Public Speaking: Find Your Voice
During this month, we'll be breaking down the art of public speaking into manageable steps, focusing on different aspects each week. Throughout the month, we'll provide resources, tips, and opportunities to practice and get feedback from the community.
We close this challenge on Friday, the last week of the month, with the Lightning Talk. Check out lightning-talks for detailed information.
Read our Monthly Challenge Facilitators Handbook to learn how to handle tasks before and after challenges, as well as the technical guidelines.
Async Check-Ins Times
- Mondays, 07:00 AM ET
- Mondays, 09:00 AM ET for Monday inspiration
- Fridays, noon ET
Prompts
Below are previous prompts for our kick-off announcements and async check-ins.
Kick-Off Announcement
N/A
Monday Async Check-Ins 2024
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Week 1
📣 If you haven’t yet, check out the resources for this month’s challenge, **Find Your Voice**!
**Blog:** https://dev.to/virtualcoffee/step-into-the-spotlight-join-our-public-speaking-monthly-challenge-52kl
**Guide:** https://virtualcoffee.io/assets/pdfs/lightning-talk-guide.pdf
**Challenge Page:** https://virtualcoffee.io/monthlychallenges/apr-2024 -
Week 2
**Week Two: Crafting Your Content**
**Challenge:** Finalize your topic and develop a clear, concise message.
**Activity:** Draft an outline for your talk, including an introduction, main points, and conclusion.
Who needs help with their topic? -
Week 3
**Week Three: Delivery and Practice**
**Challenge:** Work on your vocal delivery, body language, and use of visuals.
**Activity:** Practice delivering your presentation in front of a mirror or someone else. Refine your presentation based on the feedback received and practice delivering it confidently.
This is a great time to practice with a mentor or a friend. Let us know if you need help getting paired up! -
Week 4
It’s the final week!!!!
**Week Four: Final Preparation and Presentation**
**Challenge:** Make your final preparations and any adjustments to your presentation.
**Activity:** Give a lightning talk!
Who’s going to the lightning talks this week!!!!???!?!?!?
Monday Inspirations 2024
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Week 1
Monday inspiration! “All the great speakers were bad speakers at first.” Ralph Waldo Emerson. -
Week 2
Monday Inspiration! “All speaking is public speaking, whether it’s to one person or a thousand.” Roger Love -
Week 3
Monday inspiration: “The goal of effective communication should be for listeners to say ‘Me too!’ versus ’So what?” Jim Rohn -
Week 4
Monday Inspiration: “If it scares you it may be a good thing to try.” Seth Godin
Friday Async Check-Ins 2024
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Week 1
N/A
-
Week 2
Let’s do a check-in. Did you get your topic drafted? -
Week 3
Let’s do a check-in. Did you get at least one practice session in? -
Week 4
There is no check-in as it's Lightning Talk day.
Slack Channels
Slack channels that we use for the challenge:
#announcement- Kick-off announcement
#monthly-challenge- Challenge and Lightning Talk announcements
- Async check-ins
#public-speaking- Challenge and Lightning Talk announcements