how to make a good impromptu speech

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How to Give a Great Impromptu Speech

Last Updated: March 19, 2024 Fact Checked

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. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 409,780 times.

Most speeches are the result of careful planning, revision and practice. There may be times, however, when a situation demands that you give an impromptu speech with little or no time to prepare. When you find yourself in an unexpected public speaking scenario, you’ll be improvising what you say, which means you’ll have to be able to think on your feet. Following a basic structure, pacing yourself and staying composed will help you deliver an oration you can be proud of, or at least survive with minimal embarrassment.

Setting Up an Unexpected Speech

• 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.

Delivering an Effective Speech

• 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.

Ending on a High Note

• 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. [11] 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.

Expert Q&A

• Practice for unexpected speaking scenarios by volunteering to give impromptu speeches at casual events. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 2
• If you're using a microphone, stay within optimal range for your voice to be amplified. Don't move the microphone too close or too far away from your mouth. Thanks Helpful 15 Not Helpful 2
• While brainstorming, quickly come up with three or four main points to cover. Thanks Helpful 19 Not Helpful 4

Tips from our Readers

• Speak clearly and be confident. This will make you seem more credible even if some parts of your speech aren't as strong as others.
• Don't waste your time by writing full sentences, write bullet points and then expand on them when you give the speech.
• Make sure not to be too cocky or sound sarcastic, or you might not win over the audience.
• Use your own stories. Relate the topic to some of the moments in your life.

• Steer clear of subjects you don't know much about. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2
• Be careful not to offend your audience. Not only is it bad form and will make your speech be perceived as a failure, it could actually harm your standing among your acquaintances. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 3
• Take a moment to get your appearance in order before presenting yourself. Steal a quick glance in the mirror or have a trusted friend tell you if your hair is a mess, your shirt is untucked, you have food stuck in your teeth, etc. Thanks Helpful 11 Not Helpful 3
• Don't use generic, pre-written speeches pulled from the internet or oration guidebooks. These can easily come off as stilted and inorganic. Your audience will be able to tell if you're simply going through the motions. Thanks Helpful 10 Not Helpful 4

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ http://wittcom.com/how-to-develop-confidence-speaking/
• ↑ http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/how-to-impromptu-speech/
• ↑ http://www.askmen.com/money/body_and_mind_150/192b_better_living.html
• ↑ http://www.write-out-loud.com/how-to-use-humor-effectively.html
• ↑ https://speakingwithoutnet.wordpress.com/2012/02/08/ending-on-a-high-note-the-last-sentence/
• ↑ https://www.workingvoices.com/insights/presenting-how-to-react-when-you-make-a-mistake/

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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.

12 effective impromptu speech tips you should use

• Filed under: Featured articles , Public speaking articles , Public speaking tips and tricks , Speaking tips , Speech delivery , Speech preparation

An impromptu speech is something most people are afraid of even more than public speaking . There’s hardly any time to prepare, and, sometimes, this speech must be longer than just a few minutes.

So, what is an impromptu speech? An impromptu speech is a speech which is given without any thorough preparation. It is five- to eight-minute speech with a characteristically short preparation time of a couple of minutes.

This can be frightening, but it’s not the hardest of things. Today, I’ll give you 12 good tips you can use in the future. That said if you want even more information about impromptu speech and public speaking then definitely check out this list of the best public speaking books I have compiled for you.

Table of Contents

12 impromptu speech tips (short version)

Video: 12 effective impromptu speech tips you should use

Why give an impromptu speech? Here are the reasons:

• The actual speaker is running late or you have to give a speech totally last moment instead of the actual speaker.
• At a meeting , you are unexpectedly asked to give a longer overview of what’s happening.
• You are forced (or decide for yourself) to take part in a discussion (e.g., parents’ meeting).
• A cheering speech at a birthday party or other similar event (e.g., colleague’s birthday).
• An unexpected (or even agreed beforehand) interview .
• You must unexpectedly introduce yourself at an event or talk about your area of activity .
• Unexpected questions during a Q&A session following your presentation.

Remember that the better public speaker you are, the more people will be pointing in your direction, because no-one wants to go out there. So, get ready to be teased, „James, we all know you can do it so well…“

12 impromptu speech tips that will make you shine

1. a good speech has a structure.

There are several speech structures, but I use the one called the FAT system.

• F = Feeling . Express how you feel about the subject of your speech
• A = Anecdote . Tell a story related to it. If it’s funny, even better.
• T = Tie back . Link the story to the subject.

F = Feeling

Share your feelings about the subject. If it makes you sad, show it. If it makes you happy, express it with all your nature.

A = Anecdote

The anecdote doesn’t necessarily mean making a joke. Indeed, if your story is funny and related to the subject, that’s just great. Keep in mind that the make-a-point-tell-a-story approach usually works well.

T = Tieback

When you’re done with your story, keep in mind that now is the time to link it to the subject. For example: if your topic is „Your Favourite Car Brand“ and you told a good story about which bad (or good) cars you’ve come across, now is the time, to sum up, the topic pointing out why you chose a particular car brand.

2. Practice giving a speech

Mark Twain once said, „It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech“. In other words, it can be practiced. The more you practice and the more topics you go through, the easier it will be .

You can practice alone or with your friends. One of the ways to do it with your friends is to play a game. Scroll down for instructions!

As a side note, I wrote an article (with 10 effective tips) about how to practice a speech. You can read it here.

3. Go on stage and give speeches whenever you get an opportunity

The more experience you gain, the better you will be able to handle unexpected situations. You’ll also learn how to deal with tricky questions and smarty pants.

Recommended books

How to Deliver a TED Talk: Secrets of the World's Most Inspiring Presentations

Jeremy Donovan

Resonate: Present Visual Stories that Transform Audiences

Nancy Duarte

Confessions of a Public Speaker

Scott Berkun

Talk Like TED: The 9 Public-Speaking Secrets of the World's Top Minds

Carmine Gallo

The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right

Atul Gawande

The First 20 Hours: How to Learn Anything... Fast!

Josh Kaufman

By the way, I did my MA thesis on the fear of public speaking, in which I also studied the way in which the level of the fear of public speaking and the frequency of its occurrence is related. It revealed that the people who do public speaking more often suffer from the fear of public speaking significantly less than those who do it rarely.

Have a look at the figure below:

4. Believe you can do it

If you only focus on the idea of potentially failing, you focus on the wrong thing . You’re not the most important person at the moment of giving a presentation. Your listeners are. Anyway, if you don’t believe in yourself, why should I as a listener? Oftentimes, the audience is your allie , and you should keep that in mind at all times.

Why is the audience your Allie ? Because the better you do, the more they will benefit from your presentation.

5. You could mention it’s an impromptu speech

An impromptu speech is just like any other speech, that is, it’s not a good idea to start your speech with an excuse. If the listeners are aware of the situation anyway, it might be worth mentioning. Do it in a brief and professional manner and avoid futile apologies.

Briefly explain why the speech is improvisation and get to the subject. If you use the above-mentioned FAT structure, it’ll be much easier for you to give a good speech.

6. Don’t forget about humor

For example: if you mention that it’s an impromptu speech, make a joke about the situation . Already today, it would be a good idea to think of a funny story or two about yourself for such occasions.

At the same time, keep in mind that if you’re not particularly good at making jokes , don’t try to overdo it . Equally important, never say „I’m going to tell you a funny story“ because you set the expectations high. Just say that you’re going to tell a story, and if the audience finds it funny, great success!

7. Think of universal introductions or stories to use in the future

Getting started with a story is always a good idea, especially, if it’s a personal one. For example, you can start with a story of how you had to give a speech once and what went wrong.

Sometimes, it may happen that you have to give a speech so unexpectedly that there’s no time whatsoever to think of a story introducing the subject. In this case, after making an introduction, you can make a transition in the form of a joke about yourself.

For example, you could say, „Some of you will wonder how this story is related to my presentation. It’s not, really… I just had to give a speech so unexpectedly that this story was the first thing that sprang to mind. Speaking of the subject… (and you go on with the actual subject)“.

But there’s a lot more to it so I wrote a complete guide on how to make a speech introduction that grabs the attention which you can read here.

8. If you get stuck, pretend it’s a meaningful pause

Remember that one speaker from Ancient Greece once summed up the fundamental truths about public speaking tips:

• Speak clearly to be heard.
• Stand straight to be seen.
• Be quiet to be enjoyable.

Take your time and try to avoid unnecessary voiced sounds during the pause – most people won’t even realize there’s something going on.

9. Customize the topic and make it your statement

Sometimes, it’s the only solution. For example: if I’m unexpectedly asked to talk about maths for 15 minutes, I have to admit this is a subject I don’t know anything about.

So I have a couple of stories about how I wasn’t very good at maths at school and that there’s one thing I’m very good at when it comes to maths. Calculating percentages by cross-multiplying. Then, I’ll be talking about how it really helped me in practice and how the audience could use it.

To sum it up, if the subject is something you don’t know much about, you will adjust it a little and change the focus , talking about it from a perspective you feel more confident about.

10. In relation to your speech, find answers to the following five questions:

• What (or about what)?

For example: if you have to talk about the fact that you’re afraid to speak publicly, your speech could answer the following questions:

• Who are you?
• What have you done to cope with it and what could others learn from it?
• When did you succeed (or fail) in relation to the subject (add a short story here)?
• Where could your tips be used?
• Why is it important at all?

It’s essentially the same as the FAT structure but explained from another angle.

11. Turn your presentation into a Q&A session

If you have no idea what to say in the beginning, go for a Q&A session. For example, your topic is „How to Give a Speech“, but you don’t have any good idea. So you start with something like „Dear all, today, we’ll be talking about how to give a speech. How many of you have given an impromptu speech or done public performances unexpectedly? Yes, Paul, what were the circumstances?“

This way, you’ll get hints from the listeners about what you could talk about, and you can smoothly go over to your speech.

But if you say „Today, we’ll be talking about how to give a speech. First of all, you’ll be able to ask a few questions about what you find most important when it comes to our topic“, the questions asked by the listeners will give you an idea of what you should talk about.

Keep in mind that you have to encourage your listeners as they may be too shy to ask questions. If no-one asks a question, go back to one of the tips above.

12. Don’t blab all the time

To be brief is always a good thing . The longer you talk, the greater the likelihood that your speech becomes somewhat boring , and, as a result, the listeners lose interest.

An impromptu speech developing game you can play with your friends

It’s quite common to play different games in larger or smaller groups. The game I recommend is suitable for groups of all shapes and sizes.

• Beginner : On a piece of paper, each participant puts down a topic they are able to talk about for a minute or two, without preparation.
• Advanced : On a piece of paper, each participant puts down a completely random topic.
• Put all the topics together. Now, in turns, you pick one topic and start talking about it for about a minute or two, without preparation. If you pick the topic written by you, you put it back and pick a new one.

When one participant is finished, the next participant picks a new topic and starts with their speech.

• Other listeners shouldn’t interrupt the speaker during their speech.
• It is advisable to give feedback, especially by the person who has come up with the topic.

How does this game improve giving an impromptu speech?

First, you get used to talking about topics you don’t know anything about at a first glance.

Second, you get a wealth of experience in terms of how to customize a topic. For example: if you pick a topic entitled „My Trip to Spain“, but you’ve never been to Spain, you’ll be talking about „What I Could Do on my Next Trip to Spain“.

Third, you get feedback from other people about how you did. Pretty soon, you’ll discover that you’re actually much better than you think.

Finally, the more you play this game, the more comfortable you will feel in different situations . You will learn from experience, right?

An impromptu speech can be frightening, but it’s not the hardest of things. It’s all in your head, and you can start fixing it now.

Have a look at my 12 impromptu speech tips and think of the situations where you can use one or the other. And then… go on stage. First thing. The more you practice public speaking , the better you get.

Related questions

What is a persuasive speech? The main objective of a persuasive speech is to make your listeners do what you want them to do. For example, „buy my product“, „vote for me“, „believe what I’m talking about“, and so on. ( full article here)

What is the elevator pitch? An elevator pitch is a well-thought, meaningful, and repeatedly practiced brief (about 30-60 seconds long) overview of who you are, what you offer, and how your partner can benefit from it ( full article here ).

What is audience analysis? Audience analysis gives you the opportunity to get as much information about the background of your listeners as possible. Using this information, you can prepare your message so that it builds on the interests, needs, and expectations of your listeners. ( full article here )

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How to Give an Impromptu Speech (21 Ultimate Tips)

Giving a speech in front of an audience is one of the most common fears in the world. It’s right up there with public speaking and death. But, what if you’re put on the spot and have to give a speech? That is going to be a nightmare for most of us!

In this blog post, we will discuss 21 tips for giving an impromptu speech. Whether you’re in a meeting at work or caught off guard at a party, these tips will help you deliver your message with confidence and style!

1. Buy Yourself a Bit of Extra Time

2.  organize your thoughts, 3. remember the key points, 4. calm yourself down, 5. try to appear confident, 6. concentrate on the audience, 7. feel free to submit you aren’t prepared, 8. go for a short and bold introduction, 9. begin with a relevant story, 10. try to speak casually, 11. try not to rumble, 12. be aware of your tone, 13. don’t rush your speech, 14. use open body language, 15. keep it short, 16. use pauses impactfully, 17. a little humor often helps, 18. don’t try to be 100% perfect, 19. ask questions, 20. end with a strong conclusion.

Time is something that you never have enough of when you’re giving a speech. If possible, try to buy yourself an extra minute or two before you actually have to deliver your speech. This will give you time to gather your thoughts and calm your nerves.

If you’re feeling nervous about giving an impromptu speech, this will give you a chance to collect your thoughts and compose yourself before you have to speak.

There are a few ways you can do this:

Ask for clarification: If someone asks you to give a speech and you’re not sure what they want, ask for clarification. This will give you a few extra seconds to come up with an answer.

Say you need to think about it: If you’re given a topic at the last minute, say that you need time to think about it. This will buy you a few minutes to come up with a plan.

