How to Make an Impact: The Start of your Presentation

How do you present with impact? Why are first impressions important when you present? What techniques can you use to make an impact when you present?

Meet the Author: Steve Jacobs
Steve is a partner at Benjamin Ball Associates, leads the writing team and is an outstanding coach and trainer. Steve has more than 25 years’ experience in corporate and financial public relations. He was a founding partner of the strategic comms division of FTI and until recently was head of comms and IR at Breedon Group plc, the UK’s largest quoted independent construction materials group.  Follow Steve on LinkedIn or visit the contact page. 

Why Presenting with Impact is Essential When You Present

We all know that people form judgments about us within the first few seconds of meeting us.  The same is true for presentations.  

If you don’t capture your audience’s attention at the outset, you risk losing them before you’ve begun.  So how can you make an impact in those crucial first few seconds of your talk?  Our presentation coaches share their top tips:

Start your presentation with a bang

The first few seconds of your presentation are critical, so don’t waste them.  To make an impact in your presentations, start with a bang.  Grab your audience’s attention with a surprising statistic, an interesting question, or a powerful quote.  For example, imagine you’re giving a talk on health and safety and you open with, “By the time I’ve finished this presentation, 100 people somewhere in the world will have died from an industrial injury.”  Or “Why is it that we care more about our employees’ timekeeping than we do about their mental health?” 

Be bold.  Surprise your audience.  Build anticipation.  Make them curious about what comes next.

Tell a story to start your presentation

People love stories, and they’re a great way to engage your audience emotionally.  The late CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs, famously gave a speech at Stanford University which he opened by simply saying, “Today I’m going to tell you three stories from my life.  That’s it.  No big deal.  Just three stories.”   You could sense his student audience instantly relaxing and giving him their full attention. 

The most powerful stories are personal, drawn from your own experience, because they’re the best way to make an emotional connection with your audience. A story is a powerful way to make an impact at the start of your presentation.

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At Benjamin Ball Associates, we’ve been coaching business people to improve their business communication skills for over 15 years.  Our coaching is fast and effective.  We work with individuals and with companies, one-to-one and in groups.  Call us today to learn more.

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Use a striking visual

Instead of starting your presentation with a PowerPoint slide full of bullet points, use the first 60 seconds to show an arresting visual that brings to life your main theme.  For example, imagine you’re giving a talk on the impact of your business on the climate: why not start by putting up a photo of a seal swimming through a sea of floating plastic, or a polar bear standing on a melting ice floe.

They say a picture paints a thousand words.  That’s a thousand words less for you to say – and an even greater impact. 

Interact with your audience to make an impact

You want to make your audience feel like they’re a part of your presentation, not just passive listeners.  So why not make an impact in your presentation by asking a provocative question and polling them?  

For example, if you’re giving a talk on customer satisfaction, you could start by asking how many in the audience have had a bad experience with a company in the past year.  Ask them to raise their hands – or better still, stand up.  Then poll that group again: “How many of those standing would never deal with that particular company again?”  It makes them feel involved, gets them thinking about the main point of your presentation – and brings energy to the room.

State your main point at the start

A well-planned presentation has a clear, distinctive theme or takeaway.  It may also have a specific call to action.  Make sure your main point isn’t buried on slide 12.  Bring it right up front, make an impact and make it memorable. 

For example, imagine you’re giving a talk on health and welfare in your company.  Why not open with the simple statement, “By the end of this presentation, everyone in this room will be making a choice about whether or not they want to live longer.”   Not only does it set a crystal-clear agenda for your talk, but it also demands a reaction – and action – from your audience, right from the outset.

To make an impact be enthusiastic!

If you’re an unenthusiastic presenter, you can’t blame your audience for being unenthusiastic listeners.  If you look bored, they’ll feel bored.  If you’re low energy, you’ll drain the room of energy.  It’s vital that you show in those first few seconds that you’re passionate about your topic, that it’s important to you, that you believe what you’re saying. 

To make an impact: smile, make eye contact, use a strong and confident voice.  Your enthusiasm will be contagious – and it will help you carry your audience with you. 

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In short

You’ll set yourself up for success or failure in those crucial first 60 seconds.  So don’t waste them. 

Think about how you’re going to capture your audience’s attention – and imagination – with your opening.  How are you going to engage and involve them?  How are you going to build anticipation?  What kind of tone will you set for the rest of your talk?  Remember: your audience will be sizing you up in that very first minute.  Use it well.

If you really want to improve, then ask about our business presentation coaching. It offers amazing value for money.

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