How to Deliver an Extemporaneous Presentation or Speech

Summary

In this insightful video, Alex Lyon, a Communication Coach, teaches viewers the art of extemporaneous delivery for presentations. He emphasizes the importance of a structured approach, starting with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Lyon suggests practicing a presentation at least ten times, gradually reducing reliance on notes to foster a conversational style. He also advises practicing in various ways and under realistic conditions to handle potential distractions effectively. The goal is to engage audiences with a natural, conversational delivery that can be applied across various professional settings.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The importance of an extemporaneous delivery style is emphasized for effective communication, as audiences prefer a conversational approach over memorized or read presentations.
• 📝 A clear structure is essential for extemporaneous speaking, including a well-defined introduction, body, and conclusion with key points and transitions.
• 🔄 Committing to a structure helps maintain the flow and ensures the speaker stays on track during the presentation.
• 👀 Practice is crucial, with a recommendation of about ten times to become comfortable with the material and to convey it naturally.
• 📉 Start with full notes and gradually reduce them to minimal bullet points or keywords to foster reliance on understanding rather than memorization.
• 🔄 Practice in a way that varies the expression of ideas to avoid sounding robotic and to be able to adapt to any situation during the actual presentation.
• 📑 Reducing notes to the essentials helps in transitioning from reading to a more conversational style, allowing for better audience engagement.
• 🤖 Avoiding memorization prevents the speaker from appearing robotic and enhances the natural flow of the presentation.
• 🎭 Practicing in realistic settings, such as looking up from notes and simulating an audience, helps in preparing for the actual presentation scenario.
• 🔊 The ability to speak extemporaneously is a valuable skill that can be applied in various professional settings and is beneficial throughout one's career.
• 💬 Encouragement is given to pare down notes and practice realistically to achieve a conversational delivery style that resonates with audiences.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video script provided?

The main focus of the video script is to teach viewers how to deliver presentations in an extemporaneous and conversational style, which is more engaging and impactful than reading from a script or using teleprompters.

Who is Alex Lyon and what is his role in the video?

Alex Lyon is a Communication Coach who is presenting the video. His role is to guide viewers on how to improve their presentation skills by adopting an extemporaneous delivery style.

Why is it important to avoid reading a presentation word for word?

Reading a presentation word for word is generally less engaging for the audience. It lacks the dynamic and interactive quality of a conversational delivery, which can make the presentation seem robotic and less memorable.

What is the significance of having a clear structure in a presentation?

A clear structure serves as the backbone of the presentation, helping the speaker to maintain their place and move forward according to their plan. It includes a clear introduction, body, and conclusion, which is essential for maintaining a conversational style.

How many times does Alex Lyon recommend practicing a presentation?

Alex Lyon recommends practicing a presentation about ten times to achieve a high level of comfort and familiarity with the material, which is necessary for a conversational delivery.

What is the purpose of reducing notes during practice sessions?

Reducing notes during practice sessions helps the speaker to rely less on the script and more on their understanding of the material, allowing for a more natural and conversational presentation style.

Why should one avoid using the exact same sentences and phrases during practice?

Using the exact same sentences and phrases during practice can lead to memorization, which may result in a robotic delivery. Varying expressions during practice helps to ensure a more natural and flexible presentation.

What does Alex Lyon suggest to make practice sessions more realistic?

Alex Lyon suggests looking up from notes while practicing, even when alone, to ingrain the habit of making eye contact with the audience. He also mentions using stuffed animals or other props to simulate a real audience.

How can adding distractions during practice help with presentation skills?

Adding distractions during practice can help a speaker become more adaptable and comfortable with unexpected interruptions or noises during an actual presentation, thus maintaining a conversational flow even in less-than-ideal conditions.

What are the benefits of speaking extemporaneously according to the script?

The benefits of speaking extemporaneously include a more engaging and preferred style of delivery for audiences, improved ability to connect with listeners, and a skill that can be applied in various professional settings throughout one's life.

What is the 'question of the day' presented by Alex Lyon in the video?