Make Your Way to Stage Slowly: Take your time walking to the stage. This will help you calm down and focus on your speech.

Once you’ve bought yourself some extra time, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to say.

Now you have a few extra minutes to organize your thoughts. The best way to do this is to come up with an outline for your speech. This will help you stay on track and make sure that you cover all the important points.

If you’re given a topic, try to brainstorm a few ideas before you start writing. If you have time, write your thoughts.

If you’re really struggling to organize your thoughts, try using a mind map. This is a visual way to brainstorm and can be a helpful tool for getting your ideas down on paper.

Once you have a general idea of what you want to say, it’s time to start crafting your speech.

When you’re writing a speech, it’s important to remember the key points. These are the most important things that you want to say and should be at the core of your speech.

If you’re giving an impromptu speech, try to focus on these key points. This will help you stay on track and make sure that you cover all the important information.

Some key points to remember:

The introduction: This is your chance to make a good first impression. Make sure you introduce yourself and catch the audience’s attention.

The body: This is where you’ll deliver the meat of your speech. Make sure you stay on topic and cover all the important points.

The conclusion: This is your chance to wrap up your speech and leave the audience with a memorable message.

Make sure you know these key points inside out. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, try focusing on one key point at a time. This will make it easier for you to stay focused and deliver a more cohesive speech.

Once you have the key points down, it’s time to start thinking about your delivery.

It is normal to feel nervous when you’re about to give a speech. However, it’s important to try and calm yourself down before you take the stage.

If you’re feeling nervous, there are a few things you can do to calm yourself down:

Deep breathing: This is a simple but effective way to calm your nerves. Focus on taking deep, slow breaths and you’ll start to feel more relaxed.

Visualize yourself giving a great speech: This might seem like a strange technique, but visualization can be really helpful in calming down. Picture yourself giving a great speech and you’ll start to feel more confident.

Talk to someone else before you speak: If you’re feeling nervous, talking to someone else can help. This will take your mind off of the speech and give you a chance to relax.

The more relaxed you are, the better your speech will be.

One of the most important things you can do when giving a speech is to appear confident. This will help put the audience at ease and make them more likely to listen to what you have to say.

There are a few ways that you can appear confident:

Make eye contact: When you’re speaking, make sure you maintain eye contact with the audience. This will help show that you’re inquisitive in what you’re saying.

Smile: A smile is a great way to appear friendly and confident. It is also a great way to hide your nerves.

Pretend you’re speaking to a friend: If you find it difficult to make eye contact, try pretending that you’re talking to a friend. This will help you relax and make it easier to connect with the audience.

When you’re giving a speech, it’s important to focus on the audience. This will help you connect with them and make sure that they’re paying attention to what you’re saying.

There are a few things you can do to focus on the audience:

Make eye contact: Again, this is one of the best ways to connect with an audience. Make sure you make eye contact with as many people as possible.

Engage with the audience: Try to engage with the audience as much as possible. This means making jokes, asking questions, and connecting with them on a personal level.

Talk to them, not at them: It’s important to remember that you’re talking to the audience, not at them. Make sure you address them directly and keep your tone conversational.

When you focus on the audience, they will be more likely to listen to what you have to say.

If you feel like you’re not prepared for your speech, don’t be afraid to submit. Most people will understand if you say that you didn’t have time to prepare.

Actually, the audience will have less expectation if you say that you aren’t prepared. And they will appreciate your honesty.

So don’t try to wing it, because it will only make things worse. If you submit, at least you tried.

As we said earlier, your introduction is your chance to make a good first impression. So make sure you take advantage of it!

Keep your introduction short and to the point. Don’t try to be too funny or clever, because chances are high that it will only backfire.

And most importantly, don’t give away too much information about what you’re going to be speaking about. The introduction is supposed to be a teaser for the main event.

So make sure you keep it short, sweet, and to the point.

If you have a relevant story, starting your speech with it can be a great way to captivate the audience.

Starting with a story will help you connect with the audience on a personal level and make them more interested in what you have to say.

Plus, it’s a great way to break the ice if you’re feeling nervous. Besides, it will help you to get into the groove of your speech nicely.

But if you don’t have a relevant story, don’t force it. Don’t feel like you have to start with a story just because everyone else does. Just go with a simple intro.

If the event is not a formal one, it is better to speak casually. You will be remembered as a speaker who spoke comfortably and informally.

When you speak casually, it also gives off the impression that you’re more confident and relaxed. This will help put the audience at ease and make them more receptive to what you have to say.

However, if you are speaking in a formal event, you should adjust your tone and manner of speech.

Rumbling is a common occurrence when giving an impromptu speech. And it’s easy to understand why it happens. When you’re nervous you sometimes start shaking and you lose control over your voice.

Usually, speaking too quickly is the main cause of rumbling. So if you find yourself rumbling, try to slow down your speech. Take a few deep breaths and focus on speaking slowly and clearly.

Your tone of voice is just as important as the words you use. In fact, your tone can sometimes convey more meaning than the words themselves.

If you’re feeling nervous, your tone will likely reflect that. If you sound too nervous, the audience will be hesitant to trust what you have to say.

Make sure you stay aware of your tone and adjust it accordingly. However, don’t overthink it and just speak naturally.

When you’re feeling nervous, it can be tempting to rush through your speech. But this is a big mistake!

Rushing will only make you sound more nervous and it will be difficult for the audience to follow what you’re saying.

Plus, if you rush through your speech, you’re more likely to make mistakes. So take your time and speak at a comfortable pace.

Your body language can be a great way to convey confidence and authority.

If you stand up straight, look the audience in the eye, and gesture while you speak, you will come across as more confident.

However, if you slump over or avoid eye contact, it will appear that you’re unsure of yourself. So make sure you use your body language to your advantage.

When you’re giving an impromptu speech, it’s important to keep it short and sweet. No one wants to listen to a long, drawn-out speech.

The best way to keep your speech short is to focus on one main point. And make sure you get to the point quickly.

The audience will appreciate your brevity and you’ll be more likely to hold their attention.

If you need to take a pause while speaking, don’t just stand there awkwardly. There are a few things you can do to make your pauses work for you:

Use pauses for emphasis: If you want to emphasize a certain point, take a pause before and after you make it.

Pauses for transitions: Pauses can be a great way to transition from one topic to another.

Use pauses for comedy: If you’re telling a joke, pausing before and after the punchline will make it funnier.

Humor is a great way to add appeal to your speech and connect with the audience. But it’s important to use it appropriately.

Don’t force it: If you’re not naturally funny, don’t try to be. It will only make things worse.

Know your audience: Make sure you know your audience before you crack any jokes. What might be appropriate for one group of people might not be appropriate for another.

Use self-deprecating humor: If you want to make yourself more likable, use self-deprecating humor. This is a great way to show that you’re comfortable with yourself and that you don’t take yourself too seriously.

No one is perfect and you definitely don’t need to be when giving an impromptu speech. In fact, trying too hard to be perfect can actually make things worse.

When you’re nervous, it’s normal to make a few mistakes. So don’t worry if you forget what you were going to say or if you stumble over your words sometimes.

The audience will understand that you’re nervous and they’ll be more forgiving if you make a mistake. Just relax and go with the flow.

Questions are a great way to engage the audience and get them involved in the discussion.

You can ask general questions or question specific members of the audience. Just make sure you keep things moving and don’t let the conversation drag on for too long.

Your conclusion is the last impression that you leave with the audience. So make sure it’s a good one!

Make sure you recap your main points and remind the audience why they should care about what you have to say.

And if you want to leave them with something to think about, end with a call to action or a powerful quote.

If you’re looking for a good way to start your speech and get the audience on board, here are 21 of our favorite tips. But don’t worry if they all seem too difficult to follow!

We tried to include some practical advice that will help you feel confident no matter where you stand in the room. The best part is that you don’t have to memorize anything. Just focus on delivering your message in a clear and concise way and you’ll be sure to engage the audience.

We hope these tips will help the next time you’re called upon to give an impromptu speech! And remember, practice makes perfect. So the more speeches you give, the better you’ll become for such an event.

Related Posts:

How to Give an Impromptu Speech

No Time to Prepare? Don't Despair

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An impromptu speech is a speech that you have to make without much or any time to prepare. In life, this can happen when you attend special events, like weddings or celebrations. In school, teachers use impromptu speeches as  homework assignments to help you develop communication skills and to help you prepare for those future life surprises.

While this may seem like a cruel trick from a student's point of view, it actually builds confidence and is great preparation for life.

Rarely will you be asked to stand and deliver a speech with no warning and no time to organize your thoughts. This would be unusual in the classroom unless the teacher is attempting to make a point about the importance of preparedness.

At some point in your life, however, you may be asked to speak without notice. There are a few things you can do to avoid panic and embarrassment.

• Grab a pen and a piece of paper. If you have a few moments before your speech is expected to begin, grab a writing utensil and something to write on, whether it's a napkin, envelope, or the back of a receipt you have on hand, and jot down a few thoughts .
• Highlight a few interesting or significant points.  Keep in mind, your impromptu speech doesn't have to be long. A little-known fact about effective speeches is that if you start with a good line and then end with a really great punch, the speech will be perceived as a total success. So the beginning and ending markers are critical. The middle portion of your speech should relate to the event you're attending or the class assignment, but if you have to choose one great moment, your ending line is particularly important. If you can walk away gracefully, your speech will be a hit, so keep your big zinger for last.
• Try to memorize key points. If you have time before your speech, create an outline of the major themes or points and commit it to memory with a memorization trick, like an acronym. Don't try to remember the entire speech in detail like this; just remember important points.
• Hijack the topic.  There is an old trick that politicians use when they're being interviewed on TV, and once you realize this, you can use it yourself. They think of questions ahead of time (or topics to discuss), prepare some talking points, and talk about those, despite the topic or question they're given. This is a handy trick when you're facing a hard question or asked to discuss a topic with which you're unfamiliar.
• Remember you're in charge of this time.  Your goal is to deliver a one-sided conversation, off the cuff, so you are in complete control. Relax and make it your own. If you want to make this a funny story about your pesky little brother who always bothers you during homework time, then do it. Everyone will applaud your effort.
• Feel free to acknowledge that you have not prepared for a speech. If you are speaking in front of friends or family, it may ease your nervousness to express your lack of preparation. This should not be an attempt to garner pity, but rather a way to put yourself and your audience at ease. Then, take a deep breath before you begin speaking. Zone out the audience or choose someone specific to focus on, whichever makes you more comfortable.
• Begin with your introductory sentence, elaborate, then start working your way to your ending sentence.  Fill in the middle space with as many points as you can, elaborating on each one as you go. Just concentrate on the zinger you've reserved for the end.
• As you deliver your speech, concentrate on diction and tone.  If you are thinking about this, you won't be thinking about the eyes watching you. Your mind can't think about too many things at once, so think about breathing, enunciating your words, and controlling your tone, and you'll maintain more control.

What to Do If You Draw a Blank

If you suddenly lose your train of thought or draw a complete blank, there are a few you can do to keep from panicking.

• Pretend you're pausing on purpose. Walk back and forth slowly, as if you're letting your last point sink in.
• There is always a jokester or friendly person who will stand out in the crowd. Make eye contact and try to draw a response from him or her while you think.
• If you need more time to think, you may want to ask the audience a question. Have a few prepared ahead, like "Do you have any questions," or "Can everyone hear me okay?"
• If you still can't remember what you were going to say, make up a reason to pause the speech. You can say, "I'm sorry, but my throat is very dry. Can I please get a glass of water?" Someone will go to get you a drink, and you will have time to think of two or three points to talk about.

If these tricks don't appeal to you, think of your own. The goal is to have something ready for every possible scenario ahead of time. If you know you may be asked to give an impromptu speech soon, try going through the entire preparation process with a few common speech topics .

When caught off guard, many people can suffer extreme anxiety about speaking off the cuff. That's why the best speakers are always prepared.

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Impromptu speech outline: 7 formats

How to prepare for an impromptu speech.

By:  Susan Dugdale  

Using a speech outline to prepare an impromptu speech seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? After all, impromptu means of the moment, spontaneous, without preparation. So, what is an impromptu speech outline?

Quite simply it’s the structure, or format of your speech. It’s how you order your material from the time you open your mouth at the beginning of your speech, until you close it at the end.

An outline doesn’t need to be a written document or put on note cards to be effective. An experienced impromptu speaker will have an assortment of structural patterns memorized. When they’re asked to speak, they’ll mentally flick through them and choose the most appropriate.

Following an outline lessens the possibility of rambling aimlessly off topic. And, given my flibberty gibbet tendencies it's vital! Maybe yours too?☺

What's on this page

Seven structural patterns , each with example impromptu speech outlines and a printable blank outline template to download.

How to use these structural patterns : guidelines for practice

About the printable impromptu speech outlines

How to reframe a topic : examples of openings showing how to adapt a topic.

The patterns are: 

• Point, Reason, Example, Point (PREP)

Past, Present, Future

Problem, solution.

• Pros/Cons, Positives/Negatives, For/Against, Advantages/Disadvantages

Cause, Effect, Remedy

• Before/The Event/The Result

Local, National, International

 How to use these structural patterns

To become a competent impromptu speaker you need to get familiar with them. So initially just play with them for practice either with a friend or by yourself.

• Get a subject to talk about. (Click for 150 impromptu speaking topics ).
• Choose yourself a pattern to form the body of speech.
• Now go. Open your mouth and speak.

You’ll need an introduction followed by your material organized according to whatever pattern you’ve selected, and then a conclusion.

Keep it simple. You don’t need to try hard to say devastatingly intelligent insightful things. The starting goal is to get used to thinking, then speaking, without a great deal of prior preparation.

This is impromptu speaking, ‘off the cuff’, largely spontaneous. Be honest and where you can, add personal stories. Your own experiences, plus your knowledge of the subject, will establish rapport and credibility. Don’t be afraid to experiment, or 'fail', as that's how you'll learn.

