While not familiar, there may come a time when you must deliver an impromptu speech. Or maybe you suddenly encounter a question from an audience member that catches you off guard. Though frightening at first, you can mater impromptu speaking with some fundamental techniques. Much like writing a prepared speech follows a distinct outline, impromptu speeches have an order of fundamentals to guide you through your on-the-spot presentation.
1) State your viewpoint in the early stages and start strong.
2) Choose a fitting illustration, experience, or example to support your viewpoint.
3) Don‘t attempt to cover too much ground.
4) Never apologize.
5) Finish conclusively.
These fundamentals mirror the written speech outline but allow for you to write the on the fly. All it takes is a viewpoint, and a story and you are well on your way to wowing your audience with an impromptu speech.
When giving an impromptu speech, the most important thing to remember is to take your time. Taking your time is not always an easy thing to do. I highly recommend utilizing the Five Second Stall. Most of the time, it is not a matter of if you go blank in a speech, but when you go blank. Do not panic. Instead, use this technique to gather your thoughts.
If you can immediately conjure a catchy opening, use it. If you cannot, stall for five seconds! Say, for example, you are in a situation where nothing immediately comes to mind. Start with something generic: “I‘m glad you asked that question!” or “I have often wondered the same thing.” This technique will provide you with time to gather an appropriate response. I have found that when someone has an extra five seconds, they can almost always come up with an intelligent answer.
By using the 5-second stall, you will amaze yourself at how you can master impromptu speaking. By not panicking and giving yourself those five extra seconds, you will be able to come up with an adequate response quickly.
Speech Dr. Hot Tip – I frequently hear, “I often go blank when I am speaking in front of people. How can I prevent this?”
The fact is you can‘t! Going blank is an inevitable fact of public speaking that you cannot avoid. I have tried. For years and years, I would say to myself, “Maybe tonight's speed will be the one where I don’t go blank somewhere in the speech. It never happened. I finally realized that I was going to go blank, and then I put a plan in place.
Reserve Parachute Technique – Just as a skydiver has a second parachute in reserve in case his main one fails, always have a reserve line to use when you go blank. This line should be fitting to your topic but generic enough that you can use it anywhere you need, even repeating it multiple times throughout your speech. This line will help to get you back on track as you collect your thoughts and take away the pressure that silence would put on you.
The Reserve Parachute Technique can expand further if you go utterly blank. The Reserve Parachute Technique can develop to become the Reserve Story Technique. Using a reserve story that you are incredibly familiar with will give you time to recollect your thoughts. The reserve story will buy you even more time than a reserve line!
The great thing about the reserve parachute and story is that the audience will never have a clue that you messed up. There have been countless occasions when I‘ve given a presentation that my wife helped write, and she noticed my use of reserve material. She also noticed that no one in the audience even flinched. Don‘t blow your cover.
Trust me, if you play it cool, everyone in the audience will be none the wiser.
Don't get caught off-guard. Prepare for surprises and turn them into opportunities.
Comments