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How to Give an Impromptu Speech, with Examples

March 2, 2021 - Dom Barnard

An impromptu speech is when you’re asked to speak in public without prior notice. It can be one of the most terrifying speeches you’ll ever do; standing up in front of a crowd and having to speak for a few minutes without preparation is daunting, even for the most seasoned speakers.

It’s not likely to happen often, however when it does, you don’t want to be caught completely off-guard. Here are a few things to bear in mind if you’re asked to speak at short notice.

Impromptu speech definition

An impromptu speech is given with little or no preparation, yet almost always with some advance knowledge on the topic. This is sometimes referred to as “off the cuff” or “spur of the moment”.

For example, in class, a teacher may ask a student to give a short impromptu speech about a topic that was in the assigned readings. Business meetings may also start with everyone talking briefly about what they have done recently on the project.

In small informal meetings, the audience will interrupt an impromptu speech and ask questions, which helps guide the speech and the information that is presented.

When campaigning, politicians sometimes respond to reporters or voters almost anywhere and at any time.

Comedians are well known for their impromptu replies to hecklers, which are sometimes planned, but usually made up on the spot.

Tips on giving an impromptu speech

If you are about to make an impromptu speech and have a few minutes to prepare, follow these two tips:

1. Make some quick notes

The first thing you should do when asked to speak is to grab a pen and a piece of paper (or napkin – whatever you can find to write on). Jot down a few initial ideas, or even just a few words that you can expand upon during your speech.

If you don’t write anything else, make sure you’ve written down your  starting  and ending sentences, as these are the most important.

2. Decide on the tone

Next, think about what tone to speak in. This will depend on the type of event you’re at. For example, at a wedding, you would speak informally, and you can have fun with the speech, whereas at a business conference you would speak more formally and stick to a professional tone.

Impromptu speech frameworks

This is when it gets easy. Pick one of these frameworks to use as a structure for your impromptu speech, and you’ll instantly feel more prepared. They’re easy to remember, so you won’t have to write them down – instead write down keywords for each point.

1. The 5 Ws

Useful for when you’re speaking about a person or specific event

Following the 5 Ws provides instant structure to your speech, and you’ll be able to organise your thoughts in an easy-to-follow way. You don’t even need to change the order – starting with ‘who’ gives context to the speech and ending with ‘why’ leaves the audience with the most important, relatable point.

• Who  – who is involved in the event or who is attending
• What  – what event are you at and what are the common goals?
• Where  – where is the event, how did the initiative the event revolves around start?
• When  – is the timing of the event important? What does the future hold?
• Why  – why is everyone there? Why are  you  there?

For example, if you’re talking about a fundraising event, you could say who started the charity, what the goals are, where it is heading, when the event is happening, and why it’s important.

2. Diplomatic framework

Useful for formal occasions such as a business conference.

For this impromptu speech, start by talking about the advantages and disadvantages of the  subject topic , then end with a conclusion.

This will make your speech informative and enable you to talk for a longer period of time than the 5 Ws. It’s important not to be  afraid of silence  when using this framework.

Given that there is less room for creativity, you may find you need to pause to think about what you’re going to say next. While you think, you could walk up and down the stage slightly as if you are letting your last point settle, ask if there are any questions, or ask for a glass of water.

These techniques all buy you more time if your mind goes blank and save you (and your audience) from feeling awkward about a prolonged silence.

3. Storytelling

Useful for informal events such as weddings and book launches.

Storytelling is a powerful method of speaking and is an easy way of  connecting with the audience . When having to speak when you aren’t prepared, start off small, then medium, and end large. Basically, talk about the event from an individual perspective, then a group or national perspective, and end with the bigger picture.

For example, if you’re asked to give a  speech at a wedding , you could talk about when you met the couple and your experiences with them (small), what their relationship and marriage means to the rest of the wedding guests (medium), and end with the future of their relationship and their family legacy.

Practice impromptu speeches

Impromptu speeches, by their nature, are hard to practice for. You don’t know what the topic will be or the type of audience you’ll be facing. However, the more you practice, the better you’ll be when the impromptu situation arises.

We’ve designed an  impromptu speaking exercise  with the following:

• Speak about what’s on a random slide for 30 seconds each slide
• Feedback on your performance so you can identify areas that need improving
• Audio of the practice session is recorded so that you can listen back and self-evaluate your performance

You’ll practice quick thinking by talking about a series of random slides for 30 seconds each. You’ll be able to give speeches at short notice and answer questions more easily with this brain training.

Examples of an impromptu speech

Here are two examples of impromptu speeches. The videos skip the short preparation time and start when the speaker starts speaking.

Being able to deliver an impromptu speech is an important skill to have and will save you a lot of anxiety when you’re asked to speak at the last minute.

To prepare yourself for the unknown, try an  impromptu practice exercise  so that your brain is trained to think on the spot. Not only is this an effective way to learn, but it’s also fun!

• Internet , Productivity

15 Best Impromptu Speech Tips (With Examples)

An impromptu speech is often the scariest type of speech you can make because you don’t get to prepare or predetermine what you’re going to say.

The speaker only gets a topic given in the form of a quotation, object, or proverb, and they have to do their best to deliver long-awaited answers.

Impromptu speech doesn’t have to be a full speech on its own. It can be a combination of answers to short quotations or terms provided during interviews or live discussions broadcast on the television.

While you can’t prepare yourself for the impromptu speech since you might not have any idea what you’ll be asked, you can still work on improving your speech and dialog with the help of the tips below!

I have also listed some great examples of impromptu speeches to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

Also Read : Common Weaknesses List & Examples

15 Best Impromptu Speech Tips

These 15 tips will let you know exactly how to behave during an impromptu speech, how to know what and when to say, and how to guide your speech without having too many pauses or breaks in between.

1. Hold it Together (Be Confident)

Impromptu speeches might happen suddenly for many reasons, and often, you might find yourself in front of the audience without even agreeing to it.

No matter what happens during the speech, you have to assure yourself that you’ll be alright. This means you should look up, never avoid eye contact, and breathe deeply. Thinking about something positive is a confidence boost you might need to get through the speech.

2. Focus on Your Audience

When you’re starting your impromptu speech, keep in mind that you’re not going against the audience, yet the audience will be on your side.

Therefore, you should work with the audience and focus your speech around something positive and helpful to the audience.

The goal is to have the audience listen and understand what you’re saying in your impromptu speech but also respond to the things you’re saying. Being confident in front of the audience is one thing you should do, while the other is to focus on the audience and plan a structure you’ll learn in the next tip.

3. Plan a Structure

Even though you might not be prepared for a speech, you will still be able to quickly develop a speech structure in your head as soon as you hear the topic, question, or object you’re given to talk about.

Every speech structure should include three steps and the speech can be structured around almost anything. The most popular structures are:

• Past/present/future
• Cause/effect/remedy
• Before/the event/the result

Think of the structure as a guideline of your speech that will help you get from start to finish as smoothly as possible. Another thing to keep in mind is that you can tell your structure/plan to your audience so they can easily keep up with your speech and know what to expect from it.

Check Out : Professional Development Goal Examples

4. Don’t Ramble

When you come up with a quick structure for your impromptu speech, you’re left to deliver the speech, but one thing you should keep in mind is not to ramble.

Rambling won’t get you anywhere; you’ll feel unease, and your audience won’t follow your speech easily.

Instead, it would help if you stuck to the “less is more” saying, stick to the target, and keep things short and to the point.

With a proper structure plan, you’ll have three key points (no matter what they are), so by splitting your speech into three sections, you’ll be able to judge how much time you should spend talking about each section.

5. Stand Out

Many try to stand out by actions, gestures, and confidence during their impromptu speech. While this is also important, there’s something even more important.

The first and the last sentence are the most memorable. It’s all about the primacy and recency, and most of the audience will most likely remember the first and the last thing you say.

Therefore, starting and finishing with powerful sentences that go well with your given topic and are linked to the message you deliver in the speech is super important as it will have the biggest impact if properly executed.

6. Talk as if You Were Talking to a Friend

Talking in front of the audience can be scary, but without preparation, talking in front of the audience can be even scarier.

Instead of feeling the pressure, feeling uncomfortable, or sweating buckets, you should go on with your impromptu speech as if you were talking to a group of friends.

You don’t have to fake anything, as the audience will see right through it. Instead, be yourself and try to do your best as this will always provide a better result.

Also Read : Best Executive Summary Examples

7. Tell a Relevant Story to Personalize Your Speech

The great thing about impromptu speeches is that they can go in your favor. If you don’t know what to talk about or what to include in your speech, here’s one tip that can help change the way you do your speech.

Try to think of a personal story that will be relevant to the subject of your impromptu speech. This will give you a topic to talk about, you won’t have to do any research or try to come up with facts that you will have to somehow back up, and your audience will love a personal story.

Personal stories are always easier to follow, and they’ll always go down well with any audience. Another piece of advice is to include a personal story in the middle section of your speech, but you can place it somewhere near the beginning of the speech.

8. Pay Attention to Your Voice Tone

When you take care of everything else before the speech and during the speech itself, many speakers forget to think of the voice tone.

There’s not much to overthink and you should speak slowly. Rushing might get you near the end sooner, but your speech won’t be a smooth ride.

Instead, take your time, focus on your breathing, rely on pauses, and have an impact while you deliver the key parts of the speech.

9. Make Sure to Follow Your Speech with Confident Actions

Confident actions are the most powerful body language actions that are not hard to get right, yet you might have to remind yourself to be “presentable”.

Standing tall on both your feet, not slouching over, keeping eye contact, using hand gestures, and avoiding fiddling are some of the things that will make you look confident.

Such confident actions will go well with your speech structure, confident voice tone, and relaxed, personalized speech.

Learning a couple of hand gestures will also put you at ease as you won’t have to wonder what to do with your hands during the speech.

10. Don’t Aim for Perfection

Every speaker wishes for their speech to be perfect, but an impromptu speech is the worst time to expect a perfect speech from yourself.

Therefore, it’s okay to lower the bar and focus on the execution and let the main goal be the smooth flow.

Setting the bar too high will only put you under pressure. In reality, most impromptu speeches happen due to unpredicted reasons, so if you’re put under the spotlight unwillingly and unprepared, the audience will notice, and they’ll understand, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Explore : Goal vs Objective – Difference & Examples

11. Practice Beforehand

You might not ever be prepared for a specific impromptu speech, but if you’ve been put into the spotlight once, you can be put under the spotlight again.

What you can do is practice quickly coming up with a speech structure on any given topic. Even if you have only a couple of minutes, you can develop a quick and concise structure and rehearse it in your head or in front of a mirror before you go in front of the audience.

And if you have a couple of hours, you can do a lot of practicing and even go through all these tips and be fully ready, no matter what the audience throws at you.

12. Use Humor to Break the Ice

No matter what the speech is about, you can always add a bit of humor to it. Don’t overdo it, but even a tiny bit of humor can help you make a better connection with your audience, ensure they pay attention to what you’re saying, and that they’re intrigued to hear what’s next.

Followed with a personalized story, you’ll have the audience hooked up until the end of the speech.

Of course, humor should come naturally, and you shouldn’t do it if you feel like you have to force it. But keep in mind that humor can be a great ice breaker, so it’s never a bad idea to keep it as a “secret weapon”.

13. The Meaningful Pause

Unfortunately, you’ll likely feel stuck or not know what to say next during your impromptu speech.

Just the thought of this can paralyze many speakers who are put under the spotlight. However, there’s a quick tip you can use to turn the block in your head into an advantage.

Instead of worrying if your audience noticed, try to “fake” a meaningful pause whenever you’re feeling stuck. During this pause, you can relax, and sooner than you know it, you will think of something.

The best thing is, your audience will never notice that “something’s wrong”, and yet this will also give them a breather and help them continue following your speech.

14. Keep Things Short

Less is more, and during impromptu speeches that can go extremely wrong, it’s better to cut your speech short and yet deliver everything you believe is valuable to the audience.

In other words, it’s better to regret not saying something than to say too much and then be on the spot from where you can’t turn back.

