Impromptu shows leaders how to think on their feet and respond eloquently in every situation. Never have there been so many opportunities to inspire and influence in everyday situations -- elevator chats, corridor conversations, networking gatherings, meetings, and ceremonial events. Indeed, today the most iconic leadership moments are spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment events that reveal the inner workings of the leader's mind. When these impromptu opportunities arise, leaders must be able to listen, think, and respond within seconds. They don't read a script from a page, they convey the narrative that is already in their mind. They can tailor a message - in a meeting, in the corridor, or in a tweet - to influence and inspire any audience. Those who shine in that moment are remembered for their leadership. Those who stumble are remembered for their gaffes, mixed messages, or insensitivity. Nobody remembers the leaders who retreat to their office, formulate a strategic plan, and distribute a memo the following week.
Guided by her entrepreneurial success as founder of The Humphrey Group and her firm's work with tens of thousands of leaders over the past 30 years, Judith Humphrey makes clear the importance of preparing to be spontaneous -- as counterintuitive as that may sound! Drawing upon the best impromptu moments from the Greeks to the present, the book looks at every aspect of impromptu speaking. You will learn how to:
- Think like an impromptu leader
- Quickly read an audience of one or a thousand
- Collect your thoughts and craft a persuasive message
- 'Script' yourself within seconds for any occasion
- Avoid 'um's' and 'ah's' and use the right words at the right time
- Discover improv techniques that will enable you to shine
- Deliver your message with clarity, confidence, and conviction.
The ability to speak on the spot is often seen as an innate gift, a talent of 'natural-born' leaders. The truth is, it's a skill that can be learned - a skill that is quickly becoming a must-have for anyone in a leadership position. Impromptu provides clear, actionable guidance to help you reach your full leadership potential. It will enable you to influence and inspire followers on the many 'small stages' that define our daily lives.
Table of Contents
Prologue: The Soul of This Book xi
Introduction 1
Part I THE NEW WORLD OF IMPROMPTU 9
1 The Rise of Impromptu Speaking 11
2 Power of Spontaneity 23
Part II THE IMPROMPTU MIND-SET 33
3 Be Intent on Leading 35
4 Be a Listener 45
5 Be Authentic 55
6 Be Focused 65
7 Be Respectful 71
Part III THE LEADER’S SCRIPT 79
8 Lay the Groundwork 81
9 Read Your Audience 89
10 The Scripting Template 97
11 Commit to a Message 103
12 Make a Compelling Case 111
13 Beginnings and Endings 119
Part IV IMPROMPTU SCRIPTS FOR EVERY OCCASION 125
14 Meetings 127
15 Job Interviews, Networking, and Elevator Conversations 135
16 “Just the Big Picture” 145
17 Toasts and Tributes 151
18 The Impromptu Speech 159
19 Q&A 165
Part V THE IMPROMPTU STAGE 175
20 Rehearse Your Remarks 177
21 Choose YourWords 187
22 Use Improv Techniques 195
23 Find Your Voice 203
24 Master Body Language 211
Conclusion: Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared 219
Endnotes 225
Acknowledgments 239
Index 243