If your content at this stage is trite nonsense and you putter out of ideas too soon, so be it. At the beginning it’s more important to learn to let go of feeling anxious, inadequate and the need for perfection. 

Once you’re used to a pattern, and can follow it easily without having to stop and think about which part comes next, you’ll naturally come up with better material.

Along with examples of each impromptu speech outline structure there's a link to a blank printable. There are seven of them: one for each pattern. They are there for you to use as a guide. You'll find the links for them below the example outlines. 

Each outline has the same four step format.

The first step is mentally preparing yourself: sorting out your topic, considering your audience and working out what tone best fits with them, as well as your speech purpose. 

The second step covers preparing the introduction, the third, the body, and the fourth and final step, the conclusion.

Your chosen structural pattern is the body  

The third step, the body of your speech, holds the specific pattern you’re working with. It’s this step, the body, you’ll want to focus on first when you’re practicing. After you’ve set your topic allow yourself a few minutes to think it through (or make notes) using the pattern headings as a guide.

Once you feel comfortable with the body, you’ll find the openings and conclusions become much easier.

Getting the time and content balance right

The overall length of your speech or the time you take to deliver it is, to a large part, determined by how much information you put into the body. Obviously one or two main points and their supporting material will take less time than three or four.

( Practice will help you confidently and reliably get the balance of time to content right. Click the link for  examples of one minute speeches  prepared using the Point-Reason-Example-Point (PREP) pattern. They'll give you an idea of what's required.)

Practice, practice, and then do it some more

You don’t need to follow each of the four steps of the outline slavishly. However, to use that old cliché, before you can run, you need to know how to walk. So before giving yourself permission to try to improvise and dazzle publicly, ground yourself in structure. Give yourself a solid baseline to work from.

There’s no secret behind becoming more confident and competent reasonably quickly. It’s practice. Lots of it.

Time and record yourself. Play it back and listen carefully.

Is there a good opening? Have you followed the pattern you chose in the body of the speech? Is it clear? Have you got clean transitions between each part of your speech and the one following it? Is there a strong ending? And are the words you’ve chosen, as well as the way you use them, right for your subject, the purpose of the speech and your intended audience?

And lastly, learn one pattern well before you work with another.

Effective impromptu speech activities 

If you teach a public speaking or communication class or lead a public speaking group, here's  a comprehensive bundle of   17 proven fun and effective impromptu speech activities , complete with full guidelines and printables. They ease, rather than jettison, students into impromptu speaking one step at a time.  

How to reframe a topic

Sometimes when you're asked to speak on a topic you'll find yourself needing to modify it before going ahead.

Or maybe you want confirmation that you've understood what you're being asked to speak about.

Here are examples of three ways to reframe the topic as part of your opening. They are particularly useful for Question and Answer sessions.

Add them to your practice too.

1. Give the topic a scope. This establishes what you're prepared to cover.  

For example: Thanks. That’s a great question. I am happy to share what has happened since I joined the organization in 2020.

Or:  Thanks, that’s a great, and very big question. I don’t have time right now to cover all aspects of it. So here’s the first part. If anybody would like me to follow up with the second and third, please see me later and we’ll make a time.

2. Summarize and ask for confirmation. Use this technique to  make sure you’ve understood what’s being asked of you before you answer. 

Example:  Thank you for your question. It's an important one and I want to make sure I’ve understood it correctly before answering. You want to know why we’re not mobilizing the Defense Force to clear protesters from the streets, is that right?

3. Redirecting, reshaping the question or angle, before responding . This can be useful when you want to give a bigger picture, or establish context - something the original question didn't allow for.

Example: You’ve asked about using the Defense Force to clear the streets. Let’s consider the precedents for that: the 1951 Waterfront Dispute, Bastion Point, 1978, and the anti-Springbok rugby tour protest in 1981. What have they taught us?

7 impromptu speech outline patterns

Please note, these examples are not complete speech outlines. In most instances they don't include the opening or the conclusion. What they do is illustrate seven ways to organize material in the body of the speech. And some of the examples are more fleshed out than others.

 PREP: Point, Reason, Example, Point

PREP is an acronym for: Point, Reason, Example, Point. The pattern adapts well to most situations.

Here are two PREP impromptu speech outline examples: one for a social setting and one for business or workplace audiences. You can also see it in action on this page of one minute speech topics where I've used it in three sample one minute speech outlines.

PREP impromptu speech outline: workplace 

Topic: Cameras off during a virtual team meeting

Point: Human Resources are reporting numerous requests from employees to be allowed to leave their cameras off during routine virtual (zoom) meetings.

Reason: The reason most frequently given is fatigue due to  strain 

Examples: It is hard to:

• maintain focus while looking at a grid of faces for the length of an entire meeting,
• see yourself on camera and NOT respond to it,
• be physically constrained in a small space in order to remain on camera,
• arrange life so it doesn’t intrude in the form of kittens, babies or anything else while on camera,
• have your colleagues in your home without having issued the invitation yourself.

Point: And that’s why we’ve asked Human Resources to develop a set of guidelines to cover when cameras should be on, and when they can be turned off. If you have any suggestions or points you’d like them to consider, please get them by Friday.

For more: 

• Bailenson, J. N. (2021). Nonverbal Overload: A Theoretical Argument for the Causes of Zoom Fatigue . Technology, Mind, and Behavior, 2(1). 
• Should We Require Students to Turn Their Cameras On in the Zoom Classroom?   Anna Lännström, Stonehill College. Published by Wabash Center, 2020  

PREP impromptu speech outline example: social

A toast to acknowledge friend’s engagement

Point: It’s a joy to join you celebrating Ryan and Mary’s engagement.

Reason(s): There’s dozens of reasons for my being pleased to be here. We haven’t got time for them all. So here’s three. The first goes back a long way to when we were ten years old. I’m never going going to get married, he said. Thanks to Mary, look at you now! I am delighted you have to eat those words. The second reason is quite selfish. At least the field is cleared now because he’s well and truly spoken for. Hi ya singletons out there! And the third and most important is because I’ve never seen Ryan quite so deliriously crazy happy, ever, in all the years I’ve known him.

Example(s): This is the man who has spent all his weekends for last year renovating the house they share. You know it’s got to be the real thing when unclogging drains, getting rid of rat nests and replacing rotten window frames is better than time out with me and the boys. When you add making significant positive changes to his eating and drinking habits, throw in running a kilometer or two or three or more, several times a week, it’s proof. You’ve got be happy to do any of that!

Point: Which in turn, makes me happy too. Here's to Ryan and Mary!

Download PREP impromptu speech outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use: PREP impromptu speech outline

Use this pattern if you want apply a time line treatment to a subject.

Topic: In your experience what's an effective way of getting children to eat vegetables?

In the past:

When I was a child not eating whatever was served was not an option. It didn’t matter if it was something dreaded like cauliflower, broccoli or spinach. It was on the plate. Therefore it needed to be chewed and swallowed. If it wasn’t you were in for a long sit at the table. Because both you and the plate of food remained in place until the plate was cleared. This as a technique was a failure. It built resentment rather than a love of vegetables.

That kind of stand off would not happen nowadays. I have more tolerance than my parents for children whose taste buds do not thrill to strong tasting vegetables. The only thing I ask of my kids, is that they try a little of each new one when it is served. If they don’t like it, they can put it to one side. Alongside that, we use vegetables as snacks, sneak them into purees and sauces, get the kids involved in choosing and cooking them, and set an example by eating copious quantities of them ourselves.

Our diets are changing. They are becoming increasingly plant based. Vegetables are no longer an accompaniment, an after-thought. Instead they’re center plate – up front and proud. 

Perhaps the infamous battle over vegetables will disappear entirely. It’s my hope that through showing greater tolerance of our children’s preferences and by being more creative with how we introduce them into their diets, that the issue will simply cease to be one.

Vive la broccoli!  

Topic: What are the most popular and enduring toys for children?

Past : Toys that sold well: Teddy bears, named after Theodore Roosevelt 1902, yo-yos – 1928, Silly Putty, 1955, GI Joe – dolls for boys, 1960s, including two that have kept right on selling;

Present: Lego from Denmark, 1932, and Barbie from USA, 1959

Future : More Lego, more Barbies who are more diverse, more skin types and shapes. Both seem set for along time yet.

Download Past, Present, Future outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use:  Past, Present, Future impromptu speech outline

This is a simple two part pattern: here’s the problem. Now here’s the solution.

Example: The problem is congestion on our main city roads during peak hours.

The solution is to:

• reroute heavy vehicles over those hours
• look carefully at the current design of the roundabouts, on and off ramps and laybys and update them if necessary 
• adjust the speed limit

Example: The problem is maintaining a work routine while working from home

• make yourself a dedicated work space.
• set yourself regular hours for getting up, having breakfast, being at your desk, lunch etc.
• establish clear boundaries around your work time for family and friends. Being in the same room or the next one, doesn’t mean you’re available.
• prioritize your tasks for the day each morning.

Download Problem, Solution outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use: Problem, Solution impromptu speech outline

Pros and Cons, Positives and Negatives

This is a useful beginning point toward answering the classic ‘what shall I do?’ dilemmas.

Setting out the pros and cons * of a situation gives us an overview, which we can then use to help make a rational, considered decision.

* 16th century: from Latin  prō  for + con, from  contrā  against

Dilemma:  Whether or not to go to university

• New experiences, new people, broadens outlook
• Builds networking opportunities, long term friendships, & professional relationships
• After graduation enter workforce at different level – a leg up because core competencies already established
• Scholarships available
• Leadership and extension activities/clubs available
• High levels of personal debt
• Difficult to sustain oneself mentally, physically and financially without support
• Doesn’t guarantee a job on graduation
• Doesn’t train you for a specific vocation
• Doesn’t automatically mean entry into higher paying job

Dilemma:  Whether or not to buy cheap or fast fashion

• Affordable – instantly gratifying
• Up to the minute clothing – democratization of fashion – not just for elite rich
• Can follow the trend – included rather than excluded on price
• Can change mind and buy more if don’t like what you have – not going to cause you hardship
• Profitable for retailers and manufacturers
• pollution: people throw out their clothes which then enter land fills
• waste: breeds throwaway mentality – chuck rather than mend
• loss of skills: how to mend clothing: sew on buttons, fix a fallen hem, patch a rip etc.
• exploitation of woman and children in 3rd world countries: low wages, and unsafe workplaces

For more: Fast Fashion by Adam Hayes, April 2021, investopedia.com

Download Pros and Cons outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use:  Pros and Cons impromptu speech outline

 This is a three-part problem solving pattern.

• What is the cause of something?
• What is its effect?
• And what is the remedy?

Topic: Public speaking anxiety

Cause(s) of public speaking anxiety:

• feeling self conscious in front of others
• fearing repeat of past poor experiences
• fear of being judged
• fearing not being as good as you’d like to be, or as good as others
• breathing poorly which doesn’t support the voice
• becoming overwhelmed by symptoms of fear: shaking limbs, quivering voice, racing heart beat, forgetting what had been practiced
• gabbling through speech at break neck speed
• becomes a cycle which intensifies each time a person has to speak in public
• limits personal potential in many ways: at work and socially
• take a public speaking course, join a public speaking club
• practice a great deal,  get good support and practical feedback you can use
• and take every opportunity to speak in front of others as it will lessen the fear.

Topic: Procrastination

Cause(s) of procrastination:

• boredom: not being interested in the task that needs completing
• fear of failure: thinking the task will prove too difficult - would rather not begin it, than risk failure, perfectionism
• unable to prioritize what needs to be done against what isn’t so urgent
• overwhelmed: too many things to do, and too little energy

Effect(s) of procrastination:

• pressure: rushing to catch up on what should have been done which leads to poor decision making
• failure: letting oneself, friends, family and workmates down, compromised work standards, reputation
• losing time, opportunities, limiting your career options
• escalating low self-esteem issues and health risks
• Create incremental to-do lists – a bit at a time rather than one huge overwhelming piece of work.
• Create a stimulating work-place for yourself – surround yourself with what you genuinely like to see.
• Time-line your work realistically - what needs to happen. today, tomorrow and the next day to arrive at the due date with the work completed to your satisfaction.
• Get rid of the temptations you know you are distracted by. Put your phone on mute. Remove bookmarked sites.
• Find a mentor, someone you admire and who will hold you to account.

Download Cause, Effect, Remedy outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use: Cause, Effect, Remedy impromptu speech outline

Before, The Event, The Result

This three-part pattern is a time line centered around an event. The result of event (eg. a natural disaster or a personal or societal change, large or small) profoundly changes what came before it. Sometimes the end result is much better, and sometimes far worse.

It’s a pattern much loved by advertisers who imply that the event (the purchase and use of whatever product or service they are selling) will result in whatever is desired: health, wealth, beauty, popularity, longevity, peace, love, intelligence... It's the classic Before and After format.    

Topic: Covid-19 - its impact on the tourism industry in NZ

Total annual tourism expenditure had increased by almost $15 billion, or 55%, in the seven years prior to 2020. 

• Tourism was New Zealand’s biggest export industry, contributing 20.1% of total exports. 
• Tourism generated a direct annual contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $16.4 billion, or 5.5%, and a further indirect contribution of $11.3 billion, another 3.8% of New Zealand’s total GDP.  

Then along came Covid–19.  The borders were closed in an effort to keep it out for as long as possible. Good for the population: fewer deaths and hospitalizations compared to other first world countries: USA, UK, Australia but not so good for tourism.

The result:  

• total tourism expenditure was $26.1 billion, a decrease of 37.3 percent ($15.6 billion) from the previous year.
• international tourism’s overall contribution to New Zealand’s total exports of goods and services fell to 2.1 percent from 20.0 percent
• tourism generated a direct contribution to GDP of $8.5 billion, or 2.9 percent, a decrease of 47.5 percent ($7.7 billion), or 2.6 percentage points

Reference:  https://www.tia.org.nz/about-the-industry/quick-facts-and-figures/

Here’s a feel-good-hard-work-pays-off story using the format, the sort you might hear on your local TV or radio station.