Also, keeping things short will help you stay in control of your impromptu speech and even look a lot more confident during your performance!

15. Try Turning the Impromptu Speech into Q&A Session

Since most impromptu speeches happen unexpectedly, not only will you have to come up with something from nothing, but you’ll also have to give the audience something you’re looking for.

Therefore, depending on the setting of your speech, you might try and turn your impromptu speech into a Q&A session, just like the journalistic interview type.

This will help you think less about what your whole speech will look like and focus on things the audience asks you in pieces.

You’ll still have full control over the answer, so turning a speech into a Q&A session is never a bad idea.

Check Out : Motivational, Funny, & Uplifting Sales Quotes

Best Impromptu Speech Examples

We’ll now take a look at some of the best examples of impromptu speeches to draw inspiration from.

University of Kentucky – Speech and Debate Team

In this impromptu speech example, the speaker only took two minutes for a quick structure plan from where she was put under the spotlight straight away.

A great start with a personalized story that leads straight into the argument. During the argument, clear signs of uncertainty are visible, but the speaker did well by slowing the speech down and taking a couple of very short meaningful pauses.

Prepared with examples which is a bonus, the speaker went through her speech structure with ease. There were moments where the speaker was nervous, but she kept it well together and even seemed confident in her speech at times.

Use gestures, confident actions, eye contact with the audience, and all other positive things you can learn from the tips above.

Closing the speech without any rumbling and getting the point straight across to the audience is a memorable way to end the speech, which is why this is one of many perfect examples of an impromptu speech.

Interesting Post : Popular Digital Marketing Quotes

Chris Gurrie Impromptu Speech Example

This is a short yet educative impromptu speech example where the speaker, Chris Gurrie, gets assigned a random topic by the audience and then guides the viewers of this video on how to plan a perfect impromptu speech structure.

While you would usually have around two minutes for the planning and practice process, Chris does it in about 30 seconds.

Chris starts his impromptu speech with many questions that come from a personalized story that then leads into the main topic of the speech.

What Chris also does is focuses on his audience and he shares his planned structure.

Chris’s impromptu speech is full of valuable information the audience might not have been aware of, which then ties to things on a larger scale. Even though Chris only took 30 seconds to work on the speech plan, he looks very relaxed, confident, with a strong game right until the end of the speech.

What’s interesting enough is that if you didn’t know this was an impromptu speech, you might not even know. Therefore, this is a perfect example of how good you can get at impromptu speeches without knowing the subject beforehand.

Toastmaster International – Impromptu Speaking

If you prefer learning from a video example, this four-minute video is everything you’ll need to gain the confidence to do an impromptu speech.

In this example, you’ll learn opportunities where impromptu speaking might be required. Of course, all of the opportunities are the ones where you don’t have much time to prepare.

However, with the techniques covered in this example video, you’ll learn how to manage last-minute speeches.

Lastly, the video will teach you all the benefits of holding impromptu speeches.

Even though this is an educational-type video, if you have a better look, you would notice that this whole video is less than five minutes long, and it’s scripted in a way to serve as yet another impromptu speech example.

Therefore, as you learn how to perform an impromptu speech, you’re watching an impromptu speech which is a brilliant idea.

Preparing yourself for an impromptu speech is only half the job, so in this video, you also learn how to deliver your impromptu speech with more useful tips.

Impromptu Speech Example: Thesis-Point-Story Format

Planning a structure for your impromptu speech is super important. The thing about the structure is that you can develop any three- or four-step process that will get you through the speech.

This video is a perfect example of a thesis-point-story format where Chris, the speaker, gets assigned a random topic from where he creates the thesis-point structure, shares it with the students, and gets down to the speech itself.

With word play, Chris slowly introduces the topic to the audience, and while he speaks to his students as his friends, he is getting down to the story’s main point.

As Chris goes through his impromptu speech, you can also notice that he asks the audience plenty of questions, and by answering his questions, he is slowly revealing the whole story behind the point of his impromptu speech.

Even though this example might be a bit complicated to understand, you can also learn from Chris’s body language, how he speaks, and how he controls his speech as he’s a highly skilled impromptu speaker.

Angel Anderson – Impromptu Speech Example

In this four-minute impromptu speech example video, Angel Anderson teaches you exactly what impromptu speaking is, how to practice it, and even shows an example full of important tips that can help you develop the same skills.

Angel uses a question-style topic, after which he sets the timer for two minutes for his impromptu speech.

With this type of question, Angel starts his impromptu speech with a personal story that gets interesting, which ensures that the audience follows him.

Not only did Angel answer a question, but he also shared an anecdotal story, and even then, he shared some more information connected to this story.

By far, Angel’s video is not the perfect impromptu speech, but it’s a real example of how easily you can work on your impromptu speech, practice, and learn as you progress.

Of course, this example is ideal for all interview-type impromptu speeches, which can be as hard as the topic-type speeches.

Impromptu speech can seem scary at first, but with plenty of preparation and practice, you will be able to speak on any topic without much preparation.

These 15 tips are everything you’ll need to start, develop, and finish your impromptu speech while being confident both verbally and nonverbally.

On top of that, these five examples show you how impromptu speech is done first-hand. Remember that you shouldn’t aim for perfection, but even tiny improvements are a good step forward to achieving a decent impromptu speech.

Tom loves to write on technology, e-commerce & internet marketing. I started my first e-commerce company in college, designing and selling t-shirts for my campus bar crawl using print-on-demand. Having successfully established multiple 6 & 7-figure e-commerce businesses (in women’s fashion and hiking gear), I think I can share a tip or 2 to help you succeed.

Off the cuff: How to give an impromptu speech without embarrassing yourself

“And now I’d like to invite him up here to say a few words. David, take it away.” Words that to this day fill me with dread.

Impromptu speaking

When prepared, I’m a decent public speaker. As a speech pathologist and lawyer, I know a fair bit about voice control , effective gestures , good enunciation , and the need for compelling content . But impromptu speakers – speakers who are great at standing up and giving speeches without much preparation time – need additional qualities, including:

• an understanding of the mechanics of speech structure; and
• the ability to put thoughts together on the spot (Billings & Billings, 2014).

I’ve never been good at speaking off the cuff. But, after more than a few lacklustre efforts over the years, I decided to read up on how experts in competitive impromptu speaking do it.

Why does it matter?

In most businesses, good oral communication skills are essential . On this, universities, government agencies and employers agree (e.g. Robles, 2012). But in high school and university, most students receive more practice with writing than speaking (e.g. Nelson et al., 1992; Russ, 2009). Impromptu speaking practice prepares students to communicate intelligently on the spur of the moment (e.g. Preston, 1990), e.g. when called by an irate client, when asked to brief senior stakeholders at short notice, or when unexpectedly called on to give a speech at a work or social event.

It turns out that there is a whole speaking circuit dedicated to the art of giving a speech on the spot. Impromptu speaking coaches have developed a few tricks along to way to help students/competitors to do it well.

Here’s a few tips and tricks from the experts:

1. Use the Unified Analysis Structure

Many competitive impromptu speakers structure their speeches using a “unified analysis structure” (e.g. Billings & Billings, 2005). This structure is built on the idea that, in an impromptu speech, you should “tell them what you’re going to tell them, tell them, and then tell them what you told them”.

This basic structure was designed for arguing a point or “thesis” without notice, e.g. based on a famous quote. But, as the name suggests, it can be adapted for any speech. It goes like this:

Attention-getter : a story, anecdote or colourful example that relates to the topic of your talk.

Thesis (argument) : the “nugget of truth” you want to convey – the thesis of the talk.

Preview main points : why and how you agree or disagree with the statement.

Point 1 : argument supporting thesis.

A. Example A supporting point 1

B. Example B supporting point 1

Point 2 : argument supporting thesis

A. Example A supporting point 2

B. Example B supporting point 2

Conclusion : tied back to the Attention-getter.

2. Use the “Newspaper Trick” to come up with good examples to support your argument/comments

Some competitive public speakers use the “newspaper” approach to generate concrete examples quickly. Back in the olden days, when we all read physical broadsheets or tabloids, newspapers were divided into lift-out sections, e.g.:

• current news;
• money/economics;
• entertainment/arts.

These four areas can be used as a framework to generate your four examples.

If you have no knowledge about one or more of these areas, simply substitute it with something you do know about, e.g. history, poetry, science, or technology.

3. Pre-prepare concrete examples for unprepared remarks

Some researchers recommend keeping an “impromptu notebook” to record colourful, interesting examples of things that might work well in a speech at some point. I love this idea. It reduces the risk you’ll go blank (which has happened to me).

Sources for your notebook could include the news, movies, books, plays, current and historical events, theories, laws, poetry, philosophy, song lyrics, sports, amusing anecdotes, and even jokes you overhear on the bus or memes read on social media.

4. Practice, practice, practice

Competitive impromptu speakers in training might practice 3-6 speeches in an hour. As with many skills , practice and feedback improves performance. It can also “desensitise” nervous speakers to public speaking pressures, reducing anxiety in the process (Yale, 2014).

So does it work? An “off the cuff” example

Just say you’re at a work function to celebrate your team’s stellar results for the quarter. Just before the speeches, your boss gets an urgent call from head office. As she leaves to take the call, she asks you to say a few words to the team. How could we use the tips above to generate a passable speech?

Here’s my attempt (I gave myself 1 minute to think about it to emulate the scenario. I was going for solid, rather than amazing speech, and resisted the urge to edit it so you can see me trying to apply the tips above as I go):

[Attention-getter] : “When I first joined [company], I immediately started looking for a new job somewhere else. Team morale was low. Cultural clashes and mis-communications were everyday events. Meetings went forever, but nothing seemed to change. We all spent a lot of the day gossiping about each other; blaming each other for all the problems. Our competitors were crushing us like bugs, and we were miserable.

[Thesis] : But, as I got to know you all at the coal face, I discovered that, buried under all this bureaucracy, and sniping and frustration and fear, was a wealth of real talent. A diamond mine. We just had to uncover it. I realised that the main reason everyone was so irritated was that you all wanted us to succeed, even though we weren’t. I think two things helped us turn things around: our diversity and team spirit.

[Point 1] : Recognising that our diversity was a strength.

Example 1 (news): When I look at the news, and social media, I sometimes despair. People reading news only from sources that they agree with. People exchanging views with like-minded people on Twitter and Facebook, ridiculing others who disagree with them as idiots and “trolls”. What makes me so proud to be part of this team is our willingness to respectfully disagree with each other, to compromise and to find solutions to accommodate multiple points of views. Our clients benefit from this creativity, and from the energy created by our sometimes animated internal discussions. We’re not an echo chamber filled with yes women and men shouting in unison.

Example 2 (economics): At a time of economic uncertainty – e.g. Brexit and growing rhetoric about a US-China trade war – we are operating seamlessly across borders better than ever before. Our ability to bring in multiple work teams across time zones to deliver complex services under-budget and before deadlines leaves our competitors in the dust. I’m proud of the fact that, regardless of our different local conditions, we’re able to exceed client expectations.

[Point 2] : It’s a cliché but true: A champion team beats a team of champions. Now it’s no secret that many of the stars of our industry work for our competitors. But we smashed them this quarter. We may not have the industry show ponies. But we’ve got the champion team.

Example 1 (sport): Barbora Strycova and Lucie Safarova: who’s heard of them? But they took out Venus and Serena Williams at the Rio Olympics in the first round. Because they worked well together.

Example 2 (entertainment): I’m going to show my age now: Melanie Brown, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell, Victoria Adams. All solid, hard workers. Fairly talented in their own way. Put them together, though, and you had the Spice Girls. For those of you a bit younger than me, my kids tell me you could say the same thing about One Direction. Well that’s us. And, as our results show, we’re no one-hit wonders.

[Conclusion] : So when I look around the room, I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved. And it’s all because of our diversity, and our team work.

[Tied back to Attention-grabber] : When I first joined this company, I couldn’t wait to get out. But now I can’t think of working anywhere else. Why would I leave the A-Team? Thank you all and congratulations on your fantastic numbers. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

Now have a go yourself – you can use my scenario or one more likely to happen to you.

