7 Tips to Deliver a Captivating Impromptu Speech

1. Understand That You Only Need to Talk About Your Experiences

When someone gives us a topic, we prepare, rehearse it till the last minute and present it at one go. But, in an
impromptu speech, you’re not given a topic that you will not know.

The prime focus of the subject will be either you or your surroundings. If you think about it, this is more
straightforward.

It can be about your journey with your colleagues, your company’s latest product, or about your best friend. These
are always easy to interpret.

Well, If you think about it, impromptu speaking has been a part of our everyday lives unknowingly. When you meet
a stranger at a cafe or when you head to a nearby store, it is impromptu.

You might be asked to speak on random topics like “Why should one not be a part of the rat-race,” or “Why is it
ideal to embrace adversities?” Though these are just examples to give you an overview, you might be asked to speak
on any topic under the sun. It all depends on where you are.

2. Learn to Describe What You See Around

We commute to different places in a day, and we see plenty of things happening around. If your friend tells you to
describe that cute guy/girl you met on the metro ride, you would go on and on about him/her.

But, if you’re asked to describe a pretty vase on your table, you end it in a few seconds. Learning to describe is an
art.

More than describing, it’s about building strong opinions for issues that concern us. Let’s say, the topic is “Your take
on mental health.” Though this is a pretty general topic, it’s about your perspective on that particular topic. The
upsides and downsides of the issue, the why and what of it. Forming opinions and describing it with actual facts
adds a lot of credibility to your speech.

Once you master it, it’ll be easy for you to deliver any speech. If you’re an introvert, you might be well-versed at
playing with words on a blank white sheet, but practicing the same by talking can help you with presenting better.

Be a keen observer, try to watch the details. The more you observe, the better you will be able to relate your personal
story to the facts, and your audience will love it when your speech is relatable and not generalized.

3. Organize Your Thoughts

I have this problem where a bunch of things will be going on in my mind simultaneously. It’s complete chaos where
I end up speaking irrelevant things.

So especially if you’re new to going on stage unprepared, then more than making points, you might start worrying
about what others might think of you.

I’ve gone through that, my face would be as red as a tomato and I completely screw up the speech as my voice
would stutter and show that I’m obviously nervous.

So, it’s essential to organize your thoughts and prioritize the ones that you want to talk about first. Also, an
impromptu speech is a short speech, so even if you have plenty of things in your mind, filter them and say the best
ones. It should be short, engaging, and the audience should resonate with what you say.

Example:
A basic strategy is to ask yourself the 5 W’s and H questions when you’re called on stage. Taking the example of “Is
it ideal to embrace adversities?” well, you start by asking yourself why is it ideal, how can one overcome, what is
the best way to deal with it, and so on.

You can start your speech by speaking about the time when YOU experienced such a situation in your life, move on
to tell about how it affected you internally, and finally the ways you overcame your adversity. Conclude by going
back to the topic and answering it.

Here, the audience is able to relate to your personal story and also motivate them in the end. This way, you can
deliver your impromptu speech more effectively and without much effort. You never know, you might surprise
yourself in the end.

4. Try and be as Candid as Possible

Now that you’ve learned to describe things, describing your experiences should be easy. As mentioned above,
though describing the lowest point in your life may not be easy, you can add characters to it and speak as a different
story.

When someone asks you to deliver an impromptu speech, go straight up to the stage (this is the time to recollect
every possible thing) and express what you feel at that very moment.

If it’s about your colleague or mentor, you can start by speaking about one of the most cherished moments with
them, what qualities you liked and learned from them, and how they brought in a positive change in your life.

I’ve seen people who try to be extra formal but end up ruining their speech or make it boring. Just breathe and talk
your heart out. No amount of preparation can beat the candid speech ever. It’s the one that comes from your soul,
and the one, that touches the audience’s heart.

5. Go with the Flow and be Light-hearted

If you’re a newbie, your first few speeches will not be the way you expect it to be. If you want to be the best version
of you, then you need to face complicated situations.

