By Steve Adubato , PhD Freelance Contributor
Professionals are asked all the time to speak “ off the cuff .” Some people call it extemporaneous or impromptu speaking . It ’ s one of the greatest fears of even the most confident people , yet it doesn ’ t have to be this way if you change the way you think about communicating in your professional life . Consider the following tips and tools for impromptu presentations : ◾ Be prepared . Yes , that ’ s right . Be prepared for the unexpected . If you assume it could happen , you will be less anxious . While you may not always know when you will be asked to speak , you can anticipate the probability based on the venue .
◾ Keep it brief . No matter what you say , less is more . Say what you have to say
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and then sit down . Avoid the tendency to ramble and fill the quiet . Your audience will be more likely to lean in and retain what you are saying if you are clear and concise .
◾ Be a sponge . Stay in the moment and absorb everything happening around you . When you do this , you are presented with content that you can play off of and make reference to . The other technique is to tie what other speakers have said to your comments .
◾ Act the part . This has everything to do with confidence . If we continually remind our audience that we were not prepared to speak and apologize unnecessarily , it undercuts our message . Instead , be confident with both your verbal and non-verbal communication .
◾ Be conversational . If we view this impromptu situation as a “ conversation ” rather than a “ presentation ,” it allows us to be more authentic . When we are conversational , we go into story telling mode from a personal experience , which resonates well with any audience .
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Confidence and preperation are keys to a successful presentation
Steve Adubato , PhD , is the author of five books including , “ Lessons in Leadership .” His sixth book , “ Lessons in Leadership 2.0 : The Tough Stuff ,” will be released in summer 2023 . He is an Emmy ® Award-winning anchor with programs airing on Thirteen / WNET ( PBS ) and NJ PBS . He has also appeared on CNN , NPR and NBC ’ s Today Show . Steve Adubato ' s “ Lessons in Leadership ” video podcast with co-host Mary Gamba airs Sundays at 10:00 a . m . on News 12 +. For more information visit www . Stand-Deliver . com
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Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / jeffbergen |
August 2024 COMMERCE 1 |