Magic of Impromptu Speaking: Create a Speech That Will Be Remembered for Years in Under 30 Seconds (Magic of Public Speaking)

by Andrii Sedniev

Think about what questions may be asked during the Q&A section While you prepare your speech at home, think about what questions the audience may ask. In most cases, you will be able to guess the questions and prepare the answers in advance. If you are giving the same speech many times, the questions from your audience members repeat themselves. Think about how you can answer each particular question you have heard before during the next Q&A section. Discuss the interview questions in advance If you are participating in a TV show or an interview, ask for questions that you will be asked so that your answers can be prepared in advance. If you participate in a job interview, research common interview questions for candidates that are posted on the internet. Very often, they are shared on specialized forums and discussion boards by former job candidates who interviewed with the same company. If you are invited to a birthday or a wedding If you are invited to a birthday party or a wedding reception, you may be asked to give a toast. The best toasts are personal, so think of something specific about the person who has a birthday or is getting married and how you can personalize the toast. Develop your impromptu speaking skills The number of completely different questions that you can be asked is limited. After enough practice, it will be difictul for any question to surprise you. You will think, “Ah, I have been asked a similar question before, I’d answer it this way …”

“Once you hear a question, begin answering it based on the first idea that pops up in your head.”

The first 30 seconds After you hear a question, always take 30 seconds to think about the answer. Not only will your reply appear thoughtful, but you also will let your subconscious mind process millions of ideas for the answer. This habit will make all your impromptu speeches significantly better.

The best time for thinking is while you are talking because it is not limited. You can slow down the rate of your speech to give you even more time to think.

Structure of the impromptu speech

Opening The main purpose of the opening is to get the attention of the audience and to give a flavor of what to expect. There are numerous ways to begin an impromptu speech; however, below you can find 3 methods that have proven to be most effective. Begin with a statement You can begin a speech with a statement on your position or a startling statement. For example, “At the age of 9, I wanted to become a dancer. At the age of 19, I became a networking engineer. At the age of 26, I will become a dancer.” The unusual statement draws the attention of the audience and gives a hint about the direction of your speech. Start with a call back A very powerful way to begin an impromptu speech is to call back to the common experience of the entire audience. Mention what a previous speaker said, an event that recently happened in the audience, or refer to a person who everyone in the audience knows. Call backs make your speech very personal and special for the audience. People feel that your impromptu speech is just for them. Every time you use a call back, you may notice the reaction of the audience. It is so powerful that the audience almost always reacts. Start with a story Everyone loves hearing stories in movies, in reality shows or in speeches. When you hear a story, you can relive an episode from the life of its characters. When you begin a speech with a story, such an opening captures the audience members’ attention and introduces them not only to your speech but also to the ...

Body of the speech In the body of your impromptu speech, always share a single point. Because the impromptu speech is usually really short, you can convey only one point effectively. If you try to convey 2 or more points, it’s impossible to make a solid answer. You can convey other messages while answering further questions during the interview or a Q&A session. The more focused your answer, the stronger it is. There are different strategies that impromptu speakers use to answer a question, but there are 3 frameworks that have proven to be the most effective. These frameworks are consistently used by the world’s best impromptu speakers. Even if you answer questions using only these 3 frameworks, all your unprepared speeches will be at a very good level. Conclusion Conclusion is perhaps the most important part of the entire speech because what is said in the end is remembered best by the audience. If your speech is good, the last sentence is what your listeners will recite to their friends later. Finish your speech with a statement and your audience will remember your point. Finish your speech with a call to action and your audience may do something differently after your speech. These are the two most commonly used ways to end a speech, and both have been proven effective for powerful impromptu speeches. A conclusion needs to summarize the takeaway message of the speech and restate your point. The purpose of speaking impromptu is not to fill time, but to give value to th...

PEEP PEEP (Point, Explanation, Example and Point) is a very easy but effective and practical approach. If you struggle with finding an appropriate story for the answer, you can use this method. Use it when you need to give an opinion and back it up. Point: Make a point in the opening of your speech. Explanation: State your reasons for making this point in the body of the speech. Example: Use an example or illustration to justify your previous remarks. Use words like “for example” or “imagine.” Speaking about personal experiences will make your answer genuine and also memorable for your audience members. Point: Drive home your point again. Link the conclusion to the opening. As you can see, the first and the last “P” in PEEP serve as opening and conclusion. Explanation and Example fill the body of the speech. Example makes your point of view real and understandable for your listeners because just like a story, it activates the audience’s senses in imagination. This approach is very popular among many impromptu speakers because it is very easy to apply.

Position, Action, Benefit The Position, Action, Benefit approach is very useful when you report your findings to the board of directors or make a sales pitch to a CEO who has only 5 minutes to listen. I call this approach corporate because it is best suited for the corporate setting where telling a story might not always be appropriate and the decision needs to be made quickly. Your answer might not be remembered for years, but it will allow your audience to make an informed decision quickly. For example, you may be asked, “Should we buy this company or not?”, “How can your product help us?” or “Should we stop this project or continue it?” Position: State your position on the question asked. Action: Tell which action needs to be taken to implement your suggestion. Benefit: Describe the benefit of your position.

Final Checklist Five minutes before you have to speak impromptu, it’s difficult to go through the entire book or remember all the articles you have ever read to make sure you implement the best techniques. However, it is possible to go through a short checklist. Below you can find my checklist that I go through before going on stage. 1. Use the rule of the first thought. 2. Add an unusual slant to the answer. 3. Be genuine. 4. Be energetic. 5. Tell details. 6. My audience members are the best people in my life and my goal is to change their lives for the better. 7. Impromptu speaking is a game. I will have fun on stage. Most speakers come on stage without keeping anything in mind and hope for luck. Seven is a lucky number and I am sure if you keep this checklist in mind you will be lucky on stage every time you speak and your speech will be outstanding.