How to give impromptu speeches without fear

Read time: 4min

Welcome to the Tuesday's Narrative Nerd, the weekly(ish) newsletter where I provide actionable ideas to help you become a magnetic storyteller and speaker.

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In a perfect world, we'd prepare thoroughly before speaking in public. But life isn't always that way. Sometimes, you might need to talk on the spot. It could be at work, when your boss asks for an update in a meeting, or at a birthday when your friend wants you to say a few words. Even if you don't feel like it, you can't say, "Let me come back in a month, okay?"

For times like these, you need to practice giving impromptu speeches. An impromptu speech is when you speak without preparing beforehand.

Here's a simple exercise to become really good at giving impromptu speeches:

1. Choose a topic?

First, choose a topic you want to talk about. It could be something like “Should school uniforms be mandatory?” or “Should cars be banned from cities?” It doesn’t have to be the perfect topic you’re super familiar with. In fact, you’ll learn even more if you give a speech on a topic that you don’t know well. It trains your mind to be more creative under pressure.

Here are 10 ideas to get you started:

Fun topics:

1. Should humans be allowed to wear socks with sandals?
2. Should adults be allowed to have a designated nap time at work?
3. Should pineapple be on pizza?
4. Should we bring back dinosaurs through cloning?
5. Should "dad jokes" be considered an art form?

Serious topics:

1. Should we send humans to Mars?
2. Should plastic bags be banned?
3. Should assisted suicide be legalized?
4. Should the government implement a sugar tax?
5. Should the government implement a universal basic income?

2. Organize your thoughts

Once you’ve picked a topic, take 30 seconds or less to organize your speech.?

There are different structures you can use to organize your thoughts and deliver a clear message on the spot. One of my favorite structures is PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point):

1. Point

Start by clearly stating your main point or message. This is the central idea you want to convey to your audience. Keep it simple and concise, ensuring that it captures the essence of what you want to communicate.

Example: "Regular exercise is essential for maintaining good health."

2. Reason

After stating your point, provide a brief reason or explanation to support your point.

Example: "Exercise reduces the risk of being injured."

3. Example

Follow up your reason with a relevant example that illustrates or reinforces your point.?

Example: "For instance, 1 year back, my partner went on a bicycle trip through the Netherlands. To prepare for the trip, she had spent hours in the gym. Little did she know that this may save her life. On day 3 of the trip, she lost control over the bike while going 15 miles per hour. At full speed, she flipped over and landed on the rough surface of the street. When she realized what happened, she immediately checked her body. Sure, she was bleeding everywhere. But miraculously none of her bones were broken. The exercises she had done prior to the trip had saved her from more severe injuries.”?

??????

4. Point (Reiterated)

Conclude your impromptu speech by reiterating your main point.

Example: "Therefore, I believe regular exercise effectively prevents injuries."

That’s a simple structure you can use. You can also give longer speeches by adding sections with R (Reason) and E (Example) to PREP. Your speech could look like this: PREREREP (Point, Reason 1, Example 1, Reason 2, Example 2, Reason 3, Example 3, Point).

3. Deliver your speech

Once you’ve roughly outlined your speech, it’s time to share your speech.?

You can do that by yourself, speaking out loud for two to five minutes. That is already a great starting point as it trains you to speak without long preparation.??

But in case you want to also understand how to refine your delivery (e.g. body language, pausing, tonality, etc.), you can also record your speech on camera, or share it in front of a group of friends. Both options will give you more detailed feedback on what you can improve going forward.?

Closing

That's it! Practicing impromptu speeches is a great way to feel comfortable speaking in public. With some practice, you'll be able to give inspiring speeches on the spot without much preparation. It will become natural and effortless.

What helps you feel more confident speaking on the spot?

Leave a comment below!

Much love!

Philipp

P.S. Know someone who'd benefit from these tips? Feel free to share the newsletter with them or have them sign-up here . I love that