Speak Off the Cuff like a Pro

Cambridge Dictionary defines “off the cuff” as “If you speak off the cuff, you say something without having prepared or thought about your words first.” Most people would tend to agree with this definition. I don’t. In my opinion, there’s nothing called “off the cuff.” Let me explain. As a professional, you should always be ready to pick up the mic and speak. Speaking in public is an opportunity to influence and to impact. Grab it. 

Here are a few ways to prepare you for such occasions:

1) Don’t rush. Pause. When you get the mic, take your time. I assure you no rule says you have to speak, instantly, when you’re on the stage. Take a deep breath. Silence is powerful. If you do that, you’ll appear more poised and confident. And trust me, that’s a great start. You’ll look in control even if you’re not. 

2) Practice with Prompts. Speaking is just like writing. The more you write, the more proficient writer you become. Writers using writing prompts to sharpen their writing skills. You could use the same prompts to practice speaking on a variety of topics. You can find thousands of prompts online. Pick a prompt. Speak about it. And make sure you record yourself to evaluate your performance. Practice makes progress.

3) Click. Click. Click. If you’re attending any event, do a quick research about the topic or theme of the event. Read an article or two about the subject. You can incorporate key takeaways or headlines in your speech. I do this whenever possible. It paid off on numerous occasions. Just a few clicks will make a big difference.

4) Strike a conversation. Arrive early to the event. Start networking. Listen to what others have to say. The best stories are not the ones you hear, read, or see in the media. The best ones are the ones you hear from the people you meet. Pay close attention to their points. Their points could be yours when you speak. And give them credit for that. Mention their names. They’ll be flattered. And you’ll be off to a great start to your speech. 

5) Listen to the News. Turn on your best radio channel and listen to the news. Just like the Clicks Technique, chances are you will hear a snippet that you could use in your "probable" impromptu speech. This will reflect positively on your professional image as someone who is up to date with the latest global developments.

6) Interact with the audience. There are two schools of thought on this. The first one says, avoid interacting with the audience as it could go against you. Whereas, the second school argues audience interaction can be very fruitful in adding an element of entertainment. If you think the event is appropriate for doing that, go for it. And then, take it from there. Pivot from it to the remainder of your "made-up" speech.

7) Have fun. Experiment with a few punchlines. Once you figure out the ones that make your audience laugh, stick with them. Start your speech with these. The best type of humor is self-deprecating humor.  I always make remarks about my hair cut. It works all the time. When the audience laughs, they connect better with you and be more receptive to what you say. Humor connects humanity. Take advantage of that.

Speaking off the cuff is a skill you can learn. And like any skill, the more you practice, the more you’ll excel in it. One more thing, please keep in mind the advice of Franklin D. Roosevelt:

“Be sincere. Be brief. Be seated.” 

Don’t ramble on; the event must go on. 

Mohamed Isa is a Business Advisor, an Award-Winning Speaker & 4-Time Amazon Bestselling Author.