How to overcome your fear of being put on the spot.

More often than not, if we find ourselves speaking in public, we are impromptu speaking: speaking 'off the cuff’, or ‘thinking on your feet’ when you are being 'put on the spot’ with an unexpected question.

Picture this: you’re in a meeting or conversation. Suddenly, you hear your name. You jolt and refocus on the room and mutter, "Excuse me?". The person repeats “I said I don’t know, it’s a complicated one… What are your thoughts, Paul?”

You panic a bit and realise that your palms are sweating and your mouth has run dry. Your brain seems to have halted all cognitive functioning, and after what seems like an eternity, all you manage to get out is “um, well….yes, actually… er... yeah-nah… I agree with what Karen said.” 

But the truth is that you don’t agree with Karen. You just couldn't organise your thoughts into an adequate structure quickly enough to express what you really wanted to say coherently.

I often get told by people that impromptu speaking is a real hurdle to professional development and unattainable for many people. But I don’t believe this for a second. I believe we all have the potential to become brilliant impromptu public speakers when using active mindfulness.

Below are my three mindful impromptu speaking tips which are simple and easy to apply. If you are serious about becoming a better speaker in 'off-the-cuff' situations, I encourage you to take the challenge for yourself to see if they work for you.

Challenge yourself in 12 weeks and master impromptu speaking.

It’s an easy framework to remember - just remember the three P's:

1. Pause

2. Prepare

3. Presence

Pause

When asked an 'off-the-cuff' question in front of a group, a lot of speakers - regardless of their level of experience - frequently panic and leap straight into responding to the question. I recommend avoiding leaping into your answer. Instead, make a conscious effort to pause. Pausing for a few moments before starting your answer is powerful for several reasons.

• Pausing allows you to contemplate the question and assemble your thoughts to not only think about what you are going to say but also about how you are going to share it.

• Pausing can help to ensure that your first few words are not a string of filler words….” ah... hmm, well... so... ”

• Pausing adds credibility to your answer as the others can see you have thought it through thoroughly.

Pausing prior to beginning to answer for a few seconds is only awkward for you as a speaker. If you think it is awkward, you will make it awkward. Another wonderful advantage of pausing before starting can also be a way of building a sense of anticipation in the room.

Prepare in Advance

Before a meeting or a difficult conversation, take some time to prepare. Obtain a copy of the meeting agenda (it's likely already in your inbox somewhere). This way you can ponder it beforehand and map out where the conversation is most likely to go. This is your chance to think through the items up for discussion and ask yourself a few probing questions. 

• Do I have thoughts on the topic?

• Do I have any questions about it? 

• Has this been discussed at an earlier meeting?

• Do I have anything additional to add to the subject?

• What are some potential objections that other people might have? 

These questions will help you to be mindful of the 'in's-and-out' of whatever may be discussed. If your mind is focused on what will be covered, you will be more ready to share your thoughts. If you’re asked to speak up on the spot, your preparation will help you avoid getting caught out even when someone disagrees with your point.

Prepare yourself for success by taking action. Learn more about Mindful Public Speaking.

Presence 

When our mind wanders (which is naturally the case), it can be tough to bring it back to the present and maintain awareness. And if that’s the exact moment you’re asked for your ideas or input - as it usually is! - and you have no notion what your coworkers are currently talking about, there’s a good chance you’ll struggle for words and miss the opportunity to make your point or leave an important mark.

It can be even more difficult to keep your concentration up in virtual meetings, where you may have your camera turned off at times, making it all too tempting to "multitask" by answering emails or scrolling through Instagram or TikTok. Don’t do it, remain present in the conversation! 

During the meeting, rest easy and pay full attention and listen mindfully to what’s being discussed. That means turning off distractions such as your phone or laptop notifications, not making a mental shopping list for next week or wondering why James is wearing the same shirt two days in a row. Your focus needs to be on your physical and mental presence in the room and the discussion happening right now. You want to be relaxed but also fully engaged and ready if the opportunity arises for you to speak up.

• Be aware - catch your mind drifting off into thoughts as it naturally does and bring it back. Again pause and ask yourself: "Is this thought important right now?" If not, disregard the thought and come back to the room and get physically comfortable. 

• Notice your body language - your present state of mind expresses itself constantly through your body language. Your fingers begin to fiddle on the smartwatch, the foot bounces automatically on and off and you keep looking back in the direction of the door. Notice your body posture and adjust as needed.

• Your breath speaks volumes - for example, shallow breathing followed by a heavy exhale might say that you are restless whereas a long inhale through the nose followed by a big exhale through the mouth may indicate severe boredom. 

Bonus Public Speaking Tip - Have some stories ready 

Having a collection of stories or anecdotes at the ready will help you feel more confident about impromptu speaking. Because there’s a good chance you’ll be able to pull a relevant story from memory and mould it into the context of the conversation.

You can easily make this part of your planning and preparation for any situation where you might be called on to speak. Spend a few moments to think about a story you could share to further illustrate the points you want to make and how you might tweak it to suit the topic. Never underestimate the power of a good metaphor.

Using storytelling in your communications adds structure, and vividness and makes your message more likely to be understood. If you’d like to know more about how to use storytelling effectively for your pitches, presentation and speaking opportunities here is a link to more information on how you can become a masterful impromptu speaker in 12 weeks or less.

Master impromptu speaking in 12 weeks and never get caught out again. 

Summary

Now that you know the three P's of impromptu speaking, you are much better prepared for any public speaking opportunity or challenge that may arise. Remain calm and take a pause when you need it to come back to the present moment. 

Barack Obama, Matthieu Ricard and Oprah all understand the power of the 3 P's and now you do. Use it.