#264: Winning Wisdom: Speech Contest Secrets, Insights and Tips – Dilip Abayasekara
December 01, 2024Categories: World Champion Of Public Speaking, Speechwriting, Public Speaking, Storytelling
The Toastmasters Podcast with Greg Gazin
The Toastmasters Podcast is like a radio talk show featuring interviews with Toastmasters usually featured in the Toastmaster magazine. The purpose of the podcast is to amplify the magazine - to dig deeper or to put a voice to a face or written wordBut unlike a radio show, a podcast is on the Internet, and available, for free, to anyone in the world with an Internet connection, and a connected device capable of playing audio. 250+ episodes are at ToastmastersPodcast.comThe Toastmasters Podcast is co-produced by Toastmasters International and Archieboy Holdings, LLC, for our global audience of Toastmasters and those interested in public speaking and leadership.
[28:38] Speech competitions are an excellent way to elevate your speaking skills. Our guest today, Dilip Abayasekara, DTM, AS, and Past International President, has had an extraordinary speaking career, extensive experience, and a wealth of knowledge. His achievements include five district-level titles, two appearances at the World Championship of Public Speaking (WCPS) finals, and an impressive second-place finish in 1992. He has accumulated a treasure trove of wisdom, captivating stories, and winning secrets, some of which he’ll be sharing with us today.
Dilip shares what drew him to speech competitions and how they have shaped him not only as a speaker and speech competitor but also as a leader.
He offers valuable insights on how he learned from others, along with the tools and techniques he used to perfect his craft. Dilip enlightens us on how we can develop our own speeches, using his 1992 second-place finish at the World Championship of Public Speaking as an example. He walks us through his thought process, revealing how the speech underwent 18 revisions and 360 rehearsals, and sharing stories on how he actively sought and received feedback, some of which came from unexpected sources and more.
Dilip’s article, "Speech Contest Winning Secrets: Get Ready to Become the Best Contestant You Can Be," can be found online and in the November 2024 issue of Toastmaster magazine. Read it here.
Dilip Abayasekara joined Toastmasters in 1986, crediting the organization with transforming his life. The self-discoveries he made as a Toastmaster led him to change careers multiple times—from chemist to trainer and keynote speaker, college professor and administrator, and finally pastor. As International President in 2005-2006, his theme was “Find Your Voice – Serve Your World.”
Now retired from the ministry, Dilip and his wife live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he continues to mentor Toastmasters across the USA and around the world in both speech contests and leadership development.
Dilip can be reached at dabayasekara@susumc.org.
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