Hands up, how many of you looked at the title of this video and wondered 'how does that
work?'
Regardless of what you do for a living, there will come a time when someone taps you on
the shoulder and asks you to deliver an impromptu speech.
Your words.
On the spot.
No preparation.
No pressure right?
How many of you can feel your stomach turning just thinking about that idea?
In this video, you will learn 5 key questions to ask yourself to frame your message and
speak successfully with zero prep time.
Hi.
I’m Riaz.
Welcome to the Every Conversation Counts platform.
This is the channel that helps Leaders, Coaches and Experts to Connect Every Time You Speak
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Impromptu speaking can be terrifying.
There’s no real planning, just the expectation for you to capture the moment with your words
and move your audience.
It could be at a meeting to rally your team.
Filling in for someone that’s a no-show.
Answering a tough question you weren’t prepared for on a panel…or Someone asking for your
input when you weren’t expecting it - hello virtual meetings!
It’s much easier to deliver the goods when you’ve prepared for your presentation, but
when you have to speak off the cuff, that’s when you can really earn the respect of others
and elevate your authority.
Some of the first personal experiences i had with impromptu speaking involved reporting
on-location for radio and television.
Assignments like covering the Vancouver Canucks in the Stanley Cup Finals, to the Oscars Red
Carpet set up and even the announcement event where Vancouver won the bid to host the 2010
Winter Olympics.
Each scenario required the storytelling basics - Set the Scene - What’s happening right
now - what do you see, hear, smell, taste etc Tell A Story, What’s already happened,
where was the potential conflict then provide Insightful Analysis - What Could Happen Next
and what are the implications of this outcome.
Through presenting in these types of high pressure situations, I learned the value of
always asking the following 5Ws - Who, What, When, Where and Why and how they can help
craft a coherent message when you need to speak impromptu:
Who?
First off, ask - Who are you speaking to - is it a formal audience that wants a serious
tone, a casual audience that wants to have fun and laugh or a group of leaders that wants
to be inspired.
Determine who’s in front of you and what you believe they need in this moment before
you decide what you’re going to say.
You could even begin by literally asking the audience what they need or are feeling right
now.
In some cases, the initial Q&A can make your presentation feel like a conversation and
take the edge off.
What?
Once you understand and recognize who you are speaking to, ask yourself, what’s the
point you want to make or stance you want to take?
Either way, you want to make a powerful statement or ask a powerful question to grab their attention.
For example, if people are struggling around you, you could make a point about why you
believe things are going to turn around and become that beacon of hope.
Be sure to give them an example or two to back up your ideas and opinions to help make
them believers as well.
Another key question to ask yourself ‘What do I Know?”.
You could share your truth and start with a personal story that speaks to the audience’s
priorities, not yours.
Storytelling can help put you at ease because with events you personally experienced, it’s
easier to articulate the struggle, conflict and resolution.
For example, with a year we’ve all had in 2020, for many there’s a feeling of discomfort
with the uncertainty about the future.
If you’re making a claim that this disruption was what we needed to change habits and do
things differently, you could share a raw, personal story about how the new normal broke
you down, then share how you worked through it to create new opportunities for you and
for others.
When?
This is a great question to answer to provide context.
Your audience will always be curious about timelines.
When things happened - there could be a strong origin story to include.
When things changed - this could speak to the transition or adversity being faced or
overcome.
When things will be different?
- This is an important question to address for many people that may be struggling with
a current reality.
If you can help pinpoint a time when there will be a new reality or transformation, it
gives people a perspective and schedule to follow.
Where?
Answering Where? allows you to speak to certain areas where things will be felt or be different.
Where things will change.
Where things will get better.
Where things need to be explored.
This helps you speak to specifics rather than making vague generalizations about what could
happen in the future.
Why?
This is a great question to answer as you end your impromptu speech.
Conveying your why - why YOU care.
Why THEY Should Care, Why they need to act NOW.
These are all powerful questions to motivate your audience to do something with your message
so they aren’t just passively listening to you, they are doing something with the
ideas you are giving them.
Closing out, with the first steps for HOW they can take action is also valuable.
As a bonus tip - One of the most important considerations is to ‘Finish Before You’re
Finished’.
Don’t speak until the point your audience starts tuning you out because you’ve gone
on too long.
Say what’s needed and nothing more.
If you think you won’t have to deal with impromptu situations, consider this, the better
you get at delivering presentations that you’ve prepared beforehand, the higher the likelihood
you will earn the trust of others and be asked to speak impromptu.
Mastering this skill gives you a competitive advantage to be a trusted and articulate voice
that offers value.
If you use and answer these 5 questions as your framework, you will be able to craft
something unique, personal and impactful and motivate your audience to listen to your every
word.
And remember, speaking is a game of follow the leader - if you smile, laugh and have
fun, the audience will follow your example.
How have you handled impromptu speaking in the past?
Share your favourite tips and tricks for speaking without prep time in the comments below.
For more ideas on how to connect with others, you can download the free guide - the 5 secrets
to making every conversation count, that link is in the description.
Thanks for watching this video - if you want to captivate your virtual audience or learn
more about having an authentic presence on camera, check out these videos.
If you found this content valuable, hit the like button, subscribe and feel free to share
the content.
We will see you in the next video.