A vice president I once worked with was asked to introduce a minister of labor at a business luncheon. The executive had prepared an adulatory introduction, but the minister showed up early and needed to speak well before her designated time. When the VP arrived, his introductory remarks were no longer needed.

After the minister finished her keynote address, the master of ceremonies called upon the VP to “say a few words” about the speaker. The executive knew he had to craft an impromptu speech, do so quickly, and make it right for the occasion. The theme of his remarks came to him as he walked up to the podium to address the seven hundred people in the room. He began, “Madame Minister, I am not surprised you were ahead of schedule today. After all, as your speech indicates, you have been moving rapidly to address labor issues in this province.” The VP then enumerated a few of the labor issues that the minister had been tackling and resolving. After doing so he concluded, “Thank you for coming today and for staying ahead of schedule on your commitments to this province.”

This brief address comprised the perfect impromptu speech—well organized and fully suited to the occasion. The ability to think on the spot, and the guidance provided by the Leader's Script proved a winning combination for him.

One Compelling Idea

The best impromptu speeches reverberate with a single, captivating idea. In this respect, they are like other kinds of impromptu remarks that rise or fall on the key message. You may only have a few moments to pull together your thoughts, as this VP did, but always ask yourself, “What's the key idea I want to leave my audience with?” The executive's central idea (praising the minister for “moving rapidly to address labor issues in the province”) flowed out of the grabber (“I am not surprised you were ahead of schedule”) and led to the call to action in the final line of the speech. Once you have that message, you're well on your way to a great speech. All you need to do is figure out your proof points, and your call to action.

For example, suppose you're eating dinner at a business function and the MC announces, “We'll be hearing soon from Kahlil, who will accept his award.” If you're Kahlil you may be trembling because you didn't realize they expected you to speak. But don't despair: Jot down a single message and three or four bullet points that develop that message. They will serve you well and you'll be glad you were able to pull together a speech that inspired your listeners.

If you know in advance you'll be expected to “say a few words,” by all means do your research, create your bullet points, embed them in your mind, and be ready to inspire.

A Perfect Example—Lou Gehrig's Farewell to Baseball

There is no better impromptu speech to serve as a model for you than Lou Gehrig's “Farewell to Baseball.” This speech is one of the most moving speeches in sports history, delivered at Yankee Stadium on July 4, 1939. At the age of thirty‐six, he spoke to a crowd of 61,000 fans, announcing his farewell to baseball—because he was suffering from ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. At first he shook his head “no,” indicating that he didn't want to speak. But when the crowd yelled “We want Lou!” he came forward and delivered the following remarks.¹ The speech has one compelling idea that's delivered throughout the speech.

Fans, for the past two weeks you have been reading about the bad break I got. Yet today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.

I have been in ballparks for seventeen years and have never received anything but kindness and encouragement from you fans.

Look at these grand men. Which of you wouldn't consider it the highlight of his career just to associate with them for even one day? Sure, I'm lucky.

Who wouldn't consider it an honor to have known Jacob Ruppert? Also, the builder of baseball's greatest empire, Ed Barrow? To have spent six years with that wonderful little fellow, Miller Huggins? Then to have spent the next nine years with that outstanding leader, that smart student of psychology, the best manager in baseball today, Joe McCarthy? Sure I'm lucky.

When the New York Giants, a team you would give your right arm to beat, and vice versa, sends you a gift—that's something.

When everybody down to the groundskeepers and those boys in white coats remember you with trophies—that's something.

When you have a wonderful mother‐in‐law who takes sides with you in squabbles with her own daughter—that's something.

When you have a father and a mother who work all their lives so you can have an education and build your body—it's a blessing.

When you have a wife who has been a tower of strength and shown more courage than you dreamed existed—that's the finest I know.

So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for.²

Creating a Successful Impromptu Speech

If you want to hit a “home run” with your impromptu speeches, follow Gehrig's example. Whether you are receiving an award, retiring from your company, being honored with a surprise party, or celebrating your birthday or anniversary, this speech is an excellent template on which to build yours. Here's how.

