Impromptu and Extemporaneous Speeches

​Impromptu and Extemporaneous
Speeches

An Impromptu speech is unrehearsed and delivered on the spot. 

Extemporaneous speeches are delivered with prepared notes and can have preparation time from a few minutes to half-an-hour.

Neither are memorized.

 

Examples of impromptu speech



Introducing yourself at networking events.

Filling in for a late speaker.

You are asked to give a toast at a company party.

Job interview questions from left field.

You are interviewed by a reporter.

 

Barack Obama

Obama had several great moments during his presidency and one of which was during a press conference in 2010. A reporter asked him a question about the economy, to which Obama responded with a perfectly crafted analogy about the economy being like a “car that got stuck in a ditch.”

The analogy not only helped Obama explain a complex topic in a relatable way, but it also showed his ability to improvise and think on the spot.

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs gave one of the most spontaneous speeches ever in 2001 when the iPod was initially released. One of the journalists in the room where Jobs was announcing the new device asked Jobs why the iPod was better than other MP3 players on the market. Without missing a beat, Jobs launched into a passionate and persuasive explanation of the iPod’s superiority. You can watch the entire presentation here.