Topic: the house makeover

Before the makeover:

• dark and dingy – very few windows, dated décor
• very poor heat retention – no insulation
• no outdoor – indoor flow
• small poky kitchen with limited storage
• one bathroom – not adjacent to either living areas or bedrooms

The Event:   the makeover of the worst house in the best street,  a perfect project for husband (builder) and wife (interior decorator), 12 month time line, carefully planned

The Result:

• jump in value of property
• a house which is a pleasure to live in, fabulous garden, everybody is happy, reporters come calling for house and garden magazine before and after spreads☺
• an inspirational example of talent plus effort

Download Before, The Event, The Result outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use:  Before, The Event, The Result impromptu speech outline

This structure is excellent for comparisons and overviews spanning spatial areas.

Topic: Deaths from Covid-19 in New Zealand as at 22nd February 2022

Local: none

National: 56

International:  5,905,942

Reference: Google News - Covid 19 map - New Zealand  

Topic: Who follows the news?  A survey of 38 countries, 2018

Local news :  Global median = 78%. 78% of respondents are  more likely to follow the news if in own area and own country. 

National news : Global median = 86%. 86% of respondents are more likely to follow if the news is about own country.

International news : Global median = 57%. Comparatively significantly less of the respondents are likely to follow the news. That changes with the amount of education a person has. If they have more education, they are more likely to follow the news.

Reference:  Publics around the world follow national and local news more closely than international : Pew Research Center report, 2018

Download Local, National, International outline

Click the link to download a printable pdf file to use:  Local, National, International impromptu speech outline

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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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How to Give an Impressive Impromptu Speech

An Impromptu speech is a talk that you give on the spot with no preparation.

The speech could be as professional as a project update or as casual as a toast at a wedding. Either way, you are expected to say something smart, witty and charming.

While it might feel like torture even to the most second C-level executive, giving an extemporaneous speech is the mark of an excellent communicator and leader.

Impromptu Speech Situations You Must Be Ready For

It’s not how you handle yourself when you are prepared, that demonstrates your leadership, it’s how you handle yourself when you are least prepared. Most of the presentations you give will be prepared, yet some will not, and these unplanned events will have a bigger impact on your personal brand.

It’s how you handle yourself when least prepared that demonstrates your leadership

Here are just some examples of them

• Introducing yourself at networking events.
• Filling in for a late speaker.
• You are asked to give a toast at a company party.
• You get asked a question you did not prepare for while on a panel.
• Job interview questions from left field.
• You are interviewed by a reporter.
• You get pulled into a meeting to give an update.
• There is unexpected push back on your ideas at a company meeting.
• Say a goodbye speech to a departing employee.
• Your college refers to you in the middle of a presentation for input.

The Best 3 Impromptu Speech Tips I Ever Got

The first company I interned for during my college years threw me a goodbye party. I was happy until the manager asked if I had a few words for the team.

Then I opened my mouth, and gibberish came out. It sounded like I was speaking in tongues, “Ahh, Ahh, blah, blah, blah…”

Later, my manager at that time gave me three tips about talking on the spot that I carry to this day: “Stick to the truth, share from personal experience, and practice out loud.”

Stick to the truth, share from personal experience, and practice out loud.

1. Stick to the truth. No need to embellish, exaggerate or stretch the truth. The truth is always good enough.

For example, if you feel happy to have your colleagues in a meeting, then don’t say that you feel “super excited.” Saying that you feel happy is good enough. At least when you tell the truth, you will be authentic.

Now, telling the truth does not mean that you divulge company secrets. You stick to your truth at the moment. If you don’t know, then you say you don’t know; if you are not sure, then you say you are not sure.

Sticking to the truth will save you from a lot of mental anguish.

2. Share from personal experience. When you speak from personal experience, then you are referring to things that you intimately know. No need to research, no need to investigate, and no need to memorize anything.

When in doubt about what to say, just tell a story from your past related to the situation. That will make your contribution unique and valuable.

For example, someone asks you about the future of self-driving cars. Instead of making up stuff, just talk about the time you were in Mountain View, and you saw one of the Google’s self-driving cars for the first time.

Wait, you never saw that. No problem. Talk about the last time you were talking with your spouse about self-driving cars.

Wait you never did that. No problem. Talk about the first time you heard about self-driving cars.

You get the idea here. No need to make up anything, just look back in your memory to the closest experience with the topic and share that.

3. Practice out loud. Thinking on your feet is like dancing, you can’t learn it by thinking about it.

There are two ways to practice impromptu speaking:

1. On your own. Choose a different random topic every day and speak out loud about it. What you say does not have to be perfect, or eloquent, or enlightening. The important thing is to speak out loud. I do this when I am stuck in traffic. I pick a random topic and then I just speak on it for a minute or so. Don’t overdo it. Just once a day is enough.

2. Speak in a group. Practicing in front of a group and getting professional feedback is the best way to learn impromptu speaking. I know that this option is harder than practicing on your own for many reasons. Not finding the right group, not finding the time are just a few. However, it is not impossible. You can try out different speaking classes or join a Toastmasters group in your area until you find one that resonates with you. It will be worth it.

Quick and Dirty Impromptu Formula You Can Use Right Away

In an impromptu speech, the structure king. Without a present and practiced structure, you will ramble on and make no point at all. In fact, the structure will be the king, queen, and general combined to martial and lead your content in a concise and relevant way.

Structure is king!

There are many other formulas that I use for impromptu speaking, however, here I want to share with you an excellent one.

It’s called FAT.

F = Feeling

Share your honest feeling about the topic, circumstance or person. If you feel excited to be there then, that’s the impression that you share (remember to stay close to the truth)

A= Anecdote

Share a relevant story. Most of the time, I share my first experience with the topic. For example, if it’s a car, then I share a story about my first car in college. If it’s a person, then I share my first experience meeting the person. It does not have to be that way.

T = Tie Back

After you are done with the anecdote, make sure you tie it back to the topic you are talking about. Example, if you are doing a toast for a departing coworker, and you share the story of the first time you meet her, you can tie back by saying, that after that event, you knew that she was destined for big things and that she will be missed when she leaves.

When you get asked to speak about someone or something, you can always rely on the FAT formula.

Here is an example of an impromptu speech using the FAT method.

Scenario: you are asked to thank a group of interns that worked with your department for the summer.

I want to thank Michael, Amey, and Kira for working with our department over the summer. Their work is greatly appreciated, and I don’t know how we would have done it without them (only say it this way if it’s the truth).

A: Anecdote

I remember your first day. You were all quiet, taking notes and probably thinking oh my god what a mess . Then surprised us all by your initiative and how quickly you learned. With your help, we caught up on our financial audit.

T: Tie back

We were so thankful to have you this summer and wanted to wish you the best in your academic career next year. I know some of you will be graduating, and I look forward to hearing from you. I hope you would consider coming back to work with us 🙂 Good luck!

Ok, that was the FAT method. Easy right?

You don’t have to remember any content, all you have to remember is a structure. The takeaway is that it can be used for many different scenarios. Weddings, eulogies, goodbyes, updates, answers, etc.

Extemporaneous and Impromptu speaking is a great skill to have. I say a skill because it is something you learn and develop over time. Impromptu speaking is something you get good at with practice and feedback. Start practicing today and leave an impromptu comment below.

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5 Steps to Deliver an Impromptu Speech (Even If You Hate Public Speaking)

If you are new to public speaking, an impromptu speech is one where you have to speak on short notice. So you won’t have a lot of preparation time. Even seasoned speakers can panic when asked to deliver one of these “spur of the moment” presentations. It makes sense. When we train new speakers, we tell them to organize their thoughts and practice the speech a few times. When someone puts you on the spot and askes you to speak, you can’t do any of these things. There are no note cards. So, impromptu speaking is a solid speaking skill. The better you get at this, the better a speaker your audience will see you as.

In the session, we are going to cover two parts of speaking off the cuff. First, we are going to talk about how to reduce nervousness when someone puts you under pressure. Then the second part is a simple structure you can use to design a compelling speech focused on a single main point. This structure will work in almost every impromptu speaking situation. (We will also give you a couple of concrete examples of how to use the structure.)

How to Reduce Public Speaking Fear When Delivering Impromptu Speeches.

Let’s start with the more difficult part, though. When someone puts us on the spot, panic can sit in. When we get nervous, we will not think as clearly. So, these tips can help you clear your head. A great speaker will not allow his or her audience to see them sweat.

Step 1, Realize that Many Impromptu Speeches Aren’t Impromptu at All.

“ But I never was happy, never could make a good impromptu speech without several hours to prepare it .” — Mark Twain

Often, just being more proactive versus reactive can help reduce nervousness in impromptu situations. Before you go into a meeting, anticipate what questions might be asked of you. Organize your thoughts around how you might respond if the question is asked. Here are a couple of examples.

Before you go to a staff meeting, try to figure out what the discussion will be about in the meeting. What is going on in the company right now? What are the most important things that will be covered? How can you participate in the discussion and add value? By answering these questions, you will be a step ahead of most others in the meeting. (They likely wouldn’t have taken the time to even think about them.)

A few years ago, I was coaching a team that was delivering a high-level sales presentation. The buyers gave the team 45 minutes for their presentation. Then, they added a 15-minute question-and-answer session at the end. The buyers were, in essence, a panel of judges that could ask any question.

The team and I spent the better part of two hours brainstorming possible questions that would be asked. We put all of these questions down on a piece of paper. Then, one by one, we used the structure below to answer each in a compelling way. We ended up with over 30 questions along with a great answer for each.

The team leader made a series of index cards — one for each question. Then, she gave each index card to the person who would answer each of the questions based on their expertise. Each team member ended up with five or six questions. The technique worked beautifully. After practicing each answer a few times, they no longer needed the notecards. The impromptu speaking was not impromptu at all.

Step 2: Take a Deep Breath.

Many of the symptoms of public speaking fear can be reduced (at least a little) by taking a deep breath. When put under pressure, a public speaker can sometimes panic. Your heart can start beating very quickly. This is what causes the sweating and fuzzy thoughts. When you start to feel these things, just pause. Take a deep breath. Immediately, your heart rate will start to slow down to a more normal speed.

When you do this, the symptoms will start to diminish a little. Often, that is all you will need to begin to establish effective clear thoughts.

Step 3: You Don’t Have to Respond Quickly. Pause and Clarify Your Answer.

Too often, a speaker may blurt something out in haste that he or she will later request. Keep in mind that you don’t have to respond right away. In fact, I will sometimes pause and say, “Hhmmm, let me think about that,” before I answer. I would prefer to deliver a well-thought-out answer than a fast answer.

Sometimes, that little pause will allow you to come up with a very compelling response. It also gives you a chance to do the next tip…

Step 4: Think of a Story or Example that You Can Use in Your Impromptu Response.

Stories from your own personal experience are magical in presentations. They help you build trust and rapport with your audience. However, the main reason to use a story in an impromptu situation is that stories reduce nervousness dramatically.

Basically, when you recall an incident — a moment in time — related to the topic, you will begin to play a video in your head of the memory. All you really have to do is describe to the audience what you are seeing in the mental movie.

To recall a story based on a topic, just ask yourself, “Why do I believe what I believe about this topic? Where did this belief come from?” Asking questions like this will often elicit a memory of the topic. Once you have an incident in mind, just relay the details to your audience.

One of the “magic” things that stories and examples from your personal experience do is take away arguments. If I give you my opinion, it is easy for you to counter with an opinion of your own. However, if I give you an example from my experience, you can’t really argue with me. I mean I was there and you weren’t. So when you add these examples into your responses, not only do you reduce nervousness, but you also often look around the room and see people nodding in agreement.

Step 5: Practice Your Impromptu Speaking Skills.

Once you understand the concepts that we cover in this session, look for ways to practice your skill. Public speaking is a skill, just like any other. The more you do it, the more comfortable you get doing it. An easy way to practice this skill is in business meetings. For instance, good impromptu speakers practice the skill in group discussions. The next time you participate in a staff meeting or class, look for an opportunity to participate in the discussion.

I promise you that the first time you do this will be terrifying. However, immediately after you finish, you will feel elated. The main thing to remember is that your nervousness will peak just before you open your mouth. If you begin to respond effectively (especially if you start with a concrete example,) your nervousness will begin to go down immediately.

By the way, Toastmasters International is another way to practice impromptu speaking. Each Toastmasters Club begins with a session called “Table Topics.” A topic master will throw out a random topic (mostly about current events) and then call on participants to stand and speak. The method is a little contrived. However, if you go for eight straight weeks, you will have delivered eight straight impromptu speeches. That is a solid amount of practice time to help you get started.

If you really want to eliminate public speaking fear , try the 2-day Fearless Presentations ® class . (It works 100% of the time!)

The Most Effective Way to Deliver an Impromptu Speech

So what happens if an audience member throws an unexpected question to you? The important thing to remember is to not panic. Another important thing to remember is how powerful a story or example can be. Try this simple step-by-step process to quickly design a short impromptu speech.

Start Your Off-the-Cuff Remark with an Example or Story.

To come up with your example, try this trick. Think to yourself, “That reminds me of the time…” The human brain is a fantastic hard drive that stores every experience from your life. This phrase works like a search engine to find a good example.

I’ll give you a few examples to show you how this technique works.

• Every muscle in my body hurt. (Read the phrase and just think, “That reminds me of the time.”)

There is a good chance that as you thought the magic phrase, an image of a memory formed in your head. If the memory didn’t come right away, try the phrase, “When was the last time every muscle in my body hurt?” Keep asking yourself until the image pops in your head.

Let’s try another…

• Make sure to proofread your work.” (Read the phrase and just think, “That reminds me of the time.”)

Hopefully, this one came a little quicker. The more that you experiment with this important skill, the easier the answers will come to you.

Let’s try one that you might get from a Toastmasters Table Topic.

• An unrealistic and illogical response to the Coronavirus pandemic.” (Read the phrase and just think, “That reminds me of the time.”)

Because this one is based on a current event (at the time we wrote this,) it may be a little harder to get to the memory. Just like before, though, keep asking questions until the image appears in your head.

