsh, monotonous or tiresome? You can make it just about what you want if you're willing to work at it. Every time you present a talk, you involve your mind, body and voice in communicating the message to your listeners. We've looked at sincerity, organization, and body language as parts of effective communication. Now we will concentrate on the primary link between you and your audience: your voice. The skills you develop in this project will be among your most important tools for favorably impressing people, whether you're speaking to one person or to a thousand. You have the potential for an effective speaking voice. The first step in building a better speaking voice is awareness. You should work to develop a voice that is pleasant to the ear and displays enough variety of sound to be an expressive part of your speaking.

Your objectives for this speech are: To explore the use of voice volume, pitch, rate and quality as assets to your speaking.
To achieve a pleasing natural voice quality when speaking.

Research Your Topic
In the preceding projects, you've acquired a variety of speaking skills and have received helpful evaluations on your efforts. Now you will put these experiences together and see how much you have learned in the Communications and Leadership Program. This project calls for you to use all the skills you've learned in Toastmasters and apply them to a well-constructed and well-delivered speech. This speech should be carefully organized. To make it effective, you'll also need to do whatever research is necessary to support your statements.

Your objectives for this speech are: To bring together and apply the communication skills you have learned in the preceding projects.
To organize your speech in a logical manner, following one of the suggested outlines.
To research the facts needed to support your speech.
To make a personal evaluation of your progress.

Add Impact to Your Speech
In Project 4 you learned to use body language in your speeches to illustrate and emphasize the points you are making. Another way to illustrate and emphasize your message is to use visual aids. The most common visual aids are overhead transparencies, slides, flip charts, videos, handouts, and props. In this project you will learn how to use one of these aids -- props.

Your objectives for this speech are: To learn the value of props in speaking.
To learn how to use props effectively in your presentations.

Persuade with Power
Throughout history speech has been a major form of social influence and control, as people have rallied around those who could speak persuasively. The ability to persuade -- to get other people to understand, accept, and act upon your ideas -- is vital when you communicate with and lead others at home and at work. Developing your persuasive skills is one of the best investments in time and effort you can make.

Your objectives for this speech are: To present a talk that persuades the audience to accept your proposal or viewpoint.
To achieve this persuasive effect by appealing to the audience's self-interest, building a logical foundation for agreement, and arousing emotional commitment to your cause.

Inspire Your Audience
As you become known as someone who can speak effectively, you'll undoubtedly be called upon to deliver an uplifting or inspirational talk -- a speech that challenges people to embrace noble motives or achieve their highest potential. In this project you'll learn how to deliver such a presentation. You'll select a subject that has deep meaning to you and your audience, then organize the thoughts and beliefs you and the audience share into a dynamic, inspirational speech.

Your objectives for this speech are: To understand the mood and feelings of your audience on a particular occasion.
To put those feelings into words and inspire the audience, using all the techniques you have learned so far.