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You've had almost no time to prepare, and you're worried that your nerves will get
the better of you. Your reputation and credibility are now on the line, and you're
not sure what to do.
Many of us have experienced situations like this in the past, but there are a number
of ways that you can prepare yourself to give an effective, unplanned speech.
In this article, we'll look at why impromptu speaking skills are so important, and
we'll explore how you can prepare for these last-minute opportunities.
By developing impromptu speaking skills, you can learn to speak with eloquence,
humor, and confidence, and you'll ensure that you can communicate your messages
clearly and succinctly.
Impromptu speaking doesn't have to be scary – it can even be fun! Your attitude
has a big impact on how well you perform, and having a positive mind-set is the
foundation for success.
First, use positive thinking to try to see the situation as an opportunity to share
your skills and expertise, build your reputation, and help others.
Next, take a moment to envision your success . Imagine that the speech is over:
everyone is smiling and clapping. You feel great because you did a fantastic job,
and you helped everyone in the room. It feels good, doesn't it?
Last, use affirmations to develop a positive, confident attitude. Consider using the
following statements:
Come up with your own personal, positive, and meaningful affirmations, and repeat
them to yourself before you start your speech.
2. Prepare
You might not have a great deal of time, but use the time you do have to prepare.
Think about what your audience expects you to discuss, and what your main
objective needs to be.
For example, if someone invites you to speak at a meeting, think about your
audience members. Why are they there? What do they need to learn about? Why
were you asked to speak? What value can you provide?
If you have enough time, plan a rough outline of what you want to say using the
PREP* mnemonic. PREP stands for:
Make sure that you're always prepared for the possibility of an impromptu speech.
Keep a pen and paper with you, so that you can take notes and draft a plan. As you
speak, use the PREP method to remember the points that you want to make.
3. Slow Down
Don't apologize for being unprepared, or for speaking at the last minute. Chances
are, the audience won't even notice! Instead, repeat your affirmations to yourself,
and remember – the audience wants you to do well. Speak slowly, talk directly to
people, and think about how you can add value or help them. Stay focused, and try
not to ramble, repeat points, or get distracted.
4. Join Toastmasters
One of the best ways to become comfortable with public speaking is to join a group
like Toastmasters International . Toastmasters focuses exclusively on helping
people learn good public speaking skills.
The format is simple: you meet with other members in your community, and you
give prepared and impromptu speeches. There is no instructor – instead, members
provide constructive feedback on your performance. This can be a practical, fun
way to gain public-speaking experience.
Look for other ways to get out of your "comfort zone," too. Offer to give a toast at
a friend's wedding, attend community meetings, speak about issues that are
important to you, or volunteer to introduce a speaker at the next town hall meeting.
The more experience you have speaking publicly, the easier it will be when
someone asks you to lead a last-minute meeting.
If you're nervous before you start to speak, take several slow, deep breaths. Deep
breathing slows your heart rate and calms your thoughts, and it can help you to
sound more confident.
It can also be useful to put things into perspective. Will this impromptu speech
matter in a month, a year, or five years? And what's the worst that can happen if
you don't do a good job? In most cases, this situation won't be very important if
you look at the big picture, so focus on relaxing, and enjoying the experience!
Finally, learn how to manage your emotions . It's entirely possible to control
nervousness; and, in fact, a good amount of nerves can even give you the edge you
need to deliver an excellent speech!
Key Points
During your career, people may ask you to speak publicly with little or no time to
prepare. For example, you might need to chair an important meeting, give a sales
presentation, or deliver an elevator pitch.
Use these five strategies to develop your impromptu speaking skills:
* Originator unknown. Please let us know if you know who invented this model.
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