The 'question of the day' is asking viewers for their tips on conversational delivery and making presentations more extemporaneous, encouraging interaction and sharing of ideas.

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ Mastering Extemporaneous Delivery

In this paragraph, Alex Lyon, a Communication Coach, introduces the concept of extemporaneous delivery, a conversational approach to public speaking. He emphasizes the importance of avoiding memorized presentations and instead encourages a style that feels natural and engaging. The key to this style is knowing the material well enough to speak with limited notes and a structured format, including a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Lyon also stresses the necessity of practicing a presentation multiple times to achieve a conversational tone and the gradual reduction of notes to enhance this style.

05:02

📝 Tips for Effective Practice and Realistic Preparation

This paragraph delves into the specifics of practicing for an extemporaneous presentation. Lyon suggests practicing a presentation around ten times, starting with full notes and gradually reducing them to minimal bullet points or keywords. He advises against using the same sentences or phrases repetitively to avoid sounding robotic. The paragraph also highlights the importance of maintaining realistic practice conditions, such as looking up from notes and simulating an audience, even if it's just with stuffed animals or pillows. Lyon encourages adding distractions to practice sessions to prepare for real-world interruptions that might occur during an actual presentation.

Keywords

💡Extemporaneous Delivery

Extemporaneous delivery refers to a style of public speaking where the speaker is well-prepared but does not read from a script or memorize the presentation. It is conversational and allows for flexibility and spontaneity. In the video, Alex Lyon emphasizes the importance of this style, stating that it is preferred by audiences and is a skill used by high-level speakers. The script illustrates this by suggesting that the speaker should know the material well enough to speak with limited notes in a structured manner.

💡Conversational Approach

A conversational approach in public speaking means delivering the speech in a way that resembles a natural conversation rather than a formal recitation. It is engaging and relatable to the audience. The script mentions that 'Nobody wants to hear you give a memorized presentation,' highlighting the need for a conversational tone to keep the audience interested and connected to the speaker's message.

💡Presentation Skills

Presentation skills encompass a range of abilities required to effectively communicate information to an audience. These include clarity, structure, and the ability to engage listeners. The video's theme revolves around improving these skills, particularly through the extemporaneous delivery style, which is presented as a way to increase impact and lead teams to excellence.

💡Structure

In the context of the script, structure refers to the organized framework of a presentation, including a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Alex Lyon stresses the importance of having a structure as the backbone of the presentation, which helps the speaker to keep their place and move forward according to plan, thus facilitating a conversational delivery.

💡Practice

Practice, as discussed in the video, is the act of rehearsing a presentation multiple times to achieve fluency and comfort with the material. The script suggests practicing a presentation about ten times to become completely comfortable with the topic and to be able to express oneself naturally, which is essential for an extemporaneous and conversational delivery.

💡Notes

Notes, in this video script, are the written points or cues that a speaker uses to guide their presentation. The speaker is advised to start with full notes and gradually pare them down to key words or phrases during practice. This process helps the speaker to rely less on the notes and more on their understanding of the material, which is crucial for a conversational and extemporaneous delivery.

💡Bullet Talking Points

Bullet talking points are concise, bulleted lists of the main points a speaker intends to cover. In the script, Alex Lyon recommends reducing notes to these essential points during practice sessions. This helps the speaker to focus on the key messages and to speak more naturally and conversationally, rather than reading word-for-word from a script.

💡Variety

Variety in the context of the script means the use of different sentences and phrases when practicing a presentation. It is suggested to avoid memorizing the exact wording to prevent sounding robotic. Instead, practicing with variety allows for a more natural and conversational delivery, as it prepares the speaker to adapt their speech in real-time during the actual presentation.

💡Realistic Practice

Realistic practice involves simulating the conditions of the actual presentation during rehearsals. The script mentions looking up from notes and even using stuffed animals as a mock audience to mimic real-world distractions. This approach helps the speaker to become accustomed to maintaining eye contact and connecting with the audience, which is important for a conversational delivery style.

