Speak on Your Feet

Speak On Your Feet

Have you have ever been asked to give your opinion about something, answer a question in class or a meeting, or tried to make a point to an important person and your mind suddenly go blank or worse yet, you attempted to say something intelligent and rambled on while the faces of your audience glazed over? We are all called to speak on our feet at some time during the course of our lives. No, we can’t always predict what the topic will be, but we can still be prepared and confident during these situations.

The ability to think on your feet is a skill that you can learn. The next time you are asked to speak without preparation, try using these six tips:

1. Listen Carefully. Make sure you understand the question accurately. Many times we think we are listening but really we are only waiting until it is our turn to speak. A good response is dependent on how attentive we are to the speaker. There is no substitute for actually paying attention to what is being said. Consider the following scenario:
You are at a party at the home of a close friend. Someone begins to discuss the foolishness of the war in Iraq and the mistakes of the present administration. Suddenly, all eyes are focused on you, waiting for your response.

Are you at a loss for words? Of course not!

By listening carefully, you have already formulated the first portion of your response. Suppose you agree with what was said. Your reply would reflect this by reinforcing the other person’s words, perhaps with a compliment thrown in for good measure. (“That’s a very good observation, Rick! And, as a matter of fact, I think you are right on target.”) If, on the other hand, you happen to disagree with what has just been said, this is your opportunity to tactfully amend or correct the original statement. (“Although I admit that your concept is interesting, Sandy, I have to disagree. The war in Iraq is very much needed. I think President Bush is doing a great job with the war on terrorism.”)

Being an effective speaker goes hand in hand with sharpening your powers of concentration. So resist the impulse to interject your own ideas before the other person has finished; focus instead on what is being said.

You will achieve three advantages from your observations:

a. Respect. People are more likely to listen to your ideas when you listen to them.
b. Ready-made dialogues. You’ll be able to incorporate some of what you’ve heard into your reply.
c. Your responses will be on-target. Careful listening will enable you to respond more accurately to what the person has said.

2. Pause. Instead of plunging in with what you think someone said, take a few seconds to digest the meaning. A good trick is to take a ten second breath. This will allow you to collect your thoughts and develop an opening sentence. During your pause, remember to smile or nod to indicate that you heard the question and acknowledge the person who spoke. Pausing even adds drama to your upcoming clever comments.

3. Confirm. After your ten second pause, repeat the question out loud. Repeating allows your brain to start absorbing the content and to begin to formulate a response. Confirming also helps to clarify that you understood the topic.

4. Tell. All eyes are upon you. This is your chance to shine. As you express your thoughts, opinions or ideas, remember to stay focused. Stick to the details of the topic. Don’t be tempted to tell everything you know about a subject and veer off the path into rambling. Be succinct!

5. End. Once you have said what needed to be said, simply stop talking. Your audience will thank you. Leave them wanting more, not wishing for less.

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