Collect your thoughts. Gehrig, according to his wife, wrote some remarks but hadn't rehearsed or brought a text with him.³ In doing this, he avoided the perils of either reading a speech (too formal) or winging it (too casual). If you know in advance you'll be expected to “say a few words,” by all means do your research, create your speaking notes, embed them in your mind, and be ready to inspire. Whether you have days or minutes to collect your thoughts, be sure to have notes in your mind.

Open with a short, personal grabber. Gehrig's opening made reference to the people at the stadium and your first words should invite your audience into the speech. Gehrig's calling them “fans” endowed them with a special relationship to him. And acknowledging that they knew he was ill also builds an empathetic bond. Begin your speech with a similar reference to those in the audience. For example, “Friends, your being here means the world to me,” or “Colleagues, you've found a way to surprise me as never before,” or “Hi everybody. Wow, what a sight. You make me so proud.”

Choose an inspiring message. Gehrig has a simple but poignant message: “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.” At a moment when everyone in the stadium was in tears—and Gehrig himself was crying—he offered a message that broke the spell of that awful news and uplifted his audience.

When you create your message, state how you feel, as Gehrig does, in an inspiring way. Here are some examples:

• “I feel like the luckiest/most fortunate/most privileged/happiest person in the world.”
• From a CEO: “I am thrilled that we have turned the company around and can look forward to new markets, new customers, and a new vision of success.”
• From an award winner surrounded by family, mentors, and colleagues: “I feel humbled by this honor because you are the very people who have made my career a success.”
• From a philanthropist: “I believe this occasion shows the power of giving back to society.”

Provide your proof points. Show your audience why you believe in your message. Gehrig brilliantly develops his argument by having a series of short, sharply focused points showing the many people that have made him feel so lucky in life. You, too, can build a speech around the individuals or groups who are in the room. Imagine you are being honored in retirement—each of your points might refer to individuals who have been important in your career. Or if you're being honored at a birthday party, have points that call out several people who have come to the party and have played a special role in your life. You can also build your points around groups: your partner, your family, your friends, your colleagues, your mentors.

Follow Gehrig's lead by using some of his language patterns. One of the most compelling aspects of his proof points is the repetition in his language. It accentuates the parallel ideas. He begins many statements with “when,” as in “When everybody down to the groundskeepers,” “When you have a wonderful mother‐in‐law,” “When you have a mother and father,” “When you have a wife.” He creates a cadence that builds powerfully and advances his message. As well, ending many of his points with, “Sure, I'm lucky,” further reinforces his main message.

Take a page out of Gehrig's book, and use repetition to tie your points together and reinforce you message. For example, you might say in a retirement speech: “I'll always remember how my family has supported me.” And for your second point, “I'll always remember how my colleagues have inspired me.” And for your third, “And I'll always remember how my team has fulfilled my greatest expectations.” This repetition gives rhythm and cadence to your remarks.

Close with a call to action. This last component of your impromptu talk suggests future action, which can be physical or emotional. Gehrig's conclusion is: “So I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for.” He envisions a life that will continue, even though he knew he only had a few years to live.

Your call to action can take many forms—it can be future action taken by you (as with Gehrig), by the audience, or by you and the audience. If you are being honored with an award for business excellence, your call to action might look ahead to the goals you have for your firm. Or if you're being honored at a birthday party, you might look ahead with the thought, “Given the great friends and family who surround me today, I look forward to many more birthdays and cherished moments like this one. Isn't that, after all, what life is about?”

This address by Lou Gehrig, which adheres to the Leader's Script, is a wonderful example of a short, simple, but heartfelt impromptu speech. It was given at “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day,” and is an excellent model for all those times when you are speaking to friends, family, colleagues, and others—whether the occasion is a birthday, wedding, anniversary, retirement, or completion of a successful project.