Mitigating for impromptu speeches

 

Have you ever been asked to say “a few words” to a team?

If you have been a project manager for more than three months, I suspect the answer is an unqualified Yes! You likely were not given any advance notice nor, even, the topic of these few words.

Speaking on a subject without notice may seem daunting, even fearful. There are ways for you to prepare for unprepared speeches.

You need to be an avid reader. You should read on a wide variety of professional and personal subjects. This should include the study of other speakers. This will give you a well-rounded approach to speeches. You will have information at your fingertips. You will also be able to focus on the broad picture.

When preparing mentally for your just-in-time speech, focus on the occasion and what you know. Decide what structure you will use for your speech. Examples include

• Past, present then future
• Before and after a specific event
• Approaching the topic from different viewpoints
• State the problem or opportunity then suggest a solution
• Consider different levels of influence, for example, local vs. national vs. global.

As project managers, we pride ourselves on planning for most eventualities. Consider planning for the eventuality of an unknown speech. By carefully implementing some mitigation, you can successfully turn this from a negative risk to a positive opportunity.