I’ve never understood how some people can be summoned on stage, on short or no notice, handed a microphone, and then immediately talk for 20-40 minutes straight, with little interruption or stalling for words. And they didn’t have a speech prepared in advance, either; they didn’t expect to be speaking on short notice. How do they find the words?
Even if talking about topics like military history or politics (two favorite topics of mine), I’d run out of words in just a few minutes. On an unfamiliar topic, I’d probably run out of things to say in a few seconds and then just stand there, wondering what else there was to say.
So how do these people do it? Do their minds just naturally come up with lots of things to say?
This isn’t a shyness or fear-of-public-speaking issue; it’s a running-out-of-things-to-say issue.
I’ve never quite been in the position you describe, of going out without much notice, but if I’m allowed to choose my topic, I could probably swing it. There are several things that I’ve spoken about in public before, and I know well. So I would just boot the memory banks and away we go.
I can think of a couple of topics where I can pull that off. I think the trick is that I wouldn’t be reciting just facts, but I’d also be expressing opinions and I would have sort of a narrative in mind. But I do think it would have to be a topic you’d spent a lot of time thinking about, not just learning about.
Practice, dude, practice. Extemporaneous speaking is an art form. As mentioned, it helps to have a narrative. That lets you lay down a foundation that you can build your presentation on. You also have to know your shit, of course.
When I used to teach classes, I’d have moments of panic where I’d think that I’d never be able to stretch the material for a full hour. But generally, I’d run out of time before I’d run out of material. Speech doesn’t have a particularly high baud rate and in between digressions, explanations, and (lame) attempts at humor, it was generally easy to fill the allotted time. Also, you generally know more than you know.
Of course, you can always go the “Four score and seven years ago…” route and let posterity judge if your two minute speech was up to snuff.
As others have noted, if the topic is an area of my expertise it is not too difficult to talk for 30-45 minutes. I get the occasional request from my boss to meet a group of people to discuss a well being drilled or talk to a new manager who flew out from California to Angola for a visit. I also give the odd lecture at Agostinho Neto University ( Go Palanca’s !!! ).
Hardest of all however, was the 15 minute lecture to a group of 3rd graders about what I do at work. It was a tough crowd…
A poll a few years ago showed that people are more scared of public speaking than of swimming in a shark tank. I never quite got that. I feel very comfortable speaking in public, and I give speeches on American history topics to local historical societies, libraries, social groups etc. several times a year. If it’s a topic that interests me and I was dragged out on a stage without prior notice, I could probably go for quite awhile before I ran out of steam. And you can always invite questions!
I’m pretty routinely in front of people to discuss science. An hour long talk is a weekly occurrence, at least. Sometimes with a few days notice, and sometimes not. I’ll give you a few ways I pull this off:
I’ve given this talk a lot. Yes, there are nuances to it depending on the knowledge base of the audience. Are they scientists? In the same field? Are the investors? Physicians? I’m going to alter the level to all of these. But, I’ve delivered some version of this talk hundreds of times over the years. I’ve added to it when new data comes in. I’ve tweaked it based on things that worked well or didn’t work at all. It’s been workshopped to death.
I’ve given a lot of talks. I remember my first talk in graduate school. It was terrible. But, I kept having to do it, and then somewhere along the way, I learned to really enjoy it. Nobody is good the first time and it takes a lot of practice. And, most people just don’t have that many opportunities. I’ve heard good things about toastmasters groups in order to get more experience. But, I think this is one of the keys. You just have to do it. A lot.
It’s less extemporaneous than you think. This links back to number 1. I have a few laugh lines. I try to make it look like I just came up with them on the spot. I didn’t.
Don’t overestimate your audience. I think people run out of things to say because they don’t fully appreciate how much they know compared to their audience. I mean, that’s why they are holding the microphone and not in the audience, right? Your audience really wants to follow along with what you have to say, so it’s all right to be basic and really lead them through it. I want everyone in that room to understand me, and I’m fine if I’m going too slowly for a handful of people in the room.
“If I am to speak ten minutes, I need a week for preparation; if fifteen minutes, three days; if half an hour, two days; if an hour, I am ready now.” - variously attributed to Mark Twain, Woodrow Wilson and Winston Churchill
).