Impromptu

CONCLUSION

DON'T BE SCARED, BE PREPARED

There are two types of speakers: those that are nervous, and those that are liars.

—Mark Twain

When I tell people I've written a work on impromptu speaking, the most common response is, “I could use that book. I get really scared when I have to speak extemporaneously.”

Why is “impromptu” so frightening?

In part, it's the fear of the unknown. There is a generalized fear when we hear the word “impromptu” that anyone could throw us anything at any time. That takes us out of our comfort zone. We lose control, and we humans like to have control. We're afraid that we will open our mouth and have nothing to say—either nothing at all, or nothing that makes any sense. And we are afraid of being judged—afraid of what others will think of us. A client told us she experiences mind freeze when she presents to executives. She's afraid of being criticized by her superiors, so she mentally retreats. Experiencing mind freeze—or its opposite, blathering on and on without coherence—can happen in any meeting, hallway conversation, or high‐stakes situation like a job interview. The outcome can be deep disappointment. Who has not followed up an impromptu event with “Why did I say that?” or “Why didn't I say that?”

Even the most seasoned executives can have tremors about speaking in off‐the‐cuff situations. A vice president our firm was working with confided that “the one challenge I would like to overcome is being able to stand up at a meeting of 250 vice ...