It’s 8:30am and you’ve leisurely rolled in the office, with your Peet’s coffee in hand. Suddenly your boss pokes her head in your office and says, “Charlie called in sick today and he’s supposed to give a customer presentation this morning in the briefing center. Can you cover it?” Are you ready for your next impromptu speech?
As marketing professionals, there is an expectation that we have the very best communication skills. And with enough preparation and advanced notice, most of us can deliver a terrific presentation. However, there are many times when the unforeseeable happens and we are called to deliver an impromptu presentation. Is there a way to “prepare” for an impromptu speech?
A “prepared impromptu” might sound like an oxymoron until we realize that most impromptu speeches will be based on topics we either know well, or have at least a mild familiarity. Back in Speech 101, it was probably a requirement to pull a few subjects from a hat and give a 2-3 minute talk on a random topic. While a good exercise for learning “off-the-cuff” speaking, in the corporate world I have yet to see a CEO pull topics from a hat and require employees to demonstrate their public speaking prowess.
Realizing that most impromptu speeches will cover topics we know well, let’s get back to the scenario above. While you may not be wholly prepared for the morning customer briefing, there are some steps you can take to be ready for your next impromptu talk.
Step #1: Practice impromptu speaking. At first glance it might not seem possible to practice impromptu speaking, but there are resources available to assist you in speaking extemporaneously.
Joining your local Toastmasters, for example, can give you practice in speaking off-the-cuff. All Toastmasters groups are required to host a 15-20 minute “Table Topics” session as part of a general meeting. In Table Topics, members are given a random question by a moderator and asked to talk for 45 seconds or more about the assigned topic. Members are encouraged to treat each table topic as a mini-speech and try to include an introduction, body and conclusion.
As a Toastmaster, I highly recommend the organization. However, if you don’t want to join a speaking club you can always practice impromptu speaking with your peers. Practicing your impromptu speaking on a weekly basis can help prepare you to think and speak on your feet. At first, your impromptu speaking will probably not be very coherent. However, with practice, you will notice a remarkable difference in your ability to improvise.
Step #2: Practice speaking on familiar subjects. I have found that many times I understand a particular subject and in my mind I know it well, however actually presenting that subject to an audience is a different animal. It can be frustrating to have a firm grasp of a topic but then have trouble articulating and summarizing the topic in an intelligible manner.
For example, you might be a product manager and work with a product everyday, but unless you’ve actually completed a live demonstration for a customer regarding how the product really works, you could find yourself looking foolish. A practice run, or two, for a group of peers (pretending to be customers) will help remove some of the rough patches in a future presentation.
So put down your coffee, grab your laptop and don’t fret. By following these steps to better impromptu speaking, you’ll have practiced speaking on your feet and practiced the material you’ll most likely present. Few marketers like to speak spontaneously, but at least you can be prepared for your next impromptu speech.
Fellow marketers, are you prepared for your next impromptu talk?
What techniques do you use to prepare for ad-hoc speeches or customer discussions? Any lessons learned or tidbits of wisdom that you’d like to share?
Tags: customer_presentation, impromptu_speech, Paul_Barsh, practice_impromptu_speaking, prepared_impromptu, public_speaking, table_topics, Toastmasters
Another thought.
The trick of good impromptu speaking is figuring out what to say at the spur of the moment.
Try this: In the seconds or so before you speak,
Say TO YOURSELF, NOT THE AUDIENCE “I want you to know that…” and then LISTEN TO THE VERY NEXT WORDS THAT ENTER YOUR MIND. That’s your “message” — hotwired straight from your subconscious. Then pick three points to alaborate on about that idea – NO MORE -
Then remember to “Tell ‘em,” “Tell ‘em,” and “Tell ‘em.”
Tom, you bring up an interesting technique, and probably also beneficial for when you have to give a quick thirty second answer to a question posed to you. Thanks for the tip.
I find being a bit of a comedian all the time helps. Plus talk to the cashier wherever you are. talk to people all the time. Strangers. It makes speaking in public much easier.
Tammy’s comment is really helpful too. I do a lot of public speaking and I find that one little hint – talking to people all the time – really makes a difference.
Now if I could just remember to listen too!
Great advice Paul and I only have three things to add. One, if you have 5minutes before your impromptu presentation, just write an outline for what you’ll say. This can be done in note format with just headings to remind you of each section you want to talk about.
Secondly, I find that working on HOW you speak also helps. You could have a great topic in mind and know all about it, but aren’t able to engage people. I used to talk along with commercials and newscasts until my voice sounded like something people wanted to listen to.
Finally, if possible, get your audience involved. Ask them for examples or similar experiences. They’ll help to fill in some of your blanks and fill in your time as well as keep interested in what you’re talking about.
So short notes, engaging voice and involved audience should help make it easier next time.
Tricia, I really like the comment about sketching out a quick outline before you talk–assuming you have five minutes. The outline will keep you on track and provide structure for your talk. The key, in my mind is keeping your bullet points one or two words to jog your memory. Some people have the tendency to write out complete sentences in their speech outlines, which really doesn’t help for an impromptu speech.
Great tips here in the comments!
One of the hardest things with off-the-cuff speaking is maintaining focus. So even if you only have five seconds before you speak, try to figure out your number one goal (as Tom pointed out) and then two steps to getting there. Even without a full outline, it will help you pace your talk and stay on track.
I find that spending 5 minutes drawing a simple mindmap will help me stay focused on what I want to say. Just draw it on the back of a name card and have it (hidden) in the palm of your hand.
I’m very glad i found your blog Paul – without the ‘forced rest’ from the fires i doubt i would have … Thank you!
[...] craft takes discipline, commitment and plenty of practice. With customer presentations ranging from prepared to impromptu, it is often helpful for marketing executives to keep these skills current. And while many speakers [...]