You shouldn’t try to write out your remarks in full. Just jot down a few key words to help you remember your main points.
Suppose you’re asked to talk about a work project at a company meeting. You might start with a joke to introduce the problem the project addresses: “As a member of the design team, I want to personally thank all engineers present for not staging an all out mutiny due to the ongoing specification problems. ” After breaking the ice, get straight to the point: “We understand your frustrations, and we’ve established new software solutions and pricing protocols to prevent future miscommunications. ” Avoid making jokes like, “Three guys walked into a bar…” Instead, stick with funny or absurd comments that relate to your own personal experience, but keep it brief.
For instance, if your assigned topic is how dogs improve quality of life, you could open with a story about rescuing your pooch.
If you’re presenting a school project, you might say, “Despite their friendship and philosophical commonalities, Albert Camus and Jean-Paul Sartre held contrasting ethical views. I’ll start by discussing their similarities, then I’ll explain their quarrel over whether political justice warrants violence. ” For this example, you could spend 1 to 2 minutes on the philosophers’ similarities, a minute or so on each of their ethical stances, and another minute clarifying the differences between their perspectives.
You can adapt this structure for any topic, so keep it in mind any time you’re asked to make off the cuff remarks.
If you know you’re speaking in advance, practicing your speech can help ease your nerves. If you’re speaking on the spot and practicing isn’t an option, focus your thoughts on your remarks’ structure. Concentrate on your headline or argument, list your main points, and try not to let your nerves distract you.
For instance, if you’re speaking to professionals well-versed in your field, you don’t need to explain basic terms. However, if your audience is less experienced, you’ll need to limit technical language and define any necessary jargon.
For example, if you’re listing your main points, you could count with your fingers to distinguish each point. If you’re drawing a comparison, you could use your hands to indicate “on one hand, this,” and “on the other hand, that. ”
For instance, instead of, “We’ve developed new software for processing custom orders that will enhance interdepartmental communications, leading to a more efficient, streamlined manufacturing process,” you could just say, “We’ll be switching to a more user-friendly program that should prevent future miscommunications. " Conversational doesn’t necessarily mean casual. If your remarks need to be professional or academic, you can still keep your tone formal by avoiding slang, sentence fragments, and contractions. “The team identified 10 new frog species,” is both concise and academic. “The team found a lot of new kinds of frogs,” is informal.
If making direct eye contact makes you nervous, look at points just above the audience. It’ll look like you’re making eye contact, but you won’t actually be locking eyes with anyone.
At the start of your remarks, state your argument or headline, then list your evidence or examples 1 by 1: “This is the case because of x, y, and z. ” Explain each example in the main body of your speech. For brief remarks, you might only have 30 seconds to a minute for each example. For a longer speech, you might be able to spend a few minutes on each one. Conclude by restating (using different wording) your argument and evidence: “As x, y, and z show, this is the case. ”
Read books, magazines, and newspapers. Watch documentaries about topics such as nature and technology, and listen to podcasts like Radiolab, StarTalk, and 99% Invisible. To broaden your knowledge, read, watch, and listen to informative content on a range of subjects. If you’re involved in a particular field or occupation, stay up to date on your discipline and think of topics you might be asked to discuss.
Read newspapers, and pay attention to local, national, and international news. Research a topic if it’s confusing or you want to learn more. For instance, if you’re interested in a 500-word story, look online for long-form articles that delve into the details. Try to keep up with a range of topics, such as politics, international affairs, business, and entertainment. Remember to fact check news stories, look for reputable news sources, and try to find sources from multiple perspectives.
