Effective Speaking in Spontaneous Situations Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Purpose: Discuss effective spontaneous speaking.
• Format: Interactive workshop with practical activities.
• Initial Activity: Counting the number of 'F's in a sentence to demonstrate the importance of small details in effective communication.
• Key Message: Little things make a big difference in spontaneous speaking.

Types of Public Speaking

• Planned Speaking: Keynotes, conference presentations, formal toasts.
• Spontaneous Speaking: Speaking off-the-cuff, cold calls, surprise toasts, Q&A sessions.
• Prevalence: Spontaneous speaking is more common than planned speaking.

Main Agenda

1. Anxiety Management
2. Ground Rules for Interactivity
3. Techniques for Effective Spontaneous Speaking

Anxiety Management

• Statistics: 85% nervous, remaining 15% likely not truthful.
• Importance: Anxiety can be beneficial but must be managed.
• Techniques:
  • Greeting Anxiety: Acknowledge it – “This is me feeling anxious.”
  • Reframing: View speaking as a conversation rather than a performance.
  • Present Orientation: Use activities to stay in the present moment (e.g., counting backwards, tongue twisters).

Techniques for Effective Spontaneous Speaking

1. Get Out of Your Own Way

• Activity: "Shout the Wrong Name" – Point at objects and call them anything but what they are.
• Key Lesson: Helps break the habit of overthinking and encourages spontaneity.
• Maxim: "Dare to be dull".

2. Reframe the Situation

• Activity: Gift exchange – Open an imaginary gift and explain why it was given.
• Key Lesson: See speaking opportunities as opportunities, not threats.
• Maxim: "Yes, and...".

3. Slow Down and Listen

• Activity: Spell out words in conversation to practice listening.
• Key Lesson: Focus on the current moment and truly understand the question or interaction.
• Maxim: "Don't just do something, stand there."

4. Use Structure

• Importance: Structure makes information processing easier (40% more efficient).
• Common Structures:
  • Problem-Solution-Benefit: Identify a problem, propose a solution, showcase the benefits.
  • What-So What-Now What: Describe what it is, why it's important, and the next steps.
• Activity: Use these structures to sell a Slinky to a partner.
• Key Lesson: Structure helps reduce cognitive load and makes spontaneous speaking more effective.

Additional Tips

• Practice: Implement and regularly practice these techniques to improve spontaneity and responsiveness.
• Resource: "Speaking Up Without Freaking Out" book and No Freaking Speaking website.

Closing Q&A

• Handling Hostile Situations: Acknowledge emotions, reframe questions.
• Remote Audiences: Use engagement techniques, polls, and imagination exercises.
• Expert Witness Testimony: Identify themes and use paraphrasing to manage tough questions.
• Humor: Self-deprecating humor is safest; always prepare and test jokes.