Session Date: 22nd November 2025

Our expert session with Pinky Bahroos, Communication Skills Catalyst and founder of Ace the Stage, offered a deep and practical understanding of what truly happens in the mind before we speak. In this one-hour session, she helped students decode the psychological barriers that make impromptu speaking feel intimidating and taught powerful methods to overcome them.

Pinky began by explaining the internal experience that occurs seconds before we speak—especially when we are put on the spot. She highlighted how the mind enters a state of fear, the thoughts become cluttered, and hesitation takes over, even when we know the answer. Her clarity on how the brain processes fear helped students recognize that these reactions are natural and can be managed with the right tools.

Key insights she shared include:

• The mind enters a threat-response state before speaking, which triggers fear and self-doubt.
• Thoughts become cluttered because the brain tries to find the perfect answer instead of a meaningful one.
• Hesitation arises due to overthinking and the pressure to speak flawlessly.
• The body reacts physically, creating nervousness even before a single word is spoken.

She then guided the students through understanding how to regain control in those crucial few seconds:

• Pause intentionally to allow your mind to settle.
• Focus on a single idea rather than trying to speak on everything at once.
• Replace negative self-talk with supportive internal dialogue.
• Use slow breathing to calm the nervous system.
• Permit yourself to speak without aiming for perfection.

Pinky also spent time discussing how to practice impromptu speaking effectively. She encouraged students to treat impromptu speaking as a daily habit rather than a performance. Her suggested practices included:

• Speaking for one minute on random topics to build mental agility.
• Observing everyday situations and forming quick viewpoints.
• Practising structured thinking: beginning, middle, and end.
• Recording short, spontaneous videos to improve clarity and confidence.

One of the most impactful parts of the session was when Pinky allowed students to experience the silence before answering a question. This simple activity helped them realise that the fear lies not in the moment, but in the mind’s assumptions about the moment.

By the end of the session, students walked away with a clearer understanding of how their mind works before speaking and how to train themselves to stay composed, confident, and expressive during impromptu situations. Pinky’s insights made the topic practical, relatable, and applicable to real-life communication challenges.