PERSUASIVE INFLUENCE

This path helps you build your skills as an innovative communicator and leader. The projects on this path focus on how to negotiate a positive outcome together with building strong interpersonal communication and public speaking skills. Each project emphasizes developing leadership skills to use in complex situations, as well as creating innovative solutions to challenges.
This path culminates in a “High-Performance Leadership” project of your design.

FIVE LEVELS

LEVEL 1
Mastering Fundamentals
  • Ice Breaker
  • Writing a Speech with Purpose
  • Introduction to Vocal Variety and Body Language
  • Evaluation and Feedback

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

This project addresses topic selection strategies, how to define the purpose of your speech, and methods for producing a well-organized speech.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to learn or review basic methods for writing a speech and to present a wellorganized speech on any topic.

Overview: Select a topic that appeals to you. It can be anything. Be sure your topic is narrow enough to be an effective 5- to 7-minute speech. Clearly define your topic and consider your goal for your speech. Before you organize
your speech, clearly define your purpose. Practice your speech and continue to refine its organization. Present your speech at a club meeting.

This project includes:
 ■  Speech Topic and Purpose Worksheet
 ■  The Speech Outline Worksheet
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

This project was added to Level 1 in all Paths ordered after 10/27/2021.  It is not available in Paths ordered before that date.

This project focuses on the fundamentals of delivering a speech—vocal variety and body language.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to practice using vocal variety or body language to enhance a speech.

Overview: Learn or review the importance of vocal variety and body language. Present a 5- to 7-minute speech on any topic at a club meeting. The primary focus of the evaluation is your vocal variety or your body language and gestures. You will identify the skills you are working on for your evaluator before you deliver your speech and be evaluated on those skills. Your speech can be persuasive, humorous, informational, or crafted in any style that appeals to you and supports your speech content.

This project includes:
 ■  An option for three types of evaluations. The member may choose to be evaluated on only their body language, only their vocal variety, or both.
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

This project was added to Level 1 in all Paths ordered after 10/27/2021.  It is not available in Paths ordered before that date.

This project addresses the skills needed to give and receive feedback. You will learn about giving, receiving and applying feedback.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to present a speech on any topic, receive feedback, and apply the feedback to a 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 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. Finally, after you have completed both speeches, 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
 ■  Incorporating feedback from your first speech into a second 5- to 7-minute speech
 ■  Serving as a speech evaluator

LEVEL 2
Learning Your Style
  • Understanding Your Leadership Style
  • Active Listening
  • Introduction to Toastmasters Mentoring

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:
 ■  The Discover Your Leadership Style questionnaire
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech 

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

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 

LEVEL 3
Increasing Knowledge
  • Understanding Conflict Resolution

This project is designed to introduce conflict resolution strategies and provide an opportunity to resolve a conflict scenario within an interactive activity.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to develop or enhance your understanding of the steps and strategies to address conflict.

Overview: Complete the conflict resolution video activity in the project. Prepare a 5- to 7-minute speech to discuss how you manage conflict, how you can develop a stronger strategy, and your best attributes in a conflict situation. You may also share the impact of the video activity. Your speech may be humorous, informational, or any style that appeals to you. This project is not a report on or a critique of the content of this project.

This project includes:
 ■  A conflict resolution video activity
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

ELECTIVE PROJECTS

Choose 2 of the following projects:

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

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 

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:
 ■  Creating one to three visual aids
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech 

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:
 ■  The Social Speech Basics resource
 ■  Two 3- to 4-minute speeches 

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

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 behaviour or the behaviour of those around you. At a club meeting, share some aspects 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 of education to indicate you completed the journal.

This project includes:
 ■  Recording your daily moods and attitudes for a minimum of two weeks
 ■  A 2- to 3-minute report or a 5- to 7-minute speech
 ■  The Project Completion Form 

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

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

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 of education.

This project includes:
 ■  The Prepare to Network resource
 ■  Attending a networking event
 ■  The Project Completion Form
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech 

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:
 ■  The Identifying Your Skills Worksheet
 ■  The Interviewer Instructions resource
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute role-play interview at a club meeting

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

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 

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:
 ■  Developing presentation slides
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech 

This project addresses topic selection strategies, suggestions for research and methods for producing a wellorganized 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:
 ■  Researching a topic
 ■  The Research Worksheet
 ■  The Speech Outline Worksheet
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

In Paths ordered after 10/27/2021, Researching and Presenting is a Level 3 Elective.  In Paths ordered before that date, it is a Level 1 Project.

LEVEL 4
Building Skills
  • Leading in Difficult Situations

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:
 ■  Designing a detailed project plan
 ■  The Project Plan resource
 ■  The Project Plan Overview resource
 ■  The Plan Disruption Ideas resource
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech to share your plan
 ■  An impromptu speech to present solutions to disruptions

ELECTIVE PROJECTS

Choose 1 of the following projects:

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:
 ■  Establishing or enhancing a social media presence
 ■  The Project Completion Form
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

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 maybe 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:
 ■  Recording 60 minutes of podcast content
 ■  A 2- to 3-minute introduction speech

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 role play assignment for club members
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

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:
 ■  Maintaining a blog and posting at least eight times in one month
 ■  The Blog Evaluation Form
 ■  The Project Completion Form
 ■  A 2- to 3-minute speech

LEVEL 5
Demonstrating Expertise
  • High-Performance Leadership
  • Reflect on Your Path

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:
 ■  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
 ■  The Meeting Agenda resource
 ■  The Project Plan Overview resource
 ■  The Project Plan resource
 ■  The Vision Plan resource
 ■  The Event Planning Worksheet
 ■  The 360° Evaluation resource
 ■  Two 5- to 7-minute speeches

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:
 ■  The Your Toastmasters Journey resource
 ■  A 10- to 12-minute speech

ELECTIVE PROJECTS

Choose 1 of the following projects:

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:
 ■  Serving in a volunteer leadership role for a minimum of six months
 ■  Conducting a 360° evaluation of your leadership skills
 ■  Creating a succession plan
 ■  The Succession Plan resource
 ■  The 360° Evaluation resource
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

This project addresses how to identify the discussion points of a large group meeting, encourage a culture of contribution and voicing opinions, and facilitate productive discussion that yields results.

Purpose: The purpose of this project is to learn about and apply the skills needed to run a lessons-learned meeting during a project or after its completion.

Overview: Facilitate a lessons-learned meeting for a team with which you are completing or have completed a project. This meeting is separate from your regular Toastmasters meeting. Organize and facilitate a discussion. Record the results into a document you and your team members can use to facilitate the current project or future projects. If you haven’t already, give team members an opportunity to complete a 360° evaluation of you as a team leader. (Use the 360° Evaluation resource.) Finally, present a 5- to 7-minute speech in your club about the lessons learned meeting or your leadership experience.

This project includes:
 ■  Facilitating a lessons-learned meeting
 ■  Documenting the results of the lessons learned meeting
 ■  The 360° Evaluation resource
 ■  The Lessons Learned Response Log
 ■  The Metrics Log
 ■  A 5- to 7-minute speech

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

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:
 ■  The Speech Outline Worksheet
 ■  An 18- to 22-minute keynote-style speech