What It's Really Like to Answer a Table Topics Question at Toastmasters (A Live Example and Honest Self-Evaluation)
If you've ever been put on the spot and asked to speak about something you know absolutely nothing about, you'll understand the unique challenge of Toastmasters Table Topics. It's widely considered one of the most difficult aspects of the entire Toastmasters experience — and for good reason. In this article, I'll walk you through a real Table Topics answer I gave at my local club in British Columbia, Canada, break down what went well, and honestly assess where I fell short. Whether you're a new Toastmaster or a seasoned speaker, I hope this gives you both insight and confidence.
Setting the Scene: A Question About a Book I'd Never Read
Before diving into the answer itself, some context is essential. The Table Topics Master at our meeting asked me what I thought about a book called The Courage to Be Disliked. Here's the catch: I had never read it.
The backstory was that a fellow club member had enthusiastically recommended the book at a previous meeting. Our Table Topics Master, inspired by that recommendation, read it within the week and crafted her questions around its themes. That's already a complex setup for an impromptu question.
To make things even more interesting, the member who spoke just before me had been asked a different question entirely: "What is one word you would use to describe your goals for 2023?" As you'll see, I ended up weaving that previous question into my own response — creating a hybrid answer that let me speak about something I actually knew.
The Live Answer: Turning the Unknown Into the Personal
Here's essentially what I said when I stood up:
"Thank you for the question. My first thought, leading into the previous question about choosing a word, was — what is my word for 2023? And it's coincidental that you named the title of that book, because the word I chose was 'courageous.' That's my goal: courage for 2023. It's about pushing myself outside my comfort zone.
Some of you may have noticed I've been bringing a camera to Toastmasters meetings. I'll be honest — the first couple of times I set it up, there was nervousness. That self-consciousness of wondering what people in the club would think, whether it would be distracting. There were a million reasons not to do it. But I knew that documenting parts of my Toastmasters journey could be a helpful resource for others online who are learning how to take on various roles.
I've also been pushing myself in other situations — stepping up for roles at work that are a little outside my skill set, roles that other people probably would have taken on instead. So while my mind went in a completely different direction from the deep intention of the book you referenced, I think I'm still answering the question. You wanted to know my thoughts, and my thought is this: 2023 is going to be a year of courage for me."
What Went Well
Let me break down the positives from this response:
- I made it my own. The whole purpose of Table Topics is to practice impromptu speaking. While perfectly answering the exact question asked is the ultimate goal, your first priority — especially as a developing speaker — is simply to stand up, speak for one to two minutes, and reference the question in some way. I did that. Mission accomplished.
- Strong eye contact. I initially directed my attention to the Table Topics Master, then consciously shifted my gaze around the room. I also acknowledged guests who were tuning in on Zoom, which is an easy detail to forget in a hybrid meeting environment.
- Solid timing. My answer clocked in at one minute and 40 seconds. For a Table Topics response where you have between one and two minutes, the sweet spot is roughly 1:30 to 1:45. Landing right in that window felt like a win.
Where I Fell Short
No performance is without room for improvement, and this one had several areas I want to work on:
- I forgot the Word of the Day. The grammarian had presented the word "asinine" at the start of the meeting, and I completely failed to incorporate it. Using the Word of the Day is a fantastic exercise in mental flexibility. In real life, this skill translates directly — imagine being invited to speak at a conference and learning upon arrival that there's a specific theme. The ability to absorb new information and weave it naturally into your remarks makes you a far more relatable and adaptable speaker.
- The structure was loose. My response went in a few different directions without a clear opening, body, and conclusion. The most powerful speeches come full circle — the introduction mentions something, and the conclusion brings it back. My answer didn't achieve that. It was coherent enough to get through, but it lacked the kind of deliberate architecture that elevates a good answer into a great one.
- Filler words crept in. The ah-counter reported that I used an "ah" and an "um" during the meeting, and I believe at least some of those occurred during this response. I'm usually disciplined about avoiding crutch words, but when I'm genuinely searching for what to say next — when the mental gears are grinding — that's exactly when those fillers sneak in. It's a clear area for continued improvement.
The Real Takeaway: Done Is Better Than Perfect
Our general evaluator offered kind feedback at the end of the meeting, noting that I did a good job navigating a difficult question. She also appreciated that I used the opportunity to explain to the club why I'd been bringing a camera to meetings — something not all members fully understood.
But here's what I really want you to take away from this example: I deliberately shared an answer that wasn't perfectly polished. It was decent. It got the job done. And that's the point.
The real goal of a Toastmasters Table Topics response is to stand up and speak for one to two minutes. That's it. If you can do that, you've accomplished something meaningful. I've watched many Toastmasters enter the program and spend six months to a year before they can comfortably fill that full minute. So if you're already standing up and speaking, you're well on your way.
Tips to Keep in Mind for Your Next Table Topics Question
- Don't panic if you don't know the answer. Redirect the question toward something you can speak about, while still referencing the original topic.
- Aim for the timing sweet spot. Between 1:30 and 1:45 gives you enough time to say something substantive without rambling.
- Use the Word of the Day. It's a small detail that demonstrates adaptability and attentiveness.
- Think in threes: opening, body, conclusion. Even a brief impromptu answer benefits from structure.
- Make eye contact broadly. Don't just look at the person who asked the question — engage the entire room.
- Forgive yourself for filler words, but be aware of them. Awareness is the first step toward elimination.
Table Topics is one of the most challenging — and most rewarding — parts of the Toastmasters experience. It teaches you to think on your feet, to find composure under pressure, and to trust that you have something worth saying even when you're caught completely off guard. The next time you're called on, remember: you don't need to be perfect. You just need to stand up and speak. Everything else is practice.