People who will give a speech usually have prepared and revised the speech material, and have even practiced as best they can. Have you ever imagined what if you were asked to give a speech spontaneously without any preparation at all. If this happens to you, use your improvisational skills because you have to think and talk right away. This article explains how to put together a structured, self-soothing, and systematic speech so that your performance is commendable or, at the very least, a smooth speech.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing for a Speech
Step 1. Take the time that is still available to prepare
When asked to make a speech, do not immediately stand up or come forward. Walk slowly and calmly. You can take some time to prepare yourself and think about the first sentence.
- When someone asks you to give a spontaneous speech, you may panic because you have to compose sentences as quickly as possible. Because time is so short, you should prepare yourself by calming your mind first, instead of thinking about what to say.
- If you're not ready, try buying time by shaking hands, joking, or setting the microphone.
Step 2. Overcome nervousness
Breathe deeply to calm yourself down. Focus your mind so you can concentrate on what needs to be done. Ignore distracting and anxiety-provoking thoughts as these can make you lose confidence.
- To calm down, imagine that everyone present expects you to make a good speech. The thought of failure makes you feel scared and insecure.
- Try to accept the fact that you have to give a speech so that you are not controlled by panic and are able to do everything at your disposal to give the best possible speech.
Step 3. Show confidence
Face the audience boldly with a smile. Make eye contact with the people in the front row. Show confidence through body language. Don't wring your fingers, shake, or sound awkward. Think positive things so you can control yourself. You have to believe in yourself in order to come across as fun, humorous, and intelligent.
- Often times, pretending to be confident makes you feel really confident.
- Just relax! Public speaking is not something out of the ordinary. Small mistakes will not be fatal.
Step 4. Introduce yourself briefly
Explain to the audience who you are by mentioning your name, background, and explaining why you are attending this event or what you are giving a speech for. Thank the audience for their presence and attention. Don't deny that you're not ready to give a speech and appreciate the audience's willingness to keep listening. Show enthusiasm and speak calmly.
Don't get straight to the point of your speech. Begin your speech by introducing yourself briefly so that you are better prepared to speak
Part 2 of 3: Good Speech
Step 1. Speak fluently and naturally
Prepare speech material with a clear topic and focus on the speech. Choose a topic you understand, rather than conveying erroneous or ambiguous information. Don't string information together in a rigid or overly complex manner. Let the thoughts and words flow spontaneously so that the speech composes itself.
- Use simple, rational sentences and say each word with careful thought so that you can speak fluently.
- Give yourself time to think about what you want to say and come up with new ideas.
Step 2. Give a short speech
Spontaneous speech should be short and memorable. Speak up to 2 minutes. Do not be too long. Short speeches should be delivered in 60-90 seconds. Consider the audience's attention span. Their interest will soon be extinguished if the speech loses its appeal due to long-winded explanations.
After starting to speak in front of an audience, 2 minutes feels very short. Even if you are asked to give a speech without preparation, composing a short speech may seem more difficult than a long one
Step 3. Tell the story
Prepare well-structured speech material. Just like any story you've read, a good speech should have a beginning, middle, and end. Sharing your experience is the best option because you can convey true and more personal information.
- The best way to give a speech in sequence from the beginning, middle, and end is to convey detailed information in chronological order. For example, start your speech by saying, "When you start to be friends with Jon, he…" and continue by explaining, "as coworkers, we became close friends…" then end with "I'm sure our friendship will last a long time." pleasant."
- When sharing personal experiences, don't share irrelevant opinions or controversial subjects.
Step 4. Get the audience laughing
Tell a polite anecdote or provide a reference when you start your speech to make the audience feel more comfortable. Humor can relieve tension during a spontaneous speech and overcome nervousness. Intellectual jokes make your audience respect you more. Don't take it too seriously to make things more fun.
- Humor is useful to lighten the atmosphere and make the audience interested in continuing to listen.
- Choose jokes that are appropriate for all ages, local cultures and events.
Part 3 of 3: Ending the Speech with a Memorable Afterword
Step 1. Think of the most appropriate afterword
Moments before your speech, think about what you will say to end the speech. Do not let you talk in circles without clarity when the speech will end. After determining the main idea, think of the most appropriate sentence as a closing remark. Try to structure sentences as best you can so that the transition from the introduction to the main point of the speech to the conclusion flows smoothly to avoid wasted time or useless words.
As with the rest of your speech, prepare a short sentence to conclude, for example, "Thank you for your concern" or "Let's hear a message from the newlyweds."
Step 2. Come up with an effective conclusion
Save in advance the most important messages, fond memories, or witty anecdotes to end your speech. Deliver closing sentences with reassuring words and a calm demeanor. The last part of the speech is very impactful for the audience because it is the easiest to remember so they bring home a very memorable and unforgettable message.
- If you are giving a speech at a business conference, the end of the speech is the most appropriate time to convey a request or appeal to the audience.
- The most appropriate moment to convey a very memorable message is at the conclusion because sentimental words will stir feelings and make the audience touched.
Step 3. Thank the audience
At the end of the speech, give appreciation to the audience by saying thank you again. Politely return the microphone to the presenter and then sit back down. Even if the speech isn't as good as you'd like it to be, don't apologize or give excuses as this makes the speech less useful.
- In a situation like this, you do not need to thank the important figures one by one because what is needed is an expression of gratitude to all present.
- Make sure you know who you should hand over the microphone to or have someone on the podium so you don't end your speech looking around frantically for someone.
Step 4. Don't beat yourself up
The ability to deliver a spontaneous speech that motivates, inspires, or brings about a big change is not for everyone. The audience is able to understand and accept this. You don't have to feel guilty about occasionally falling silent or stuttering during a speech. Instead, reward yourself for having the courage to do something that might seem scary to other people.
Spontaneous speeches will be greatly appreciated if the speaker appreciates the ongoing event. Don't criticize yourself because you didn't have time to prepare before giving your speech
Tips
- When looking for inspiration, identify 3-4 main issues that you want to address.
- If you are speaking using a microphone, set the optimal distance so that your voice can be heard clearly. Do not get too close or too far from the mouth.
- Take advantage of your audience's curiosity and humor so that their passion and enthusiasm can keep you motivated.
- Practice speaking spontaneously in front of an audience by offering to give an unprepared speech at an informal event.
- Body language says a lot about you. So, make sure your body language is able to represent yourself in the best possible way.
- Breathe deeply, especially if you feel anxious or dizzy.
- Whatever the topic, show your love and interest in the topic and deliver your speech with all your heart.
Warning
- Don't choose a topic you don't understand.
- Don't say offensive words. In addition to sounding bad, you will be deemed incapable of making a speech and this can damage your own reputation.
- Before standing on the podium, take a moment to make sure that your appearance is appropriate for a speech. Take a moment to look in the mirror or ask a friend to tell you if your hair needs to be combed, a shirt needs to be trimmed, if you have food stuck in your teeth, etc.
- Don't use text from websites or speech guides, as this will sound stilted or boring. Your audience will know if you just memorized existing text.
