Table Topics is the very fun, but often slightly nerve-wracking part of the meeting. The Table Topic Master will ask a question, then call up a member of the audience to answer it – completely unprepared! Yes a little daunting, but so incredibly useful for all kinds of situations – interviews, meetings and when your boss asks you to make a presentation unexpectedly!
Skills: Impromptu Speaking, Thinking on your Feet, Creativity
Top Tips:
- Have a go! Although scary at first, table topics get easier with practice. So get up on stage and say something, anything. Don’t worry about what it is – start talking and see what happens.
- Tell a story. Stories are shown to be a great way to connect with your audience and often they’re the easiest thing to talk about as you are retelling something you know happened.
- Implement a structure. As you get more experienced, your table topic will be clearer if you have a mini speech structure: beginning (answer the question), middle (give your reasons), end (summarise your answer).