Spontaneously Speaking:
Ten Tips for Expert Impromptu Speaking

Have you ever found yourself needing to deliver a speech or presentation at the last minute? It can either be a stressful experience or a pivotal moment. No one likes to be put on the spot. In fact, most cringe at the idea of giving a presentation without the privilege of preparation. As professionals, we take pride in being prepared. Unfortunately, we are not always given that privilege.

Some years ago, I was part of a local Toastmasters club where spontaneous speaking was a regular feature of our meetings. For those unfamiliar with Toastmasters, it’s a club designed for members to practice public speaking, typically on a weekly basis. A key part of each meeting involves an activity called Table Topics, where selected members give short, 3–5-minute talks on a randomly assigned topic without any prior preparation. This was truly an extemporaneous presentation.

The reason impromptu speaking is part of the Toastmasters’ agenda, is because it is commonplace in the business world. No matter what job you hold, before you’re done, someone will likely ask you on short notice to give your opinion, explain a concept, or present something for which you didn’t have adequate time to prepare. The ten tips below will help you maintain professionalism the next time you’re asked to speak, even if you’re not given time to prepare.

10 Expert Impromptu Speaking Tips

1. Be prepared: Are you kidding? How can you be prepared when no time is given for preparation? The preparation comes before the moment arrives. Practice by giving short structured mini-speeches, and telling jokes, or humorous stories to others on a regular basis. Take every opportunity to speak.
2. Be conversational: Talk to your audience in a relaxed conversational tone the same way you would talk to a friend or colleague.
3. Be relatable: Tell a relevant story or experience where you learned something about your topic. Zig Ziglar once said, “Never tell a story without making a point. And never make a point without telling a story”.
4. Be short: Use concise language and get to your point quickly. Remember the old adage “Less is more”. In this case, it rings true.
5. Be confident: Send a message of confidence with proper body language: smile, make eye contact, and stand tall. Never apologize or say that you are nervous. That will only add to your nervousness. Instead, use it to “look” excited.
6. Be structured: Every effective presentation has an introduction, main body, and conclusion. Start with a powerful introduction. Transition to the main body. Tie it all together with a strong conclusion.
7. Be engaging: Involve your audience with a question or visual aids.
8. Be simple: Use common language and avoid jargon, acronyms, or big words.
9. Be animated: Change your pace, tone, and facial expressions to convey how you feel about the topic. This will help your audience experience your presence during your presentation.
10. Be humorous: Interject appropriate humor to keep the mood light. Keep a positive self-image about yourself. Project your voice.

When speaking to a small or large group on the spur of the moment, these ten impromptu speaking tips will help you look and feel confident in your presentation. Even if you are not an expert on the topic, you can expertly present the information with confidence.

If you would like to improve your presentation skills even more, I’d recommend taking a public speaking or presentation skills course. Perhaps you might consider joining a local Toastmasters group to get support from others who are building their presentation skills.

Always be ready to seize opportunities to speak and remember to embrace spontaneity!

• Which of these ten tips can you put into practice right away?
• Do you have a go-to tip for speaking confidently on the spot that’s not listed?
• Who do you know who could benefit from these ten tips? Consider sharing this blog with them.

References

• For more information on Toastmasters or to find a local club in your area, visit www.toastmasters.com.
• Zig Ziglar was a well-known American author, salesman, and motivational speaker from 1965-2010.

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