Impromptu Speaking: Teaching an Essential Leadership Skill

Abstract

Objective: Clinical leaders are frequently asked to assert an opinion or message spontaneously in a public forum. We aimed to measure the effectiveness of structured leadership training in impromptu speaking.

Design: This prospective study examined trainees who participated in a 3-hour workshop consisting of didactic instruction on impromptu speaking followed by small group practice. The workshop ended in a large group where participants were selected randomly to speak on various topics. Pre- and postsurveys were administered to measure participants' comfort with impromptu speaking, organization, integration of the audience's perspective, and ability to portray a central message. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests and two-way repeated measures ANOVA.

Setting: This study occurred at a tertiary academic institution during protected surgical resident education time.

Participants: Medical students, surgical residents, and surgical fellows participated in the study. Fifty-four trainees completed the workshop and surveys.

Results: Of the 54 trainees who participated, 74.1% (n=40) had no previous leadership training. Perceived comfort with impromptu speaking improved (p < 0.001), especially among those with no previous leadership training (p = 0.013). Perceived ability to adapt communication to the audiences improved after the workshop (p < 0.001). Participant's perception of their ability to deliver a central message also improved (p < 0.001), especially among those without previous leadership training (p = 0.001). Participants did not feel the workshop improved their organization with impromptu speaking (p = 0.572). 90.7% (n=49) would like additional educational opportunities to improve their communication as a leader, and 88.9% (n=48) thought formal leadership training was beneficial.

Conclusions: A 3-hour workshop on the essential leadership skill of impromptu speaking is a feasible way to increase surgical trainees' comfort with speaking, as well as their perceived ability to integrate the audience's perspective and deliver a central message. Dedicated leadership training for surgical trainees focused on specific skills, such as impromptu speaking, is both desired and effective within a residency program's existing protected educational time.

Keywords: communication; impromptu speaking; interpersonal skills; leadership training; public speaking; surgical education.