Table topics is an exercise where participants speak for 1-2 minutes in response to a randomly assigned topic or question. How a speaker feels internally affects both how they sound externally and how they are perceived. Specifically, feeling excited versus feeling calm or anxious when speaking results in differences in speech patterns, brain function, and audience perception. Feeling excited provides benefits like increased testosterone and oxygen flow to the brain, allowing for more confident, competent, and persuasive speaking. Repetition of positive self-talk and associating public speaking with rewards can rewire the brain to view it as a fun experience rather than a stressful one.

1. TABLE TOPICS
SUCCESS
PSYCHOLOGY

2. Whatis
Table
Topics?
Respond to a question in
under 10 seconds
Speak for 1-2 minutes
(Regular)
Speak for 2-3 minutes
(competition)

3. How you tell yourself to feel
=
How you sound
=
How you are perceived
A
TRUE
FACT

4. HELLO
MY NAME IS
Calm
HELLO
MY NAME IS
Anxious
HELLO
MY NAME IS
Excited
Beforespeaking,areyou...

5. 'Regular' heart rate
Low state of arousal
Distracted by thoughts other than the speech
I am CalmFeelslike
I am Calm

6. I am Calm
SoundsLike
I am Calm
Filler words used (um, ah)
Compared to 'I am excited':
Perceived as a less competent,
confident persuasive & persistent
person
Speak for about 30-40 seconds less

7. I am Calm
Brain lacks enough
oxygen to think or
speak optimally
Why?

8. ANXIOUS
Fast heart rate,
weak legs & arms
Unpleasant experience
FEELSLIKE

9. SOUNDSLIKE
ANXIOUS
Longer & longer
pauses as
speech goes on
Pause for
difficult words
SOUNDSLIKE

10. ANXIOUS
Cortisol is released (flight hormone)
Blood leaves brain, arms, legs & goes to
your core
WHY

11. Excited!FEELSLIKE
Fast heart rate
Pleasant experience

12. Excited!SOUNDSLIKE
Speak for 30-40
seconds longer than if calm
Perceived to be the most
confident, competent,
persuasive and persistent

13. Excited!
WHY?
Testosterone allows brain to
function better
Repeat experience=more brain
cells are built
Oxygen is getting to the brain

14. GET BENEFITS FROM EXCITEMENT

15. Stand in a pose as big
as you can for 2 minutes
=
Increase in Testosterone
Brain functions better
POWER

16. Rewarding yourself
after Table Topics
wires your brain to
expect it to be fun
=
Dopamine release
$ REWARD$

17. Connects neurons in your brain
to work better at Table Topics
REPITITION
REPITITION
REPITITION

18. Changes the way
you view stress &
how your audience
perceives you
Repetition of
phrase has more
impact than saying
it with lots of
energy
say:
"I FEEL EXCITED"say it

19. YOUCAN DO IT!

20. How does stress affect your
public speaking skills?
Reappraising performance
anxiety as excitement
Reframing Stress: Stage
Fright Can Be Your Friend
Psychology around us
Train your mind to
perform under pressure
Your body language
shapes who you are
wantmoreinfo?