Tips on Impromptu Speaking

"One of the best things I got from Toastasters was learning the skill to think and speak on my feet. Much to my surprise the ability to improvise is a skill that can be learned. The first time I witnessed a Toastmasters contest for impromtu speaking, (Toastmasters calls it Table Topics), I was blown away!

In this contest each contestant was allowed into the room one at at time. They were given the word for this contest. The word was 'light'. Then each in turn marched confidently to the front of the room and each delivered a three minute speech that they composed on the spot. They were entertatining, insipiring, thoughtul and funny. I thought, "I could never do that!"

From Toastmasters I learned how to do that and below are some of the techniques I learned. You can use these techniques in Table Topics or in any situation where you need to think and speak on your feet.." George Torok

1. When you first hear the topic smile. This will help you feel good and look confident.
2. Immediately decide if you strongly like it or strongly hate it. Then go in that direction. Your emotion will fuel your thoughts. Don’t sit on the fence - watching someone sit on a fence is so boring. But watching them jump into the corral and wrestle the bull - that is a lot more entertaining.
3. One approach is to state, ‘There are three things that come to mind about this topic.’, even if you can not think of three things when you start. As you speak you will be searching for three key ideas. It helps give you apparent structure. If you run out of time to list all three, announce that you will explain more another time.
4. Try the pro/con method. State the pros, then state the cons. This can be confusing to the audience about where you stand on this topic. To give your position - be stronger on one side than the other. You could even make fun of the opposite side by mocking their views. Be very careful with this because sarcasm turns people off and can turn them against you.
5. When your mind goes blank and you don’t know what to say next - smile, look at the audience and pause. They will review your last words and reflect on how profound they were. The one or few second pause is powerful and it gives you time to plan your next words.
6. If the pause and smile don’t get you going - repeat the topic or your last point in a profound way. You could even repeat it more than once. This is like revving your engine. Your thoughts collect then suddenly your mouth engages again.
7. Look for a lesson you can find in this word. Relate this word to a book you read, a TV show, a movie, the daily news, a community project, your work or your hobby.
8. Everybody has family. Bring your family into this topic. It is the universal way to relate to everyone. When you talk about family be sure to use names - it makes a stronger emotional picture for the audience.
9. Use the topic to segue to your main message. Politicians do this all the time. If you ask them about corruption in their campaign they talk about why you should vote for them and all the great things they did for the community. Make it a smooth transition and the audience will go with you.
10. Build in humor early. When the audience laughs with you, they relax and so do you. Plus that gives you a shot of confidence.

Bonus tip: Speak slowly - it gives you time to think.

Toastmaster Tips courtesy of George Torok Professional Speaker, Radio Show Host, Toastmaster
http://www.geocities.com/george_torok/TableTopics.html

© George Torok is licensed to present Power Presentations™ by Peter Urs Bender, author of the best seller 'Secrets of Power Presentations'. Torok is co-author of 'Secrets of Power Marketing' and host of the radio show Business in Motion. He delivers seminars across North America on thinking and communication skills. He can be reached at (905) 335-1997 or Coach@Torok.com For more tips visit http://www.torok.com/ and http://www.speechcoachforexecutives.com/