What is the first thing you should do when asked to deliver an Impromptu speech?

• How do I make my impromptu speech more impressive?

• How do I not get stuck on the topic if it is an unprepared speech?

  For the past few months, I have been giving daily speeches that I prepare only half an hour ahead of time. Sometimes I just go upstage and improvise. The best thing to do is to know basic speaking skills. No matter what your topic is, breathe. Keep your audience in mind and act accordingly. Use pauses and other speaking techniques to your advantage. These are all things you can do before you even know what your topic is!

• How do you make a great opening and closing for a public speaking competition?

  For competitive purposes, your opening and closing should be as punchy and effectual as they are brief. Be direct and to the point. Use rhetorical techniques like positing open-ended questions and appealing to your audiences emotions to drive home your main points. The more on board you can get your audience with your chosen manner of presentation, the more convincing you'll be as a speaker.

• What greeting should I say?

  Say good morning or good afternoon and introduce yourself.

• I'm running for student council president. How should I do my speech?

  Address things people you know are interested about, or things you think should be changed (banning fidget spinners, etc.). For the layout, start with your name, class, and reasons for running. Talk about the things you would do. Conclude with your motto (e.g. "A Vote for Me is a Vote for You, Vote (Name) to Represent You!", etc.).

• How do I start and end an impromptu speech?

  Just introduce yourself and go from there. Being impromptu basically means winging it, so wing it.

• How do I start an unprepared speech about an unexpected topic or a topic I have no clue about?

  You open by saying what you feel about the topic, even if it is nothing, and perhaps ask for an opinion.

• What if I don't know something about my topic? Should I continue?

  The key is to validate the correct people, bring everyone together (as in a toast for example) and be comfortable with some pauses. Be aware of yourself and don't ramble. Pacing is Key. Gloss over the details if need be and go for the greater ideas. Don't take questions.

• How do you make the audience laugh?

  Make relatable comments. You could say something like, "We're probably all nervous here, so I'm going to go to get it over with."

Several readers sent in questions related to impromptu speeches, including Matthias K.:

I’m pretty comfortable when I have days or even weeks to prepare a speech, but I REALLY struggle when I’m asked to speak at a moment’s notice. Do you have any tips for impromptu speaking?

In this article, you’ll find a set of tips that will make you shine the next time you are asked to speak on the spur of the moment.

Impromptu Speech Scenarios

Impromptu speaking may not be as glamorous as prepared speaking, but it is an equally vital skill simply because there are so many scenarios where you find yourself speaking without more than a few moments of preparation. It’s no surprise that “impromptu speaking sessions” are found within Toastmasters meetings, college communications courses, and public speaking seminars.

Consider just a few situations where you find yourself speaking off the cuff:

• The scheduled speaker is unavailable (or late), and you’ve been asked to fill in.
• You are sitting on a panel answering questions from the audience.
• You are fielding questions after your own talk (yes, your Q&A session is impromptu speaking)
• You are being interviewed on television, radio, webinar, or telephone.
• You are invited (at the last moment) to say a few words at a company gathering.
• You are asked to provide a brief status report for your project at a department meeting.
• You are motivated to join the debate at the parent association meeting for your child’s school.
• You decide to give an unplanned toast at an event with family or friends.

It’s also worth noting the irony that the better you are at giving prepared speeches, the more often you will be invited to speak with no time for preparation at all. Your friends and colleagues will recognize your speaking skill, and when they need “someone” to say a few words… you’ll be that someone!

Winning Strategies for Impromptu Speeches

Although you may only have a few seconds to prepare for any particular impromptu situation, you certainly can prepare yourself to be ready when called upon.

Here are a few strategies you can use:

Anticipate situations where you may be called upon to speak. For example, if you are attending an engagement party for a close friend or family member, there’s a reasonable chance that you might be asked to speak. Similarly, if one of your close colleagues is scheduled to speak (e.g. your boss, your peer, or your report), it’s also reasonable to assume that you will find yourself speaking. As you head to the event, do a few mental exercises, trying to guess what you might be asked to speak about, and how you would respond. Even if your guess isn’t accurate, it’s amazing how those prior thoughts will help you think on your feet when you are asked to speak.

Wrap your response around a simple template, or framework. If you practice this a few times, you will find that your mini-speeches are much more polished and coherent. A few easy frameworks include:

1. P.R.E.P. (Point. Reason. Example. Point) – Start off by clearly stating your point. Share the primary reason (or reasons, if you have more time). Then, share an example (preferably in story form) where your main point or reason is supported. Finally, conclude by summarizing your central point again. The template works well in many situations, and is easily adapted.
2. Issue, Pros vs. Cons, Conclusions – Start off by framing the issue. Talk about the benefits, and then talk about the drawbacks. Conclude with your recommendation.
3. 5W – In this pattern, you cover your topic by addressing the Who, What, When, Where, and Why elements. For example, if you’ve been asked to speak briefly about a fundraising initiative, you could talk about [1] who started it, and who is involved now; [2] what the goals are; [3] when it started, and the schedule for the future; [4] where does it take place; and [5] why are you involved. This template works nicely, largely because the “why?” comes last, because this is often the most critical information.

Want to learn more?

Dazzle your audience by leading the perfect Q&A session.

Turn your impromptu session into a Q&A session. In situations where you are asked to fill in when the schedule speaker is absent, it may not be wise to launch into a 45 minute impromptu speech. Even the most accomplished speakers are prone to meander in that situation. Instead, reframe the session as a Q&A session, which breaks it up into a series of very small impromptu speeches that are probably easier for you to answer individually. Plus, the content comes directly from the audience, so you are guaranteed to deliver what they are seeking.

Use personal stories. Storytelling is an essential skill for prepared speaking, but it is equally useful for impromptu speaking as well. Stories are emotional, real, and interesting. If you stick to personal stories, you’ll find that it is much easier to speak (even without preparation) because the events happened to you.

Avoid the tendency to go on, and on, and on. Craft a coherent message, and then be quiet. Rambling on will only weaken your overall speech. If you must fill more time, shift into a Q&A.

Go easy on yourself. We all want to speak perfectly every time, but demanding perfection from yourself in an impromptu speech is setting the bar too high. The audience (probably) recognizes that you’ve been thrown in at the last minute, and they will understand.

Your Turn: What’s Your Opinion?

Do you have any proven strategies for mastering the impromptu speech?

Please share in the comments.