Use of Props in Your Speech

These are the things I have accomplished as an Advanced Toastmaster-Silver in our Club.

A prop is an object that adds impact to your speech. The purpose is to:

1. Emphasize your message, dramatize your point & help the audience to remember your message.

2. Add visual interest.

3. Focus attention.

The right prop must be:

1. Appropriate to the message – must be relevant to the presentation’s theme.

2. Appropriate to the audience – consider the audience’s interests, experience, and sophistication.

3. Appropriate to the occasion – is it a formal awards dinner or a children’s party?

4. Enhancing, not overpowering, the message – make sure your point is remembered, not just your props.

5. Clearly visible – small audience, small prop; large audience, large prop.

6. Used with confidence – appear confident so that your audience will think you are confident.