Impromptu speaking: improve your table topics

Most of the talking we do on a daily basis is impromptu speaking, and so if we can learn how to assemble knowledge and thoughts on any topic at a moment’s notice, we will benefit by:

• Being able to think on our feet in meetings, conversations, and many other settings.
• Having greater confidence when giving prepared talks, because we know that if we ‘lose our place’, we can talk intelligently on an impromptu basis for a short while till we’re back on track.
• Being more skilled in social situations.
   

Be Mentally Prepared

When you are in a meeting keep on top of what is going on, and every now and then think ‘What would I say now if called on to give my views? What aspect would I cover? How would I phrase it?’ This will help you be calm and collected when you are called on, because you will have mentally practiced many talks you’ve never given.

Take Time

Take some time to get your ideas together – you don’t need to give your reply  immediately. This not only gives you a few seconds to work out your response, but also gives the impression you are making sure you’ll say something worthwhile.

Start with an Example

You may want to talk about an incident from your life that relates to the topic and has a human-interest angle. The advantages are:

It’s something familiar to you, and it can reassure you when you most need it – during your first few moments

You won’t have to think so hard about your next sentence as experiences are easy to remember

You’ll get into the swing of speaking and reduce your nerves

You’ll get the audience’s attention

Be Animated

If you are externally animated, it has a beneficial effect on your mental processes, as physical activity and the mind are closely related.

If your body is animated, your mind functions at a lively pace.

Practise

The best way to improve is to practise regularly. Effective impromptu speaking, like most skills, requires some work and practise. This is why Table Topics is such a valuable exercise!

The e-book that helps Toastmasters improve their Table Topics!

BETTER SPEAKING BETTER THINKING: General Edition

Written especially for those who want to improve their impromptu (and prepared) speaking, this is an invaluable tool to help you gain the skills for speaking off the cuff. It will be a huge boost to your ability to speak during Table Topics. Not only does it provide you with techniques for enhanced speaking and confidence, it also provides 500 practice topics on many and varied topics, along with suggestions for the countless ways you can gain benefit from using the topics.

At NZ$20, it is only about the price of a month's Toastmaster's fees!

Click here for more details.

DITTY

In addition I offer a free Daily Impromptu Topic email service DITTY which allows for regular practice. Practising impromptu speaking on a regular basis, even for a minute a day can help improve your speaking skills. If you subscribe to the DITTY service you receive two topics a day during weekdays (so you can practise with someone else, should you wish) on a wide variety of subjects. You'll be addressing topics such as:

Is Elvis Still alive? Is marriage an outdated institution? Are there any benefits to watching Coronation Street? ...and more!

Just click here to be included on the list