Impromptu Speaking Tips

By Rick Sheridan, Assistant Professor of Communications, Wilberforce University

Speaking in public often is considered to be one of the worst fears people have. Impromptu speaking, where you have little time to prepare, is even more frightening for many people. Here is a summary of advice and insights from several sources to help you to quickly develop and deliver an effective and entertaining impromptu speech.

1. Take the first step. Try to make the most out of the few seconds you have between the request and when you start to speak. Before you speak, quickly organize your topic into one of the following patterns:

Topic block:Break your speech into several of the most important topics, such as production, marketing, and advertising.

Chronological block:Arrange information into components, such as the past, present, and future plans related to the topic you are speaking about.

Controversial blocks:Think of any areas where there is a disagreement. You can move from pro to con and explain the parts of the disagreement.

Hierarchical blocks:From easy to hard. You could start out with the easy-to-understand parts of the situation and eventually discuss the more difficult components of your topic.

Question blocks:Ask the audience a challenging rhetorical question and then spend time answering it for them.

Q&A format:Ask the audience what they would like to know about the topic and provide your feedback. Be aware that you may get complicated questions you are not really prepared to answer (Zarefsky, D., “Public Speaking: Strategies for Success,” 5th Edition, Allyn & Bacon, 2007).

2. Begin to speak. Offer an introductory remark. This will give you a little more time to get organized: “Thanks, Ted, I am happy to offer my perspective on the situation. I did not plan a formal presentation but would be happy to describe the situation at my department.” You also could begin your impromptu speech with an anecdote, a provocative question or interesting fact, a current event that relates to the topic, or an objectives list for the lecture.

Start your talk with one of the categories, such as the chronological block: “During the last year, we have introduced three new products, hired a new assistant manager, and expanded our manufacturing department. In January, we finished development on the first new product. In February, we began development of the second new product. In March, we began a national search for a new assistant manager.” This will give you several sub-topics to elaborate on. You can begin to fill in the details for one sub-topic at a time, giving yourself additional time to think of ideas to elaborate on. Eventually, you can move on to the other topics, depending on how long you need to speak.

3. Other tips.

• Use a slow delivery. This gives you time to think ahead, while the audience has time to absorb and react to what you are saying. Keep the focus on the subject while talking.
• Personalize. This is the subject you know most about, so use personal examples to explain the material to them. The audience can relate more easily to personal topics—they probably have similar experiences.
• Remember that you are in control. Relax and make it your own. If you want to make this a funny story about your experiences working in a restaurant as a teenager, then do it. Most people will applaud your effort.
• As you deliver your speech, concentrate on body language and vocal tone. Most communication is either non-verbal (body language) or the perceived tone of the speaker. If you master these two, then any mistakes with the content of the speech will be more likely forgiven.
• Stand tall. Make sure you are standing on both feet about a shoulder width apart. Resist the urge to slump or fiddle or put your hands in your pockets. And remember to breathe!
• Use any notes as reminders only. Do not try to remember a whole speech, especially since you only have a few seconds to prepare. Instead move through the points you noted, making clear transitions between each.
• Keep it short and to the point. An audience is far more likely to listen if you stay on target and are concise. Avoid using vocabulary unfamiliar to your audience. Keep it on their level.
• Remember the power of the pause. Take the time you need to gather your thoughts together. Remember, time appears slower to you. You may think you’ve stopped for an eternity, but the audience rarely perceives it that way. They will think you are pondering your next statement or giving them time to consider your previous point.
• Avoid an adrenaline rush. Don’t worry too much about precision. Trust yourself to adapt to any circumstances that may come up rather than to demand a flawless performance from yourself.
• Think of your speech as an expanded parlor conversation. Think of it as a conversation with a small group of friends. This will keep your language natural and flowing. Think of stories, comparisons, examples, transitions, and illustrations to bring your talk to life.
• Maintain good eye contact with the audience. Hold your gaze for at least five seconds on one member of the audience and then find another friendly face to look directly at.
• Continually evaluate the audience. Watch the audience and try to determine if they seem to be more interested in one part of your lecture than the others. If so, expand on that area. If they look bored, it is time to move to another sub-topic (Gabour, C., “Presentation Skills Training,” ASTD Trainer’s Workshop, ASTD Press, 2008).

4. What if you draw a blank? Even though you have done everything else right, you may still run out of material, suddenly lose your train of thought, or draw a complete blank. There are a few you can do to keep from panicking:

• Paraphrase what you’ve already said. This will jog your memory into providing the next point you want to make.
• Pretend like you’re pausing on purpose. Walk back and forth slowly, as if you’re letting your last point sink in.
• If you need more time to think, you may want to ask the audience a question. Even something such as, “Can everyone hear me OK?” will give you more time to recover your presentation.
• If you still can’t remember what to say, make up a reason to pause the speech. For example, you can say, “I’m sorry, but my throat is very dry. Can I please get a glass of water?” Someone will go to get you a drink, and you will have time to think of two or three points to talk about.
• If you know nothing about the topic, do not panic. Just tell what you don’t know about the topic: “What a great topic. I know nothing about the topic. But I will make it a point to study up on the subject just in case I ever get it again.
• If these tricks don’t appeal to you, think of your own. The idea is to have something ready ahead of time.
• Quick brain jogger. Here is a way that you quickly can produce meaningful content. Think of your topic and view it from these perspectives:

Application: How could we use this information in___?

Comparison: How is your topic similar or different from___?

Validation: Why do you believe this response is best?

Evaluation: Why do you think this concept is so important?

Classification: What categories could you organize this into?

Induction: Based on what you know, what is the big picture?

Error analysis: How is this information misleading?

Analyzing: What is the reasoning behind that perspective? How have others struggled with this information? What does this information have to do with real life?

5. Conclusion.Congratulations, you made it through most of your impromptu speech. Now is the time to come up with a good conclusion that puts everything into perspective:

• Review the main points. Reinforce the main ideas you have talked about by briefly restating them, “I have tried to give you my perspective on our manufacturing department’s progress in the last year. Besides the actual events, I tried to cover specific problems we have overcome, such as___”
• Conclude the presentation. Finish it with a strong, positive statement. Be brief and look for an elegant closing that links back to the opening. End by acknowledging the chairman or master of ceremonies.

References:

Blake, R., and Clemens W., “After-Dinner Verses: A Collection of Impulsive and Impromptu Verses,” Omnigraphics, 1999.

Gabour, C., “Presentation Skills Training” (ASTD Trainer’s Workshop), ASTD Press, 2008.

Kleiser, G., “Impromptu Speeches: How to Make Them,” Thackeray Press, 2009.

Wood, M., “How to Present Impromptus and Take Interviews,” NewInsight Publications, 2010.

Wydro, K., “Think on Your Feet: The Art of Thinking and Speaking Under Pressure,” Prentice Hall, 1981

Zarefsky, D., “Public Speaking: Strategies for Success” (5th Edition), Allyn & Bacon, 2007.

Rick Sheridan is an assistant professor of communications at Wilberforce University in Ohio. His articles have been published by theSt. Petersburg Times, Chicago Sun-Times, New Orleans Times-Picayune,and United Press International, along with referred journals Educauseand Academic Exchange Quarterly. For more information, visit http://RickSheridan.com.