I hope these tips help when you are next hauled up to the mike without notice. Good luck! Let me know how you get on.

Related articles :

17 ways to wow your audience with better public speaking

• “What did you say?” 10 evidence-based ideas to help others understand your speech

Principal sources :

Yale, R. (2014). The Impromptu Gauntlet: An Experimental Strategy for Developing Lasting Communication Skills. Business and Professional Communication Quarterly, 77 (3), 281-296.

Billings, A.C. & Billings, A.C. (2000). Pedagogical and practical applications of coaching a limited preparation event. The Rostrum, 76 (1), 31, 38, 67.

Turnipseed, I. (2005). Understanding Limited Preparation Events. National Forensic Journal, 23 (1), 37-44.

Image : http://tinyurl.com/jqbwbqq

Hi there, I’m David Kinnane.

Principal Speech Pathologist, Banter Speech & Language

Our talented team of certified practising speech pathologists provide unhurried, personalised and evidence-based speech pathology care to children and adults in the Inner West of Sydney and beyond, both in our clinic and via telehealth.

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Article • 9 min read

Impromptu Speaking Skills

Preparing for last-minute opportunities.

By the Mind Tools Content Team

Your boss, Amanda, is due to introduce a speaker at a conference this afternoon. But, at the last moment, she's taken ill with food poisoning and you need to take her place.

You've had almost no time to prepare, and you're worried that your nerves will get the better of you. Your reputation and credibility are now on the line, and you're not sure what to do.

Many of us have experienced situations like this in the past, but there are a number of ways that you can prepare yourself to give an effective, unplanned speech.

In this article, we'll look at why impromptu speaking skills are so important, and we'll explore how you can prepare for these last-minute opportunities.

Benefits and Opportunities

Many people feel nervous or fearful about public speaking . When you need to talk in front of people, and you've had little or no time to prepare, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

Impromptu speaking might sound like something to avoid whenever possible, but it can open doors and lead to new, unexpected career opportunities. For example, impromptu speaking skills can give you the self-confidence you need to give a last-minute presentation, sail through a challenging job interview, or win over a difficult client.

You can build your reputation and impress leaders in your organization when you learn to speak effectively under pressure. Impromptu speaking skills can also help you deliver an elevator pitch , conduct a successful question-and-answer session, or make important connections at a networking event.

By developing impromptu speaking skills, you can learn to speak with eloquence, humor, and confidence, and you'll ensure that you can communicate your messages clearly and succinctly.

How to Build Your Impromptu Speaking Skills

Use the strategies below to develop good impromptu speaking skills.

1. Adjust Your Attitude

Impromptu speaking doesn't have to be scary – it can even be fun! Your attitude has a big impact on how well you perform, and having a positive mind-set is the foundation for success.

First, use positive thinking to try to see the situation as an opportunity to share your skills and expertise, build your reputation, and help others.

Next, take a moment to envision your success . Imagine that the speech is over: everyone is smiling and clapping. You feel great because you did a fantastic job, and you helped everyone in the room. It feels good, doesn't it?

Last, use affirmations to develop a positive, confident attitude. Consider using the following statements:

• "My audience is genuinely interested in what I have to say."
• "It's about them, not me."
• "I only have to talk to other people, it's no big deal!"
• "I will be calm and relaxed while I speak."
• "Everyone wants me to do well."
• "The audience will benefit from my expertise."

Come up with your own personal, positive, and meaningful affirmations, and repeat them to yourself before you start your speech.

You might not have a great deal of time, but use the time you do have to prepare. Think about what your audience expects you to discuss, and what your main objective needs to be.

For example, if someone invites you to speak at a meeting, think about your audience members. Why are they there? What do they need to learn about? Why were you asked to speak? What value can you provide?

If you have enough time, plan a rough outline of what you want to say using the PREP* mnemonic. PREP stands for:

• P oint – make your main point clearl in your introduction.
• R eason – state why you made your main point. Include opinion, research, statistics, and any other material that adds credibility.
• E xample – cite an example that supports your point.
• P oint – make your point one last time. Aim to link your conclusion back to your introduction.

Make sure that you're always prepared for the possibility of an impromptu speech. Keep a pen and paper with you, so that you can take notes and draft a plan. As you speak, use the PREP method to remember the points that you want to make.

3. Slow Down

Last-minute speaking opportunities can make you feel stressed, unprepared and anxious . Learn to think on your feet , so that you remain calm, cool, and collected.

If you only have a few minutes to prepare before you speak to an audience , take several deep breaths to slow down and relax. If you're in a public setting, get up from your chair slowly, and take measured steps toward the podium. This will give you extra time to collect your thoughts.

When you stand in front of your audience, resist the urge to start speaking immediately. Instead, take deep breaths to calm down and collect your thoughts. Be conscious of your body language – stand up straight with your shoulders back, and look right at the audience.

Don't apologize for being unprepared, or for speaking at the last minute. Chances are, the audience won't even notice! Instead, repeat your affirmations to yourself, and remember – the audience wants you to do well. Speak slowly, talk directly to people, and think about how you can add value or help them. Stay focused, and try not to ramble, repeat points, or get distracted.

If you're taking part in a question-and-answer session, repeat or reword questions slowly after people ask them. This will give you extra time to think about your response, and it will show the audience that you're listening actively to what the questioner asked.

It can be useful to prepare mini-speeches, stories , and jokes in advance. Practice these in front of a mirror.

A useful practice exercise is to pick a random topic. Give yourself 30 seconds to plan your outline, then talk for two to three minutes about your topic. Breathe deeply, slow down, and engage with your audience.

4. Join Toastmasters

One of the best ways to become comfortable with public speaking is to join a group like Toastmasters International . Toastmasters focuses exclusively on helping people learn good public speaking skills.

The format is simple: you meet with other members in your community, and you give prepared and impromptu speeches. There is no instructor – instead, members provide constructive feedback on your performance. This can be a practical, fun way to gain public-speaking experience.

Look for other ways to get out of your "comfort zone," too. Offer to give a toast at a friend's wedding, attend community meetings, speak about issues that are important to you, or volunteer to introduce a speaker at the next town hall meeting. The more experience you have speaking publicly, the easier it will be when someone asks you to lead a last-minute meeting.

5. Control Your Nerves

If you're nervous before you start to speak, take several slow, deep breaths. Deep breathing slows your heart rate and calms your thoughts, and it can help you to sound more confident.

It can also be useful to put things into perspective. Will this impromptu speech matter in a month, a year, or five years? And what's the worst that can happen if you don't do a good job? In most cases, this situation won't be very important if you look at the big picture, so focus on relaxing, and enjoying the experience!

Finally, learn how to manage your emotions . It's entirely possible to control nervousness; and, in fact, a good amount of nerves can even give you the edge you need to deliver an excellent speech!

During your career, people may ask you to speak publicly with little or no time to prepare. For example, you might need to chair an important meeting, give a sales presentation, or deliver an elevator pitch.

Use these five strategies to develop your impromptu speaking skills:

• Adjust your attitude.
• Take time to prepare.
• Join Toastmasters.
• Control your nerves.

* Originator unknown. Please let us know if you know who invented this model.

Sedniev, A. (2014) ' Magic of Impromptu Speaking: Create a Speech That Will be Remembered in Years to Come ,' Dallas: Primedia E-Launch LLC.

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50 Topics for Impromptu Student Speeches

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

• Homework Tips
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• Time Management
• Private School
• College Admissions
• College Life
• Graduate School
• Business School
• Distance Learning
• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

For the many people who break out in a sweat at the very idea of speaking in front of an audience , the prospect of speaking on an unknown topic with little to no preparation is likely terrifying. But you don't have to be afraid of impromptu speeches. As it turns out, the secret even to off-the-cuff speeches is preparation.

Impromptu Speech Tips

• Decide on your topic
• Come up with three supportive statements related to your topic
• Prepare a strong conclusion

Use this list of impromptu speech topics to practice making a quick speech outline in your head. For each of the topics below, just think of three main points you'd like to make. For example, if your speech topic is "Your least favorite chores," you could quickly come up with three statements:

• I don't know anybody who likes to fold laundry, so the first task on my list of unhappy chores is folding laundry.
• Taking out the trash is another chore that most people dread, and I'm no different.
• The worst chore in the entire household has to be cleaning the toilet.

If you go into your speech with these statements in your head, you can spend the rest of your time thinking up supporting statements as you speak. When you've identified your three main points, think of a great finishing statement. If you end with a great closer, you'll really impress your audience.

Start Practicing With This List

• My three favorite animals.
• What you would find in my closet. Make something up.
• What you'd find under my bed.
• The best letter of the alphabet.
• Why your mom/dad is special.
• A day that stands out.
• The best surprise ever.
• If I had a million dollars to give away.
• If cats/dogs ruled the world.
• A trip to remember.
• My favorite day of the year.
• If I could only eat three foods forever.
• If I could design a school.
• Why books are important.
• Three surprising facts about me .
• How to impress your parents.
• How to plan a party.
• A job I'd love to have.
• A day in my life.
• If I could have dinner with anyone.
• If I could travel through time.
• My favorite book.
• An important lesson I've learned.
• What I've learned from cartoons.
• The smartest cartoon character.
• Three things I'd change if I ruled the world.
• Why sports are important.
• The worst chores at home.
• Why I deserve an allowance.
• If I were in charge of school lunches.
• If I had invented school.
• The best theme park rides.
• Whom do you admire most?
• What is your favorite animal?
• How to achieve your dreams.
• Why you need a baby brother.
• How to annoy an older sister.
• How to save money.
• Three things that scare me.
• Great things about snow days.
• Things you can make out of snow.
• How to spend a rainy day.
• How to walk a dog.
• Great things about the ocean.
• Things I'll never eat.
• How to be a slacker.
• Why I like my town.
• The best parts of a parade.
• Interesting things you see in the sky.
• Things to remember when you're camping.
• An experience with a bully.
• How to Give an Impromptu Speech
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How to Ace the Impromptu Speech

Several readers sent in questions related to impromptu speeches, including Matthias K.:

I’m pretty comfortable when I have days or even weeks to prepare a speech, but I REALLY struggle when I’m asked to speak at a moment’s notice. Do you have any tips for impromptu speaking?

In this article, you’ll find a set of tips that will make you shine the next time you are asked to speak on the spur of the moment.

Impromptu Speech Scenarios

Impromptu speaking may not be as glamorous as prepared speaking, but it is an equally vital skill simply because there are so many scenarios where you find yourself speaking without more than a few moments of preparation. It’s no surprise that “impromptu speaking sessions” are found within Toastmasters meetings , college communications courses, and public speaking seminars.

Consider just a few situations where you find yourself speaking off the cuff:

• The scheduled speaker is unavailable (or late), and you’ve been asked to fill in.
• You are sitting on a panel answering questions from the audience.
• You are fielding questions after your own talk (yes, your Q&A session is impromptu speaking)
• You are being interviewed on television, radio, webinar, or telephone.
• You are invited (at the last moment) to say a few words at a company gathering.
• You are asked to provide a brief status report for your project at a department meeting.
• You are motivated to join the debate at the parent association meeting for your child’s school.
• You decide to give an unplanned toast at an event with family or friends.

It’s also worth noting the irony that the better you are at giving prepared speeches, the more often you will be invited to speak with no time for preparation at all. Your friends and colleagues will recognize your speaking skill, and when they need “someone” to say a few words… you’ll be that someone!

Winning Strategies for Impromptu Speeches

Although you may only have a few seconds to prepare for any particular impromptu situation, you certainly can prepare yourself to be ready when called upon.

Here are a few strategies you can use:

Anticipate situations where you may be called upon to speak. For example, if you are attending an engagement party for a close friend or family member, there’s a reasonable chance that you might be asked to speak. Similarly, if one of your close colleagues is scheduled to speak (e.g. your boss, your peer, or your report), it’s also reasonable to assume that you will find yourself speaking. As you head to the event, do a few mental exercises, trying to guess what you might be asked to speak about, and how you would respond. Even if your guess isn’t accurate, it’s amazing how those prior thoughts will help you think on your feet when you are asked to speak.

