One of my favorite speaking exercises has always been improv between two or more speakers, simply because the only rule is that you have to go with what has already been said. Since everyone in attendance is there for a laugh anyway, the mistakes are just as funny as the perfect one-liners. In the grand scheme of things, it helps you realize that there are no wrong answers…and therefore no reason to be nervous about messing up.
And here’s the thing…if you are human, you are going to mess up on stage at some point. The last I’ve checked, Murphy’s Law is always 100% accurate for public speakers and the universe just seems to have a way to make things backfire. So here’s how to become a better improviser on the stage:
- Start by having mini-debates with friends and family over any light topic. The rules are simple; each person gets 7 seconds to make their case…starting when the other person stops talking. The “winner” is the person who does not receive a reply after 7 full seconds (due to laughter, confusion or any other reason).
- Once you practice this routine a few times, you’ll realize that the only way to win is by taking risks. Even though you may not give the best answer, ANY answer keeps you in the game and that’s the only goal. So you’re learning to think on the fly and discarding your natural vulnerabilities while speaking.
- This process will also help you with something else though; it will help you learn to filter your thoughts and ultimately what you say (and how you say it) when things start to go bad on stage. Because even though you walk in the door with a set of notecards in hand, you’ll find that there are dozens of opportunities to improvise and deliver a much stronger performance overall.
- One of the exercises I have my students perform in my Improv For Storytelling Workshop is creating a group story. The improv exercise is called String of Pearls. The class breaks into a group of 12-15 and each person offers one line of the story. 1st we ask the audience in the class to name the story. Then one person of the group performing gives the first line and another gives the last line. The balance of the performers then fills in the story with one line till the story is complete. This is an game you can play with a group of people. I have my Toastmasters clubs also play this exercise. It is fun and a great way to learn how to think on your feet and learn the tools of storytelling.
The key to great improv is staying fully engaged in the moment, and realizing that mistakes are not necessarily bad things if you’re quick to recover. So while you may never earn a slot on Saturday Night Live, this is a trait that every professional speaker has to tackle sooner or later. Trust me…you’ll want to opt for “sooner” on this one.