Mastering the art of spontaneous speaking is important for leaders. They must do more than just deliver a good prepared keynote—they need to nail the Q&A and small talk afterward, or crush off-the-cuff toasts and speeches. The author suggests that anyone can become proficient at this art using the right tactics and behaviors: Toasts, Q&As, and small talk don’t require any specific personality traits. He offers key strategies that include avoiding conventional responses in favor of establishing genuine connections, and prioritizing brevity while delivering messages. He also highlights the need to speak authentically without the pressure to be perfect—which means daring to be dull. An equally important aspect is active listening to understand and respond effectively to others’ needs. And structuring thoughts logically during impromptu conversations is a useful tactic. Fear or nervousness need not deter anyone from communicating effectively on the spot.
In 2017 a tech-company product manager—let’s call him Gabe—experienced a career surge that was both thrilling and stressful. His software started selling rapidly, causing his business unit to expand significantly. Instead of managing a small team, he now led hundreds of employees. But he was uncomfortable with the increased visibility and performative demands of the job. Not only was he expected to deliver several presentations to large audiences each year, but he constantly had to speak informally to a diverse group of customers, prospects, partners, and top leaders at meetings and events.
A version of this article appeared in the
September–October 2023 issue of
Harvard Business Review.