Wrap your response around a simple template, or framework. If you practice this a few times, you will find that your mini-speeches are much more polished and coherent. A few easy frameworks include:

• P.R.E.P. (Point. Reason. Example. Point) – Start off by clearly stating your point. Share the primary reason (or reasons, if you have more time). Then, share an example (preferably in story form) where your main point or reason is supported. Finally, conclude by summarizing your central point again. The template works well in many situations, and is easily adapted.
• Issue, Pros vs. Cons, Conclusions  – Start off by framing the issue. Talk about the benefits, and then talk about the drawbacks. Conclude with your recommendation.
• 5W – In this pattern, you cover your topic by addressing the Who, What, When, Where, and Why elements. For example, if you’ve been asked to speak briefly about a fundraising initiative, you could talk about [1] who started it, and who is involved now; [2] what the goals are; [3] when it started, and the schedule for the future; [4] where does it take place; and [5] why are you involved. This template works nicely, largely because the “why?” comes last, because this is often the most critical information.

Turn your impromptu session into a Q&A session. In situations where you are asked to fill in when the schedule speaker is absent, it may not be wise to launch into a 45 minute impromptu speech. Even the most accomplished speakers are prone to meander in that situation. Instead, reframe the session as a Q&A session, which breaks it up into a series of very small impromptu speeches that are probably easier for you to answer individually. Plus, the content comes directly from the audience, so you are guaranteed to deliver what they are seeking.

Use personal stories. Storytelling is an essential skill for prepared speaking, but it is equally useful for impromptu speaking as well. Stories are emotional, real, and interesting. If you stick to personal stories, you’ll find that it is much easier to speak (even without preparation) because the events happened to you.

Avoid the tendency to go on, and on, and on.  Craft a coherent message, and then be quiet. Rambling on will only weaken your overall speech. If you must fill more time, shift into a Q&A.

Go easy on yourself. We all want to speak perfectly every time, but demanding perfection from yourself in an impromptu speech is setting the bar too high. The audience (probably) recognizes that you’ve been thrown in at the last minute, and they will understand.

Your Turn: What’s Your Opinion?

Do you have any proven strategies for mastering the impromptu speech?

Please share in the comments .

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21 comments.

Great ideas – and I like the simple structures PREP, I-P&C-C, 5W – quick tools to put structure into your talk 2 minutes before standing up.

The real challenge is closing an impromptu speech – so often the lack of preparation of a good opening leaves it difficult to do a great closing – and you end up with a tepid “well… that’s it… thanks”

Always try to be prepared for the “Impromptu Speech.”

A Police Chief once told me he takes it as a given that when attending Chamber and other events, the emcee will usually say, “And let’s hear a few words from our city’s Top Cop. Come on up here, Chief!”

I like your idea, Andrew, of the Q&A Session. If you don’t know the answer, or just want to involve more people, the answer to the question can be thrown back to the audience.

Thanks for the Post!

I have always been an impromptu speaker. I loose my confidence when I prepare my speech. Which I do well, but at times, I miss out on important issues and also I can’t time my speech

At one point in my career, I was constantly confronted with impromptu speaking situations–the speech literally being planned between chair and podium.

The challenge was how to make the speech coherent and focused with no time to labor over an outline.

One speaker suggested simply picking an object on the way…and using the elements of that object as points for the speech. We might use an object that has an obvious connection with the topic, say a “ball point pen” used for points on communication, but that is not necessary, a shoe or a flower arrangement could be used as well.

So, it begins, “this common shoe tells us everything we need to know about time management…..” –first, like a good shoe, it has to fit you and your distinctive personality… –second, like the sole, it must both protect you from the dynamics of the outside world, and give you traction… –Finally, like the shoe in its totality, you must use it or it cannot fulfill its function no matter how well designed…

This actually works so well, I have used it to create outlines for writing and prepared speeches…a structured brain storming.

God bless and Merry Christmas

hi thanks so much for addressing an issue I had requested for too, only not so articulately.

If it is impromptu it is a not really a speech. It is more you giving your off the cuff thoughts about something. By the very nature of being unprepared you can be prepared for them. But you can learn to be good communicator and share your well organized thoughts about something *whenever* you are asked.

An “impromptu speech” is no different than a coworker or a spouse asking you your opinion about something.

The ‘template’ advice is spot on Andrew. A well structured speech will always sound professional. To what you’ve said here I’d add that when time to prepare is short, make best use of it by working out the opening (an arresting attention getter) and the close (something they’ll always remember). Somehow you’ll be able to speak your way from one to the other!

excellent suggestion! Will give it a go 🙂

I always enjoy your write ups. Impromptu speaking is the monster in many people’s nightmares. . . Your suggestions are very valid.

Nice! I remember my speech teacher getting me to use the 5W’s when doing impromptu speeches years ago. I’ve never been as strong with impromptu side of things in comparison to prepared speeches, so thanks for sharing your excellent strategies! Will use.

I really have a hard time getting my confidence. I thank you for sharing this knowledge and may help any body who wants to be a good public speaker. May God Bless You!

hi your articles are really great.they will be helpful during the public speaking competitions

I have an impromptu speaking competition coming up. I get any topic in the world from the adjudicator and have 5 minutes of preparation. I must speak for at least 2 minutes. I had a practice round yesterday, but it went really badly. My topic was ‘Know Your Limits’ and it came out a bit disastrous. Do you have a fully formed plan or something I could follow in regards to any topic that could come up? Thank you.

Hey Ashley, I realize you posted your comment months ago, but I also have an impromptu speaking competition coming up in days, just like yours. You must have finished your competition by now, and I was wondering whether you have any tips you could give me? I have the same problem you do. Thanks.

If you start with an intro Attention Getter – grab your audience Thesis – what is my topic Preview of Points – then talk about each point specifically then conclude with Review – what did i just talk about Thesis – what was the topic and a Tieback to the attention getter

This helps my students succeed. At least a minute of talking with an introduction and conclusion and a minute on each point, you have a minimum of a 4 minute speech! Just think, process and come up with points about your topic and you will do great!

I find the articles very interesting and informative.

I SOMETIMES EXPERIENCE SOME CHALLENGES WHEN REQUESTED TO GIVE AN IMPROMPTU SPEECH. I WOULD BE GLAD TO SUBSCRIBE SO THAT I CAN EQUIP MYSELF WITH SKILLS OF PUBLIC SPEAKING.

IMPROMPTU 1 Pick topic from here and now–I usually talk about talking impromptu 2 Quickly pick ending to guide your talk–I usually invite them to give an impromptu talk soon.

Love these tips. Spot on!

I have developed this website for practicing impromptu speech with an active time. Please feel free to use it impromptuspeech.net

This was helpful for a project in working on for the next few days

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How to Ace the Impromptu Speech – https://t.co/lDPj5JHbRB — Rainmakers (@RainmakersIndy) Oct 28th, 2015

#CentralDelhiTM #TableTopicsContest TIPS to Ace the Impromptu Speech https://t.co/b6mgrbfoP3 by @6minutes — @CentralDelhiTM Mar 8th, 2016

Leaders: You are always on stage. Be ready! https://t.co/mFOuZ4n1Nw — @KurtGreene Jun 13th, 2016

#WednesdayWisdom Good article by @6minutes about impromptu speeches. Be confident off the cuff! https://t.co/zeLiJ8jY07 — PitchVantage (@pitchvantage) Jun 15th, 2016

How to Ace the Impromptu Speech https://t.co/vEKxFQcUED by @6minutes — @MarysReflection Oct 20th, 2016

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4 Blog Links

How to Ace the Short, Impromptu Speech | EFL Tips - Resources for EFL Students — Jan 19th, 2012

Impromptu speaking – strategies for winging it « Speak well, do well! — May 10th, 2012

Useful resources to help you get ready for the contests « Toast of CIBC Toastmasters Blog — Sep 12th, 2012

Donn King's Corner » Blog Archive » Prepare to speak without preparation — Nov 12th, 2012

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How to Prepare for a Speech: Strategies for a Successful Speech

Are you nervous about your first public speaking experience?

Or are you excited and can't wait to express your thoughts to the audience?

Whatever the case, it is crucial to learn how to prepare for a speech so you can deliver a successful, heartfelt oration.

Whether speaking in a seminar, a board meeting, or a classroom, the better you prepare, the more confident you feel.

So, what are different useful strategies that can help you prepare better? Let's find out!

Things to Consider Before Preparing the Speech

There is a lot more that goes into preparing a speech than simply writing some notes and reading them out loud in front of the audience.

Here are some crucial things to consider before starting to write your speech.

Learn Your Audience

Knowing your target audience is essential to prepare an excellent speech that adequately conveys its message. You first need to check where you will deliver the speech and who your audience is. 

Learn about your audience's different backgrounds and cultures . Avoid making cultural remarks during the speech, as what seems insignificant to you may stir others' emotions.

Try to find out their interests to make your speech light and relatable. Find out the age range of your audience. Speaking to young students requires a different game plan than speaking to experienced professionals.

Learn about the audience's knowledge and expertise on the subject of the speech. Is it something new, or are they well-versed on the subject?

It is best to avoid using thick jargon if the audience is inexperienced and new to the field, whereas with an experienced audience, you can take things to the next level.

Knowing your audience will also help you include relatable experiences from your own life, making the speech more interesting and fun to listen to.

Furthermore, from the audience's point of view, there must be a reason to listen to someone speak. In essence, you have to make sure that the speech you're going to give will offer value to the audience and their current situations. This feeds directly into the next point.

Understand the Purpose of Speech

What do you wish to achieve with this speech? What message do you need to deliver? The answer to these questions will help you shape your speech.

Take your audience on a step-by-step journey with your speech, and in the end, ensure they understand your end goal.

Sometimes, you want to deliver specific messages as is, whereas other times, you only wish to convey a thought-provoking speech.

Knowing the purpose or purposes of the speech will help you include interesting and relatable anecdotes that draw the audience's interest.

Try Out the Speaking Medium Beforehand

Technological advancements have touched every medium. You may present the speech to your audience face to face or via a virtual medium .

For instance, in the recent past, many companies and organizations conducted their conferences, meetings, and interviews via Zoom .

It is best to know what your speaking medium is beforehand. Knowing whether you will be presenting on the stage in front of a live audience, speaking via video platform, or going on the TV or radio can help you prepare accordingly.

Calculate the Duration of Your Speech

Knowing the duration of the speech is essential to prepare a targeted, engaging speech. The preparation for an hour-long speech is different from that of a five-minute-long speech.

Knowing the time duration will help you understand how many anecdotes, interesting facts, or examples you can include and how to structure your speech, so you keep the audience's attention throughout.

How to Prepare for a Speech

Next comes up writing the speech. A speech consists of the introduction of the subject, the main body, and a conclusion. 

An engaging and meaningful speech contains a mix of facts, statistics, interesting anecdotes, fun phrases, and loads of relatable content. Here are a few easy and valuable tips for writing a powerful speech.

Step #1: Thoroughly Research Your Topic

A full grasp of the topic is essential to delivering a successful speech . Knowing every detail of the subject matter will give you the confidence to stand in front of your audience.

Whether you are presenting as a student in your classroom or as a president in your board meeting, the topic's knowledge will give you authority over the listeners. The same goes for presenting a subject with other group members.

You must thoroughly know the issue, whether you are presenting the introductory, central, or concluding parts of the speech. This knowledge will also help you later in the question/ answer session.

Step #2: Start With an Interesting Story or Question

Capture your audience's attention with an enticing and ear-catching introduction. Avoid going straight up to introduce your subject. Instead, start your speech with something fun, light, and breezy. 

You can share an interesting fact, include any amusing little personal incident, or propose a mind-boggling idea.

The first few minutes of your speech are essential as they can make or break the audience's attention to what comes ahead. Deliver the most important pointers of your speech within this period and let the audience know they are in for a treat.

