Toastmasters Table Topics #6 — How Can A Workplace Help Their Staff Work On Their Mental Health?

Let’s practice impromptu speech delivery.

I have written about the significance of public speaking in the past. I started this writing series on table topics some months back. Before we dive into today’s topic, below is a quick introduction to Table Topics

What are Table Topics?

In Toastmasters, “Table Topics” is a segment where participants deliver an impromptu speech. The speech should not be less than half a minute or more than two and a half minutes. Table Topics aims to encourage speakers to seize opportunities with promptness. Speakers learn to provide coherent and concise content without prior preparation. It’s a valuable exercise for developing spontaneous speaking skills. Something very useful in formal presentations and everyday conversations.

The topic for today’s article is:

How Can A Workplace Help Their Staff Work On Their Mental Health?

We are living in times when speaking on Mental Health is trendy. Hence, the topic could be tricky because you don’t want to sound bookish. Quoting personal experience will be the differentiating factor for this topic.

I have 18 years of corporate experience. Hence, while going through my ritual, I will think of some experience I can use.

My Ritual

I follow a ritual for every speech. The routine helps me to compose myself. It gives me a sense of satisfaction that things are in control.

A confident stride to the podium is the easiest way to kickstart the ritual. The next step would be to thank the table topic master and give a firm handshake. Repeating the question will buy me some thinking time.

I ensure that the podium is not standing in the way between me and the audience. It also gives me an excellent opportunity to take a deep breath and shrug off any anxiety. I prefer not to look at my feet while thinking, and my hands should not be in my pocket. It demonstrates an anxious personality.

Speech Delivery

My speech goes as follows:

It was a Monday evening, and I was coming back from work. At the last traffic signal before home, I saw an accident. A bus hit a pedestrian head-on and the man died on the spot.

My car was right behind the bus. While I was checking on him, there was blood all over my hands and shirt. I could not sleep that night. The following day, I called my colleague and shared the story. It was my first week at the new job & was nervous to apply for a sick leave.

My colleague informed my manager. My manager called and told me the company had a separate leave quota for such incidents. It’s known as the ‘Trauma leaves.’ He also educated me on company policies to deal with such situations. For example, each resource gets several free sessions with a certified therapist.

To answer the table topic master, I would highlight two things I learned from this experience. My colleague didn’t hesitate before connecting with my manager. I didn’t ask him to. It demonstrates the amount of confidence he had in the management. He must have seen the management helping other resources in similar situations.

The second thing I learned was that my organization empathized with their employees. Sometimes, common sense ranks higher than thinking out of the box for fancy ideas. If you want to help someone, it’s effortless.

Conclusion

I try to be as spontaneous as possible when I write articles on table topics. It means I will elaborate on the first idea which comes into my head. The first idea may not be the best answer. Writing the first answer helps me to simulate a live environment. It’s unrealistic because I get to edit the sentences when I write. There are no editing chances during an actual event.

After speaking on a table topic, you will always think you could have done better. It’s a good habit as you reflect on your performance. Don’t be hard on yourself, though.

I judge my performance at the table topic by the spontaneity shown during the event. Spontaneity comes from mapping your personal experience. While I was reviewing my response, I used my personal experience. It could have been better if I had spent less time on the story.

I am writing these stories on table topics to create a collection for competitions. It is tough to think on the spot. A compilation like this sounds like an excellent way to practice. Hence, this is my way of visualizing robust and impactful content. Recording these speeches is a part of my routine. It gives me invaluable input to work and improve. THANKS FOR READING THIS PIECE. Positive feedback will help growth.

See below a link to another article from this series on table topics:

Thanks Tarun