Well, not all the time, but if you land in such a position, embrace it. Never let that consume you. You’re not stooping
low and disrespecting yourself, you’re saving yourself from intensifying the situation. It shows you’re confident
enough too.

I bet, even the best speaker would have been through an embarrassing situation at least once.

6. Set a Brand for Yourself

It was during one of my first few speeches in school where I tried imitating the hand gestures similar to that of my
classmate. It was so obvious, and also, it did not go well with my personality. So, never do that.

If you’ve watched TEDx Talks, you might have observed that every individual has a unique way of conveying their
story to the audience, whether it’s the tone or the body language.

Thus, be comfortable with yourself and your body. You will see the results for yourself. An impromptu speech
judges who you are. It’s those few minutes that shows the world who you are. Give your best shot no matter what.

7. It’s Okay to Screw Up in an Impromptu Speech

You might forget your topic while on stage, or you might end up being blank in between your speech. That’s totally
alright. It’s a matter of time and everyone would have gone through the same phase.
Learn from it and avoid making that mistake the next time. Maybe even your fifth speech might not be good, but
your tenth or twelfth speech will definitely be better than your previous speeches and no one can stop you from
there.

Remember, it’s okay to screw up and it’s okay to be reckless. In the end, you will be happy to have that experience.
Here’s former NFL player, Bo Eason, telling his students why being reckless is actually a good thing:

Impromptu Speech Outline

Like any other speech, an impromptu speech has the same structure: the introduction, the body and the conclusion.

Introduction

There are many ways you can start during an impromptu speech. Like always, the introduction should be
captivating.

Gone are the days where the usual “Hello Everyone, I’m ABC and so on” was the norm for starting a speech. It
gives the impression that your speech will be boring right from the beginning.

One way is by sharing a quick personal story. You can start this way, “I remember the time when I was in a similar
situation…”

Another way is to ask questions. You get enough time to recall notable points. Questioning your audience can buy
you extra time if you do not remember right away. (Keep in mind that you do not make majority speech a question-
answer session. You’re out there to speak, not to make the audience speak).

Also, knowing your audience and the time of the presentation is equally important. It can be at an NGO, a corporate
place, or even a party. Start your speech accordingly. Knowing your audience can help you be a lot more contextual.

Thus, start with a relatable quote or come up with one. Share a story that is relatable to all. Your introduction is a
gateway to you as an individual. Keep it simple yet effective.

Related Article: 15 Powerful Speech Opening Lines (And How to Create Your Own)

Body

Now since an impromptu speech is only for a couple of minutes, you need not rush to conclude your speech.
Honestly, I even dread to talk continuously for 2 minutes, so a couple of minutes on stage is a big deal for me.
Breathing helps to calm my nerves. I remind myself to live in the moment and continue my story.

Example:

If you’re speaking on “Mental Health,” make 3 to 4 informative points like when did you realize mental health is
important, how important is it to focus on our overall well-being, in what way does it affect our day-to-day lives,
why is there a stigma around it, how can everyone join as a community and offer help, and so on.

If you have gone through any mental health issues, you can share your story and deliver the speech. You can also
talk about personal experiences.

If it’s a light topic, go on about the details of it, what made you despise or love that phase of life, relate it with the
current topic, add facts, quotes, references from movies, or stories if you remember that very moment.
The body of the speech should be informative and engaging. Try not to make it too long. Keep it to the point with all
the details included.

Conclusion

The conclusion is as essential as your introduction. Maybe a little more valuable as your audience will remember
your conclusion more than anything. You can either make a gist of your speech and stress on the important points in
the end or end it by speaking something that is motivating and inspirational.

Example:

If it’s on Mental Health, you can probably end it by saying “Let’s push the pause button and not be too busy to not
care about the one’s next to us. The least we could do is to ask ‘How are you? Are you OK?’ to the people around us.
You never know, it might make a huge difference and bring positivity and hope among everyone.”