Tell Your Audience the Moral of the Impromptu Speaking Story.

Although the story has a magical component, if you just tell the story, your audience will think, “Uh, what is your point.” Instead, finish your story by telling them your point. The following phrases work really well.

• The moral of the story is…
• My point is…
• So, the reason I’m sharing that story with you is…

Then make your point.

This part of the impromptu speaking technique is really important. Most presenters will field a hostile question from the audience and just answer the question. That is a trap. If you answer the question really well, the person asking the question will likely just follow up with a more hostile follow-up question.

However, if you start with an example, the hostile person will take a short mental trip into your experience. He or she may actually start nodding in agreement. The example is very compelling. So now when you finish with your opinion, the questioner is less likely to argue with you.

Finish with a Way that the Audience with Benefit from Your Advice.

So in the previous step, we told the audience what we want them to believe or do. Keep in mind that human beings are pretty self-centered. The common response will be, “Why?” They want to know “What’s in this for me?” So finish your impromptu speech by telling them how they will benefit.

For instance, going into the previous example about proofreading, a good response might be the following:

( Start with a Story : Proofreading? That reminds me of the time…) A few weeks ago, a client asked me to create a synopsis of a custom workshop we were creating for them. It was late in the day, so I quickly jotted down a couple of paragraphs for her. I read through it once to make sure that the content was accurate and sent it over to her. A month later, she sent me a copy of the invitation that was sent to her group. The last sentence had a typo. I was just about to let her know when I decided to double-check the email I had sent to her. Of course, the same typo was there. She had just copied my content over to her invitation. It was an embarrassing moment that I could have avoided by spending just a couple of minutes of extra time. ( What is the Point? ) So, based on my experience, I’d suggest you proofread every email you send to outside customers. ( What is the benefit? ) If you do that, you will avoid some of those embarrassing typos.

You may also be interested in Communicating and Leading Under Pressure .

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

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4 Blog Links

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

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

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10 Ways to Generate Impromptu Speech Ideas

Impromptu speech ideas – they’re like keys that unlock your ability to communicate effectively on the fly. Imagine this: You’re asked to speak unexpectedly. Your heart races, your mind blanks. It’s a scenario many fear. But what if you’re always prepared? What if ideas flow easily, even spontaneously?

The challenge here isn’t just about speaking without preparation. It’s about having a reservoir of ideas, ready to be tapped at a moment’s notice. Most impromptu speeches revolve around our perspectives on life or stand on issues. Being acutely aware of your thoughts and surroundings is crucial.

Impromptu Speech Ideas

Mastering impromptu speeches makes you more than just a good speaker. It transforms you into a communicator who’s always ready, always relevant.

The secret weapon is simple to create: constant collection and organization of ideas . By doing this, you ensure that you’re always prepared, turning every impromptu speaking situation into an opportunity to share valuable insights.

Let’s explore how to gather a treasure trove of ideas, keeping you ready for any speaking challenge that comes your way.

1. Daily Reflections

Start with what’s closest to you – your own thoughts and experiences. Daily reflections are a mirror to your inner world. Each day brings new thoughts, feelings, and insights. Capture them.

Your personal reflections are unique to you . They’re original, authentic, and resonate with real-life experiences. When you share these in a speech, you connect deeply with your audience. It’s your voice, your perspective.

Keep a journal, or use a digital app, dedicated to your daily reflections. Make it a habit. Every day, spend a few minutes jotting down your thoughts, feelings, observations, and learnings. Over time, these entries become a rich repository of ideas that you can draw upon for any impromptu speech.

Embracing daily reflections not only prepares you for impromptu speaking but also enriches your understanding of yourself and the world around you. It’s a practice that turns everyday experiences into potential speech material, always keeping you ready and relevant.

2. Current Events

Keeping up-to-date with what’s happening around the world is more than just staying informed; it’s about gathering a wealth of topics that are immediately relevant and often widely relatable. Read the news, follow current affairs, and stay abreast of global trends.

Current events provide a backdrop that is instantly recognizable and engaging for your audience . Discussing a recent event, a new scientific discovery, or a trending social issue not only showcases your awareness but also demonstrates your ability to connect global happenings with local or personal narratives.

Integrate a routine of consuming news and current events into your daily life. It could be through a newspaper, an online news portal, podcasts, or news apps.

As you consume this information, note down interesting and thought-provoking events. Think about how these events might relate to broader themes or lessons that are speech-worthy. This ongoing collection ensures you have a trove of contemporary and compelling topics for any impromptu speech situation.

Regular engagement with current events turns you into a speaker who can not only inform but also inspire, drawing on the immediate world around us to deliver speeches that are both timely and timeless.

3. Personal Stories

Dive into the treasure chest of your own life experiences. Personal stories are not just recollections; they are a vibrant tapestry of lessons, emotions, and experiences. Reflect on your past events, challenges you’ve overcome, funny incidents, or even everyday happenings.

The power of personal stories in impromptu speeches lies in their authenticity and relatability. When you share a piece of your life, you create a connection with your audience that goes beyond facts and figures . Your stories become a vehicle for conveying emotions, values, and insights, making your speech memorable and impactful.

Start documenting these personal anecdotes. Keep a diary, a digital note, or even voice recordings of interesting life experiences. Think about the lessons learned, the humor in them, or the emotions they evoke. When called upon to give an impromptu speech, these stories can be your go-to resource, providing a personal touch that resonates with any audience.

By weaving in personal stories, your impromptu speeches become more than just talks; they become a shared experience, a window into your world that enlightens and entertains, making every speech uniquely yours.

4. Books and Articles

Literature, whether it’s books, articles, essays, or even blog posts, is a vast sea of ideas. Every piece of writing you consume can spark thoughts, opinions, and new perspectives. As you read, pay attention to themes, narratives, and arguments that intrigue you.

Books and articles often explore ideas in depth, offering insights and viewpoints that you might not have considered. They can introduce you to new worlds, historical events, philosophical debates, or cultural perspectives. Using these ideas in your speeches not only adds depth to your content but also shows your intellectual curiosity and breadth of knowledge.

Create a habit of reading regularly and maintaining a list of intriguing ideas, quotes, or arguments you come across. This list becomes a go-to source for speech topics. When faced with an impromptu speaking opportunity, you can draw from this well-curated collection, weaving in the insights and narratives you’ve gathered from your readings to enrich your speech.

Integrating ideas from literature into your speeches transforms them from off-the-cuff remarks into well-informed, thought-provoking discourses that reflect your intellectual engagement with the world.

5. Observations of People and Places

Your everyday observations are a goldmine of ideas. Pay attention to the people around you, the places you visit, and the interactions and events you witness. These observations can be about human behavior, societal trends, or even simple yet profound everyday occurrences.

Observations offer real-world, relatable content for your speeches . When you talk about things people can see, feel, or connect with in their daily lives, your speech becomes more engaging and impactful. Observations can serve as examples, stories, or analogies, bringing abstract ideas to life.

Start carrying a small notebook or use a note-taking app on your phone to jot down your observations. It could be something as simple as a child playing in the park, an interaction at a coffee shop, or the ambiance of a busy street. Reflect on what these observations mean and how they relate to larger themes.

These notes will be invaluable when you need to quickly come up with a speech topic that is both relatable and insightful.

Incorporating your observations into impromptu speeches allows you to draw on the tapestry of everyday life, making your speeches not only interesting and varied but also a reflection of the world as you see and experience it.

6. Hobbies and Interests

Your hobbies and personal interests are a treasure trove of topics. Whether it’s cooking, gardening, tech gadgets, sports, or art, these activities are filled with potential speech ideas. They are not just pastimes; they’re part of who you are.

Your hobbies can offer a unique perspective or a fresh take on a common theme . They allow you to speak passionately and authentically, engaging your audience with your enthusiasm. Moreover, these interests often tie into broader life lessons or universal experiences, making them great fodder for impromptu topics.

Reflect on your hobbies and interests and think about the lessons they’ve taught you or the joy they bring. Note down interesting aspects or experiences related to these activities. When you need to give an impromptu speech, these notes can provide a starting point for a talk that’s not only interesting but also close to your heart.

By tapping into your hobbies and interests, you bring a personal touch to your speeches, making them not just informative but also a window into your world, enriching your speeches with the colors of your personal passions.

7. Quotes and Sayings

Quotes and sayings are compact nuggets of wisdom that can spark expansive thoughts and discussions. Collect quotes that resonate with you, whether they’re from famous personalities, literature, movies, or even everyday conversations.

The beauty of using quotes in impromptu speeches lies in their versatility and depth. A well-chosen quote can serve as a launching pad for your speech, providing a theme or a central idea to build upon. Quotes can also add a touch of eloquence and memorability to your talk, making your message stick with the audience.

Start compiling a list of quotes that inspire you or make you think. This can be in a notebook, a digital document, or a mobile app. Whenever you come across a quote that strikes a chord, add it to your collection. Then, when you’re faced with an impromptu speaking situation, you can use one of these quotes as a foundation to weave your speech around, exploring its implications, related ideas, or personal interpretations.

Incorporating quotes into your impromptu speeches allows you to tap into the collective wisdom of others, enriching your speech with diverse perspectives and timeless insights.

8. Conversations and Debates

Everyday conversations and debates, whether with colleagues, friends, or family, are often filled with spontaneous and insightful ideas. Pay attention to these dialogues. The topics discussed, the viewpoints shared, and the questions raised can all be sources of inspiration.

Why is this valuable for impromptu speeches ? Conversations reflect what people are thinking and talking about. They’re a pulse on opinions, concerns, and interests of those around you. Drawing from these discussions helps ensure that your speech topics are relevant, timely, and engaging. Additionally, debates often expose you to multiple perspectives on a topic, enriching your understanding and providing a well-rounded foundation for your speech.

Make a habit of noting down interesting ideas or topics that come up in your conversations and debates. Keep a small notebook or a digital app handy to jot these down. Reflect on these notes later to explore how you can develop them into impromptu speech topics, considering different angles and perspectives to make your speech more dynamic.

By tapping into the wealth of ideas present in everyday dialogues, you ensure that your impromptu speeches are grounded in real-life conversations, making them highly relatable and thought-provoking.

9. Historical Events

History is not just about the past; it’s a rich source of stories, lessons, and parallels that can inform the present. Delve into historical events, figures, and eras that interest you. They can provide a vast array of topics and perspectives for your speeches.

Historical references can add depth and context to your speech . They allow you to draw parallels with the present, offering a broader perspective on current issues. Moreover, history is full of dramatic narratives and powerful characters that can captivate an audience and illustrate your points vividly.

Start by exploring historical subjects that intrigue you. Read books, watch documentaries, or listen to podcasts about history. As you learn, note down interesting events, stories, or figures that you could talk about. Consider how these historical elements relate to modern-day issues or life lessons. This preparation enables you to craft speeches that are not only informative but also rich in historical context and relevance.

Incorporating historical events into your impromptu speeches allows you to connect the past with the present, offering your audience insights that are both enlightening and engaging, rooted in the lessons of history.

10. Philosophical and Ethical Questions

Philosophical and ethical questions delve into the deeper aspects of life and humanity. These questions challenge us to think, reflect, and often, to take a stand. They can range from classic philosophical dilemmas to modern ethical conundrums.

Engaging with these deeper questions helps you explore fundamental aspects of human experience , offering rich material for speech topics. These topics can provoke thought, stimulate debate, and provide substantial content for your speeches. They encourage both you and your audience to ponder life’s big questions, making your speeches not only informative but also deeply reflective.

Begin by identifying philosophical or ethical questions that intrigue you. This could be through reading philosophy books, listening to podcasts, or participating in discussions. Note these questions and your thoughts on them. When the opportunity for an impromptu speech arises, you can use these reflections as a foundation, offering your audience a chance to engage with these profound questions through your perspective.

By weaving philosophical and ethical questions into your impromptu speeches, you elevate them from mere presentations to thought-provoking discourses that challenge and engage the minds of your listeners, fostering a deeper connection and understanding.

Mastering the art of impromptu speaking is about being prepared – not just in skill, but in having a wealth of ideas at your fingertips. By constantly collecting and organizing thoughts from daily reflections, current events, personal stories, literature, observations, hobbies, quotes, conversations, historical events, and philosophical questions, you equip yourself with a diverse and rich repository of topics.

This practice of awareness and reflection ensures that you are always ready to deliver speeches that are not only spontaneous but also deeply meaningful and valuable . It transforms the often daunting task of impromptu speaking into an opportunity to share insights and perspectives that are engaging, relevant, and impactful.

Remember, the key to excelling in impromptu speeches lies in your continuous curiosity and your commitment to gather and reflect upon ideas from all aspects of life.

Become a speaker who is always prepared, always resonant, and always capable of turning any speaking opportunity into a moment of connection and enlightenment.

Explore the following resources to help you gain more knowledge and confidence in delivering impromptu speeches.

Discover practical and powerful ideas from these articles on how to deliver speeches that people can’t unhear.

How to Use Inspirational Quotes to Motivate a Team

How to Shine in Question and Answer Sessions

Practice Answering Tough Questions

Whoever Tells the Best Story Wins

50 Proven Public Speaking Techniques to Fear Less and Wow Your Audience

12 Easy Ways to Overcome the Most Common Fears in Public Speaking (So You Can Speak Anywhere)

Common questions.

Impromptu speaking is the art of delivering a structured and clear message on the spot, without prior preparation. It’s about organizing your thoughts quickly and effectively to communicate your ideas. For example, imagine you’re asked to give a quick update on a project during a meeting. You gather your key points, prioritize them, and present them logically and concisely.

Impromptu speaking is crucial for managers and supervisors because it helps them respond effectively to unexpected questions, provide clear direction during crises, and engage with their teams spontaneously. It ensures you can maintain authority and clarity even in unplanned situations.

Practice regularly by putting yourself in situations where you need to think on your feet. Join a speaking club, engage in role-playing exercises, or use prompts to simulate impromptu speaking scenarios. For example, during a team meeting, challenge yourself to summarize discussions or answer questions without preparation.

