I can still recall the very first time I tried out for competitive impromptu speaking on my collegiate debate team. As a nerdy bibliophile with pretty good recall of various topics I read about in my history courses and in my spare time as most good debaters do, I figured I had a solid shot at creating a five minute speech out of thin air. But I also wasn't as confident in myself standing up centerstage in the front of my peers, belting off a relatively seamless speech.
As I walked to the front of the classroom to begin my speech, I could feel my heart rate amplifying more and more with each step. (My awareness of being filmed by our debate coach didn't help, of course.) Our debate coach started the timer as I sat down at a tiny table and flipped over a half sheet of paper consisting of three quotations from historic and contemporary figures.
I hastily scanned each line, taking in the words and the meaning behind each quote. My mind raced, as I scribbled down one the quotes and jotted down some bullet points for the body. I could feel sweat beginning to drip down my back, but I was undeterred. I got up, walked to the right of the table, took a deep breath, and began my speech:
"'A word is dead when it is said, some say. I say, it just begins to live that day.' These enduring words spoken by Emily Dickinson speak as a testament to the power of communication and the effects our words can have on ourselves, others, and the world around us. For it is through language that we communicate ideas and connect with others, but it is also through language we find ourselves challenged in our attempts to connect."
"To understand the gravity of the meaning behind this quotation, we'll first look at -" I suddenly paused, my heart certainly blasting through my shirt as sweat dripped down my back. I looked down at my notecard, peering at the scribbled notes that now seem incomprehensible. "Sapir-Whorf -> Language = worldview" was all I had written. I could feel my body tensing up more and more. I looked back up to see the piercing glow of the red light of the camera. Feeling as if the lens were zooming in, I completely froze before releasing a stream of expletives that left our debate coach laughing so loudly, it could be heard through the partition of the recording room.
Embarrassed and completely shaken after my nervous outburst, I sat back down at my desk. None of my peers were laughing, as they understood the pressure of performance. But that didn't matter. I already felt like I failed because I wasn't as smooth as my peers who more cooly and confidently delivered their impromptu speeches.
Later, after class, our coach spoke with me and reminded me that it just takes time and practice to get into the flow of impromptu. He said, "You've got the knowledge and the skill. You just need to get over the experience of it, and after awhile it'll feel natural and almost effortless. But also, don't give up. You can do this, just try to leave the expletives out during competition."
Impromptu Speaking Basics
Unlike the debate world where there are formalities for delivering a tight, cohesive speech in approximately five minutes, everyday impromptu speaking for meetings, presentations, and other general public address is much less constrained. At the same time, however, it can be more challenging, particularly if your job is on the line as part of what you say and how you respond, both verbally and nonverbally. Yet, despite the seemingly overwhelming pressure of "speaking off the cuff," I can confidently tell you that learning impromptu speaking is easy and can improve your communication with others and even your workplace performance. In time, becoming better at impromptu speaking can even improve your confidence.
Let's start with the basics.
Practice, Practice, Practice
There's an oft-mentioned and tirelessly famous statistic used in just about every introductory communication textbook and in most speech textbooks that states something along the lines of, "When surveyed, most folks ranked public speaking higher than even the fear of death." Yep. Surprise, surprise! Most folks fear public speaking more than death.
I take umbrage with this statistic and statement, not in disagreement for its factuality (It's probably more true today as people become more attuned to their digital devices), but because it overly simplifies the very idea that communication - in all its forms - is a skill that anyone can learn to do better. Whether it is impromptu, extemporaneous, or memorized delivery, anyone can eventually and continually become better in how they communicate. And in this knowledge, then, public speaking really isn't so scary. It just takes practice and time.
So how do you practice outside of a class or attending your local Toastmaster's club?
Pick Something Personal
Look around your office or the room you're in. Is there some personal object around you that you could speak about for at least 30 seconds? I bet there is.
When I taught at Boise State University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, one of the first speeches I made folks deliver required them to speak for at least 30 seconds by introducing themselves and sharing a short story about a campus appropriate object from home that represented themselves in some way. Students chose all kinds of objects from framed pictures and personal artwork to mementos from travels, hiking boots, surfboards, and an antique cooking pan from France!
Whatever object you select, start by thinking about the story you want to tell and the message you want to convey about it. How does it represent you? What makes it special and meaningful to you? Is there a funny, intriguing, or otherwise unique story you could share about that object with others?
Start Small and Time Yourself
Once you've got that dialed in, take the reins and practice either by yourself in front of a mirror (yes, seriously!) or in front of a friend or partner. You don't need to make it super formal. Simply set aside some time to do it, and then do it.
