What are the best strategies for delivering an extemporaneous speech?

Start an extemporaneous speech by understanding your purpose; identify your main message and what you aim to achieve. Tailor your speech to the audience by considering their needs, interests, and expectations, ensuring relevance and engagement. Establish rapport and credibility through language and content that resonates with your listeners. This foundational knowledge sets the stage for a successful extemporaneous speech, allowing you to connect with your audience effectively.

To tell a good story, you must be clear about three things—"Why now?", "What's in the way?", and "What's the ending?". Your speech needs real-world urgency to make it relevant for why folks are listening to it now. Second, you have to understand the obstacles that would stand in the way of your message being received. Is there a struggle or a bias that might inhibit your connection to the audience? You need to understand deeply to clarify what is standing in the way of your message. Finally, every story needs to end. Knowing where you want to finish allows you to have spontaneity and creativity in between without risking the overall message.

Pick a first and last line, and identify the emotional turning point. Knowing these leaves room for creativity and spontaneity in between. Nothing’s more human and real than an authentic story, told without rails, with risk and some vulnerability. You ensure your audience doesn't lose attention or misunderstand the point you are trying to make by getting clear about your ultimate goal in speaking.

Effective organization is key to a successful extemporaneous speech. Structure it with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction sets the stage, engaging your audience and stating your purpose and thesis. In the body, develop your main points with evidence and use smooth transitions for coherence. Conclude by summarizing key points, reiterating your thesis, and leaving your audience with a memorable takeaway. A well-structured speech enhances clarity and impact.

Practice is crucial for delivering a successful extemporaneous speech. It refines your content and boosts your delivery. Rehearse alone or with a partner to fine-tune your speech and build confidence. Time your practice to stay within the allotted limit, ensuring your speech is concise and effective. Practicing mitigates nervousness and helps you adapt your speech to the situation and audience while maintaining professionalism.

Aristotle invented persuasive advertising techniques over 2,000 years ago and categorized rhetoric in arguments into three groups: ethos (credibility), logos (head), pathos (heart). Known as the rhetorical triangle, persuasive speakers balance all three. Your ability to speak without using notes exudes credibility that allows for the smart ideas in your speech to be received while your personality shines through. The use of slides can reinforce your message, but shouldn't take the place of what you're saying so that the focus can remain on the substance of your speech. As much as you can visually and verbally connect with the audience, it ensures they follow you wherever you may veer.

Embrace minimal notes in an extemporaneous speech, focusing on key points, keywords, or statistics. Use index cards, a sheet of paper, or a tablet to keep your notes, ensuring they are organized and easily legible. Avoid excessive glances at your notes to maintain engagement and connection with your audience. Striking a balance between preparedness and spontaneity enhances the effectiveness of your extemporaneous speech.

Listening and telling are inextricably linked—they are the fundamental dynamic of storytelling. Your audience will give you clues as you present to guide you toward a powerful story because they crave that as much as you do. Our brains detect an emotionally charged event and respond, so you will notice that they will engage differently as they listen to you. The more you can respond to those cues, the more of an organically reciprocal experience you will have.

Engage your audience actively in an extemporaneous speech using questions, stories, humor, and eye contact. Stay attuned to audience cues like body language and responses to adapt your speech and maintain their interest. Be prepared to address questions or comments at the conclusion of your speech, fostering a dynamic interaction. Creating a lively and interactive atmosphere enhances the impact and connection in your extemporaneous speech.

In a recent presentation, I encountered a significant technical glitch when my prepared PowerPoint presentation mysteriously disappeared. Despite this unexpected setback, I pressed on with the speech, drawing on my notes and storytelling abilities. I emphasized the importance of adapting, maintaining composure, and keeping the audience engaged in extemporaneous speaking. Surprisingly, the audience appreciated my ability to handle the challenge and keep the presentation on track. This experience underscored the significance of knowing the content thoroughly and not relying excessively on visual aids or notes.