Lessons in Leadership: Impromptu Presentations

Professionals are asked all the time to speak “off the cuff.” Some people call it extemporaneous or impromptu speaking. It’s one of the greatest fears of even the most confident people, yet it doesn’t have to be this way if you change the way you think about communicating in your professional life.

Impromptu speaking opportunities can happen in meetings, conferences, sales presentations or public events like weddings and family parties. It can happen anywhere at any time. That’s the point. With that said, since it can happen at virtually any time, you shouldn’t be that surprised when it does. Consider the following tips and tools for impromptu presentations:

Be prepared. Yes, that’s right. Be prepared for the unexpected. If you assume it could happen, you will be less anxious. While you may not always know when you will be asked to speak, you can anticipate the probability based on the venue. For example, if you are attending a meeting, even if you are not on the official agenda, prepare for the likely scenario that you may be called upon to share your input on a particular topic. If you are attending a networking event, anticipate the types of questions you may be asked.

Keep it brief. No matter what you say, less is more. Say what you have to say and then sit down. Avoid the tendency to ramble and fill the quiet. Too often, we believe that if we say more, it shows our audience how smart we are or how much we know, when the opposite is true. Your audience will be more likely to lean in and retain what you are saying if you are clear and concise in your message.

Be a sponge. You should also be a sponge, which means to stay in the moment and absorb everything happening around you. When you do this, you are presented with content that you can play off of and make reference to. The other technique is to tie what other speakers have said to your comments. Agree, disagree or expand upon what has been said, which lets the audience and the other speakers know that you cared enough to truly listen to what was being said. So, if you stay in the game and don’t zone out, you will always be prepared for any situation.

Act the part. This has everything to do with confidence. If we continually remind our audience that we were not prepared to speak and apologize unnecessarily, it makes the audience feel uncomfortable and undercuts our message. Instead, be confident with both your verbal and non-verbal communication so you will be received as more credible and professional.

Be conversational. Too often, once we think of a speaking opportunity as a “presentation,” we have a negative visceral reaction which often causes unnecessary anxiety. Instead, if we view this impromptu situation as a “conversation,” it allows us to be more authentic and natural. Further, when we are conversational, we tend to go into story telling mode from a personal experience, which resonates well with any audience.

Focus on the Audience. The audience is on your side, so focus on what is important to them. Most people know you’ve been put on the spot and don’t expect you to spew a ton of facts, figures and statistics. They are expecting something short and sweet, not a dissertation. They are feeling your pain and empathizing with you. If you keep this in mind when you are asked to stand and deliver with little or no notice, you might actually learn to enjoy the experience.