What are the best ways to make a strong first impression during an impromptu speech?

The first thing any speaker has to do is give their audience a reason to care. You need to open a gap in their knowledge, an itch that they need to scratch. We always tell our speakers that the first thing they need to achieve is CLARITY + CURIOUSITY. The audience needs to know what you're talking about, and they need to have an unanswered question about it. You are trying to create a degree of novelty. A great way to do this is to open with a string of questions. Try these three (or variations thereof): - Have you ever wondered why... - Does it not strike you as odd that... - Well, what if I told you that... "In the next X minutes, I will explain how..." And they are on the hook. Lead loud!

If you aren't clear in your mind, you will not be clear in your words. You need to achieve utmost clarity about the 1-2 mist important things you want to say, as soon as you hear of the speech topic. Once have the clarity, focus on those 1-2 points only, and say them in the most succinct manner. Too often, we see people trying to innundate a speech with too many points. It is never a good idea. I would rather have you discuss 2 points well, than 7-8 ideas half heartedly, as half baked ideas don't have a recall value and make you look like a not so impressive speaker.

Knowing your audience and speaking clearly and concisely to their interest is the key first step. Speaking on issues that you are passionate about allows for authenticity and enjoyable presentation.

Greet your audience with a big smile and with excitement in your voice. Thank them for their time and then work your way to your subject, keeping the same energy and excitement. Make the subject so that everybody stays engaged and interested.

Value-add. This is essential and closely correlated with purpose. What value do you wish to add to your audience or listener(s). Once that value piece is in play, your purpose becomes more refined.

I side with Mark Twain who said: "It usually takes me more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech". The way to prepare for impromptu speeches is by learning simple structures and practicing them. For example, one of the common structures is "What? - So What? - Now What?": > Start by discussing an idea, project, or argument (What?) > Explain why it is important, helpful, or useful, and why it matters to the audience (So what?) > Tell the audience what they should do with this information (Now what?) Clear structure makes it easier for us, as speakers, to organize our thoughts, and for the audience to follow us. Bonus tip: read "Think Faster, Talk Smarter” by Matt Abrahams for practical advice on impromptu speaking.

I have regularly relied on Monroe’s Motivated Sequence for speeches. It is a reliable guide when speeches need to be drafted quickly: - Step One: Get Attention. Get the attention of your audience with a story or a striking visual. - Step Two: Establish the Need. Explain what the problem is to your audience. - Step Three: Solution. Highlight how you can fix the need. - Step Four: Paint a picture of the future. - Step Five: Mention what the audience needs to do - what their ‘Call to Action’ is.

To make a strong first impression you need to impress immediately, meaning your opening needs to hook the audience, make them care, lean in & want to know more. Typical strong openings include asking a rhetorical question, using a quote, telling a story, delivering your call to action or creating a sense of suspense. Any of these would work but only if it’s relevant. When speaking on an impromptu subject sometimes it’s difficult to think of a relevant quote or story. To make a good impression be confident in whatever you start with. Then to come across as professional wrap up your speech by tying it back to the opening (with repetition, the end of the story, the resolution to the suspense, answer the question, referring back to the quote).

Keep it simple is the rule. You see people try make a simple case more complex than it needs to be. My Aboriginal cultural ways speak through in terms of using the least amount of words to say anything g important.

A joke as a warm-up, speaking to the audience's need or concern, storytelling (real-world scenario), then objectives as a path of breadcrumbs so they follow you through the (well-structured, succinct) material to conclude the story you started with. And keep it short - adults have limited time and attention span.

Confidence, passion, and knowledge are the pillars of impactful public speaking. When you're confident, your audience trusts you. Passion makes your message resonate, creating an emotional connection. And with knowledge, you not only inform but also inspire. Combine these, and you don't just speak; you captivate and transform your audience.

Energy, energy, energy! People are drawn to high energy speakers. That doesn't mean jumping up and down or shouting. It means using high intensity language, tone of voice and gesture. Repeat to yourself that you are the expert - nobody else knows exactly what you know, nor have the lived the same experiences that lead up to what you're saying. Use personal stories and say why they relate to your audience. They will feel involved, similar to you and they'll see you as trustworthy and believable. They will want to hear more!

From the perspective of presenting impromptu to a technical audience, content is king. Relevance is paramount. Pause. Think. Connect the dots. Open with a related point that establishes common ground. Pace yourself. Include a metaphor, example or analogy. Conclude with purpose. Highlight the value proposition. Short. Succinct. Impactful. Leave them wanting more. Keys to getting invited back!

Adding a factual experience links you directly to your audience. Allows you the freedom to make constant eye contact because you truly know the story.