Use techniques like the PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point) method, or the “Rule of Three” where you structure your response in three clear points. For example, if asked about improving team productivity, you could say: “First, streamline workflows. Second, invest in training. Third, foster a supportive environment.”

It allows you to address questions, provide clarifications, and offer insights on the spot, making meetings and presentations more interactive and dynamic. For instance, if someone raises a concern during your presentation, you can address it immediately, keeping the discussion relevant and engaging.

Yes, it enhances your ability to think on your feet, articulate ideas clearly, and engage with your audience effectively. Regular practice can make you a more confident and persuasive communicator . For instance, the skills you develop in impromptu speaking can help you during negotiations or conflict resolution.

Try exercises like the “Topic of the Day,” where you pick a random topic and speak about it for a few minutes, or the “Question and Answer” game, where you respond to unexpected questions. For example, during a team lunch, you can ask each member to talk about a random topic for two minutes.

Practice deep breathing techniques, maintain a positive mindset, and focus on your main message. For example, before responding to an unexpected question, take a deep breath, pause for a moment, and then begin speaking. This helps to calm your nerves and collect your thoughts.

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80+ Impromptu Speech Topics & 7 Ways to Nail One

What is an impromptu speech.

An impromptu speech is one delivered without prior notification and preparation. For certain persons who may not be easily open to giving public speeches, an impromptu speech may be a total scare in general. However, there are ways to make sure that impromptu speeches are not as scary as it may come off, all it just needs is a little confidence and you are good to go.

How to give a killer impromptu speech?

Imagine you are in a meeting at work and your boss suddenly asks for your opinion, or about the process and challenges that you are facing on your project and the support you need to overcome them. This has happened to me, and imagine that it did happen to you also, and if you are not prepared both in terms of having actually prepared for that meeting (knowing you’d have to speak), and in terms of how to handle such situations (speak in front of others), then it’s really hard to not play the fool.

Rest assured, because after you read the tips that will be shared below, you will be more prepared to handle such situations and in some cases, you might just be able to deliver a memorable speech and inspire someone without much ‘preparation.’

Related Article: 10 Types of Speech – Learn to Choose the right type of speech for achieving the desired Result

6 Great Tips to Help You Nail Your Next Impromptu Speech Presentation

Here are some of the amazing tips you need to ace your impromptu speech presentation. I will be sharing some impromptu speech examples, because I believe it will be easier for you to visualize what an impromptu speech might look like.

1. Seek the truth (Avoid Lying)

When you say your truth, you can never run out of what to say, since it also happened to you, or is something you have analyzed. This way, you can easily begin to make the same analysis on the stage without having to blab on it.

2. Share an Experience / Speak from Experience

With experience, you don’t need research, studying or memorization. You already have ample knowledge of the subject and hence, you have no need for research or assistance. This way, the speech becomes easier to share as it is already all in your head. Take for instance, when you are called to talk about examinations. Surely, this is something you have had to undergo in the past, so, you most definitely have a story to tell.

3. Always practice for a few Scenarios

Though the above setting may not be applicable in an official scenario, there are still certain vital points worthy of note when called upon to give an impromptu speech. For instance, in the example given before, if called up for a project meeting, you could very well go prepared to answer any questions related to project progress, risks, challenges, and support required (mention what you remember).

4. Pen it down 

Especially when you’re someone who isn’t so good at giving speeches off the top of your head, this will help marvelously.

Let’s say you were told 10 min before that you are supposed to give an impromptu speech, your next course of action should be to immediately you take advantage of the heads up – write out the important points of the speech you’re about to give.

If the speech is about effieciency at work to improve output, then , write out the key points on the “How to” of the topic allocated to you.

5. Memorize

6. take charge of your impromptu speech.

Never forget to tell your audience the speech was impromptu. With this, you have a clean slate with your audience. You are the master of your time and so, you can choose how you maneuver your audience.

Start your speech in a charming way, tell a story (that relates to the occasion), in the while keep thinking of your ending structure. For instance, on that project meeting you could start by telling the story of how your team was busy dealing with contractors, and some challenges that they faced (while you think of the best support you’d like to have, and who should give such support).

Own your time and you will own your impromptu speech, regardless of whether you got a heads up or not.

7. Make a Strong Conclusion

Going back to our project meeting example, you could, for example, you could end your impromptu speech by saying:

With this ending, you gave your audience a closure for the story you told them initially, as well as managed to bring in the urgency of the support you asked for and implications of not getting it right away. Since that meeting might include several other topics, projects, it would be best to schedule another time to discuss in detail with the stakeholders on how to proceed, and that gives you more time to prepare for the next time and ace your presentation.

S ituations when you may be called upon to give an impromptu speech 

Relevant formula for acing an impromptu speech, the fac formula.

Give a thruthful opinion on a subject matter. It may be based on your personal belief or opinion, or also based on experience. which ever form it takes, make sure such feeling is honest and truthful to the best of your knowledge. Basically, you have to espouse originality and honesty in showing your feelings for a place or subject.

– CORRELATION

link you the anecdote with the topic proper. After sharing the story, you can then talk about how the subject is then important to you.

AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE WORKINGS OF THE FAC FORMULA

I’m called upon to give an impromptu speech as the best man of a friends wedding. The first step following the FAC formula is to share my truth about the groom or the bride or whoever I am to represent.

I, however, have to make sure I am shedding light  on the positive and not the negative. I may talk about how  beautiful the wedding is and how well planned the procession in general has been. On the anecdote, I will proceed on sharing my encounter with the groom, probably how I first met him. On correlation, I will add that based on the anecdote I just shared, the bride is surely the soul mate of the groom as she completes and compliments his flaws, etc.

80+ Impromptu Speech Topics and Examples

Impromptu speech topics on improving work performance, impromptu  speech ideas on wealth and finance , impromptu speech topics for the office , impromptu speech topics on good communication .

Thank you so much for reading this far, please check out my other post including 10 types of speech , and the following series with tips on how to deliver each one of them, with examples and topics. I am sure you will find them insightful (motivational speech, persuasive speech, informative speech, and the list goes on).

Part II . 9 Tips for Writing and Amazing Informative Speech and 120+ Topic Ideas

Part III. 5 Quick Tips on how to Give an Effective Motivational Speech

Part VII. Explanatory Speech: 7 Key Tips to Help You Deliver an Effective Speech

Part VIII. 5-Step Strategy for an Effective Debate and Speech Delivery

Part XI. 80+ Impromptu Speech Topics & 7 Ways to Nail One

Part XII. 13 Ways to Effectively Deliver Pitching Presentations

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45 Impromptu Speech Topics and Ideas

October 29, 2017 - Dom Barnard

Impromptu speeches are a great way to practice quick thinking and concise speaking – you usually have only a couple of minutes to  prepare a speech  lasting around five minutes. Even in this shorter form of speech, you still need to have a structure to what you are saying to ensure your message is understood by everyone.

If you struggle with lack of confidence, practicing with these impromptu speech topics can be a great way to build confidence for all types of speeches and conversations, whether you’re talking to someone at a business networking event or speaking at a wedding.

What is an impromptu speech?

For an impromptu speech, you’ll generally have 1-3 minutes of preparation for a speech lasting 5-8 minutes. Tougher speech events can reduce this preparation time down to 30 seconds and require you to plan your speech mentally, without any paper to write notes on.

Impromptu speeches are often given as part of university and college debates.  Oxford Union event  shown above.

These types of speeches are usually found in public speaking courses, speaking organisations such as Toastmasters and  debating competitions  (both professional and student based).

They are a great way of testing a range of communication skills, from organisation to clarity to creativity, and are becoming a popular way to practice general public speaking skills.

Practice Impromptu Speaking

Practice your impromptu speaking skills by talking about a series of random slides for 30 seconds each. Receive feedback on your performance. Learn More

Tips for picking an impromptu speech topic

Here are some quick tips and considerations for picking an impromptu speech.

• Pick a topic you are familiar with, have knowledge of and want to talk about. Personal experience on that topic is a bonus as you’ll be able to speak more naturally about it.
• Your organisational skills will be tested to come up with a powerful introduction and conclusion in your preparation to back up your argument.
• Pick a topic where the scope is limited (or you can easily limit it) as you’ll only have 5 minutes to discuss it.
• Your goal is to either inform or  persuade your audience  so choose a topic that suits these criteria

Impromptu speech topics

There are a huge amount of topic to choose from so we’ve compiled a short list of interesting topics below, some of which will hopefully inspire you or give you talking points you hadn’t previously considered.

• A non-biased news site is impossible
• The Romain Empire was the most important empire to have existed
• Keyboards will be replaced by speech-to-text technology in 10 years
• Performance enhancing drugs should be allowed in sport
• Colour affects the way people feel
• Poor health begins in the mind
• Team sports build strong individuals
• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
• Poverty is a state of mind
• What characteristics make an ideal villain?
• How would you describe an average person?
• In what situation is lying a good idea?
• Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
• Pets are for people who don’t have children
• Real learning doesn’t occur in a classroom
• It is better to be influential than rich
• Do violent video games contribute to youth violence?
• School uniforms removes individuality
• Children should not watch television
• Art is not important to the future of the human race
• Future conflicts will be confined to online hacking
• Social customs are a waste of time
• My biggest concern for the future is…
• Climate change is a natural occurrence
• What is the most important skill for starting a business
• Space exploration advances the human race
• Parents are the most influential factors in our lives
• Sports people salaries are justified by viewing figures
• Reading fiction is a waste of time
• Going to university / college is not necessary anymore
• Facebook makes society less happy
• Anyone can be a millionaire if they work hard enough
• No extra-terrestrial species have found us because…
• Translation technology will replace the need to learn a language
• Colonizing Mars is necessary to ensure human survival
• Presidential / Prime Ministers time in office should be lengthened
• Social circles and friends are the most important factors for happiness
• Real wealth is not measured in money or possessions
• The minimum wage should be doubled
• Should adults have the right to carry a concealed handgun?
• Is sexual orientation determined at birth?
• Junk food’s popularity relies on marketing
• Both snooker and darts are sports
• Being a vegetarian is healthier than eating meat
• Renting a house is better than buying

Use any of these topics for your next impromptu speech or just as personal practice to improve your communication skills.

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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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100+ Impromptu Speech Topics

An impromptu speech is a speech that is not planned or written in advance. The speaker has to think on their feet and come up with something compelling to say, often in a very short amount of time.

It is usually given in response to a prompt, such as a question from an audience member or a topic that has been provided at events such as Toastmasters and debating competitions.

You might also have to deliver an impromptu speech in social settings, such as parties or gatherings. If you are at a party and someone asks you to give a toast, you can deliver an impromptu speech. If you are at a wedding reception, where you’re the best man or maid of honor, you may be asked to say a few words.

Impromptu speeches can be challenging to deliver because you have limited time to prepare and you may not be familiar with the topic. But it is one of the best ways to overcome the fear of public speaking . The best impromptu speeches are usually short, so try to keep yours under 5-8 minutes.

Tips for choosing an impromptu speech topic

Here are a few tips to help you choose an impromptu speech topic:

• Choose a topic that you are familiar with : This will help you feel more comfortable when speaking and make it easier to come up with points to support your argument.
• Make sure the topic is interesting : If you are bored by the topic, chances are your audience will be too. Choose something that is controversial or thought-provoking to keep your audience engaged.
• Avoid topics that are too personal unless necessary : Stick to topics that are general and can be related to the majority of people in your audience. Save the personal stories for later.
• Choose a positive story : Negativity is a downer, so try to choose a topic that is uplifting or at least neutral. You want your audience to leave feeling good, not worse.

Tips for delivering an impromptu speech

Typically, you have around 30 seconds to a minute to prepare for an impromptu speech. Here are some tips to help you deliver a successful impromptu speech:

• Choose a topic that you are passionate about : When you are passionate about the topic you’re going to speak about, it will come through in your voice and mannerisms. This will help you make your impromptu speech more dynamic and interesting. Your audience will be able to sense your enthusiasm and get them engaged.
• Keep it simple : Don’t try to cram too much information into your impromptu speech. Choose one main point and stick to it. This will make it easier for you to stay on track and ensure that your audience understands what you’re saying.
• Prepare quickly : While you don’t have a lot of time to prepare for your impromptu speech, it is important to have a general understanding of your topic before you deliver it. Try to get a feel for the flow and structure of your speech in your head. This will help you to think on your feet and respond to questions from the audience, as well as give you the opportunity to iron out any kinks.
• Start strong : Grab your audience’s attention from the very beginning with an interesting opening line. This will set the tone for the rest of your speech and ensure that people are listening to what you have to say. A little bit of humor can help ease the tension and engage your audience from the start. Just be careful not to offend anyone!
• Speak slowly : Nerves can make you speak quickly, but try to slow down and take deep breaths. This will help you project your voice and control the tempo of your speech.
• Use Gestures : Gestures can help emphasize your points and make you appear more confident. If you find a visual aid around you that’s suitable, use it as a prop. Just don’t overdo it!
• Engage your audience : Throughout your impromptu speech, try to engage your audience as much as possible. Ask questions, use humor, and make eye contact. This will keep people interested in what you’re saying and make them more likely to remember your message.
• Conclude with an important message : End your impromptu speech on a high note with a powerful conclusion. This will leave your audience with a positive impression of you and your talk.
• Follow up : After your impromptu speech, be sure to follow up with any questions or comments from the audience. This shows that you are interested in their feedback and willing to engage in further discussion.

