Speech coaching usually focuses on formal presentations, but most requests to speak tend to come out of the blue. Matt Abrahams, "the communication guy" at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, offers a six-step strategy on how to respond spontaneously without getting flustered.

1. Keep calm

Try to think of your speech as part of a conversation. Ask the audience a question so you feel you are talking with somebody. Prepare an anxiety management plan to help you cope with the event, such as BOOM: Be present-oriented – think about the present moment; Observe your movements – slow your gestures down; Oxygenate slowly – let your exhale take twice as long as your inhale; Mantra – think of a phrase to help you focus, such as "It's not about me – my content is compelling."

2. Get out of your own way

When it comes to spontaneous speaking, good enough is great. Improvisational comedians advise novice stand-up comics to "dare to be dull" – say exactly what you think without thinking of your response as a performance. When you do slip, try to think of your mistakes as the "missed takes" in the making of a film – you are just trying to make your point in a few different ways, in the same way that a film crew experiments with different approaches to the same scene.

3. Forget it’s a speech

Try to think less about yourself and more about your audience. If you are responding to something, try another improv technique: instead of saying "yes, but" say "yes, and ..." This nudges you to listen harder to what the other person is saying. Finally, like an athlete, if you miss a shot, don't dwell on it – instead, focus on the next play.

4. Listen to your audience

Sometimes the best way to communicate is to say nothing at all. Don't feel pressured to respond immediately to a comment. Make sure you understand your audience: ask clarifying questions, paraphrase what you have heard and if you think something important in the meeting went unsaid, say it.


5. Structure your spontaneity

Use a ready-made template to structure your speech on the fly, the way jazz musicians stick to a few chords when they improvise. One of the best structures: What? - So what? – Now what? You start with your subject (what?), explain what's important about it (so what?) and then suggest what your audience should do with that insight (now what?). If you can also shape your points into a story, you will find it easier to tell and your listeners will find it easier to remember.

6. Focus your message

A focused message is precise, relevant, accessible and concise. Of course, it’s not easy to fulfill all four dimensions at once. Start with the one you think will matter most to your audience.