Do Now: Choose ONE of the following topics. Use the next five minutes to brainstorm an opening, a couple of main points with a examples, and a conclusion. Real love is not the stuff of pop songs. If I ruled the world... What human quality do we need more of and why?

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking?

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? Keep it Succinct and Simple Select ONE message to focus on You will need an opening, a body, and a conclusion Take your focus and expand it using one of the templates

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? Go slow! Don’t forget to breathe! Take your time to begin. Look around, smile. Make eye contact with one or two people in the room. Stand tall. Remember to breathe! Use your notes as reminders only. Assume your impromptu speaking is a conversation with a friend. Personalize your speech. Keep it short and to the point. And don’t forget to breathe!

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? Never apologize. Pause! Time is perceived slower in front of a crowd. Paraphrase what you’ve already said. Ask the audience if they have any questions.

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? Under stress we tighten our muscles and HOLD the tension we're feeling. One of the first places tension shows is in our breathing patterns. Anxiety makes us breathe more quickly and less deeply. The result is the body perceives itself as being under threat and the automatic mechanism fight or flight response takes over.

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? The physiological effects of anxiety include: breathing off the tops of our lungs which in turn gives rise to: less oxygen circulating in our system a build up of carbon monoxide (because it's not being released through full exhaling) and in some people, panic attacks or hyperventilation The direct consequence of anxiety on the quality of your voice is losing control of pitch and tone.

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? If you're holding your stomach in, let it go. Place your hands on your stomach. Breathe in through your nose to the count of four. Count slowly. As you inhale feel your diaphragm rising. Breathe out through your mouth to the count of four and now feel your diaphragm expanding. Do several rounds of inhale and exhale to a four count while making sure you keep your shoulders, stomach and legs relaxed. Once you have mastered the four count, increase it.

Aim: How do you succeed at impromptu speaking? “It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” Mark Twain