Giving an Impromptu Speech

Too many people get FREAKED OUT when they hear "Impromptu Speech," but here's the deal, you give impromptu speeches all the time. Whenever someone comes up to you and starts speaking to you, you are responding with "impromptu" information.

I highly doubt that you lay awake all night scripting what you are going to say to everyone you are going to meet the following day. If you are doing that, you are someone "very special" (i.e. someone who needs very special therapy).

Here's something that will help calm your nerves. You are only going to give impromptu speeches or presentations on information that you already know. You cannot give an impromptu speech on something you don't know. Well maybe you could, and it would sound like this:

"Um, I don't know anything about that." (And that would be it)

So if you are only going to talk on information that you already know, then all you need to know is how to present in a logical, flowing manner.

Now before I tell you the system in giving an Impromptu Speech, I first want to tell you the biggest mistake people make when asked to give an impromptu speech.

Biggest Mistake: People just start talking as soon as they are asked to speak on something. For some who know the topic well and have given "the speech" numerous times, they can just start talking and the speech goes well. But for many (especially those not giving a lot of impromptu speeches), speaking as soon as they are asked to speak only leads to rambling, incoherent thoughts, ums and ahs, and discomfort for you and the listener.

Bad impromptu can best be summed up by a line given in the 1995 movie "Billy Madison," where Adam Sandler plays a spoiled rich kid that will inherit his father's empire if he can make it through all 12 grades, 2 weeks per grade, to prove that he has what it takes to run the family business. In a final trivia battle, Billy (Adam Sandler) responds to a question with some insane soliloquy.

The principals response is this (which exactly describes a bad impromptu speech, or just a bad speech in general):

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul." (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112508/quotes)

Okay, now that you know the biggest mistake, here are the SIMPLE steps to follow to give a great impromptu speech.

1. STOP! Don't just start speaking. Stop, take a breath and move on to step 2.
2. Understand what is being asked of you. You may need to clarify what is being asked of you by restating back to whoever asked you to speak (This can also help you with step 3). 
3. Turn and face your audience.
4. Gather your thoughts. I'm talking seconds here (and even less). You need to quickly come to an analysis of what you want to say (What is most important and what does the audience want to hear). Realize that most impromptu speaking is not the time for an in-depth analysis of the topic. It is usually a brief overview or one or two specific details (with no charts or handouts to accompany it).
5. Start by giving an Intro (Tell what you are going to tell). This can be another restate of what you where asked to talk on.
6. Now tell what you said you where going to tell. Based off time and what is wanted by your audience, you can give one, two, or three main points with some supporting information on each. If you give more than three, you will more easily get sidetracked and start rambling. We work well in groups of two or three thoughts.
7. Sum it up with a conclusion (tell them what you just told them). Quickly recap what you just said.

*If appropriate ask if there are any questions, then be prepared to start the process over again.

It is extremely important to incorporate the presentations skills learned in my other posts. Remember to stand tall, use confident body language, speak clear, make eye contact, and enjoy the moment. 

Lastly, if you are wanting to practice impromptu speaking, just ask someone (who will listen) to ask you to answer or explain things that you already know. Go through the steps above and you will become a Master of Impromptu Speaking before you know it.