One of a leader’s most valuable skill is the ability to say a few words when not prepared to speak. Everyone in business knows that speaking in groups and meetings is an essential skill for professionals. You are expected to be able to share your ideas, expertise and experience to contribute to your company’s success.
If you can’t speak up and speak out, you hit a glass ceiling past which you can’t advance in your company. If you can’t just say a few words unprepared, you miss many opportunities to add your unique insights to the pool of shared knowledge. As a result, you may not be seen as the expert that you actually are.
So, how do you prepare to speak when you are not prepared and they ask you to say a few words at your department meeting? I discovered a secret that makes it easier to always be ready to speak up.
I advise my clients to create a meaningful message template that is unique to each individual. A meaningful message template is a brief one-minute talk that articulates the message you were born to deliver. It’s the message for which you want to be known and for which you have real passion. Your unique message should be one for which you are willing to take a stand because you believe in it. It should be a universal message that has truth no matter what.
Spend some quiet time thinking about the universal truth that is most important for you. Write a one minute talk that expresses the highest thoughts that you would be willing to share in a business setting. Practice your meaningful message template until it rolls off your tongue effortlessly.
When you are asked to say a few words, use your message ideas to focus your thoughts about the topic at hand. It anchors your thoughts when you have to speak without much preparation. Think of the message template as your cheat sheet. It will help make impromptu speaking easier.
How to Use Your Template Message to Say a Few Words.
- When saying a few words, start with the current situation.
- Say what you do know, don’t worry about what you don’t know.
- Then weave your message template ideas into a brief talk about the current situation. Use your passionate message to comment about the topic.
Practice using your template message to discuss all kinds of topics so you get used to weaving it into conversation. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to talk about anything!
You do not have to create new material every time you talk.
Using your message template will allow you to connect your passion to the topic at hand. It will help you to deliver a meaningful message not just a response.
Aside from the obvious help a message template gives you when you speak impromptu, it also helps establish your leadership platform. Use it often to develop your reputation as a leader and establish the important ideas you wish to support.
I coach leaders to speak from presence, stream their speech and think on their feet so they are always ready to speak and say a few words even when they are not prepared. If I can help you, please reach out to me.
Sandra Zimmer coaches leaders to speak from their zone of brilliance. Through her gentle style, she calms your nerves and gives you the confidence to speak authentically and reach beyond what you thought you could do. She teaches you public speaking, vocal power, accent reduction, message clarity storytelling and leadership presence as pathways to transformation. You learn to speak from your most clear, calm and brilliant self. She is the author of the book “It’s Your Time to Shine.” And the creator of the Sandra Zimmer Method. Find her at www.sandrazimmer.com and https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrazimmer/. Call her at 281-293-7070 to explore your speech transformation.