Why Speakers Need Improv

Speakers need to have grace under pressure, confidence when things don’t go as expected, and the ability to remain calm when things don’t go as planned. As a speaker at the front of the room, you instantly become a role model and the audience is trading their time and possibly money for what you have to offer them.

As experienced speakers will tell you, things can go horribly wrong in the middle of your presentation and without notice. How you react to the sudden chaos can build your credibility with your audience or destroy it. The audience looks to the speaker as a leader in the event.

 

Welcome to Bill Corbett’s video podcast, from the soapbox to the stage. Created from his bestselling book and his experience as a professional speaker, you’ll learn quick tips that can set you apart from your competition and leave your audiences inviting you back for more.

 

In the middle of one speakers’ talk, a man in the audience near the front row passed out and died! He keeled over and fell onto the floor. The audience directly around that man knelt by his side and the speaker looking frazzled, took out her phone and dialed 911. The audience automatically looks to the speaker to take charge in any unusual situation.

 

The experience of going through an improvisational class won’t fix a sudden bad situation but it will give a speaker the sense of feeling comfortable and confident enough to react quickly in the best interest of the audience, in the face of chaos. He or she will feel calm enough to be able to think clearly on what to do next.

To get the most out of an improv class, stay out of your head and leave your perfection behind. Avoid trying to second guess what will happen next and know that each activity will not have predictable outcomes. Focus more on what others are doing and saying, and quiet the voice in your own head.

If you’re a perfectionist, this experience could be uncomfortable because you won’t have full control of the outcome of each exercise and you have to embrace looking silly. No one is judging you in an improve class so be prepared to let you hair down, as they say. You’ll be more successful. Let your playful child out to play and you’ll be more successful.

I hope this inspires you to take a different step toward personal growth as a speaker or even a manager. Take the plunge and find an improve or acting class and do something for yourself that will move you to the next level as a professional. Do it today.

Thanks for watching this video podcast and if you made it this far, an extra thank you. If you want more tips to help you grow as a speaker, check out one of Bills latest books on professional speaking. I hope you’ll subscribe to this channel, like it and share it with others.