If it’s a wedding party, be energetic and lively. You can simply end by congratulating the couples and telling the
audience to enjoy the evening.

If it’s business-related, you can end it with a ‘success’ quote or something compelling enough that is contextual to a
business setting.

Keep your speech short, crisp, and sweet.

Related article: 5 Ways to End Your Speech With Maximum Impact!

I came across this video and loved every bit of the impromptu speech. The speaker starts with a story as an example,
relates it to our lives, and explains why we should live like the character in the story ending on a positive note with a
great message.

How to be Better Prepared for Impromptu Speeches

“The very best impromptu speeches are the ones written well in advance.”

Ruth Gordon

Though an impromptu speech is delivered straight away without preparation, if you practice for a couple of minutes
every day, you will definitely nail it. Here are some of the ways to improve your impromptu skills and gain
confidence by speaking on-spot on a daily basis. It will help you think fast and deliver your thoughts effectively.

1. Practice at Home With Your Family

The best way to deliver an impromptu speech is to practice more. Ask your family members to give you a topic on-
spot every day. It can be a short 5 min session where you practice one topic or one-hour session where each family
member takes turns and speaks on any given topic. A perfect bonding moment as well. Once you develop the
confidence to speak in front of your family members, you will be much more comfortable speaking in front of
strangers.

2. Call a Friend
You can call your friends and play pick-and-speak. It will definitely be fun and everyone can improve their
impromptu skills. It’s always entertaining with friends when they come up with cool topics.

Call your friend up and give her a topic. Let her speak on the topic for a minute or two. After she’s done, switch your
roles and allow her to give you a topic. Once you both are done speaking, evaluate each other and give feedback on
how you can improve each other’s speeches.

This is a short, effective and fun way of practicing and gives you a buddy to practice and track your progress with.

3. Attending Toastmasters

You can join a Toastmaster’s club near as they help you in improving your speaking skills. You meet like-minded
people, and here, you are supposed to pick a topic and present it in front of the members under the Table Topics
section. It’s a perfect opportunity to improve your impromptu skills.

Here is another video where a member of a Toastmaster club speaks on a Table Topic. The flow of the speech is
natural, and she presents it with grace and autheticty, which is laudable.

Related Article: How to Best Perform the Role of Table Topics Master in a Toastmasters Meeting?

4. Attend an Event or Volunteer at Your Neighborhood

You can also volunteer at NGO’s and take part in conducting campaigns, reaching out to people, and hosting events.
It boosts your self-confidence and gives you a chance to host events or speak on stage at certain occasions.

Impromptu Speech Delivery

Here are a couple of things you need to keep in mind to be prepared for delivering a speech. Even though you cannot
prepare for the topic, you can prepare yourself for any topic.

Read, Read and Read a Lot

Now that you know that an impromptu speech is unplanned, it’s a test to your knowledge. Though you will be
sharing personal experiences, the more you add quotes and facts, the better your speech. So, it’s essential to read a
lot. Pick up any book, newspaper, or magazines every day and read. Make notes on points you could connect, or the
ones that you feel would help you in your speeches.

Work on Your Body Language

When it comes to body language, it’s okay to not be comfortable in your first few speeches. But come home and
practice it in front of the mirror. Make sure to not repeat the same mistakes again. A few basic rules to remember are
to not keep moving around too much or standing completely still, to not cross your hands, keeping it authentic, etc.

Realted article: Body Language Guide to Public Speaking (The Do’s & Don’ts)

Practice Voice Modulation

voice modulation in an impromptu speech

Read aloud at home, narrate a story to kids, or record your speech and listen to it repeatedly. Find out where you’re
going wrong. Recording your voice will help you understand the areas where you need to work more.

Related Article: The Incredible Impact of Video Recording Yourself While Practicing a Speech

Related article: All You Need to Know about Voice Modulation & Tonality for Public Speaking