Timer's Toolkit

Timers help speakers stay within their allotted time—an essential skill for strong speakers and for running efficient meetings. In a Toastmasters meeting, the Timer briefly introduces their role at the start, performs timing duties throughout, and gives a concise report at the end. This includes a bit of speaking practice, since the Timer delivers both the introduction and the final report. The report notes anyone who spoke under the minimum or over the maximum time. Posting times in the chat during the meeting is optional.

Signaling Times in Virtual and Hybrid Meetings

For virtual-only meetings, the Timer can type “green,” “yellow,” or “red” in chat to indicate when the minimum, target, and maximum times have been reached.

The Timer app on this page can also be helpful for the Timer. Once a speech type button is selected, the timer display automatically shifts colors as time progresses to make it much easier for the Timer to remember when to signal.

After each speech, the speaker's name can be entered manually, and the time can be automatically entered in the Timing Tracker table, by clicking the Capture button for the appropriate row, making the end-of-meeting report quick and accurate.

For Timers who prefer more visible signaling, Toastmasters Timer Backgrounds can be used by switching virtual background colors. This is especially helpful in hybrid meetings where speakers may stand away from their device. If using any camera-based signaling, the Timer should mention it in their introduction and remind speakers to pin the Timer’s video tile before speaking. A low-tech alternative is to hold up colored cards (or any clearly colored object) at the appropriate times.