Impromptu

21Choose Your Words

Mark Twain once said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.”¹ In impromptu speaking we may struggle to find the right word but land instead on the almost right word or even the wrong word—followed by apologizing, self‐correcting, or rephrasing. The dilemma is that we're selecting our words on the spot—without time to think, edit, rewrite, or polish as we can in scripted speaking. The words tumble out of our mouths as we focus on the ideas we're trying to formulate.

To strengthen your impromptu language, keep the following four C's in mind: be Clear, Conversational, Confident, and Collaborative.

Be Clear

Abraham Lincoln, an inspiring speaker—greatly valued clarity. He remarked: “When a mere child, I used to get irritated when anybody talked to me in a way I could not understand. I don't think I ever got angry at anything else in my life. But that always disturbed my temper and has ever since.”² Audiences expect that same clarity from you. Yet it's not always easy to achieve clarity in the moment. Here are some things to keep in mind to achieve it.

Think clearly. Unclear language comes from unclear thinking. Too often words roll off the tongue yet they don't present a clear idea. Take this example: A corporate spokesperson in a Q&A with investors states, “What is interesting is that, as a technology company, we do believe in community involvement and so we believe in ...