Haylie

537874

research-article2014

BCQXXX10.1177/2329490614537874Business and Professional Communication QuarterlyYale

Articles

The Impromptu Gauntlet:

An Experiential Strategy

for Developing Lasting

Communication Skills

Business and Professional

Communication Quarterly

2014, Vol. 77(3) 281­ 296

–

© 2014 by the Association for

Business Communication

Reprints and permissions:

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DOI: 10.1177/2329490614537874

bcq.sagepub.com

Robert N. Yale1

Abstract

Typical business communication courses provide significantly more opportunities for

students to hone their skills in writing compared with speaking. This article outlines

an impromptu speech assignment and explains a course-level strategy for providing

each student with more than 30 significant speaking opportunities during a term. This

approach has proven to be surprisingly popular as students observe a remarkable

transformation in their confidence and competence with presentational speaking.

Teaching strategies, assignment guidelines, results, and additional resources are

presented.

Keywords

impromptu, business communication, pedagogy, oral communication, speech

In today’s business environment, strong written and oral communication skills are of

paramount importance for success. This fact is recognized by nearly every stakeholder

in the educational process, including government agencies (Bureau of Labor Statistics,

2013), accrediting bodies (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business,

2013), university instructors and administrators (Wardrope, 2002; Wardrope &

Bayless, 1999), and marketplace employers (Maguire Associates, 2012; Robles,

2012). Not surprisingly, the vast majority of employers view the development of written and oral communication skills as the primary responsibility of colleges and universities (Maguire Associates, 2012). Colleges and schools of business typically develop

1University

of Dallas, USA...