You might also like: 10 Engaging Ways to Start a Speech

Step #3: Take the Hook Down the Body of the Speech

Indeed, the first impression is the last impression . But all the high of the attention-grabbing introduction can go down the drain if the body of the speech lacks meaning, pull, and purpose.

Hence, it is necessary to give every part of your speech equal importance during preparation and at the time of delivery as well.

You will present your speech's main idea or purpose in the body. Therefore, you must make your content clear, easy to understand, intentional, and well-organized. Avoid adding unnecessary information.

Here's how to ensure the body of your speech is as good as your introduction.

How to Ensure Interest in Your Speech

• Make a String of Ideas : Create a chain of thoughts leading to the main idea or purpose of the sitting. An unorganized and haphazard speech will distract your audience, and they will lose interest. Aim for this part of your speech to connect with your audience .For instance, if you are preparing for a motivational speech , then this part should allow the audience to connect with your speech emotionally. They should start thinking about the main idea and purpose of this speech.
• Be Logical and Coherent : You should be logical, to the point, and clear while introducing and connecting different concepts. Make a central connection point of additional facts, statements, and ideas in the speech, and combine them with the main topic.
• Repeat Your Main Point Several Times : Repeat your main point throughout the main body without being obvious. Let the idea sync in the back of the audience's minds. Avoid using the same words repeatedly; use synonyms or relatable analogies instead. Listening to the repetitive logic will help the audience grab the core idea.
• Avoid Adding More Than Three Points : Try adding no more than three points to make the speech simple and easy to remember. Plus, include relevant examples explaining these points. 
• Properly Arrange Different Ideas : Go through the central part of the speech and check if all the ideas or pointers are arranged systematically. The central part should take the listener on a journey that concludes with the final part of the speech.
• Write Main Part Before Introduction : The body comes next to the introduction of the speech. But it is best to research and write this part before the introduction. Writing this part will give you a clear idea of what you will say in the introduction and the conclusion.

Step #4: Remind the Audience of the Speech's Purpose in the Conclusion

A well-written and efficiently delivered speech keeps the audience captivated throughout.

If it's effectively presented, a speech hooks the listeners right from the introductory sentence, goes hand in hand through the central body, and becomes part of the memory with a great ending.

Hence, continue working on the speech's conclusion with the same zeal and effort as you have worked on the introduction and the body.

The primary purpose of the conclusion is to wrap up the whole speech. Recap your speech here and convey the main idea in simple and understandable words.

Create a little summary of the pointers you spoke about in the main body and condense them into simple phrases that the audience can remember more easily.

As stated earlier, every part of the speech holds immense significance.

So, prepare a coherent, clear, and firm conclusion . Adding lousy or unnecessary comments in this section can break the spell you created with a powerful introduction and body.

Useful Tips for Effective Delivery Style

After preparing a well-researched and well-written speech comes the delivery style. Public speaking is especially challenging for introverts and shy people. On the other hand, enthusiastic and lively people may need to tone down a little.

No matter your personality, you can confidently present before any audience after learning a few basic tips and tricks for an effective delivery style.

Work on Your Body Language

Before you even say a single word, the first thing the audience will judge you on is your body language. How you present plays a crucial role in how the audience will remember you.

Many people are naturally confident and can lead the room with their charming presence. Contrarily, many people need to work on their body language, gestures , and delivery style. Whichever category you fall into, it is essential to practice.

You can practice your speech in front of the mirror to learn how your body moves. Stand straight and upright, move around, use your hands and show your authority. Learn where you can improve and keep on practicing until you're satisfied.

Practice With Your Friends

Indeed, practicing before a mirror is a fruitful exercise; but practicing before a group of people can boost your confidence.

With this practice, you won't be overwhelmed by the live audience when you present your speech.

Moreover, this practice will help you observe the reactions of the people. Plus, your friends can give you feedback on your speech and body language .

A Toastmasters club is perfect for this.

Use Visual Aids

Visual aids such as PowerPoint slides, short videos, or pictures can help convey the message effectively.

Instead of only imagining what you are saying, the visuals aid people see what you are saying.

If you plan to use any visual aid during the speech, rehearse with them beforehand.

Maintain Eye Contact With the Audience

Look directly into the eyes of your audience when speaking. This gesture will reflect that you are confident about what you are speaking. Plus, your audience will remain engaged with your content.

The audience will lose interest if you start fumbling or looking timid. So, don't remain standing in a single place; move around, and move your eyes all over the room.

Related: Importance of Eye Contact in Public Speaking

Be Natural but Interesting With Your Voice

Use the rise and fall of your voice wisely. But try not to be overdramatic. Avoid sounding too mechanical, and use your natural tone.

Many speakers get over-excited during delivering the speech and increase their speed. Don't go too fast or too slow; neither sounds pleasant. Try to add natural pauses while speaking.

Try to add relevant expressions in your sentences using your voice. If you are asking a question, it has a question mark at the end. Similarly, when there is an exclamation mark at the end, then exclaim.

Remember Good Looks Always Grab Attention

If there is a dress code, then follow that dress code. Otherwise, be well-dressed and look smart and sharp.

If you dress up too casually or inappropriately, you will lose the audience's interest without speaking a single word.

Final Thoughts: How to Prepare for a Speech

Public speaking can be thrilling for some while difficult for others. Whether you are shy or are brilliant at expressing your thoughts, delivering a triumphant speech requires preparation.

At first, it may seem exhausting to deliver the best speech possible.

But once you get a grip of the basics of speech preparation, it will be a seamless journey ahead. Following the strategies mentioned above can help you deliver the message effectively.

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How to Organize Your Five-Minute Impromptu Speech: Building Your Introduction (Part 1)

What do five minutes feel like to you? You could tell us that it’s made of up 300 seconds, in which time corn on the cob could be microwaved, a round of commercials could be played, and one kilometer be could run – at least for some of us. But the experience of five minutes is relative. It feels a lot longer if you’re waiting in traffic, than if you’re running late for class. So in this article, you’ll learn what five minutes should feel like when making an impromptu speech, by breaking down the different parts of your speech in order to create a structure that’s both organized and timely. All organized speeches have a beginning, middle, and end, also known as the introduction, body, and conclusion. Knowing how to plan the content of these parts is key to reaching a five-minute impromptu speech, especially because of the limitations you’re under with only two minutes of prep time. Why is this important? Two reasons. One: without keeping track of your time, you may end up finishing early and leaving out essential analysis. Two: many of us have a tendency to ramble and go off-topic, confusing both you and your audience in the process. So, as you map out the structure of your speech, you’ll learn how much time to allow for each part, and what content should be included to reach that timing. Let’s start with impromptu introductions, which require five key ingredients. First, the hook. All good speeches should create a strong first impression. For impromptu, hooks generally come in the form of a personal or well-known anecdote that’s related to the meaning of your prompt and thesis. If you choose a famous story, consider picking something simple that you know well, like the plot of a fable you’ve been taught or a movie you’ve watched. These anecdotes are the quickest to think of and can often be told smoothly without much preparation. For instance, if we suddenly asked you to retell the tale of Snow White, or your vacation last summer, you probably remember quite well what happened. In total, you should spend approximately 40 seconds on your hook, which is about six sentences. Second, the transition sentence or sentences. It’s important to link your hook to the prompt so the audience can see how they relate together. This link should be approximately one to two sentences, no more than ten seconds. For instance, let’s say the last sentence of your hook is, “The story of Snow White ends as a happy one, as the princess wakes up after true love’s kiss from her Prince Charming.” You wouldn’t want to immediately follow it with, “This quote by Stephen King says, “The trust of the innocent is the liar's most useful tool.” Why? Because the audience wouldn’t understand how Snow White is related to “innocence” or “liars.” So, ask yourself, what do the story and the quote have in common? Well, if you recall, Snow White was too innocent, trusting the old lying granny who sold her the apple. Let’s try to use this information to link the hook and the quote together. Your transition might be: “Fairytales such as these don’t exist, with innocent people often getting hurt rather than living out their ‘happily ever after.’” Notice how this sentence makes the connection between the hook and prompt by comparing how fairytales are different from real life. Third, the prompt and your interpretation. Even with a transition sentence, it’s helpful to add a dependent clause before you present your prompt. A dependent clause is a group of words that cannot be used alone; they instead provide additional information for the independent clause, which in this case, is your prompt. Avoid directly saying things like, “the prompt I got today is…” Be a little bit more subtle in your language. You could do this one in of two ways. One: link specific parts of the hook directly to the prompt. You could say something like this: “Snow White’s trusting actions are exactly what Stephen King described in his quote…” Two: If your transition sentence is already clear, use a conventional phrase like: “This brings me to today’s quote…”, or “Which is why we see in today’s quote…”, or “This story is fitting with today’s quote…” You can of course replace the word “quote” with proverb, word, or picture, depending on what type of prompt you’re given. Now for your interpretation. If your prompt is a quote or proverb, spending a sentence to explain its meaning is enough. Elaborate on who or what the prompt refers to and what kind of tone it sets. If there are any hidden meanings, then you might add an extra sentence or two. For word prompts, take more time to describe or define it, giving an example of how this word is commonly used. For picture prompts, read off any text, and describe the picture and its purpose. In total, introducing the prompt and your interpretation of it should take about 20 seconds. Fourth: the thesis statement, which its main objective is summed up in one clear, concise, and debatable sentence. This should take no more than five seconds. Finally, your roadmap (also called the preview), which outlines your speech’s three main points. Usually, in other speeches, your roadmap would include your three claims. However, because most impromptu speakers don’t have time to fully brainstorm these claims during prep, it’s common practice to simply introduce the three stories you plan to talk about in two or three sentences, which is your final 15 seconds. The best way to make this short and simple is to create story titles for each example or to refer to the names of the people or groups you plan to talk about. And there you have, five key parts and their timeline for building a one-minute and 30-second introduction. In the second part of this article, you’ll see an example of a good introduction, and then we’ll break down body paragraphs and conclusions.

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Preparing For An Unprepared Speech

Preparing for an unprepared speech.

By Caroline Nderitu HSC , Public Speaking Coach

“Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity” - Henry Hartman.

An impromptu request to speak does not mean that you should be caught with your pants down. Here are some strategies you could adopt to ensure that you are never running on empty .

ALWAYS EXPECT TO SPEAK

Have it in the back of your mind that you could be asked you to speak. Whether you are at a company cocktail party, launch of a combined harvester, or a cousin’s wedding; as long as you attend, you are a candidate for public speaking. It could be to introduce yourself, move a vote of thanks or to offer a prayer.  In any event, you will have to socialize and that still counts as public communication.

LEARN HOW TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY

Have a routine, well-rehearsed self-introduction or elevator pitch . You cannot afford to begin by stalling, “Err, my err, name err, is err…” Polish your self-introduction script and to work on its dynamic delivery in advance.

INVEST IN YOUR SPEAKING BANK™

Keep equipping yourself with material that could one day come in handy. To accomplish this, keep brushing up on your knowledge of topical issues as well gradually expanding your vocabulary and use of language. Other face-savers to keep in stock include statistics, customizable jokes, quotes and interesting anecdotes. If you have nothing in your speaking bank™, chances are you will go blank. Do not expect to harvest where you have not invested. Borrow a leaf from Mark Twain who confessed, " It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech."

NEVER LOSE FACE

If you are invited to speak, maintain your composure and wear a confident smile. Do not fidget or, even worse, burst out in shock, “What? Me?…” and a host of other confidence-eroding phrases. For starters, do not apologize for not expecting to speak or for being unprepared. Do not publicize how inadequate you feel. Just K.I.S.S. - Keep It Short and Significant.

SPEAK CLEARLY, PROJECT

Speaking up makes you look confident and lends credibility to your utterances.  Do not whimper. If you speak, speak to be heard – be visible and audible to all present. Make it count! Or to put it in Oliver Wendell Holmes ’ words:  “Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.”

