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Ten Tips on Impromptu Speaking
1. When you first hear the topic smile. This will help you feel good and look confident.
2. Immediately decide if you strongly like it or strongly hate it. Then go in that direction. Your emotion will fuel your thoughts. Don't sit on the fence - watching someone sit on a fence is so boring. But watching them jump into the corral and wrestle the bull - that is a lot more entertaining.
3. One approach is to state, 'There are three things that come to mind about this topic', even if you cannot think of three things when you start. As you speak you will be searching for three key ideas. It helps give you apparent structure. If you run out of time to list all three, announce that you will explain more another time.
4. Try the pro/con method. State the pros, then state the cons. This can be confusing to the audience about where you stand on this topic. To give your position - be stronger on one side than the other. You could even make fun of the opposite side by mocking their views. Be very careful with this because sarcasm turns people off and can turn them against you.
5. When your mind goes blank and you don't know what to say next - smile, look at the audience and pause. They will review your last words and reflect on how profound they were. The one or few second pause is powerful and it gives you time to plan your next words.
6. If the pause and smile don't get you going - repeat the topic or your last point in a profound way. You could even repeat it more than once. This is like revving your engine. Your thoughts collect then suddenly your mouth engages again.
7. Look for a lesson you can find in this word. Relate this word to a book you read, a TV show, a movie, the daily news, a community project, your work or your hobby.
8. Everybody has family. Bring your family into this topic. It is the universal way to relate to everyone. When you talk about family be sure to use names - it makes a stronger emotional picture for the audience.
9. Use the topic to segue to your main message. Politicians do this all the time. If you ask them about corruption in their campaign they talk about why you should vote for them and all the great things they did for the community. Make it a smooth transition and the audience will go with you.
10. Build in humour early, because when the audience laughs with you, they relax and so do you. Plus that gives you a shot of confidence.
Bonus tip: Speak slowly - it gives you time to think.
© George Torok is the host of the weekly radio show, Business in Motion. He helps executives, managers and professionals present themselves with impact. You can arrange for George Torok to work with you by calling 800-304-1861 For more information visit Torok.com