Confidence is all about trusting oneself, and sharing that trust and building a psychic bridge with the audience. Speak from the heart; God lives there. When one trusts the Spirit, the message conveyed is Truthful and relevant. There's no greater power than the Spirit of Truth. When an audience hears Truth, they are genuinely stirred within, and will go through a range of emotions. When the room is so silent one could 'cut the air with a knife', you KNOW the Spirit of Truth is active, and will be received by those ready, willing and able to receive it. Speak clearly, projecting your voice 'from the heart' use body language to accompany your words. Listen within for in-spiration; supreme confidence comes from True humility.

Connaître son sujet est important, mais être trop attaché à une idée ou à son script peut être très déstabilisant. J'aime bien anticiper les questions, jouer la scène mentalement en imaginant ce qu'on pourrait me demander et que je n'aimerais pas puis comment je répondrais. Ces scènes mentales me permettent souvent de creuser davantage le sujet et d'être à l'aise avec un public "hostile". J'aime garder une certaine liberté sur mes interventions: je fonctionne par mots clés plutôt que par des phrases toutes rédigées, ce qui me permet de gagner en authenticité. Enfin, savoir rester humble! on ne peut pas tout maîtriser, tout gérer. L'imprévu apporte du sel à la vie. Le tout, c'est de s'en saisir pour faire mieux la prochaine fois.

Read the facial expressions and body language of your audience and recognize when you have said enough for them without reiterating and just talking. Too much explanation is NOT necessary or good. Consider the "what do they know I can learn from" approach, allowing feedback and Q & A time. They are like flowers ready to bloom - allow that opportunity.

Adapt to your audience. A concept I use with my clients it’s called VAK Talk. This concept empowers speakers to learn and utilize various communication styles and adapt quickly to captivate audience or listener(s).

Have a few SET scripts for forecast (expected audience behaviour) situations. Comedians often get 'hecklers' & many use a memorised 'come back' to silence the heckler. They have the script 'ready' in case of a heckler, likewise, have some scripts you know 'off by heart', which answer common question, and keep the flow of the talk going. Another 'trick' comedians use is adapting the same joke or story and replacing people's names, places, etc. When they say to the audience: "give me a subject and I'll give you a joke" - they're using different elements in their existing repertoire of jokes & emphasising the subject the audience asks for. So even when one does not know what will be asked, when one KNOWS the topic, they can provide an answer.

The courage to speak is a beacon that guides others out of silence. It's not merely about making noise; it's about making a difference with what you say and how you say it . How you express your experiences among many others

People GROW into new skills. It takes time for the brain's pathways to develop, so bear this in mind. Ask the audience to think, and reason over what you've shared with them and act on that which is relevant in their lives, for their companies, TEAMS and our communities, and they will develop in a natural, organic way. This principle of growth is so often overlooked in an attempt to 'get rich quick', and ignores the Law of Order, which is essential for harmonious living, and which always bears fruit optimally. BMM

The path to a bolder life require actionable steps of courage (Faith in action), guiding you toward a future where your actions align with the highest version of yourself. Let courage be your constant; the journey will lead you to places of impact and fulfillment. The future is not a distant dream—it's the reality you shape with every courageous act you choose today

There is little difference in giving a speech to a church or to a college or to a gathering of business people. Yet what is often missing is that the point is made about there is no application by the speaker. In other words, you can impress your hearers with knowledge, but if you don’t challenge them to do something with what they have learned, you and your speech will quickly be forgotten.

Make sure you keep your speech short and simple. Be clear and concise. The audience always gets bored with long speeches. In addition, make your speech more appealing. Speak to an individual not a group. People find information more appealing when it is being directed at their individual needs.

Start your impromptu speech with a warm and confident greeting. Keep eye contact, flash a smile, and let your enthusiasm shine. A positive and assured kickoff lays the foundation for a memorable first impression. Grab attention by weaving a quick, relatable anecdote into your impromptu speech. This not only instantly connects you with your audience but also paints you as an engaging and approachable speaker.

In my opinion to make a strong first impression during an impromptu speech, start with a confident and engaging opening statement. Maintain eye contact, speak clearly, and convey enthusiasm. Structure your points logically, and don't be afraid to inject a touch of humor to connect with your audience. Keep it concise and focused on key messages for impact. Remember, confidence is key!

Restate the question and define the terms. Restating the question helps you to know that you understand what has been asked. Defining the term(s) or concepts in the question will help everyone understand the same things you do. This will allow you to focus everyone in a direction you want to take the answer.

Time is key! Too many ramble because they have little knowledge or are trying to make an impression that can show more ignorance or arrogance. When I went through speech classes in university, I learned a valuable lesson from the professors. Take the time necessary to get your point across but find out how much time you are to take and then always give some back.

1. Be yourself; no matter how you try to fake it, impromptu speeches are there to fish you out. Also, authenticity fosters a genuine connection with your listeners. 2. Speak clearly. The first thing must speakers would fill include to do is ramble and try to use jargons to cover it all in an effort to make the speech long and interesting. Be yourself, always read to develop yourself and speak clearly to give value to your audience.