💡Distraction

Distraction, as mentioned in the script, refers to any external factor that could potentially interrupt or throw off a speaker's delivery. Practicing with distractions, such as background noise, can help a speaker to become resilient and maintain their conversational delivery even in less-than-ideal conditions, thus ensuring they remain composed during the actual presentation.

💡Professional Setting

A professional setting in the context of the video refers to a formal environment where presentations are made, such as in business meetings or conferences. The script highlights the value of extemporaneous delivery in such settings, as it allows for a more engaging and impactful presentation, which can be beneficial for leading teams to higher levels of excellence.

Highlights

The importance of having a conversational approach to delivery for effective presentations.

Avoid giving a memorized presentation or reading it word for word.

High-level speakers use an extemporaneous delivery style, speaking conversationally with limited notes.

Extemporaneous delivery requires knowing the material well enough to speak in a structured way.

Committing to a clear structure is essential for maintaining a conversational style.

A clear introduction, body, and conclusion form the backbone of the presentation.

Practice a presentation about ten times to become comfortable with the material.

Start practicing with full notes and gradually pare them down to the minimum.

By the final practices, use only simple bullet points or keywords as notes.

Vary the way you say things during practice to avoid sounding robotic.

Keep practice sessions realistic by simulating the actual presentation environment.

Add distractions during practice to prepare for real-world interruptions.

The benefits of speaking extemporaneously include audience preference and lifelong skill development.

Breaking the habit of relying on notes leads to more natural and engaging presentations.

Encouragement to pare down notes and practice realistically for conversational delivery.

Invitation for audience members to share their tips for conversational delivery.

Transcripts

Have you ever wondered how those great speakers that you love to listen to have

a conversational approach to their delivery? We're going to teach you how to

have what's called an extemporaneous delivery style coming up.

Hello, friends. I'm Alex Lyon and Communication Coach, this channel, is here

to help you increase your impact and lead your teams to higher levels of

excellence. One of the ways you can do that is through better presentation

skills. Today we're going to unpack how to speak extemporaneously. In other words,

conversationally. Let's put it this way. Nobody wants to hear you give a

memorized presentation. Nobody wants to listen to you read a presentation word

for word. And here's how I know this. Do you want to listen to someone read a

presentation word for word? Do you want to listen to someone like a robot give

you a memorized word-for-word presentation. Nobody likes it and unless

you're President of the United States and you're using teleprompters, you

probably won't ever be asked to do this in a professional setting. Almost

everybody across the board that's at that high level of speaking uses what we

call extemporaneous delivery style. And that means when you know the material, so

that you could speak conversationally, with limited notes, in a structured way.

Now it sounds pretty basic and you appreciate it when you see it but it

actually takes quite a bit of work to get there. But once you know how to do it

this way, I doubt you'll ever want to go back to reading your notes word for word

again. So, first, let's talk about how to do this. The first tip is that you have

to commit to a structure. The structure is the backbone of the whole

presentation that helps you keep your place and helps you move forward

according to your plan. You're going to need a really clear introduction, body,

and conclusion. And within each of those sections, in you're introduction for

example you're going to have certain parts that you hit. Four parts in your introduction.

You're going to know your clear two or three or four main points you're going

to hit with nice transitions and information in each of those buckets. And

you're going to have a really clear conclusion. You're going to know how you

end. So you have to have a clear structure. If you don't have a clear

structure it's going to be very difficult to get comfortable enough to

have a conversational style. The second tip is that you're going to have to

practice probably more than you realize. I recommend practicing a

presentation about ten times. Now that might seem like a lot. However, over the

years, I've been doing coaching and teaching college for about 20 years in

professional settings it's really no different, if you only practice two to

three times you're just not going to do that well that's not enough repetitions

to get completely comfortable with a topic, completely comfortable expressing

yourself and connecting while you're sharing information. Time and time again

when I pull really skilled speakers aside, I say, about how many times did you

practice? the number ten comes up a lot. Some people that are exceptionally

gifted might only practice eight or so times. Most people 10 or even more. So

practice about ten times. Now the way you practice ten times becomes really

critical if you want to speak conversationally. Let's say the first

time you practice you use a full set of notes. Now the number one killer is too

many notes and so you want to pare down your notes to the bare minimum that you

need to give that presentation. So you start off the first, and you let's say

you're practicing ten times, the first two or three times you practice, you have

your full set of notes. The more you practice the more you should try to get

away from that, look up a little more often so that in the next two to three

times you practice I recommend cutting those notes about in half. So maybe you

have let's say you start off with four pages of notes, cut it down to about two

pages of notes. And instead of full sentences, you want to pare it down to

maybe half sentences and then you practice it another two or three times.