Easy Impromptu Speech Topics

1. The worst-case scenario.

2. What I would do with a million dollars.

3. My first car.

4. The best day of my life.

5. A time when I was extremely embarrassed.

6. My biggest fear.

7. The most interesting place I have ever been.

8. If I could have any superpower, what would it be?

9. The best/worst gift I have ever received.

10. A time when I had to face a difficult situation.

11. If I could be anyone for a day, who would it be?

12. My favorite childhood memory.

13. Something that I am passionate about.

14. A time when I had to overcome a challenge.

15. The best/worst vacation I have ever taken.

16. A time when I made a fool of myself.

17. If I could go back in time, what would I change?

18. A person who has had a significant influence on my life.

19. My biggest accomplishment.

20. My biggest failure.

21. A time when I was treated unfairly.

22. A hobby or interest that I have.

23. Something that I am afraid of.

24. A time when I had to make a difficult decision.

25. The best/worst job I have ever had.

26. My favorite/least favorite subject in school.

27. A time when I was proud of myself.

28. A time when I was disappointed in myself.

29. An event that changed my life.

30. A time when I helped someone.

31. A time when I was helped by someone.

32. A place that I have always wanted to visit.

33. My favorite/least favorite food.

34. My favorite/least favorite season.

35. My favorite/least favorite animal.

36. Something that I am good at.

37. Something that I am bad at.

38. My favorite/least favorite movie.

39. My favorite/least favorite book.

40. My favorite/least favorite TV show.

41. A time when I was really angry.

42. A time when I was really happy.

43. A time when I was really scared.

44. Something that made me laugh.

45. Something that made me cry.

46. A time when I was really frustrated.

47. A time when I was really bored.

48. A goal that I have.

49. A New Year’s resolution that I have made (and kept).

50. Something that I am looking forward to in life.

Hard Impromptu Speech Topics

1. The pros and cons of social media

2. The rise of populism around the world

3. The impact of climate change on our generation

4. Technology addiction and its effect on our mental health

5. Should wealthy nations do more to help refugees?

6. Is a college education worth the cost?

7. Are we becoming too reliant on technology?

8. Should the legal drinking age be raised?

9. Is our society too materialistic?

10. Are we doing enough to protect the environment?

11. The controversial issue of abortion

12. Should capital punishment be abolished?

13. Is there too much pressure on young people to succeed?

14. The mental health crisis among young people

15. The problem of fake news

16. Is our education system preparing students for the real world?

17. Are we becoming too reliant on artificial intelligence?

18. Should genetic engineering be regulated?

19. The ethical implications of cloning

20. Should animals be used for scientific research?

Impromptu Speech Topics for Middle School Students

1. A time when you had to stand up for yourself.

2. A time when you had to stand up for someone else.

3. A time when you made a difficult decision.

4. A time when you faced a challenge.

5. A time when you were proud of yourself.

6. A person who has inspired you.

7. A place that is special to you.

8. A memory that makes you smile.

9. An event that changed your life.

10. Something that you are passionate about.

11. A hobby or interest that you have.

12. A time when you overcame a fear.

13. A lesson that you have learned in life.

14. A goal that you are working towards.

15. A person who has had a positive impact on your life.

16. A time when you were proud of someone else.

17. Something that you are grateful for.

18. A time when you faced a difficult situation.

19. A challenge that you are currently facing.

20. A decision that you made that you are proud of.

Impromptu Speech Topics for College Students

1. What was your most embarrassing moment?

2. What is your favorite TV show and why?

3. What would you do if you were president for a day?

4. How do you study for exams?

5. Who is your hero and why?

6. What are your thoughts on love and relationships?

7. What is your favorite social media platform and why?

8. What is your take on beauty and standards of attractiveness?

9. Do you think college is worth the investment?

10. What are your thoughts on failure?

11. What do you think about change?

12. Are you a risk-taker?

13. Do you think people can truly change?

14. How do you deal with stress and anxiety?

15. What are your thoughts on success?

16. Do you have any fears or phobias?

17. What is your favorite memory?

18. What are your thoughts on time management?

19. What do you think about procrastination?

20. What is your opinion on technology and its impact on society?

Impromptu Speech Topics for High School Students

2. What are your thoughts on love?

3. What is your favorite memory?

4. Who is your hero and why?

5. What would you do with a million dollars?

6. What is your biggest fear?

7. What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

8. What are your thoughts on failure?

9. What makes you happy?

10. What is the meaning of life?

11. Do you believe in extraterrestrial life?

12. What are your thoughts on religion?

13. Do you think people can change?

14. What is your view on politics?

15. What is art?

16. What is beauty?

17. What is the most important thing in life?

18. What do you think happens after death?

19. Do you think people are capable of goodness?

20. What does it mean to be human?

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How to Give an Impromptu Speech Using the PREP Method

By Daisy Wong

It might be your worst nightmare, but eventually, everyone is going to have to give an impromptu speech sometime in their life. Although the gut instinct is to start panicking, the biggest enemy in giving impromptu speeches is you. You need to convince yourself that you will give a good impromptu speech because you are more than capable of giving an excellent impromptu speech. An easy way to give an impromptu speech is to use the PREP method. 

But you’re probably wondering, what exactly is the prep method? PREP stands for point, reason, evidence, and point. 

• Point 1: The first point you should make is your claim. The claim sets up your speech and tells your audience what your main point is.
• Reason: Give reasons as to why your claim is true.
• Evidence: Use evidence and examples to back up your claim. 
• Point 2: Conclude by restating your point in different words!

Now that we understand how to use the prep method, let’s see the prep method in action with this  impromptu speech example using the PREP method:

P: Soft skills , personal attributes, and interpersonal skills that facilitate self-growth, are often underrated compared to hard skills. This should not be the case. 

R: While hard skills are acquired skills that can be measured and tested, they usually can only be applied to one or two subject areas. Soft skills on the other hand can be used in almost every aspect of life and can set the foundation for a strong career and social life. 

E: In schools today, we rarely see classes that educate us on leadership, creativity, or emotional intelligence, but rather on hard skills such as calculating fractions, grammar rules, and standard equations. Soft skills can better help our education by allowing us to think more creatively and enhancing long-term memory by fostering connections between subjects. 

P: Thus, while soft skills are currently underrated, they should be given more credit because they can be used in multiple aspects of our life!

As you give your speech with the PREP method, there are some other quick tricks that you can use. For example, focus on what you already know. Impromptu speeches make you want to concentrate on things that you don’t know, but you should have at least some knowledge of what you are talking about. Try not to ramble and get sidetracked. Keep in mind, “less is more”, stick to the target, and keep things short and to the point. Also, remember that speeches are just conversations! You have conversations every day, this speech is no different. Go with the natural flow of conversation and you’ll be at ease. 

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The Faculty of Impromptu Speech, Part 5

From Lectures to My Students: A Selection from Addresses Delivered to the Students of The Pastors’ College, Metropolitan Tabernacle

First Series, Lecture X By C.H. Spurgeon

Read the series.

The acquisition of another language affords a fine drilling for the practice of extempore speech.

Brought into connection with the roots of words, and the rules of speech, and being compelled to note the differentia of the two languages, a man grows by degrees to be much at home with parts of speech, moods, tenses, and inflections; like a workman he becomes familiar with his tools, and handles them as every day companions. I know of no better exercise than to translate with as much rapidity as possible a portion of Virgil or Tacitus, and then with deliberation to amend one’s mistakes. Persons who know no better, think all time thrown away which is spent upon the classics, but if it were only for the usefulness of such studies to the sacred orator, they ought to be retained in all our collegiate institutions.

Who does not see that the perpetual comparison of the terms and idioms of two languages must aid facility of expression? Who does not see moreover that by this exercise the mind becomes able to appreciate refinements and subtleties of meaning, and so acquires the power of distinguishing between things that differ—a power essential to an expositor of the Word of God, and an extempore declarer of his truth. Learn, gentlemen, to put together, and unscrew all the machinery of language, mark every cog, and wheel, and bolt, and rod, and you will feel the more free to drive the engine, even at an express speed should emergencies demand it.

Every man who wishes to acquire this art must practise it.

It was by slow degrees, as Burke says, that Charles Fox became the most brilliant and powerful debater that ever lived. He attributed his success to the resolution which he formed when very young, of speaking well or ill, at least once every night. “During five whole sessions,” he used to say, “I spoke every night but one, and I regret only that I did not speak on that night too.” At first he may do so with no other auditory than the chairs and books of his study, imitating the example of a gentleman who, upon applying for admission to this college, assured me that he had for two years practised himself in extempore preaching in his own room. Students living together might be of great mutual assistance by alternately acting the part of audience and speaker, with a little friendly criticism at the close of each attempt.

Conversation, too, may be of essential service, if it be a matter of principle to make it solid and edifying. Thought is to be linked with speech, that is the problem; and it may assist a man in its solution, if he endeavours in his private musings to think aloud. So has this become habitual to me that I find it very helpful to be able, in private devotion, to pray with my voice; reading aloud is more beneficial to me than the silent process; and when I am mentally working out a sermon, it is a relief to me to speak to myself as the thoughts flow forth.

Of course this only masters half the difficulty, and you must practise in public, in order to overcome the trepidation occasioned by the sight of an audience; but half way is a great part of a journey. Good impromptu speech is just the utterance of a practised thinker—a man of information, meditating on his legs, and allowing his thoughts to march through his mouth into the open air. Think aloud as much as you can when you are alone, and you will soon be on the high road to success in this matter. The discussion and debates in the class-room are of vital importance as a further step, and I would urge the more retiring brethren to take a part in them. The practice of calling upon you to speak upon a topic drawn at random from a bowl out of a wide selection has been introduced among you, and we must more frequently resort to it. What I condemned as a part of religious worship, we may freely use as a scholastic exercise among ourselves. It is calculated to try a man’s readiness and self-command, and those who fail in it are probably as much benefited as those who succeed, for self-knowledge may be as useful to one as practice to another. If the discovery that you are as yet a bungler in oratory should drive you to severer study and more resolute endeavours, it may be the true path to ultimate eminence.

In addition to the practice commended, I must urge upon you the necessity of being cool and confident.

As Sydney Smith says, “A great deal of talent is lost to the world for want of a little courage.” This is not to be easily acquired by the young speaker. Cannot you young speakers sympathise with Blondin, the rope walker? Do you not sometimes feel when you are preaching as though you were walking on a rope high in the air, and do you not tremble and wonder whether you will reach the other end in safety? Sometimes when you have been flourishing that beautiful balancing pole, and watching the metaphorical spangles which flash poetry upon your audience, have you not been half regretful that you ever exposed yourself to such risks of sudden descent, or, to drop the figure, have you not wondered whether you would be able to conclude the sentence, or find a verb for the nominative, or an accusative for the verb? Everything depends upon your being cool and unflurried. Forebodings of failure, and fear of man, will ruin you. Go on, trusting in God, and all will be well. If you have made a blunder in grammar, and you are half inclined to go back to correct it, you will soon make another, and your hesitation will involve you as in a net.

Let me whisper—for it is meant for your ear alone—it is always a bad thing to go back. If you make a verbal blunder, go on, and do not notice it. My father gave me a very good rule when I was learning to write, which I think of equal utility in learning to speak. He used to say, “When you are writing, if you make a mistake by misspelling a word, or by writing a wrong word, do not cross it out and make a mess of it, but see how you can in the readiest way alter what you were going to say so as to bring in what you have written, and leave no trace of mistake.” So in speaking, if the sentence will not finish in the best way, conclude it in another. It is of very little use to go back to amend, for you thus call attention to the flaw which perhaps few had noticed, and you draw off the mind from your subject to your language, which is the last thing which the preacher should do.

If, however, your lapsus linguæ should be noticed, all persons of sense will forgive a young beginner, and they will rather admire you than otherwise for attaching small importance to such slips, and pressing on with your whole heart towards your main design. A novice at public speaking is like a rider unused to horseback; if his horse stumbles he fears he will be down and throw him over his head, or if it be a little fresh, he feels assured that it will run away; and the eye of a friend, or the remark of a little boy, will make him as wretched as if he were lashed to the back of the great red dragon. But when a man is well used to mount he knows no dangers, and he meets with none, because his courage prevents them. When a speaker feels, “I am master of the situation,” he usually is so. His confidence averts the disasters which trembling would be certain to create.

Related . . .

Topics: Extemporaneous Preaching, C.H. Spurgeon, Series - Impromptu Speech, Sermon Preparation

• The Faculty of Impromptu Speech, Part 4
• The Faculty of Impromptu Speech, Part 3
• The Faculty of Impromptu Speech, Part 2
• The Faculty of Impromptu Speech, Part 1
• The Art of Extemporaneous Preaching: Lessons from Charles Spurgeon

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• Calvin Coolidge: Address on the 150th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
• The Place of Evidence in Apologetics (Part 2)
• The Place of Evidence in Apologetics (Part 1)

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Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

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5 chatgpt prompts to improve your writing (with instant results).

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5 ChatGPT prompts to improve your writing (with instant results)

Writing is a valuable skill, but getting good takes intentionality. Learn, then practice. Repeat. ChatGPT can help (with the right prompts, of course). Compelling copy will propel your business to new heights when customers connect with your sales pages, resonate with your emails, and believe your social media posts really get them. Don’t miss the chance to make connections with your words. Get good at this today.

Improve your writing fast and for free with ChatGPT and the following prompts. Copy, paste and edit the square brackets in ChatGPT, and keep the same chat window open so the context carries through.

Instantly improve your writing: 5 ChatGPT prompts

Improve the hook.

You only have a few seconds to get someone’s attention. That means the first sentence of social media posts, articles and even emails has to pack a punch. Don’t waste time waffling or metaphorically clearing your throat. Get straight into the meat, open with the punchline or create an information gap. The hook is everything. Paste your work with the following prompt:

“Revise my opening sentence to make it more engaging and attention-grabbing by creating an information gap, starting in the middle of the story, or pulling on a known pain that my target audience of [describe target audience] has. Give 5 options for a new opening line. Here is the entire piece for context: [paste your entire piece].”

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Everything you were taught about writing at school is wrong. You shouldn’t use complicated words in an attempt to sound clever. Instead, use simple words and focus on clarity of message. Save the fancy sentences for lords and ladies. Save the complicated paragraphs for lawyers and academics.

“Rewrite the following passage using simpler words and clearer language, targeting a reading level of [specify reading level, e.g., 8th grade]. Explain the changes made and why: [paste your work].”