GET THE EVENT INTO YOU BEFORE YOU GET TO THE EVENT

Carry out some research before you get to that function. Know before you go! Make it one of your habits to ask yourself these questions: Who will be present? What the event is all about? What issues are likely to be floated, on and off the podium? By way of example, supposing you are a Kenyan fashion designer attending an ICT conference in Portugal hosted by the World Bank, and the guest of honour is the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Then, out of the blue, you are asked to say a few words. What would you speak about? "It's not the will to win that matters—everyone has that. It's the will to prepare to win that matters." — Paul Bear Bryant. After all is said and done, the audience is on your side. They do want you to succeed. Ride on that goodwill, rise up and say something. Be fair to them, be prepared.

--- Public speaking can be daunting, but the good news is, these skills can be acquired and polished to perfection. How? I am glad you asked. It is all covered in our Public Speaking and Business Presentation Skills course.  This course is also available as  one-on-one coaching ,  in-house trainin g as well as for  children/teens . "Public speaking is not a talent – it is a skill." George Torok

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Practice Makes Almost Perfect: How to Prep for a Speech

Average: 4 ( 1 vote)

No one’s a perfect public speaker. While it may feel like the speakers you look up to are flawless on stage, the truth is that they run into hiccups in the same way as the average presenter. Clickers stop working, shirts come untucked, and threads of thought are lost. The difference is, the best public speakers are highly prepared so that they can overcome these obstacles quickly.

Confidence and preparedness will result in audiences remembering your speech, not the hiccup. While many outside factors can hinder the perfection of your presentation, when you are prepared and confident, magic ensues.

Boost Your Self-Esteem

Having confidence may sound simple, but for many people it’s the hardest part. We’re our own worst critics. No matter how often you picture your audience in their underwear, it’s easy to feel intimidated with dozens of eyes on you.

While self-consciousness can be difficult to eliminate, you can lessen it immensely by finding ways to boost your self-esteem. This can be as simple as looking in the mirror before you go on stage and saying positive affirmations to yourself.

Additionally, focus on the parts of your appearance that drain your confidence. You can dress for your body type, style your hair, and even conceal acne. While your audience may not have noticed your so-called flaws anyway, spending extra time in the areas where you are most self-conscious can make you feel at your best.

Don’t forget to boost your self-image by taking care of yourself , too. Don’t forget the significance of maintaining a nutritious diet to enhance your overall well-being and presentation skills. Don’t forget the significance of maintaining a nutritious diet to enhance your overall well-being and presentation skills. Exploring diverse, dietitian-designed recipes can provide the energy and mental clarity needed to excel in public speaking. Get a good night’s rest before your big speech and eat foods that replenish nutrients in your body. Good habits can make you look and feel more refreshed, and foods like almonds can keep your nervous system healthy so you respond better to stress.

Once you’re on stage, maintain your confidence by standing up straight and keeping your hands and arms relaxed . If necessary, try to fake it until you make it. When you look the part, your audience will believe in your speaking skills — and you will, too.

Give Yourself Time to Prepare

Have you ever procrastinated on a project, only to rush it just before it’s due? Pressure can help you meet deadlines, but it won’t necessarily lead to quality work.

The same goes for your speech. The best way to achieve a near-perfect presentation is by giving yourself plenty of time to plan your speech and prepare visual aids, as well as see to the technical needs like mics and projectors.

As Benjamin Franklin once said : “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

However, it is possible to over-prepare . Giving yourself wiggle room in case of errors is key. For example, if you write out your entire speech, it’s easier to forget what you need to say and harder to recover from your flubs. Simply preparing rough notes and bullet points, on the other hand, allows you to memorize the points you need to make without keeping you boxed into a single right way to complete your speech.

Practice Improvisation

So how do you overcome the issues that do occur while you’re speaking? First, expect the unexpected. No matter how experienced you are on stage, there’s always a chance of bumps in the road. Technical difficulties and hiccups in speeches are incredibly common. Rather than getting completely distracted by these issues, stay calm and move on quickly and your audience will, too.

Second, practice improvisation. Embrace the “yes, and” technique , which is all about developing your ideas based on what happens, rather than trying to change what has happened. When you train yourself to think with this positivity, you can better overcome your worries, stumbles, and fears.

Learning to improvise can also help you take cues from the audience. If you see them getting disengaged, you can quickly change your technique to draw them back in.

Practice Makes Almost Perfect

Practice is one of the most important aspects of delivering a quality speech. When you know your outline or bullets like the back of your hand, you’ll be confident that you won’t mess up. Take the time to practice while standing, so you get comfortable presenting in the position you’ll take once you’re on stage. This way, making your speech will feel like replicating your practice sessions, instead of unfamiliar territory.

If possible, always include practice in front of people, even if it’s just a few friends or family members. Other people can help suggest areas for improvement, spot errors, and fix any remaining flaws.

The Takeaway

While it may be tempting to want your speech to go perfectly, don’t let that desire overwhelm you. It’s not necessary for your speech to go perfectly. No speech ever does, no matter who’s giving it. Even the greatest public speakers make mistakes. Instead of worrying about being perfect, focus on preparation, boosting confidence, and the above tips and tricks. These will get you as close to perfection in public speaking as humanly possible.

Amanda Winstead  is a writer focusing on many topics including business and professional development. Along with writing she enjoys traveling, reading, working out, and going to concerts. If you want to follow her writing journey, or even just say hi you can find her on  Twitter .

Disclaimer: this article includes a paid product promotion.

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How to Give a Speech Without Preparation

Last Updated: May 29, 2023 Approved

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 88% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 62,884 times.

Public speaking is daunting for many people, and having little time to prepare just increases the pressure. If you're called on to give a speech at a wedding, funeral, or other similar situation, stick to pre-set ideas like personal anecdotes and quotations, and keep things brief. If you have to give a speech in a professional situation, follow a tried-and-true method for quickly organizing your thoughts to keep things to the point. Take a breath, stay confident, and you can deliver an effective speech on the spot.

Using an Anecdote

• At a wedding, you could tell a funny story about growing up with the bride or groom.
• At a funeral, you could tell a story about how kind or generous the deceased was, or about how they influenced you.

• For example, imagine you're giving a toast at Frank's 70th birthday. You could say something like: “They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. Frank here's proving them wrong. Who else would have the courage to start running marathons in retirement?”

• For example, if you're toasting the groom at a wedding, stick to just two good stories about your friendship.
• If you see people in the audience do things like turn away, talk to each other, check their phones or watches, or fidget in their seats, you might be rambling on and losing their attention.
• If this happens just quickly cut to your main point and say “thank you” as a way to close.

• You can also look out in the audience and find a few friends or people who seem supportive, and focus on them.
• If you're nervous, you could also try the old standby of imagining everyone in the audience naked!
• Above all, just remind yourself that most people will naturally admire the courage of someone who shows the confidence to get up and speak in front of a crowd.

Creating a Quick Speech Structure

• If you don't have time to write even a few notes, just make a quick mental outline, telling yourself something like: “First I'll say how generous Jim is. I'll tell the story about the time he fixed my flat tire in the middle of the night, then the one about how he baked me a birthday cake when I was sick in bed with the flu.”

• A moving story
• A convincing fact or statistic
• An inspiring quotation

• Begin by saying that casual Fridays boost morale, lead to greater productivity, and will make your company seem up to date.
• Follow up by acknowledging that casual Fridays mean that employees will appear less professional at the end of the week, and that they may need guidance on what kind of casual clothing is acceptable.
• End with your position that since most client meetings happen early in the week, casual Fridays overall will be good for your company and not create a disruption.

• You could start off with something like: “I know we've all been thinking about casual Fridays, and there are a lot of opinions out there. Let's get the conversation going by airing some of those. Does anyone have any questions, or want to share their point of view?”
• You can also call on someone in particular, if you want or need to: “Frank, you've been with us the longest. Why don't you start?”

Using the PREP Method for a Topical Speech

• Begin by saying you think casual Fridays are good because they boost employee morale.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ https://debate.uvm.edu/NFL/rostrumlib/impcox0998.pdf
• ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/impromptu-speech-1857493
• ↑ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/how-to-impromptu-speech/
• ↑ https://www.toastmasters.org/Resources/Video-Library/impromptu-speaking

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10 top tips for delivering an impromptu speech

No time to prepare take heart – and take note..

For many of us it’s the worst-case scenario – suddenly having to deliver an impromptu presentation. Being asked to speak in public is a major challenge for many leaders. Being asked to speak spontaneously as well as publicly can catapult the task straight into the very-difficult, to-be-avoided-at-all-times-I’d-rather-die category. The negative possibilities appear grave – your brain freezes, you mumble incoherently, or you appear to lose all gravitas.

Yet these scenarios happen all the time – introducing yourself at networking events, giving a toast at a company party, unexpectedly being pulled into a meeting to give an update, having a colleague directly turn to you in the middle of a presentation for input or being asked an unexpected question on a panel.

While you may wish for thorough preparation, giving an  extemporaneous  speech can mark you out as an excellent communicator. It’s how you handle yourself when you are least prepared that often demonstrates your leadership and influencing abilities.

Here are 10 top tips for performing – and presenting – under unexpected pressure.

• Be confident – look up, breathe deeply, say to yourself something positive – ‘I’m going to be fine’.
• Focus on the audience – Every presentation, including impromptu ones, need to be audience centric. The audience will be on your side – focus on what will be useful to them.
• Less is more – Avoid the tendency to ramble. An audience is far more likely to listen if you stay on target and are succinct. In fact, they’ll love you for it. Keep it short and to the point. Remember the Power of 3 – stick to three key points.
• Have a structure – Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; tell them what you told them. In the main section use a simple structure. For example:
• Past / Present/ future
• Cause / Effect / Remedy
• Before / The Event / The Result
• Primacy and recency – The audience will remember the first and last things you say. Make sure these are therefore powerful and linked to your key message.
• Talk conversationally – imagine you are speaking to your best friend and let yourself be authentic and natural.
• Personalise your speech & have a relevant story . Share from personal experience. No need to research, no need to investigate, and no need to memorise anything. When in doubt about what to say, just tell a story from your past related to the situation. Stories are memorable.
• Demonstrate powerful body language – Stand tall on both feet, resist the urge to slump or fiddle, use big gestures, smile and get eye contact with your audience.
• Use a credible voice tone – Go slowly! Hurrying will increase any feelings of unease you have. Take your time. Breathe deeply. Deliver your words slowly and use pauses.
• Turn your impromptu session into a Q&A session – For lengthier impromptu speeches re-frame the session as a Q&A session, which are probably easier for you to answer individually and breaks a session up into a series of very small impromptu interventions. Also, the content comes directly from the audience, so you are guaranteed to deliver what they are seeking.

Whilst we can still enjoy the famous tongue-in-cheek Mark Twain quote ‘it usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech’, you now know what to do when confronted by the dreaded impromptu business presentation. Now all you have to do is practise on the edge of discomfort.

Appeared in Management Today – April 2018

Previous post authenticity: how to be genuine when you present, next post how to engage an audience in 3 minutes flat, contact jeremy:.

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3 Ways to Structure a Speech the Professional Way

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking , Speech Writing

The Public Speaking sector has grown and soared. We all know what Public Speaking is and at some point in our school or work life have been faced with the challenge of presenting something or more popularly – talking about yourself or some other similar topics.

Sometimes you get a chance to prepare sometimes you don’t. Regardless of that fact, what you speak leaves an impression. Let’s try to make sure that it is a good one!

Structuring your speech is a way to consolidate information in a manner to make it more understandable and engaging. It is a great way to build up to important points and make your transitions more seamless and natural.

How do we go about this?

Public Speakers have different communication styles and even though every style has a unique approach and every speaker has their own process, we are going to try and explore some methods and tricks which can help you build and structure your speech in a more organised and systematic manner.

Since Public Speaking has been integrated into our lives so firmly, I thought it best to focus on the two main umbrellas of Speeches – Prepared and Unprepared.

No. This does not reflect the prepared of the speaker.

Prepared Speech

Have you ever been asked to speak at an assembly, give a keynote address or at the most basic level: seen a speaking competition?

