Impromptu Presentations

Impromptu

In an impromptu presentation, you would speak without preparation, develop content, and choose words as you are speaking. In a business setting, this does not necessarily mean that you have no prior knowledge of the topic. Knowing your subject matter is the best way to prepare for impromptu situations. For example, at a meeting your Vice President asks you to bring the group “upto speed” on the new inventory system being implemented by your department. Your response to his or her query is, in essence, an impromptu presentation developed at the moment but based on (hopefully!) familiar information.
In some circumstances, you may be asked to give an opinion or respond to an idea that you have not considered before. Try to draw on prior experiences or similar situationsto formulate a response. Organizing your thoughts into a logical sequence and responding in a clear and confident manner enhance your credibility and make you appear thoughtful and knowledgeable.

For College of Business presentations, speaking from notes is not permitted unless otherwise specified by your instructor.

Standard Structure and Content
1. Opening Content: See “Prepare anopening...” below. Use the boilerplate opening.
2. Purpose Content: Inform your audience of
1) the general problem/situation,
2) the specific reason that you met today, and
3) whether you have or haven’t reached a solution/plan.
3. Outline Content: A general outline of the material that will appear in the body of your presentation.
4. Body Content: Report only on decisions, expectedresults, and important relevant new information that has come to light (if any). Don’t report on discussion details that were irrelevant to decisions; don’t report on the process of reaching your solution, unless knowledge of the process is essential to understanding the decisions that you are reporting. Be sure to give informative elaboration on major points (see “Info Value” below, in “Problemsfrom the Past”). If your team was unable to reach a solution or decision, explain why.
(Structure: Always present in a general-to-specific pattern, point-to-explanation; present the general point before its specific supporting details. Refer to “Point Fronting,” at E>G, Composition.)
5. Conclusion Content: Restate 1) the purpose (problem/s) and 2) the major points of the meeting(solution/plan, expected results).

Notes from experience and other sources
Before the day of the presentation
Prepare a “boilerplate” opening that you can use for any impromptu presentation. If you have a“boilerplate” opening, you can save precious preparation time, you will give yourself confidence, and you will make a good impression right from the start. Memorize this boilerplate opening; if you don’tuse it, points will be deducted from your score: “Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. My name is..., and I am [your role] with [your organization]. We have just discussed the matter of…and I would now like to give you a summary of the salient points of that discussion.” (Don’t say, “I am happy to...” or “I’m really glad to...” or “It is my pleasure to…”) Oral presentation counselor LennyLaskowski says: “If you at least plan your opening statement, this will get you started on the right foot. After all, just like with any formal speech, getting started is the most difficult. Plan what your first sentence will be.”
During the meeting, and just before your presentation
Make a simple outline of your presentation as you participate in the meeting. Identify the hierarchicalrelationships ofpoints (main point, major supporting points, details) in this outline. (At the same time,do not let this distract you from what is being said in the meeting; in fact, you might be leading the meeting.)If the outline is too complex, that means you’re letting it distract you from active participation in the meeting;and complexity will also make it more difficult to deliver the ideas, communicate...