Keeping up with the news and current events is one way to deal with the topic of discussion and controlling improvisation. The wider the general overview you have, the better prepared you will be for questions that may arise from your topic.
Search for ideas and suggestions on the topic based on previous meetings and write them down. You can use these items later to practise. If the meeting has a specific focus, consider how you might answer questions related to it.
The topic is often included in the meeting agenda. For example, if the topic is transport, think of an unforgettable trip, such as your first train ride or a busy flight. Thinking about a topic before a meeting will help calm your thoughts during the meeting. You can also train improvisation by engaging in targeted discussions with people you have never met before. Take advantage of various social gatherings.
Examples of improvisation techniques
Take, for example, a completely banal theme, such as making a bed. Here are some techniques that you can apply to any other issue:
Technique # 1: Past - present - future
As a child, I hated doing the beds but now it's just a ritual. Even so, I'm sure that as I get older, I'll go back to my old ways because it'll be harder for me to bend my back.
Technique # 2: Friends - family - others
My brother never makes his bed, but my mum always does. I often wonder if they are related at all! I think 80% of the population makes a bed every day.
Technique # 3: Status - explanation - status
Making beds is boring: it takes ages and you end up doing the same thing again some hours later. If you didn't bother, you'd save several minutes that could be spent on another activity. Making beds is wrong and I refuse to do it!
Technique # 4: Pros and cons (with the option to decide)
You could say that a made bed indicates discipline and an organised mind. On the other hand, if you don't make your bed, you may be perceived as a more creative person who is not bound by the rules.
Technique # 5: Recall recent events
I recently watched a news report on the war in the Middle East and suddenly it struck me: why am I afraid of such mundane tasks as making the bed? This helped me gain some perspective.
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