When you practice your speech, set a timer as you start to speak. Then, introduce yourself like you would if you were meeting someone for the first time. "Hi, my name is Wayne and I love many things from Japanese culture and traveling," for example. From there, move into a description of the item before telling a story. For example:
"Today, I brought this 'omiyage' I received from a dear friend in Japan. It's a charm or 'omamori' from a temple in Japan that many students go to when they're taking their entrance exams to get into top universities. Some people also go there when they're working on big projects or for other endeavors when they want a little extra luck. As you can see, the charm has kanji written on it that loosely translates to "for victory amulet."
"I received this charm from my friend Keiko when I was completing my dissertation. She knew that I might need a little extra luck as I was finishing the capstone of my PhD, so she gave it to me to instill a little extra good energy into the process and for the final defense."
"As you can imagine, the process of writing a book-length project is a lot of work. It's stressful. I doubted myself a lot during that process, as many folks do! But receiving this tiny gift was also a huge blessing. It reminded me that other people cared, that I could complete the dissertation, and that maybe one day I'd get to travel to Japan - a lifelong dream of mine."
"Sure enough, I eventually completed my dissertation. That whole event is a story unto itself, but I can say that receiving this charm - whether through any extra spiritual energy or not - helped me push through the toughest parts of the writing journey. And, after I completed my dissertation, I rewarded myself with a trip to Japan through cheap tickets from Scott's Cheap Travel."
"I loved exploring Tokyo and other places we got to go, and I hope to return again someday!"
Review and Reflect
Whatever object you choose and however you rehearse, take stock of the following:
How you felt when speaking Typically, we feel a lot more nervous than we look when speaking. Usually, though, when we are speaking about something we know well, we don't appear as nervous and we are usually able to speak confidently. You may also have noticed that you felt more or less nervous as the speech went on. This is normal, as the act of public speaking shakes our nerves in various ways. You also may have felt like you couldn't move or that your body felt rigid or maybe even wobbly and loose. Regardless of how you felt in your body, the important thing to take stock of is what mannerisms you displayed nonverbally. This is why it's helpful to perform in front of a mirror, friend, or partner. By taking stock of your facial expressions, gestures, and posture, you can learn how to "correct" nonverbal displays to convey more interest, confidence, and fluidity. All in due time as you practice, of course.
How long you spoke The first time you practice, you may not hit 30 seconds. That's ok! Though, it should be a goal to strive for. For one, if you are speaking too fast, your audience may not be able to understand everything you are sharing. Practice again and try to slow down as you are sharing your story. If possible, add in details and descriptions to entice your audience too, but not too much that you lose your audience. If, on the other hand, you were significantly over 30 seconds, consider slimming up your speech. While your speaking pace may be well-timed or slow, a key thing with improving your skills is to make sure what you share fits the occasion, audience, and time constraints - especially in more formal settings. Being able to speak at length is great, but keep in mind that it is also important to keep your message on point without going too far off and losing your audience to boredom.
Observations you or your friend/partner noticed As a more refined extension of the first point, it's especially helpful to have someone else you trust who can observe you and offer constructive feedback. If you can muster the courage to at least deliver a small speech in front of someone else, you'll benefit greatly from their observations. Ask them to pay attention to how fast or slow you speak, how loud or soft you speak, how much emphasis you add to certain words, and how you vary your tone. Ask them to also assess your nonverbal communication by reminding them to focus on your facial expressions, hand gestures, and posture. Maybe even consider asking them to take small notes, just so you have a benchmark to measure yourself by as you continue to practice. You'll get the best feedback from others, so don't be afraid to practice in front of others and with them. And again, you don't have to do this as part of a class or Toastmaster's or anything else. You can do it by yourself, with a friend or family member, or even a colleague. The key thing is that you get to the point where you feel comfortable practicing a small speech in front of someone else so you can learn different aspects to improve upon.
Don't Give Up
Now that you have a simple activity to start with, give it a try! It's perfectly fine to practice by yourself as you start. But also, don't be afraid to take the courageous step to practice in front of someone else. After all, it's not like you're being graded in such an effort. And, if you think about it, it's far better to practice with others informally than it is to deliver a response formally when you aren't ready and without any practice.
Sure, it may feel silly and maybe even a little disorienting at first to speak in front of a friend, family member, or partner. I get it! After all, I unleashed a stream of expletives the very first time I delivered an impromptu speech. But I also didn't let it stop me. I literally gave it the "good ol' college try" and kept at it until I eventually improved and, later, won a national award for impromptu speaking.
It takes a little practice and time. The more you get into the habit of practicing public speaking, the more routine and casual it becomes as your confidence grows. And the more you learn about how your speak and what you need to improve upon, the more awareness you gain to become less self critical and more self empowered to speak on an array of topics.
Want to test yourself further? I'm going to write many more posts about different activities you can try by yourself and with others to improve your public speaking.
Still nervous? Tell me what else you want to know about in the comments.