Warwick John Fahy, thought leader on executive communication in China introduces: How to always be ready for any unplanned speech. This audio training speech was recorded live in front of Shanghai number one Toastmasters club and features a THREE STEP process that you can use to quickly prepare for any unplanned speech.

1. “Your mind is like a parachute,
it only works when it’s open.”
Jordan Maxwell
Open yOur Mind
How to always be ready for any unplanned speech
Photo by Renaude Hatsedakis

2. What is unplanned speaking?
A.K.A: off-the-cuff or impromptu
speaking
When do we used it?
All the time! Especially when we need to
express ourselves and our reasoning to
other people. “Your mind is like a parachute,
For example: it only works when it’s open.”
• giving your opinion in meetings
• debating a project via conference call Jordan Maxwell
one-to-one conversations with your boss
• handling a question and answer
session after your presentation
• being interviewed by a reporter
Skills required:
• think quick
• organise your thoughts
• deliver them
Why is it important to learn
unplanned speaking skills?
Many situations require an immediate
Open yOur Mind
How to always be ready for any unplanned speech
answer. We can’t always spend time to
prepare.
Photo by Renaude Hatsedakis

3. How to overcome the fear of
unplanned speaking?
• Anticipate
• Prepare your mind
• Use a structure
Anticipate
• Think around your subject. Mindmap it
• What experiences do you have in the
subject
• Link your ideas to motivations of the
people you are speaking with
• Think like a journalist so that you
ANTICIPATE the question
• What questions would you ask?
Prepare your mind
Think through the theme
• Key words
• Stories
• Link to your passion or hobby
• Ideas
Mythbuster:
• Experiences
• News
• Questions
Content is not king. Unplanned speaking is more
about certainty, clarity and confidence
Photo by Abel Leemans

4. 2
Key Message
Structure
1
for clarity
3
Tagline
Key Message “My answer is super clear.”
Open with Metaphor
Key Message
certainty 2 Hands, 3 Eyes
Close with
Tagline
“I am totally ready for this confidence
question.” Tagline
“I leave a strong impression.”
Metaphor
Boxers at the Bell ... come Metaphor
rushing out full of energy Chop down with confidence
snApshOt Of the
“Open yOur Mind”
frAMewOrk
Photos by Ken Hackman (Boxers), Alex Bramwell (Two Hands), Cammy Ambrosini (Buddha), Craig Hauger (Chop)

5. How to project a certain state Two approaches to immediately
versus an uncertain state? respond to a question:
Project certainty in the opening: Direct answer questions
• Confident and direct eye contact • Yes! I agree for two reasons. The first
• Smile at the start reason is...
• Body posture straight and balanced • No! I disagree for these reasons...
• Good energy • Make a powerful statement
• Relaxed
• Pause for a second Your brain is a supercomputer and only
needs a very short time to think of an
Avoid showing uncertain state: appropriate answer. When you need a few
• Nervous more seconds to think about your answer,
• Looking at the floor or ceiling try:
• Low energy
Kill time and answer question
• Immediately try to reply to the
question • Thank you for your question
• I am glad / happy / excited / surprised
to hear your question
• I have been thinking about this topic
recently, let me tell you about...
• This is a good question because it
reminds me of a very important time
in my life...
• As I understand your question, what
1
you mean is...(interpret or paraphrase
the question)
Open with certAinty
“I am totally ready for this question”
Photo by Ken Hackman

6. This is the body of your THREE EYES: 3 part plan
presentation.
P-S-A: Problem - Solution - Action
But why do you need to structure a short
• One of the biggest problems is...
unplanned presentation?
• One solution I have seen to overcome this
is...
A good structure leads to clear thinking.
• My suggestion is that you could try doing
this...
TWO HANDS: 2 part plan Other examples:
• Before-During-After
a. Opposites • Past-Present-Future
• On the one hand... • 1-2-3
• On the other hand...
Other examples:
• Male-Female
• Young-Old
b. Contrasts
• East-West
• Real-Imagined
• Hot-Cold
2
• Now-Then
structure fOr clArity
“My answer is super clear”
Photos by Philip MacKenzie (Pagoda), Alex Bramwell (Two Hands), Cammy Abrosini (Buddha)

7. Leaving a positive final impression is Final action:
important in how the audience regards Handover to the MC, host or event
you. organiser and leave the stage with
confidence.
How do you indicate that you
are ready to finish:
• Raise your volume a touch
• Energy = bring back the certainty
• Direct eye contact
• Smile
• Finish with a powerful phrase or
tagline
Tagline = Powerful phrase that sums up
your message
This can lead into your final message:
• So, in a nutshell...
• To sum up, ...
• So, my message / advice is...
• So remember when you... always...
• In conclusion...
Avoid low energy finishes like
saying:
clOse with cOnfidence
3
• I have finished now.
• My speech is finished.
• I have nothing else to say.
“I leave a strong impression”
Photo by Craig Hauger

8. About the Author
Warwick John Fahy coaches CEOs, general managers and senior finance executives, who
need to influence clients, investors, board and team members. Warwick helps shape key
messages into engaging, memorable presentations that help the speaker connect with
their audiences. His down-to-earth practical approach and deep cross cultural understan-
ding have made him a sought after business presentation coach throughout Asia.
Warwick is an expert in the art and practice of executive public speaking. Warwick is the
published author of The One Minute Presenter : an 8 step guide to delivering successful
business presentations in a world of short attention spans. For every book sold, a book is
bought for an orphan in China through The Library Project.
Contact Us tel.
eMAil
+86 21 6101 0486
info@oneminutepresenter.com
www www.oneminutepresenter.com
skype oneminutepresenter