How to help your team improve their impromptu speaking skills?

Practice makes better. Because it can feel ‘unsafe’ to team members to practice impromptu speaking at work (an environment tied to performance), try 3 alternative ways to help your team improve the skills:

1. Be encouraging about improving impromptu speaking skills. Provide honest feedback but don’t alienate people by coming off as a judge or even an executioner. Understand that verbal-only communication may not be culturally congruent for all team members, but it is a skill that can be improved. Role model the value of impromptu speaking to boost team creativity and authenticity, and assign meeting roles that require some speaking as a start.
2. Tell them about Toastmasters. Their extemporaneous speaking program is self-paced and relatively low cost, and there are MANY local and online chapters to choose from. There they can hone impromptu speaking skills and confidence minus the pressure to perform.
3. Suggest real-life ‘low risk’ opportunities. Church and community events with decorum akin to professional settings are excellent settings to speak off the cuff. Practice and experiment impromptu speaking – it’s OK to ‘fail’ there.

Keep in mind that helping others improve their impromptu speaking skills also mean that you role model what you suggest!

SEE ALSO:

How to encourage feedback during a project meeting without the attendees feeling intimidated?

How to handle mistakes when speaking extemporaneously?

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