The title of this blog post may, at first, seem to be contradictory. Doesn’t impromptu speaking (sometimes called extemporaneous speaking, or speaking off the cuff) by definition, mean “speaking without planning”? How, then, can you ‘plan’ for something that would seem to allow no planning? And beyond that, how do you come up with a reasonable response when asked an impromptu question?
First, let’s consider a few places where you might be asked a surprise question or might receive an unexpected speaking request (like, to present a toast or an award or something):
- While chatting during a social event or school reunion
- During a wedding event or other family gathering
- At your place of employment or your business
- During an employment interview (on either side of the table!)
- During a community club meeting
- At your place of worship
- During casual conversations or formal meetings
- . . . Anywhere and everywhere else not mentioned above!
In other words, you could be caught off guard anyplace, any time with an unexpected question or speaking request. There are countless situations where you could be called upon to test – or stretch – your off-the-cuff or impromptu speaking skills! How can you prepare for such events? Here are some suggestions:
How to plan for an unexpected question or speaking request:
Every form of public speaking, from impromptu responses, to toasts, short speeches, long speeches and all the way through to keynote addresses, can be reduced to the same basic speech planning formula: they should all have an Opening, a Body, and a Conclusion. There may be a few circumstances that don’t necessarily follow this pattern, but in general, most speeches and presentations will follow this formula to some degree. You can get yourself out of a tight spot if you keep the formula in mind and apply it to whatever your impromptu speaking challenge may be.
Remember:
- Your Opening comment can repeat the question or briefly state the topic you will be addressing.
- The Body of your response will include a few key points that directly reply to or address the question or topic.
- Your Concluding comment can make a brief reference back to the question, your strongest point in answer to the question, and a personal statement suggesting that this is your experience or opinion or recommendation regarding the question or topic.
If you commit the formula to memory – Opening, Body, Conclusion – then you will be able to quickly bring it to mind in a pinch and use it to help you respond to the impromptu question in an organized and professional fashion.
How to pull together a reasonable impromptu answer or presentation:
- Ask the questioner to repeat the question, or you can repeat it. Either way, it helps you to internalize the topic for better focus, and it buys you a few more seconds, giving your mind a little more time to consider your response.
- Lighten the load for your brain by breaking down your answer into ‘bite sized’ pieces. Say to your audience something like, “I’ve got (two or three) good reasons why I think/believe/recommend/appreciate (the topic of the question). Here is the first one …” That way, instead of your brain straining to come up with every possible detail relating to the question, you can limit your thinking to just one. Pick one key point and talk about it briefly. Then pick another point to highlight, and so on. You only need a few key points.
- Keep it short and simple. Since your reply is impromptu, your questioner is probably not expecting (or desiring) a long, drawn-out answer. Offer a couple of good key points to address the question, then conclude your response. That takes the pressure off of you, and it can help keep you from rambling on or fumbling, trying to come up with more to say.
The thought of being called upon to do a little impromptu speaking might put you on edge, but with a little fore-planning and practice with the ‘Opening, Body, Conclusion’ formula, you will be speaking extemporaneously like a pro in no time! Drop your ‘off-the-cuff’ responses into the formula, keep them focused and simple, and you will do great!
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