We've all been Jane and we shouldn't beat ourselves up about it. Think of a it as a learning experience and a motivation to learn how to deal with future impromptu speaking situations. There are many scenarios where you might find yourself called to speak without any time to prepare. The most common ones that we all come across in our careers are
- You've given a talk and then you have to field questions - the Q/A session.
- You're unexpectedly asked to provide a report for your project at a department meeting.
- The boss throws an unexpected question at you in a company meeting.
Impromptu speaking is such a vital skill in so many situations that it's no surprise that “impromptu speaking sessions” are found in college communications courses and Toastmasters meetings.
Strategies for preparing for Impromptu Speaking
- Try to guess what you might be asked to speak about and practice how you would respond. It’s amazing how those prior thoughts will help you think on your feet when you are asked to speak.
- If one of your close colleagues is scheduled to speak, there's a reasonable chance that you will find yourself speaking so be prepared just in case.
- Practice responding to hypothetical questions but stick to structured response templates. This is exactly what our table topic sessions practice so do join in and start improving your impromptu speaking skills.
- Practice story telling. If you listen to an accomplished speaker you will often hear them recount a story. Story telling is a practiced technique and an essential skill not only for prepared speaking but also impromptu speaking as well. If you stick to personal stories, you’ll find it is much easier to speak because the events happened to you. Stories also enable you to connect with your audience. However, there is an art to story telling and in the context of public speaking, it's something that should be studied and practiced.