These types of speeches give you time to prepare and are usually on a topic which has educational or entertainment factors.

Prepared speeches are well researched, rehearsed speeches. The speaker receives the topic / is intimated about the speech well in advance to make the content more concise and relevant to the audience.

Prepared speakers have the luxury of working on their speaking skills and build them based on what their speech demands. Be it their tonality, body language, voice modulation and all the other things that work into creating and executing a great speech.

If you are looking to build on your voice modulation and tonality, then look no further! We’ve written an expensive article just on that: 8 Essential Tips on Voice Modulation and Tonality.

How to Structure a Prepared Speech

1. stick to the classic.

What is the classic way?

Let’s go back to school. Do you remember the time when you first learned to write an essay? Maybe this will jog your memory:

Introduction Body Conclusion

Yeah, I think that should about do it! 🙂

This method of structuring your speech is the most basic and direct way of structuring your speech. It lays a solid foundation but there is a lot more than three topics that need to be covered while structuring your speech so my advice would be to check out the other methods as well.

Introduction

An introduction holds about 10-15% (it is an estimate, I am a public speaker not a mathematician, give me a break) of your speech’s content and time. A solid introduction can make and break your speech. Now there are millions of ways you can begin your speech, lets look the ones which help you build a strong foundation.

1. Audience Engagement

There is no surprise in the fact that you need to engage your audience. However, it isn’t really necessary to get them and keep them hooked from the very first word you utter because believe it or not, they will zone out.

So how do you engage the audience? Simple. Understand their demographic. Find out what interests them, figure out a way to connect their interests to your speech.

Pro Tip: Try not to create or imply a disconnect with your audience. Even if you are 50 and your audience is 13 or vice versa. It is best not the address the obvious. You may accidentally create a disconnect in your speech. For example: “Your generation was/is used to XYZ and (TOPIC) may not be of great importance to you but let me try to show you why it (the topic) is of significant importance.”

Why should we not create a disconnect?

To engage your audience you need to be able to connect with them, in other words: find common ground and by establishing a difference between the two parties doesn’t really work. Don’t forget the fact that you are the only active participant and a differentiation highlighted from your end may not work to your advantage.

Understanding and analysing your audience can go a long way for you when preparing for or delivering your speech. Check out our video to figure out how to analyse your audience.

2. Answer the who and why.

To complete your introduction the two main questions you need to answer are: Who are you and Why are you here?

Who are you?

The answer is pretty simple right? Not really. We need to find a way to make you sound qualified and yet not boastful all while keeping this section of your introduction to a sentence or two at the most.

Remember, the Master of the Ceremony would have already introduced you. There is no need to state every achievement. Instead what we can do is find out your most relevant achievement / qualification and mention that in brief.

Why are you here?

As much as the narcissist in you and I wants to believe that this question expects an answer specific to the speaker, we are wrong.

Speaking about a sliver of the topics you are going to touch in your speech is a great start to your introduction.

Pro Tip: Following up with this after the previous question gives you a great chance to shift the focus from yourself and segue into the topic at hand.

Here is the meat of your speech and it is the section your audience will be in contact with the most. Lets work on a sound way to go about getting the most out of it.

1. Research

You have had the chance to work on and build your content the best you can and even though the procrastinator in you wants to watch one more episode. Lets get cracking!

A well researched speech can do wonders for you! For starters, it can boost your credibility and make the audience actually invested in the content you are providing and another added benefit is that your confidence would be at its peak because you are sure of all the stats, all the data and information.

Sounds really promising doesn’t it? Try it. The hours you put in hunched over books or starting at screens just to build the right form of content with everything fact checked will be worth it.

2. Organisation

You have your data ready, how do you organise it? Check out the chart below:

Personal Anecdote Topic Sub-topic – relevant to your area of expertise Current Trends / Career / Anything you found cool Your experiences Build to a general conversation

By following the above chart you can build a great body which will cover all possible topics and sub-topics of your speech and will also give you the opportunity to hit multiple touch points.

Pro Tip: Always hold back on a little information instead of spilling all the beans if you are having a Q&A session after or during your speech. It will help satiate the audience and you would still be able to get your point across with the same confidence and surety as you did in your speech.

Remember, just because it is a different section of your speech doesn’t mean that the tips and ideas of the other sections do not apply.

Conclusions are simple. Even though there is this unbelievable pressure to make a lasting impact, sometimes I believe, if you content is engaging enough, you don’t need the flare and pompous show of quotes, rhetorical questions, cliff hangers and other techniques.

These techniques albeit extremely helpful and when used and combined aptly give out amazing results, lets focus on the main content of your conclusion:

People usually say that your conclusion should summarise your whole speech, but how do you go about doing that? Do you list things down that you covered? Screen the outline of your speech? Please. Don’t.

Here is an example of summarising and building to a close to help you get an idea of how to go about it:

With the end of the world seeming like a very plausible occurrence, we need to do something for mankind’s survival, and do it sustainably. The windmills, the solar energy innovation, the plastic free lifestyle, they are all just small individual measures taken by small, tiny species on a small, tiny planet. It is time we face the music and realise that we aren’t killing nature but ourselves. Nature is dynamic. It can adapt and survive. We have become so self-centred that we think just because we can’t live, nothing can.

Notice the various topics (windmill, solar energy, plastic free lifestyle) were mentioned and got together but the conclusion isn’t just that, it brings out the essence of the topic – climate change.

The last line isn’t a quote but a simple observation which is sufficient to close a conversation but it still gives the audience something to think about, something to connect with while building their own opinions.

If you are interested in checking out closing lines and quotes, honestly, there is nothing wrong in that. They are a tool just like others. It is up to you to figure out what suits you the best. Here is an extensively researched article by us on the same: 50 Speech Closing Lines (& How You Can Create Your Own) The Ultimate Guide.

2. Points and Lists

Working on structuring your speech can be taxing and fun at the same time. Some people are a natural, some learn with experience and some find a little bit of research to go a long way.

The Intro | Body | Conclusion method is the most popular one and a favourite among professionals. But after a few years of experience people tend to get used to writing speeches and stop segregating their speech.

But then how do they write it and divide it so perfectly? Here is how:

When using this method, you need to have your research and content ready and in place. Along with that study the demographic as well. The next step is to follow a systematic order.

How do you find out the order?

This section may sound tricky but is fairly easy.

• Introduction to the Main Theme.
• Introduction to your area of expertise (do not focus on you but what you work on).
• Current Trends and other sections of the topic that you think would help your audience.
• What is the future of the given topic?
• Go back to the main theme.

While this is a rough outline of what you can work on, lets make it less vague by working on points for the example given before about climate change. Here is how the points might look:

1. Climate Change 2. Latest affect (major) of it on humans – Ozone Layer, Rashes, Asthma, Etc,. 3. What can we do about it? 4. Renewable Energy 5. Windmill – Benefits and usage 6. Solar Energy – Benefits, projects, innovation. 7. What can an individual do? 8. Plastic free lifestyle – what it is and how does it help? 9. Working on things and speaker’s point of view.

Now that you have know the points you need to cover and speak about it becomes fairly easier to build your speech.

The added benefit of this method is that you don’t really need to work on transitions because as and when you move from point to point you begin to find a way to connect the previous one to the next one.

Please remember that just because there are 5 points listed here as the possible avenues you can take, it does not mean you limit yourself at 5 or force yourself to reach 5. Each topic, each speech, each speaker is different and you are the best judge for your speech’s preparation. Who knows when inspiration may come knocking. It is best to keep an open mind and door. 🙂

Unprepared Speech

Have you been ever called up in class randomly to speak about a topic? Or at a new job to “introduce yourself”? Well what you just did there was give an unprepared speech. To make it more clear, it is known by multiple names: impromptu, improv, extempore, JAM (just a minute) and even as simple as on the spot speech.

An unprepared speech is usually for a short duration (1-2 minutes) and is on an easy topic that doesn’t require much preparation or research. Topics could be personal like an introduction or they may be related to current and popular trends.

Check out this article to get various impromptu speech ideas!

How to Structure an Unprepared Speech

You can follow a simple flow:

For a better understanding, I have written this short speech to help you build your skills on impromptu speeches.

The topic I have taken is: “What defines you?”

What is a definition but something that limits you? It is strict, rigid and set in stone. If I define myself to be a person of life and joy, does that mean I don’t ever have low days? If I define myself to be hardworking, organised, focused, am I suddenly not allowed to relax, unwind, make mistakes and be human? I am life, I am colour, I am the gloomy rain and I am the storm that comes with it, I am many things but what I am not is a definition.

PS. I had time to write this out and fit it perfectly to the 4 points given, remember that even with experience, many people don’t usually get this sound a structure. It takes a lot of practice and consistency to become an efficient speaker and no one expects the other to be one. It is okay to fumble and mess up, as long as you keep working towards your goal!

Organising your thoughts

In the moment there will be multiple things that will rush through your mind. Here is where your decisiveness comes into play. Pick something that you know your can build on and work from there.

You may also be given some time to think about what you have to speak, use that to build on your topic and decide a direction. Once you have a train of thought all you need next is to work on your speaking skills which after all develops with practice and practice alone.

Final Thoughts

Structuring you speech the way the professionals do it is a great way to build and challenge yourself. A structure maybe be one element of a speech but if even one point is out of place it sticks out like a sore thumb.

At the end, all you need to do is practice because I can’t claim anything about other things but in Public Speaking, practice is what makes perfect.

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Unprepared speeches can be mastered easily

To achieve good marks during the examination, you must study hard. To perform well on the sport field, you must practice. Presenting an unprepared speech is no different. It requires planning and practice. Remember – you can be an excellent orator, but without a good speech you are like a rugby player without a ball.

Take the anxiety out of unprepared speaking

The idea of delivering an unprepared speech makes children nervous and anxious. Dr Colinda Linde, a psychologist from Johannesburg, wrote in the Sarie magazine of 19 October 2016, that an anxious child can suffer from stomach pain, headaches, and even have sleepless nights. We know that children are emotional and sensitive creatures, therefore it is parents’ job to motivate them and calm them down. Is this easier said than done? No, not really. To manage unprepared speaking, you must practice. Many parents and children start to hyperventilate when they need to tackle an unprepared speech. Here is some advice:

How can I as parent help?

Make sure that you reduce the stress by making unprepared speaking fun. Children learn quickly when boring tasks and assignments are changed into fun activities. When younger children experience it as a game, and older children as a competition, it will be easier to think of ideas. To prepare younger kids to think on their feet, you can use a picture and let them tell a story about what they see. For older children you can have a game of orator roulette. Throw a few topics in a box and allow the whole family to participate. Everyone must draw a topic from the box. Then you decide whether you want to argue FOR or AGAINST the topic. You have 5 minutes to quickly decide on a striking introduction, 3 arguments, and a compelling conclusion. Then everyone gets the opportunity to present the ‘framework’ of their speech. During the next practice, you must include examples and reasoning to prove every argument. During the next practice you will include sources which you can thumb-suck as proof for your arguments. This can be a lot of fun!

For those children who haven’t had any practice up to date, start by getting them to practice speaking their mind and thoughts. For example: get them to write down the positive and negative experiences of the day and why they were positive or negative. Remember to make it fun.

Parents and children also spend a lot of time driving to school. Use this time to brainstorm ideas. If you see clutter next to the road, let everybody in the car mention 3 drawbacks of littering. That teaches children to think quickly and logically about things.

To improve learners’ reasoning skills, they can reason with parents about ‘why I want more pocket money’ or ‘why load shedding is good or bad.’

Praising children or rewarding them is a good idea.

Advantages of unprepared speaking

• It helps children speak their minds.
• Writing a speech is a form of art, and to be able to structure their thoughts will boost their confidence and help them with the skill of writing essays. That will improve their language marks.
• It helps with memorizing and concentration when children must study for exams and tests.
• It also improves their general knowledge and reading skills.

You must decide whether you want to argue FOR or AGAINST the topic

In most cases during unprepared speaking the topic will be given. You must determine whether you want to argue FOR or AGAINST the topic. Then you must formulate 3 arguments to prove your opinion. This may sound complicated, but it is simple if you use the following basic guidelines.

