Keys to Impromptu Speaking There you are in a meeting. Your boss or someone important asks you to report on the project you have been working on. Suddenly you are on the spot! Your mind starts to race as you look for the right words to say. Nothing! As you struggle to think of anything that will sound slightly credible, you ask "Well...........what would you like to know?" Your opportunity to communicate clearly has just vanished, as well as a bit of your credibility. This doesn't have to happen if you know how to respond correctly. Impromptu speaking is not a matter of being brilliant and witty at coming up with quick remarks. All you have to do is follow this simple 5 step process and you will dazzle the group with you skill. Before you even start to answer, ask yourself what the person or group is looking for. Do they just want an overview, do they need specific knowledge or are they looking for an update of progress. Then you can select one of these 3 choices to respond: Why/How (Why do we have this need and how are we going to fill it) Problem/Solution (This is the problem and here is the solution we have chosen or are looking at) Chronological (This is where we started, here is where we are and this is where we are going). 1. Make a clarifying statement (it may be restating a question). Example: "Let me explain where we started on this project and bring you up to date on where we are now". 2. State your first point. Example: "The reason this project was started was because of the need to access customer contact information faster". 3. Give supporting information. Example: "Our customer information is stored on a system that does not allow access by all service reps". 4. Repeat for each point. 5. Close by summarizing or restating the point. Example: "That is how we identified the need, and those are the steps we are taking to improve the process". There you have it. Identify the need for information, select the best way to respond (Why/How, Problem/Solution, Chronological) and this simple 5 step process will make you look brilliant.