DE Oracle @ UMUC

Can You Speak Extemporaneously?

Jim Golden

President/CEO of Golden Opportunity, Inc. & Adjunct Professor and Course Chair at UMUC

School of Undergraduate Studies

Published: January-February 2009

Category: » Online-pedagogy » Teaching-strategies

I have been asked to speak at many events and in contests, but the most interesting moments came when I had to speak extemporaneously. My impromptu, "spur of the moment" speeches are the ones that proved to be the most exciting—as well as the most challenging.

I recall one of these events; it was at a major Chamber of Commerce function with at least 500 people in attendance. Unbeknownst to me, I was called up to accept an award I had won.

I remember walking to the stage without a clue about what to say and even though people were clapping, I didn’t quite hear them.

I knew I had to think fast—very fast! The seconds seemed like minutes.

I began to rely on my early years of training as a Toastmaster. As soon as I was on the stage and in front of the microphone, I was the one in control. Once I realized this fact, I began to relax.

The first thing I did on stage was breathe (quietly, of course) to let oxygen get to my lungs and brain. Next, I paused to gain a split second to gather my thoughts and the opportunity to effectively express those thoughts. Then, I opened with a line of humor, which helped relax both me and the audience. I'm sure that all of this occurred in a time span of less than 5 seconds.

Nevertheless, I gave thanks, accepted my award, and left the stage with dignity.

When faced with a situation like this, what will you do?

Here are a few recommendations:

1. Walk to the podium or lectern with confidence. Since 90 percent of all communication is nonverbal, this important communication strategy will help set the tone for your audience reception and delivery. Confidence is infectious!
2. Smile and thank the host or moderator and audience. This will allow you to establish an immediate connection with your audience.
3. Repeat the question. Quite often, a speaker will forget the extemporaneous question and will respond with something totally unrelated; repeating the question will help you remember what you are being asked. It will also provide you with time to gather your thoughts.
4. Open with a one-line attention getter. This will help you get and maintain your audience's attention from the start. Your one-liner can be a brief fact or humorous statement.
5. Maintain eye contact. You are not expected to look at everyone, especially if there are a few hundred people in the room. Instead, break the room into sections of three (left, middle, and right) and focus on an individual or two within each section. These individuals are easy to locate because they usually nod their heads in agreement or will be smiling at you.
6. Stay within the required time. Chances are that there will be only one minute to convey your message, and you want to use this time wisely. Sometimes speakers believe that they are being asked to deliver a speech when they are not. Keep it simple and keep it short!
7. Conclude strong. Revisit your opening and share how the audience will benefit.

Note: To eliminate "filler" words such as "ahs," "ums," and the "you knows," just pause briefly instead of saying those words. Filler words are distracting and can make it harder for your audience to understand your message. The fewer filler words you use, the more polished and confident you will sound (even if you don’t feel that way inside).

Practice these techniques through various role-playing scenarios. They really work!

Being able to think quickly on your feet is an important skill. Even if you dislike public speaking or have an intense fear of it, following these tried and true techniques can help calm your nerves and boost your confidence when it's your turn to speak on the fly.