This is the first time I have delivered an education session and I have chosen to speak about being the TOPICS CHAIR – something which has never been covered in any speakers’ club meeting I have attended.
The content of my presentation does not come from the ASC guide. It is my own personal opinion. The guide says little about topics other than on page 28 it EMPHASISES that “the topics session is a vitally important part of your training” as a speaker.
Consequently, the TOPICS CHAIR has a duty to treat the session as such.
In this presentation, I shall cover six points. These are:
- Preparation for being topics chair,
- Selection of topics,
- Responding to a speaker after answering her topic,
- the order of inviting members to speak,
- timekeeping,
- keeping control of the session.
1. PREPARATION The chair needs to prepare for the session. Normally she will have a pretty good idea who will be present at the meeting, the likely numbers and details of guests.
Preparation means making a list of questions beforehand. It means preparing a few more topics than you think you will need.
My recommendation is to allocate your topics to likely attendees on a written list in advance. This allocation is not fixed in stone but is your guide for the evening. Try to tailor them to the speakers, if possible. Don’t ask Liz to talk about football nor would you ask Willie about staying healthy, unless you are planning for a long meeting, that is.
2. TOPICS SELECTION The key is to choose topics which the speakers have a fair chance of answering, topics which are neither too difficult nor too obscure. Give them interesting topics or current affairs topics. In these COVID times, even consider giving them uplifting topics rather than an excuse for a good moan.
3. RESPONDING TO TOPICEES Try to comment on what each speaker has said in answering her topic. Do it POLITELY. Even humorously is OK.
IF you disagree with the speaker’s point of view, avoid giving your own monologue of opposing viewpoints. Keep it light and friendly.
4. ORDER OF SPEAKING Do not give the first topic to the meeting chair who has just spoken. Do not give it to someone who is scheduled to give a prepared speech.
Set the order as part of the planning process and review it just before the meeting starts to take account of unexpected attendees and absentees.
1 try to ensure that anyone who is not otherwise participating is given the opportunity to take a topic.
Imagine you are at the meeting and don’t get the opportunity to speak at all, what does that say to you?
I’m not important I’m not part of the group Maybe she just doesn’t like me.
I have seen the topics chair ask one person to speak twice and miss someone else out altogether.
So, tick each person’s name on the list once they have spoken.
2 Don’t insist if someone prefers NOT to participate.
3 Be aware of time yourself and make the decision to cut the session short if necessary
5. Timekeeping. We should time each speaker answering her topic and be sure that everyone knows the timing rules beforehand.
HOWEVER, timing should be consistent. Don’t cut off one person at 2 mins 30 secs and let another ramble on for 4 minutes.
- LAST BUT NOT LEAST, KEEPING CONTROL
It is important for the topics chair, just like the meeting chair, to keep control of the session.
The topics session should be fun and other speakers may interrupt with uninvited comments at the end of a speaker’s two-minute speech.
This is acceptable but you, as topics chair, must keep control.
If you are relatively inexperienced, do not feel intimidated. When experienced speakers give their tuppence worth, politely, intervene with a “Thanks, Tom, the next topic is for Jim…..”
So, ladies and gentlemen, you have just been treated to Alistair’s handy hints for running a topics session.
Remember that answering topics is a key element of being a good speaker.
So, as topics chair, play your part in the process by planning ahead, in order to run the session efficiently.
Central Scotland Speakers Club 