300 Words 1/6/2023 | How to Give an Impromptu Speech

and why you need to learn.

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Welcome back! You have just witnessed a wonderful speech on the power of the spoken word. Were you moved? Were you swept up in the moment? Did you feel the power of his words? It drives home the point:

Words matter, and they are an incredibly powerful thing.

They have power. Immense power to build or destroy. Power to change your life and the lives of those around you.

Unlocking that power is incredibly important for ALL areas of your life.

Whether it be your professional life or personal life, learning how to speak and how to speak well is paramount. Being a proficient or even excellent public speaker can unlock many doors in your life, and is one of the key skills that if developed will take you far.

Have you ever found yourself in a difficult conversation with your spouse and not know what to say?

Have you gotten nervous when you needed to give an important presentation in a high pressure situation?

Do you want to network and connect with your peers?

All of that comes down to learning how to speak and speak well.

I’m a huge advocate for using a form of public speaking called Impromptu to help you unlock that power. The power of your voice.

To help you begin your journey of unlocking that power: I’m going to answer four topics.

What is impromptu? Why I’m bullish on it. The additional benefits you can receive. How you can get started practicing today.

What is Impromptu?

You may have heard the term impromptu before and think of this definition: “done without being planned, organized, or rehearsed” Oxford Language Dictionary.

If you hear the word impromptu and think of something that is spontaneous and off the cuff, you would be right. That is the heart of giving an Impromptu speech. It is meant to be off the cuff, but there is so much more.

When I talk about Impromptu I am talking about a specific form of public speaking that I have practiced for years.

In my world Impromptu is a form of public speaking where you are given three topics and seven minutes to give a speech on one of them.

In that seven minutes you have to complete the following: -Pick a topic to speak on. -Outline your speech. -Give that speech with the remaining time.

Looking at that it seems very simple and straight forward.

You just speak. It is incredibly simple in practice but not easy to master.

So where is the catch?

Alright you caught me. Here is the kicker. You do all of this without any resources or access to information. That means no phone, no access to ChatGPT, no dictionary, nothing.

A small index card, a pen, and your mind are the only things at your disposal.

It is up to you to use the time and fill it well.

Does it seem easy now?

If this doesn’t seem easy. If this seems like a herculean task that you will never be able to master.

If it sounds like your greatest fear. I have news for you.

That is okay.

You can overcome this fear with practice and the right guide.

Why am I bullish on Impromptu?

I’m bullish on Impromptu because I’ve seen it’s benefits first hand. My initiation into the realm of public speaking was giving an Impromptu speech at a High School speech tournament.

I can still remember that moment clearly to this day.

I was in a small gray cinder-block room filled with six other students and a judge (a college student in a gray hoodie who looked like they wanted to be anywhere but their).

My nerves were shot and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I felt out of breath and that the tie around my neck was going to choke me. I had just seen a phenomenal speaker give a perfectly articulated seven minute speech, and it was my turn to speak.

I was given three prompts -Pennies -Pennants and -Donald Trump*

I was so nervous that I read the first word wrong and thought it actually said something completely different. After the initial shock, I decided to swiftly move on to the next prompt. I had nothing to speak on about pennants. So I decided to speak about Donald Trump. *This was in early 2000’s so the only thing I knew about Donald Trump was the T.V. show the Celebrity Apprentice. Let’s just say the speech didn’t go well.

Here are the highlights: - I spent over two minutes coming up with something to talk about. - I spoke for a minute and twenty-three seconds. -I said the phrase “You’re Fired.” over 67 in that short speech. - “You bored me.” Was the only comment my judge left on my ballot.

By all accounts it was a horrible speech. That should have been the end of my public speaking career. Thankfully three things happened:

1. I was at a speaking tournament, and the next round was starting in 15 minutes. I didn’t have time to wallow in failure and had to move on.

2. That speaker that spoke before me talked to me after the round. He encouraged me to keep going, gave me a few pointers, and said I did a great job for my first time.

3. I didn’t get to see the judges ballot until way later in the season.

Those three things allowed me to go on to competitively speak for 6 more years, give hundreds of speeches and debates, to win awards for speaking at the state and national level. To make friends and to become the confident speaker I am today.

I am bullish on Impromptu because it is one of the purest forms of public speaking and is one of the most relevant to every day life. In life you often wont get a chance to prepare a speech before hand. You have to take the moment as it comes and put your best foot forward. That is what impromptu teaches you to do.

Additional benefits to learning how to give an Impromptu speech:

Here is a quick list of other benefits you can receive by learning how to give an impromptu speech. -The ability to speak on Spaces on X. -An increased follower count on X. -Self confidence. -The ability to deal with ambiguity and turn it into structure. -A cool party trick to impress your friends. -Knowledge that you have conquered a fear that people fear more than death. -Additional content to talk or write about. -The ability to have interesting discussions and relate to others. -Faster idea creation. -Better hooks. -Better writing. -The ability to present yourself and your ideas clearly when it matters the most. -Deeper connections with your friends,family, and peers.

This list can go on. There is a wealth of benefits that come from practicing and mastering your public speaking skills.

How can you start practicing today?

It is really simple. All you need is a pen, a piece of paper, a container, and a timer.

List out 12–16 topics you like to talk about on your piece of paper. Cut the topics into strips and put them in a container. Set a timer for 7 minutes. Pull three strips out of the container. Pick one and begin outlining your speech and speaking.

You don’t need an audience. You can talk to a wall. (That’s a story for another time.)

As a bonus pull up Zoom and record yourself giving your speech.

You now have content ideas, video content, and a speech you can review later.

Here is a simple framework to outline your speech:

Topic: The topic you chose to speak on.

Intro: Your hook

Topic 1: The first main point you want to talk about. Example 1: A relevant example that relates to your topic.

Example 2: Another relevant example that relates to your topic.

Topic 2: The second main point you want to talk about.

Example 1: A relevant example that expands on Topic 2.

Example 2: A relevant example that expands on Topic 2

Conclusion: Your call to action.

That is how you can get started. Here is a free Notion tool to help you create those outlines and practice. With time and dedicated practice you can master an impromptu speech. The best way to do that is to seek constant feedback. Get on spaces on X, give a speech to friends, or hire a professional speaking coach.

Regards,

Jeff

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P.S. If you want to accelerate your practice, and get relevant feedback. You can hire me as your personal speech coach. I can help you accelerate your practice above what you can do alone.

I don’t teach public speaking. I teach self-confidence. I teach persuasion. I teach logic. I teach a core life skill that everyone should know.

When you pay for coaching with me you get a listening ear, a kind and encouraging coach, and someone not afraid to give you the candid feedback you need to improve. If you are read to accelerate your public speaking skills book a session now.