IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
Introduction
Imagine
you are walking along the street and all of a sudden a TV reporter
puts a microphone in front of you and asks you a question. Your
immediate and competent response could be your first steps to
stardom.
Perhaps the above is not reality
however the ability to “think and speak” on your feet will be a
tremendous asset to have in your business and daily life. Eg
meetings, presentations, supervising staff, interviews. To
successfully communicate your ideas in these situations you must be
able to organise your thoughts quickly and present them in a clear
and logical manner.
The best way to be able to respond
effectively to an unexpected request such as this is to practice,
like most things in life. You can always practice to yourself eg
look around you and speak to yourself for 60 seconds on the first
noun you see written.
In each session of this course you
will deliver a short impromptu speech, usually with the objective of
it being from 60 to 90 seconds.
What is Impromptu
Speaking
It
is a speech without planning or preparation. It is a speech with
little or no notice eg when you are called upon, unexpectedly, to
offer your opinion or provide instruction.
Have the attitude that it’s a wonderful opportunity rather than “why
me!”.
What is Expected
When are you
likely to be asked to speak Without Notice
How to be Ready
What to do when
you are asked to give an Impromptu Speech
Make sure you understand the
question and make sure you answer it.
For clarity you can ask that the question be repeated.
Pause to be able to think.
If this is during a seminar, to enable you to momentarily think
about the topic, you can:
Appear to be confident,
don’t be rushed, try to emulate how the confident person would
react.
Rise with confidence.
Organise your thoughts.
Take a moment to determine your answer ie the main point of your
answer, then support this view with 2 or 3 reasons.
Structure the mini-speech
ie by having an
Opening, Body & Closing.
Have a strong closing.
Some other
Predetermined Strategies for successful Impromptu Speaking
Aristotle claimed there are 2 ways to
convince an audience ie direct evidence and believing in your
subject. So even if you don’t know anything about the subject speak
with belief, conviction and sincerity. Not only with the words you
speak but with tone, energy, vocal variety, gestures (body language)
and eye contact.
Describe how the subject affects you personally and how it affects
other people or the world in general.
Speak on another topic, obviously not
appropriate if it’s a request to speak at work. You can start by
saying: “Thanks for that question, and it’s a very good question,
but I don’t want to talk about that. What I’d like to talk about
is…” And of course you already have something prepared on your
preferred subject. Or you could say, “Thanks for the question but
what you should have asked is...”.
Follow the PREP Method:
Follow the PPF (Past, Present, Future)
Method:
The 3 Important Things Method. Start
with “There are 3 important things that come to mind about this
subject…”. This hopefully gives you a good start and you can start
to think of some things while you are saying it. If you think of
one thing you have something to go on to and hopefully other
thoughts will happen along the way. If they don’t just say you
forgot what they were, very confidently.
The Pros / Cons Method. Start with
“There are 2 sides to this argument…” and continue on, or start
with “I firmly believe that…but on the other hand”.
The 6 Question Method. Ask yourself:”
Who, What, When, Why, Where & How” as you are speaking to jog your
memory.
