- Scott Woronuik

Impromptu Speaking

• Most people do not make a great many formal speeches.
• Everyone ‘gives a speech’ or ’makes a presentation every time they open their mouths and speak.
• This is impromptu speaking.
• For most of the impromptu speaking you do, you will be answering a question.
• There are four possible answers to most questions you are asked:
• Yes...because
• No...because
• I don’t know because...[in this case you add I WILL FIND OUT!!!]
• I don’t care.....because
• Most people start with the bottom line. [yes/no/I don/t know/I don’t care]
• When you do this before you back up your statement, you lose a real opportunity.
• Once your listener hears the bottom line there is not the same commitment to listen to WHY you think that way.
• SO - to really be heard, start with the reasons for your ‘bottom line’ – then you are more likely to be listened to!
• Remember you always know what you want to say! You concentrate on the WAY you say it to get the listener to ‘buy in’.
  • - Commit yourself to the ‘bottom line’. RIGHT AWAY BUT, DO NOT GIVE THAT INFORMATION!!
  • - What is the first reason you made that ‘bottom line’ decision? That is the FIRST thing you say.
  • - What is the second idea that made you think "bottom line" Say that next.
• THEN say your bottom line:
  " I think it is:a) a good idea b) a bad idea c) I don’t know...... d) I don’t care.
  
  EXAMPLE:
• YOU: "We need to rearrange your work schedule because of Mary’s Upcoming maternity leave." (you then go on talking about the problems etc.)
• EMPLOYEES: (WHILE YOU ARE TALKING) start to formulate responses to your statement.....(THEY ARE NOT LISTENING TO YOUR REASONS FOR DECISIONS YOU NEED TO MAKE)…. Their responses could be confrontational because of non-knowledge of the WHY of your decisions.
• You will find at the very least time wasted. The worst case scenario could be a disgruntled employee and a frustrated you.
• A BETTER WAY:
• YOU:“Because of Mary’s maternity leave, we will be having a consultant here. The experienced person we’ve contacted will only be able to be here half-days. For these and other reasons, we will need to re-arrange your work responsibilities and schedules.
• EMPLOYEES: (now have a focus for discussion)
• THIS WORKS WITH OTHER RESPONSES TOO.
• If you make a blunt statement or request, you can have
  • - a confrontation.
  • - a short circuit in communication etc. Your listeners will be concentrating on the "What they want or need to to say, do, think, etc" while you are still giving the reasons.
  • - one’s brain does not function effectively on two things at once. First priority for your listeners will be what they want or need to say as soon as you stop talking. They will not listen effectively to what you want them to focus on!
• Remember - most people do not listen effectively anyway. Don’t make it difficult to listen your way.
• You will often find you end up with them not buying in, or coming back with questions you have answered when they weren’t listening.
• ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
• At one of my workshops a participant said:
  
  "That’s fine on ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, but how would you handle this?" She was the receptionist. She also sent out the faxes. Her story:
  
  " A secretary came with a 27 page fax. While she waited she opened up a newspaper that was on my desk, and started to read it. My supervisor says she doesn’t want anyone hanging around my desk. She says it doesn’t look business-like. So I said –‘ Would you please read the paper over at the chesterfield?’
  
  The secretary grabbed the paper, flounced over in a temper and sat down. She later reported to her boss that I was rude - and I was reprimanded by my supervisor." What should I have said and how should I have said it?"
  
  Using the "Because Method", here is one way she could have prevented the negative results.
  
  "My supervisor has told me I mustn’t have anyone standing around my desk as it looks un-businesslike. So I wonder if you’d mind reading the paper over at the chesterfield. I know you wouldn’t want to get me in trouble. Thanks."
  
  She would have had a sympathetic listener who would be only too happy to help her keep away from the wrath of senior management - right?
  
  You must focus on the result you want. Know what you want someone to do when you stop talking in impromptu situations. When you set up the "because" factor FIRST you can help your listeners – gently – to listen to what you are going to say your way. Try it – it does work.