And then the last two or three times you practice you should be all the way down

to very simple bullet talking points that are just maybe even a single word

or a short phrase. And the goal here is that as you're practicing that eighth,

ninth, or tenth time all you have to do is look at your notes just for a moment

and you see maybe even one keyword, maybe it just says Hawaii, and you know you're

going to tell a story about Hawaii that lasts about 30-40 seconds. So now

there's no reason to really look at your notes beyond glancing down seeing the

word and putting your eyes back up on your listeners and

connecting with them conversationally in that story about Hawaii. So you want to

pare your notes way back and practice that way. So the next tip is each time

you practice, it say it in a variety of ways. In other words, don't get locked in

to using the exact same sentences, the exact same phrases each time you present.

I even sometimes deliberately will say things differently each time I do it

because it gives me another way to express it. In fact, a telltale sign for

me when I'm watching a speaker and I can tell they're just memorizing this word

for word is they might start a sentence a certain way and then not remember how

to finish it and so they'll go back and they'll start it over again a little

differently so they can land at the end of sentence the way they originally

practiced it. That's going to start to sound very robotic. You want to say

things in as many ways as possible when you're practicing so that in the moment

no matter what happens you can move ahead in that presentation smoothly and

still maintain that nice conversational approach. So practice it in a variety of

ways. The other thing you want to do is keep your practice sessions realistic.

Keep some real world. So for example I like to, even though I'm alone when I'm

practicing, oftentimes I like to look up away from my notes while I'm practicing

because it's a good habit to get into to look up. So if I practice only looking

at my notes, well that's a habit I'm engraining so that when I go to my actual

presentation, I'm going to have a habit of looking at my notes. So you want to

practice by looking up sometimes. In fact, I know a good friend of mine

actually set up stuffed animals and even put pillows inside of winter coats and

put faces and paper on top of them and then when they were practicing that

presentation they were looking at their stuffed animals and looking at those

dummies they made. And during the presentation, it was much easier because they

practice that way to connect because they made their practicing realistic. Now

obviously they're not real people but maybe you have a roommate or even a dog

that you can present to to keep it real. Once you're really comfortable and

you've kept it real, sometimes people will even add distractions so they might

turn the television on in the background are some music on in the background or

do it in a somewhat public area. You might look a little crazy but if you can

present conversationally and get through your outline in a nice extemporaneous

fashion even with distractions, then you're much more likely to speak

conversationally in the moment. You never know for example when there's going to be

someone outside with a jackhammer, someone outside with a lawn mower. Someone's

going to come in late. Someone's going to leave early. In the moment, every little

every little distraction can really heighten your nervousness and throw

you off if you're not prepared for it. So the benefits of its speaking

extemporaneously cannot be underestimated. First of all, audiences

prefer this style of delivery from the presenters far and away. Nobody wants to

hear you memorize or or read your presentation. Believe me, you don't want

to do it anymore and then you want to listen to it. And this is a skill that

you can build on if you can break the habit get away from that safety net all

those notes, extemporaneous delivery, that conversational approach, is a really

great skill to build on. You can use it in all kinds of professional settings.

You're going to bring it with you for the rest of your life. So I highly

recommend you take the plunge pare those notes down to the bare minimum and start

practicing in a realistic way. The question of the day what are your tips

for conversational delivery for making things much more extemporaneous. I would

love to hear your comments in that section below. So, thanks. God bless. And I

hope that you speak more conversationally in your very next

presentation.