Write in active voice

Keep readers engaged with the active voice, which is simpler and more engaging than any other writing style. Get ChatGPT’s help until this comes naturally for better results and more interesting writing. Stay active, stay upbeat, and make sure your reader stays with you.

“Convert the following sentences to active voice to make them more engaging. This means the subject is the person or thing performing the action (e.g. she loved him as opposed to the passive form he was loved). Explain the changes made and why: [paste your sentences].”

Remove ambiguity

A confused buyer doesn’t buy. A confused reader goes elsewhere. Don’t confuse people. Just because a sentence makes perfect sense to you, doesn’t mean someone else will process it the same. Get ChatGPT’s help removing ambiguous wording so readers glide down your article all the way to the end.

“Clarify and remove any ambiguous wording from the following text, ensuring it is easy to understand for the reader. Explain the changes made and why: [paste your text].”

Turn one idea to many

After you have your killer paragraphs and winning lines, ideate with ChatGPT to find new topics. Repurpose, rework and explore new angles. Get prompts for new tweets, posts and articles along the same lines. Use this prompt for a list of starters then write them all in your new and improved style.

“Using this [article, sales copy, email] as a basis, generate new topics and angles for additional content, including [specify, e.g. tweets, posts, and articles.] Provide headlines and opening lines for the suggested new content: [paste your work].”

Become a better writer with ChatGPT

Writing well opens doors. Buyers want to buy, readers want to read, and getting on a level with someone happens with less effort. But contrary to popular belief, being a great writer isn’t something you were born with. It’s something you improve and hone over a long period of time.

Write what people want to read, not what you think you should write. Don’t be too proud to practice, don’t be too sure of yourself to ask for critique. Get ChatGPT’s pointers and share your unique messages in a more compelling way.

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Affordable travel is to blame for Europe’s overtourism problem, spoiling its most sought-after cities like Barcelona, Amsterdam and Athens

If you pick a famous European city for your summer vacation, you’re likely signing up for congested airports, attractions, and TikTok-famous restaurants. 

You probably also have to snap up your holiday rental before one of the hundred others eyeing it doesn’t beat you to it.  

That’s a sign you’ve encountered an effect of overtourism.

Travel is a phenomenon as old as time. Historically, it was seen as a positive experience where visitors engaged with a country’s culture and boosted the local economy by supporting businesses. It was seen as a rare, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that often took months of planning. Lately, however, travel has become easy and affordable—and that’s tipped the scales towards overtourism, changing people’s experience for the worse and degrading residents’ quality of life.

Anti-tourism protests in Europe started in the 1990s with “touristification” of culturally significant places. In recent months, authorities and locals have become noticeably bitter about the uptick in visitors. In Barcelona, protesters sprayed water and screamed “go home” at tourists earlier this month, highlighting how the tourism industry’s impact often overflows into residents’ lives. The Spanish city welcomed nearly 26 million visitors last year—roughly 16 times its population of 1.6 million.

Protestors in Mallorca in May called for a more sustainable form of tourism that prioritizes locals’ ability to buy property and imposes controls on holiday stays. Such protests could spread further, a top UNESCO official warned , if the right action isn’t taken to nip the problem. 

“Tourism is dying of success in some of the destinations. No famous destination that [is] overcrowded has found the formula to avoid this phenomenon of overtourism,” said Manuel Alector Ribeiro, an associate professor in tourism management at the University of Surrey. He thinks there’s a lack of management as “tourism is supposed to be an industry or sector for social good,” instead, it’s breeding hostility between residents and tourists.   

Cities have tried to tread lightly, given their complicated relationship with tourism. On the one hand, it’s a significant revenue contributor to local finances. For instance, travel and tourism directly contributed to 7.7% of Venice’s GDP in 2022, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council . On the other, the visitor boom has made housing exorbitant , with more places catering to short-term stays over long-term rentals, ultimately pricing locals out.  

People’s attitudes towards tourism have also changed with time. A majority of Barcelona residents don’t see tourism as much of an economic driver as they did before and think the city has reached its limit, a 2023 city council survey revealed. The report also found that locals resist cheap tourism which makes travel more attractive—but at what cost?

How did we end up here?

Mass tourism has been building up for a while now. A confluence of post-pandemic travel demand, strong U.S. dollar against the euro, and higher disposable income in countries like India and China have contributed to it. But at the center of it is the access to affordable flights, Boston Consulting Group’s managing director and partner Yassin El Khourouj told Fortune.

“The rise of low-cost airlines has allowed the development of cheap city breaks and short trips. In parallel, in most cases, overtourism has yet to be properly addressed by destination authorities,” he said. Discount airlines offer double-digit fares to different parts of Europe , making impromptu weekend trips to Barcelona, Bordeaux and more, possible. 

He added that the sprawling short-term rental business, such as Airbnb, have made stays at the heart of historic cities within reach.

Overtourism has become a hot topic in European cities this summer because it’s reached a tipping point, and residents are increasingly bearing the brunt of it. This could look different depending on the destination. 

For instance, more restaurants could serve international food instead of local food or there may be more souvenir stores that threaten the “authenticity” of neighborhoods, Khourouj said. Locals also face safety concerns and higher noise pollution if they live near popular areas due to overtourism. 

The impact goes beyond just social factors. Parts of Europe, such as Sicily and Barcelona, have been facing water shortages amid rising temperatures, forcing them to curb visitor numbers or ration water usage. Mass tourism can also result in environmental deterioration through more waste and pollution. Amsterdam plans to ban cruises in the next few years as they drive up emissions in the city. 

Unfortunately, as tourists typically make pit stops at different destinations for a few days at best, they aren’t fully aware of the impact they’re having. 

“Many visitors arrive in their destinations on a package holiday or cruise. They’re somewhat insulated from the places they’re visiting and in general I’d say awareness [of their impact] is low,” Simon Lynch, the global sales and product director at tour operator Scott Dunn, told Fortune .

But it’s starting to weigh on their decisions as they consider off-season travel more or opt for off-beat locations. 

To be sure, tourism has immense benefits in areas such as job creation and infrastructural improvements. In the Portuguese town of Porto, the local authorities see a trend of repeat tourists as a way to regenerate the city and revive it to new glory.   

It comes down to promoting a more measured form of tourism that puts residents and the city first while still encouraging visitors. 

Changing gears

Cities have started acting against mass tourism in various ways, such as banning cruises and capping crowds at popular sites. Barcelona announced a short-term rental ban in 2028 to stem its housing crisis . Venice, Athens, and Amsterdam have also grappled with overtourism and tried to counter it by introducing entry fees for attractions and capping new hotel constructions .

Bruges’s “ hotel stop ” model limits where hotels are constructed to promote livability in the city and its outskirts.  

Spreading tourists out in different parts of a city or country can mean a more enjoyable experience for all, Ribeira said. Government policies should aim to create benefits that can translate to an “increase in the quality of life and well-being of the people who live in the destinations,” he added.

Elsewhere in Europe, authorities are trying to make tourism a positive force by encouraging visitors to help with the city’s clean-up in exchange for free access to attractions. 

Scott Dunn’s Lynch pointed out that authorities should stop promoting the “Instagram hot spots” that create more chaotic city centers. London’s 90-day cap on short-term rentals in a year aims to balance tourism demand with long-term rental needs. Involving local communities in policy decisions could also help cities find a more sustainable way to manage the influx of visitors during peak seasons. 

“Ultimately, it’s about creating a high-quality experience for visitors and maintaining a high-quality environment for residents,” Lynch said. “Deterring tourists isn’t the answer.”

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How Melbourne academic Tamas Wells found indie-rock fame in China

To most Australians, the name Tamas Wells does not ring a bell. 

But it's a different story in China, where his music has been a ringtone on people's phones.

The 49-year-old academic from Melbourne never sought a career in music, but has always loved writing and recording it with mates.

His earlier years performing were spent in Melbourne's pub scene.

But in 2009, a Japanese label unexpectedly picked up his album, A Plea en Vendredi, followed by a Chinese label. 

One song, Valder Fields, became wildly popular.

Wells had just moved to Myanmar as an aid worker when he accepted an invitation to perform in China.

At his first China gig in Beijing, he was shocked to discover he had serious fans. 

"There were a thousand people there who were singing along," Wells said.

"That was really bizarre."

The song got more attention in 2019 when it was performed by contestants on TV show, The Voice China.

Wells has toured multiple times over the past 15 years performing in Japan, Singapore and China, as well as France. 

The latest was in April to Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hangzhou. 

'Oh my god it's Tamas Wells'

Wells's life in Melbourne is usually very separate to his overseas music fame.

Having earned a PhD in Burmese politics, he's a researcher and teacher at The University of Melbourne's School of Social and Political Sciences.

Music has never been a career focus, but a passion fitted in around academia and family life. 

Wells has kept his Asian stardom so separate to life in Melbourne that his two teenage daughters had been unaware of the extent of it until the latest tour.

They'd only seen him playing music at home, where they would sometimes ask him to shut up because they couldn't hear the TV, Wells said. 

When the 13 and 15-year-olds attended their father's Tokyo show they admitted they'd "underestimated Dad's music".

The surprise at Wells's double identity goes in reverse for Chinese international students at the University of Melbourne however, when they unexpectedly bump into a singer whose music was part of the soundtrack to their adolescence.

"Most classes I teach I would have someone who would come up at the end and say, 'Can I get a photo or an autograph?'" Wells said.

Student Ash Wu first heard Wells's music when she was 13 years old and was in disbelief when she realised he was on staff at her university.

"Wow, he's a teacher. I thought he was just a musician," she said.

His music has soothed her during challenging times and his songs feel "like a very close friend", Ms Wu said.

Meeting Wells on campus grounds recently, Ms Wu came prepared with gifts for him and his band and printed fan comments from Chinese social media she'd translated into English.

These included a cancer sufferer who said the hit song Valder Fields had helped him accept his illness, while others said they associated the song with their first love.

University of Melbourne student Helen Zhang had Valder Fields as her phone ringtone during high school and was "so surprised" to discover that her teacher was the singer of that song.

Ms Zhang filmed Wells during one of her classes last year and made a widely viewed TikTok video about her "handsome" teacher, which she said had given her 1,000 extra followers.

A common theme among Wells's Chinese fans is that his low-fi, pared-back sound and emotional lyrics are soothing.

University of Melbourne student Vincent Wu, who also had Valder Fields as his ringtone as teenager, said Wells's music had a calming effect on him.

"Many people in China have a lot of pressure and his songs make my heart become very quiet and very comfortable," he said.

Wells's side gig as a singer is not widely known to others, particularly his academic colleagues, who only discover his alter ego by accident, if, for example, they witness an impromptu fan photo. 

"I was talking to a senior academic and someone walked past and said, 'Oh my god it's Tamas Wells, can I have a photo?'", Wells said.

The student got his colleague to take a photo then ran off, leaving the colleague bewildered.

Music streaming in the 2010s

Wells's music found an audience in China at a pivotal moment technologically and culturally. 

Mathew Daniel, the international vice-president of NetEase Cloud Music — Wells's record label — said an influx of international music into China coincided with the opening up of the internet in the early 2010s. "Music licensing was still in its infancy and there was not much chronology or context to what was available to the Chinese audience," he said.

Having a viral hit came with no financial benefit to Wells initially but that has changed over the years as the industry has grown.

NetEase Cloud Music, an equivalent to Spotify and one of China's main music streaming platforms, has signed numerous foreign artists in the last decade who don't have much of a following in their home country. 

Wells has about 200,000 followers on his NetEase account, which his tour promoter Ye De Xiong said was a key statistic he relied on when approaching Wells to manage the latest tour.

"Tamas is a very special case because he may not be very famous in his town in Australia, but he is quite famous in China," Mr Ye said.

Fame 'doesn't sit naturally'

Seven tours to China later and Wells seems no less baffled by the phenomenon of his China fame than when it first hit.

"I'm not someone who's been seeking to have a huge audience, so it doesn't sit that naturally with me," he said.

"I just love writing songs. I've got a hundred songs on my phone — just song ideas that I've been writing. 

"I'll probably just continue to do that whatever happens."

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11 Days in July: Inside the All-Out Push to Save the Biden Campaign

President Biden has repeatedly tried to erase the concerns over his age and mental acuity. But nothing has changed the narrative.

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By Michael D. Shear

Reporting from Washington

Nothing President Biden did seemed to work.

He delivered an angry, defensive rant on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” He showed foreign policy chops at a news conference . He wrote a long letter to “fellow Democrats” demanding an end to the calls for him to step aside. He confronted lawmakers on a Zoom call that devolved into a tense, heated exchange about his age and mental competency.

Eleven days ago, the president and his closest family members and advisers went on the offensive, determined to end what already had been nearly two weeks of hand-wringing over his listless performance at a debate on June 27. The result was a flurry of interviews, rallies, defiant meetings with his closest allies and impromptu campaign stops — all intended to rebut the premise that he was too old and frail to win a second term.

But almost every step was undercut by his own fumbles and the steady drumbeat of calls from his friends and allies for him to step aside, even from loyalists like the actor George Clooney . Together, it was evidence that nothing he was doing was having much impact. Mr. Biden was racing from place to place, but nothing was changing.

This story of the 11 days that Mr. Biden has spent trying to rescue his hopes for a second four years in the Oval Office is based on interviews with people close to him, including lawmakers, current and former aides, friends and others. Most spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss one of the most difficult periods in Mr. Biden’s political life.

At the end of two hectic days in the 110-degree heat of Las Vegas this week, it all seemed to catch up with him. Mr. Biden was coughing during interviews and seemed almost as tired and scattered as he did during the debate on June 27. At a campaign stop at a restaurant, he looked pale. He tested positive for Covid, canceled his final speech and flew back to his beach house in Delaware.

By Thursday, Mr. Biden’s flashes of anger had given way to what allies perceived as the beginnings of acceptance that he might lose. People close to him began privately predicting that the end of the campaign was near, and that he might even drop out of the race within days.

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