Last year’s topic for the Limpopo province for Gr 6-7 unprepared speeches was: ‘Role models are important for children’. You must consider the topic and ask yourself: “Do I think role models are important for children, or not, and why?” If you decide that role models ARE important, your decision is to argue FOR the topic. Thus, your topic will be ‘Role models are definitely important for children.’

Now you must formulate 3 reasons. Your reasoning will be as follows:

Firstly – Role models teach children responsibility

Secondly – Role models teach children to work hard

Thirdly – Role models teach children good values

Plan the time which you are going to spend on writing the speech

Since you only have ONE HOUR to write the speech, do research using the given sources and prepare the presentation of the speech. It is important to plan the process. Use 45 minutes to write the speech and search through the sources. Practice this process regularly.

Parents, provide your child with a topic and set a time limit. Let them decide whether they want to argue FOR or AGAINST the topic. Let them do research and look for sources. This will help them learn to work within a time limit and improve their research skills. Don’t criticize the speaker’s abilities. Rather motivate them to improve.

Plan the structure of a good persuasive speech

First address the CHAIRPERSON.

INTRODUCTION – keep it short and purposeful. The introduction must be striking to catch the attention of the adjudicators.

Chairperson

Stay-at-home mothers look after their children.

Fathers go to work every day to provide for their families.

Teachers in the classrooms make a difference in children’s lives.

Role models are not always Hollywood stars, but rather ordinary people.

Argument 1 starts with FIRSTLY. After your have stated your argument, you must support it with a quotation from one of the given sources. Very important – when you indicate the source reference, you must mention the name of the source, the heading of the article, the date of the article, the person quoted as well as their title and field of expertise.

Sources will be provided for orators, usually in the form of magazines, newspapers, or photocopies of internet information. The articles will be related to the topic. What you must practice is scanning or search-reading quickly. That will assist you to quickly spot an appropriate quotation that will support your argument. Then you must state that you agree or disagree with the quotation. Your own opinion is also very important. You must also mention two examples to prove your argument, and then you conclude with a sentence that summarizes your argument.

Firstly – Role models teach children responsibility.

Phillip Rushton, a psychologist from Pretoria,

Said in the article “Role models influence”,

Posted on 2 Febr 2020 on maroelamedia.co.za”:

“Role models teach children responsibility when they act responsibly by not ignoring a red light.”

Teachers teach us that hard work results in success, because what you sow you will reap.

If we neglect our schoolwork, we will perform poorly.

Parents set the example and teach us to do our chores diligently.

You will never see dad’s laptop and newspapers scattered on his bedroom floor!

Or that mom will leave the dirty dishes to pile up to the roof...! (Remember humour is always a winner)

(Conclusion): It is clear that good role models set examples to teach children to be responsible.

Now you follow the same route with the next two arguments.

Then you have a CONCLUSION for the speech which must connect with the introduction.

Mothers, Fathers and Teachers are just ordinary people to some of you.

But in fact, they are superheroes!

Children can have role models,

But rather choose ordinary people with extra-ordinary powers!

Petronell Vorster wrote articles on the website ‘Afrikaans.com’ about the process of writing persuasive speeches. She believes that when you use the correct structure, your speech won’t be a flop.

Be creative and use humour and current events

Humour, humour, humour – is the key to a successful speech.

As soon as you have stated your argument, you must mention one or two examples. Focus on your daily experiences and speak about things you know. Use humour. Your speech mustn’t be too long. So, concentrate on the structure and make sure that you use short sentences.

Good reading skills are your secret weapon

The more you read, the greater your general knowledge will become, and the better your examples will be. Read articles on all sorts of topics, jokes, fiction, poems, and proverbs. A love for reading must be cultivated from an early age. That will give you an advantage when it comes to writing speeches.

Melanie Hartgill, an educational psychologist, said on www.uitblinkers.co.za that an extensive vocabulary is very valuable. Dr Seuss said: “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you will go.”

Allow children to use technology

Besides reading books, magazines and newspapers, google can be used to search for articles and news reports. If you as a parent choose to allow this, let children practice under strict supervision. Children can also watch YouTube and TikTok videos. This knowledge can be helpful during creative writing.

Practice, practice, practice

• Another way to practice is to encourage children to read articles and news reports to family members. The more they practice, the less nervous they will be on the day of the orators’ competition.
• Practice in front of the mirror. That will help to monitor eye contact and facial expressions.
• Practice the handling of your notes or cue cards to assure that it comes naturally.

Never give up

Delivering an unprepared speech for the first time is nerve wracking. But don’t allow this to discourage your child. Avoid anxiety and reassure your child through planning and practicing beforehand. That will boost their self-confidence to make a great impression on the adjudicators.

Remember that the unprepared speech counts 80% of the final mark for the ATKV competition. Therefore, children must practice and persevere.

Henry Ford once said: “Failure is just the opportunity to start all over again – this time with more wisdom.”

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Coaching for Leaders

Leaders Aren't Born, They're Made

65: How to Prepare A Speech Without Panicking

Podcast: Download

To prepare a speech without panicking…

Consider yourself honored

• Many of my clients in the past have been less than enthusiastic about speaking opportunities.
• Not speaking (and building your communication skills in general) can really harm your career.
• Must Have Job Skills in 2013 from the Wall Street Journal .
• If you can learn to speak at least reasonable well, you can influence your work, decisions, direction, and so much more.
• A lot of people fear speaking – but you can do it!

Stay away from the computer

• Don't start with PowerPoint or Keynote when planning a presentation.
• You only make it more likely you will read from slides.
• It's likely you'll draft much of the presentation before considering the overall goal.
• Slides are NOT the presentation – they are just there to enhance it. YOU are the presentation…so start there.

Ask yourself, “What's the purpose of this presentation?” Three likely zones – which pertains to your talk (might be more than one):

Ask yourself, “What do I want someone in the audience to say about my talk at lunch?”

• It's important for us to think through how we want our talk to be remembered.
• It's also important that it's memorable enough to be discussed later.
• We all have limited bandwidth these days.
• Start the mind map with the answer to the previous question – and work backwards.
• Use paper, a dry erase board, or a tool like iThoughtsHD .

Examples, examples, examples, examples, examples…

• People remember examples, stories, evidence, demonstrations, experiences, etc.
• Don't be fooled – content almost always trumps delivery (see CFL episode #38 )
• Share stories whenever possible (see CFL episode #51 )

Prepare to change the world…seriously.

• Stay home or get someone else to do it if you're not game for this.
• Sin by Silence is a great example of a project (and speaking) where a few people have change the world.

One Coaching for Leaders article is showing up weekly in your inbox – stay connected with the show mid-week and keep getting ideas and tools that will keep you moving forward. If you're not already receiving the weekly articles, you can subscribe at this link .

Thank you to Barbara Swanson, Michele Coble, Annie Grenon, and Pam Uzelac Brown for liking our Facebook fan page !

If this show has been valuable to you, please rate this show on iTunes to help others find it for the first time.

Wherever you are in the world, whatever is on your agenda today, take one idea from this show to engage and develop someone you lead.

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• EXPLORE Random Article

How to Mentally Prepare Yourself for School

Last Updated: May 4, 2023 References

This article was co-authored by Katie Styzek . Katie Styzek is a Professional School Counselor for Chicago Public Schools. Katie earned a BS in Elementary Education with a Concentration in Mathematics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She served as a middle school mathematics, science, and social studies teacher for three years prior to becoming a counselor. She holds a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in School Counseling from DePaul University and an MA in Educational Leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. Katie holds an Illinois School Counselor Endorsement License (Type 73 Service Personnel), an Illinois Principal License (formerly Type 75), and an Illinois Elementary Education Teaching License (Type 03, K – 9). She is also Nationally Board Certified in School Counseling from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. There are 20 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 80,017 times.

School can be a bummer, but your grades shouldn't get you down. Getting organized and turning assignments in on time make a big difference. But this isn't just about homework. This is about your future. Through mental preparation you can gain a better understanding of yourself. You'll feel much more relaxed if you are on the ball, and your grades will reflect your efforts.

Meeting Basic Needs

• Sleep deprivation can increase your stress and lead to a panic response or bad attitude, both of which can hurt your in-class performance. [3] X Research source
• Insufficient sleep can also interfere with your memory formation and the positive effects of learning. [4] X Research source

• Blueberries
• Nuts and seeds
• Whole Grains
• MSG rich food
• Precooked foods
• Processed foods
• Foods rich in salt
• Foods rich in sugar

• Visual learners can benefit from watching lectures, concept maps, color coding material, and using flash cards. [11] X Research source
• Auditory learners can assist learning by listening to soft background music, recorded lectures, repeating material aloud, and participating in study groups or discussion. [12] X Research source
• Hands-on learners can aid themselves by taking frequent study breaks, chewing gum while studying, working while standing, and doing demonstrations or fieldwork. [13] X Research source

• Night owls should consider a later class schedule. This will diminish the dread and fatigue you may associate with an early morning class. [15] X Research source
• Larks (early risers), should refrain from staying out late the night before difficult classes. A schedule beginning earlier in the day can improve your performance. [16] X Research source

• Highlighters
• Graph paper
• Binders/folders
• Planners/calendars

Calming Anxiety

• Organize a study group with your friends in a classroom you feel anxious. This can help ease your nerves.
• Perceived stress can have a greater influence on mental state than biology. [20] X Research source By perceiving a challenge as manageable, we can limit excessive worry or negative thought cycles. [21] X Research source

• Ask questions about your negative feelings and think about how you want to resolve them. This can lead you to a more positive state of mind. [23] X Trustworthy Source HelpGuide Nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free, evidence-based mental health and wellness resources. Go to source

• Pursing your lips can slow your breathing to a more natural rate. [27] X Research source

• Caffeinated tea
• Physical evaluations
• Presentations.

Taking Proactive Measures

• Writing out a plan of action can give you clarity and a sense of concreteness. [32] X Research source

• Mind maps and diagrams are useful tools for bundling complex or detail-heavy subjects. [35] X Research source

• Make use of habits that engage your learning style. For example, during lectures, hands-on learners can benefit from chewing gum.
• Talking with instructors the first day of class is a good way of establishing a relationship with them. This can be useful if you have difficulty with the subject down the road.

Expert Q&A

• A classroom environment is not optimal for everyone, but most people, with proper preparation, can have a successful in-class learning experience. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• Set reasonable objectives. Remember not to compare, as everyone. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
• Check with instructors for course specific advice. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1

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• ↑ http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/benefits-of-sleep/learning-memory
• ↑ http://www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/news/20071022/sleep-deprivation-stirs-up-emotions
• ↑ http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/35985.php
• ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2805706/
• ↑ http://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2014/food-for-thought-nutritions-effect-on-cognition/
• ↑ http://www.webmd.com/diet/eat-smart-healthier-brain?page=1
• ↑ http://success.oregonstate.edu/learning-corner/learning-college/concentration-distractions
• ↑ http://www.medicaldaily.com/dumb-and-dumber-7-foods-negatively-impact-your-brain-health-291764
• ↑ http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.mi.htm
• ↑ http://www.sleepdex.org/chronotypes.htm
• ↑ http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S2237-60892013000100002&script=sci_arttext
• ↑ http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/memory-problems
• ↑ https://www.mentalhelp.net/blogs/taming-anxiety-s-effect-on-memory/
• ↑ http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms/short-term-memory-impairment.shtml
• ↑ http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/social-anxiety-disorder-and-social-phobia.htm
• ↑ Katie Styzek. Professional School Counselor. Expert Interview. 26 March 2021.
• ↑ http://www.copdfoundation.org/What-is-COPD/Living-with-COPD/Breathing-Techniques.aspx
• ↑ http://www.anxietycoach.com/breathingexercise.html
• ↑ https://counselling.anu.edu.au/brochure/10-best-ever-anxiety-management-techniques
• ↑ https://www.examtime.com/blog/study-hacks/

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