Most of the time when you’re giving an impromptu speech, you’ll be singled out to say a few words on the spot. Since you’ll only have a few moments, preparing yourself is more about getting yourself in the right state of mind than it is knowing exactly what you’re going to say. If you really need to milk it, you can buy yourself some extra time by shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries or adjusting the microphone stand before speaking.
Assume that everyone around you wants to see you succeed. This will help put you at ease. Expecting yourself to fail will only destroy your composure and make you more fearful of your audience. Confront the reality of your situation to avoid being blindsided by panic. Accept that you have to give a speech and then focus all your resources on giving a good one.
Oftentimes, the more confident you make yourself appear, the more confident you’ll feel. Relax! Speaking in front of a crowd is not that big a deal. Even if you make a mistake, it’s not the end of the world.
Don’t just jump right into the main idea of your speech. Test the waters by getting used to speaking and sharing a little about yourself first.
Use simple sentences that follow a logical progression and enunciate your words carefully to keep yourself from getting tongue-tied. Slowing yourself down a little will give your mind time to catch up and formulate new ideas.
Two minutes will fly by once you start speaking. Despite your reservations about being put on the spot, you may actually find it harder to give a short speech than a long one.
A good way to give your speech a solid beginning, middle and end is to present details chronologically. For example start with “when I first became friends with John, he…”, follow that up with “now that we’re coworkers, we have more fun than ever…” and conclude with “I have no doubt that the future of our friendship will be just as entertaining. ” When describing personal experiences, avoid sharing opinions on irrelevant controversial subjects.
Humor is a great icebreaker and also makes it easier to hold your audience’s attention. Be sure any jokes you make are suitable for the age and demographic of your audience, as well as the occasion itself.
As with the rest of your speech, keep your conclusion brief. It’s alright to sign off with a simple “thank you for your time” or “let’s hear it for the newlyweds. ”
If you’re planning on making a specific request or appeal, as for a business conference, the end of your speech is the proper time to do it. The conclusion is the perfect occasion to come out with something especially heartfelt. Emotions will run high and the crowd will be moved by your sentiments.
You don’t have to thank every important figure at the event individually. A general expression of gratitude is all that’s needed. Be clear who you’re supposed to hand the microphone or floor off to so that you don’t end your speech by looking around in confusion. [13] X Research source
Impromptu speeches are mostly appraised by the willingness of the speaker to rise to the occasion. There’s no sense in being too critical of your performance since you’ll have had no time to work on it beforehand.
