“Think before you speak. Read before you think.” Fran Lebowitz

"Can you tell us what you think about this proposal?"

Have you ever been caught off guard by a question like this in a meeting? Your mind goes blank, you stumble over words, and by the time you find your footing, the moment has passed.

I've had this happen innumerable times, even last week when twelve people came into what I thought was a three-person meeting.

It could be an unexpected question from a client, being called on during a conference call, or a networking event where someone asks you to explain what you do.

Why Most Impromptu Speaking Falls Flat

When we're surprised by a question, our natural tendency is to start talking immediately and hope something coherent emerges. We ramble, repeat ourselves, or worse—we freeze up completely.

But here's what I've learned: the people who seem naturally gifted at impromptu speaking aren't just winging it. They're using a simple framework that gives structure to their spontaneous thoughts.

The PREP Method: Your Impromptu Speaking Framework

PREP is an acronym that stands for:
Point - State your main message clearly and directly
Reason - Explain why this point matters or provide supporting evidence
Example - Share a specific story, anecdote, or illustration
Point - Restate your main message to reinforce it

This framework works because it mirrors how our brains naturally want to process information - we need to know what you're saying, why it matters, what it looks like in practice, and what we should remember.

Let me show you how this works. Imagine someone asks: "What's your take on remote work?"

Point: "I believe remote work requires more intentional communication, not less."

Reason: "When we can't read body language or have casual hallway conversations, important context gets lost. Teams need to over-communicate to stay aligned."

Example: "Last month, our team spent three days working on parallel solutions to the same problem because we assumed everyone understood the brief. A 15-minute video call could have prevented that waste."

Point: "So remote work succeeds when teams invest extra effort in clear, frequent communication."

The entire response takes about 30 seconds but feels structured and complete.

In this week's video, we analyze Satya Nadella's response during an interview with David Rubenstein about following legendary CEOs Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer. Watch how Nadella uses the PREP structure naturally when asked if he felt ready for the enormous responsibility.

Notice how Nadella structures his response: He starts with his main Point ("don't try to be like us, just be yourself"), provides Reason (the clear advice from both predecessors), shares a specific Example (his honest response during the CEO interview process), and reinforces his Point with Steve's direct advice.

What makes this particularly effective is how natural it sounds - Nadella doesn't seem to be following a formula, yet his response is perfectly structured and memorable. The personal anecdote about the interview makes his advice tangible and relatable.

The best part is that PREP becomes automatic with practice. Start using it in low-stakes conversations, and you'll find it becomes your go-to framework whenever you're put on the spot.